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So it took me 6mths to find my prado, originally driving an AU series 2 falcon ute for the last 6 years, decided it,s about time i owned a 4wd that wasn't a $600 farm beaten landrover, original needs had me looking at a dual cab ute so i could carry my kayaks, dirtbike etc. After much research and looking i,d settled on a nissan navara/older holden rodeo as focus points, then i drove them, barely any room in the back, agricultural drive and the fact the navara still has a leaf sprung rear and drum brakes wiped them out of the race, that left a dual cab hilux around 04 models for my coin, found a beautifully maintained 1 with no offroad, full service history, on petrol, only 140 000klms that i could have had for $14 200, i offerred $200 less, we haggled, someone else bought it. My loss.
Being toyota, they really hold theyre value, and are usually more expensive than the other brands, so i decided against the dual cab ute style and started looking at 4wd wagons, budget of $15k, daily runabout, weekend camper, trip to cape etc in the long run, just a cheap beater more or less, budget had me looking at the earlier prado,s, 99, 00, 01, some to be found out there in the v6 option around the 200 000klms range around the 10k mark, 100 series cruiser in there and last option was around the 04 pajero,s, could find a few non offroaded paj,s around the 150 000klm mark for around $15k.
Then i saw a 120 prado, coils, discs all round, 180l fuel tank, classy look, capable 4wd, awesome car, in my budget i found 1, ex NT rental, 170 000klms, those horrible thin steel wheels, lots of damage underneath and oil stains and unfortunately, the 2.7l motor, test drove it, no thanks, foot flat to the floor barely accellerating, i would seriously hate to need to overtake someone in a hurry on the highway in that vehicle, not to mention how hard that motor must work to haul that size vehicle around, so, i gave up and started looking at pajero,s a bit more seriously.
Then i found an 03 model, in the metallic champagne colour, bank managers car, no offroad, full itemised service history from day 1 (1 owner car) with not just stamps in the book, but reciepts for each service as well, 200 000klms on it, auto, pristine inside and out, literally not so much as a door dent from shopping centre,s, only extra,s were sovereign bullbar, unused 3000kg capacity towbar with the electric brake setup, endrust rust protection, bluetooth. Faults were hairline crack in dash (don't care that,s what dashmats are for) and the evil toyota tick.
Just had it,s major 200k service done, diff and transfer oils, new top of the line plugs, oil, all filters, gearbox service, brand new battery, 3mths prior a new radiator, air con compressor and full strip and replace of system, 6mths rego, rwc for $24k, watched with interest, 2 weeks later $22k, week later $20k, i though bugger it, if you don't go, you don't know so i test drove, examined, then offerred $16k, much to my suprise...................a week later i get a call, "ill take it", to say i was stoked is an understatement, had it now for 1 mth and couldn't be happier, had it up the beach at rainbow, up the mountains at jimna/kenilworth, and it,s easily the nicest vehicle ive owned, v6 is plenty powerful and as economical as my falcon ute was so happy with that.
So my querie is, the premium you pay for the toyota name, whilst great for resale, is not so great when you are buying, obviously we all know they are top vehicles, but do you believe the price is a little bit higher than it should be simply because they have the badge? IMO i paid exactly what the vehicle was really worth considerring it,s now 10 years old with 200k on the clock, thoughts?
cheers
Being toyota, they really hold theyre value, and are usually more expensive than the other brands, so i decided against the dual cab ute style and started looking at 4wd wagons, budget of $15k, daily runabout, weekend camper, trip to cape etc in the long run, just a cheap beater more or less, budget had me looking at the earlier prado,s, 99, 00, 01, some to be found out there in the v6 option around the 200 000klms range around the 10k mark, 100 series cruiser in there and last option was around the 04 pajero,s, could find a few non offroaded paj,s around the 150 000klm mark for around $15k.
Then i saw a 120 prado, coils, discs all round, 180l fuel tank, classy look, capable 4wd, awesome car, in my budget i found 1, ex NT rental, 170 000klms, those horrible thin steel wheels, lots of damage underneath and oil stains and unfortunately, the 2.7l motor, test drove it, no thanks, foot flat to the floor barely accellerating, i would seriously hate to need to overtake someone in a hurry on the highway in that vehicle, not to mention how hard that motor must work to haul that size vehicle around, so, i gave up and started looking at pajero,s a bit more seriously.
Then i found an 03 model, in the metallic champagne colour, bank managers car, no offroad, full itemised service history from day 1 (1 owner car) with not just stamps in the book, but reciepts for each service as well, 200 000klms on it, auto, pristine inside and out, literally not so much as a door dent from shopping centre,s, only extra,s were sovereign bullbar, unused 3000kg capacity towbar with the electric brake setup, endrust rust protection, bluetooth. Faults were hairline crack in dash (don't care that,s what dashmats are for) and the evil toyota tick.
Just had it,s major 200k service done, diff and transfer oils, new top of the line plugs, oil, all filters, gearbox service, brand new battery, 3mths prior a new radiator, air con compressor and full strip and replace of system, 6mths rego, rwc for $24k, watched with interest, 2 weeks later $22k, week later $20k, i though bugger it, if you don't go, you don't know so i test drove, examined, then offerred $16k, much to my suprise...................a week later i get a call, "ill take it", to say i was stoked is an understatement, had it now for 1 mth and couldn't be happier, had it up the beach at rainbow, up the mountains at jimna/kenilworth, and it,s easily the nicest vehicle ive owned, v6 is plenty powerful and as economical as my falcon ute was so happy with that.
So my querie is, the premium you pay for the toyota name, whilst great for resale, is not so great when you are buying, obviously we all know they are top vehicles, but do you believe the price is a little bit higher than it should be simply because they have the badge? IMO i paid exactly what the vehicle was really worth considerring it,s now 10 years old with 200k on the clock, thoughts?
cheers
But you'll thank folks like me when you go to sell (as long as you have looked after it). Totally agree that Red Book is out of touch on 120 pricing. My finance company actually questioned the amount I was paying for it, but once I informed them of the options included and the 'real market value' out there, they were happy I knew what I was doing.
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