What to replace the Prado with?

[Beach Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Beach]

Pretty much all of them otherwise they'd all be driving around in "Great Walls" as they are the cheapest thing by miles.

So you've been part of the decision making process for acquisitions on a large scale have you?? Don't mean to be rude but I don't think so.

Anyway we are getting off topic here so i'll leave it at that.

Yes I have and still am. I am often frustrated by upper management and executive vetoing decisions as they have been wined and dined more by a particular supplier. I didn't say "price", I said "deal". A little broader and encompassing.

I agree. Lets leave it at that.

[chester ver 2.0 Member Find all posts View Profile Close chester ver 2.0]

Yes, there is still problems with the auto models. I always forget about the Isuzu Dmax. They are a nice ute too.
The Roo.

Well i went and did it Roo traded the old 1Kz in on a brand new LST Dmax man this thing hauls so hard i cant complain about the leather seats either

[jss Moderated member Find all posts View Profile Close jss]

Well i went and did it Roo traded the old 1Kz in on a brand new LST Dmax man this thing hauls so hard i cant complain about the leather seats either

Didn't the Dmax win the best ute recently??

[chester ver 2.0 Member Find all posts View Profile Close chester ver 2.0]

Didn't the Dmax win the best ute recently??

Yes it did it is very different to the prado i am still getting used to the lenght but all in all lovely to drive and considering i am getting 800kms out of a 72 litre tank i am not complaining

[rob_macca67 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close rob_macca67]

Yes it did it is very different to the prado i am still getting used to the lenght but all in all lovely to drive and considering i am getting 800kms out of a 72 litre tank i am not complaining

How's the rear seating for 3 people..... having 3kids, this is one thing that I will always need to consider with any future buy until the kids are off our hands....which is many years away ATM.

What's the ride like being leaf sprung?

[rags Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close rags]

Another option for the future A7 seat wagon built on the Ford Ranger platform with the 5cy diesel
http://www.carsales.com.au/news/2013...-everest-38160

[Jon Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Jon]

I will need to replace my Prado 120 shortly (depending on the insurance company...their decision will dictate what I can afford).
Only 2 of us in the vehicle most of the time as kids grown up.
So I am considering a 150GXL or a 150GX (don't need the rear seats) or an FJ Cruiser. Maybe something else.
The FJ is cheaper, however I need to fit the camping gear into the back ( I don't have a tin tent), and it is 200mm shorter in the cargo area. The critical bit would be the Engel 40L fridge.
I have had 3 Prado's (90 series & 2 120 series), however not confident in strength of the chassis due to recent experiences.
What do others reckon?

[prado4x4 Member Find all posts View Profile Close prado4x4]

I will need to replace my Prado 120 shortly (depending on the insurance company...their decision will dictate what I can afford).
Only 2 of us in the vehicle most of the time as kids grown up.
So I am considering a 150GXL or a 150GX (don't need the rear seats) or an FJ Cruiser. Maybe something else.
The FJ is cheaper, however I need to fit the camping gear into the back ( I don't have a tin tent), and it is 200mm shorter in the cargo area. The critical bit would be the Engel 40L fridge.
I have had 3 Prado's (90 series & 2 120 series), however not confident in strength of the chassis due to recent experiences.
What do others reckon?

The FJ is only available with the 4L petrol (no diesel) and only in an auto, but I'm sure you're aware of that.

If there is only the two of you, simply unbolt the rear seats of the FJ and you have heaps of space to put all the camping gear. If you want to keep the rear seats in, you can still fit a 40L Engel. Drifta make a drawer system that goes in the rear of the FJ and you can fit a 40L Engel on top of that (It must be on the drivers side though to allow for the curve of the rear door that stops you opening the fridge if it's mounted on a slide on the passenger side). It's a tight fit, but does fit.

As well as being cheaper than the Prado, they also have better approach/departure angles, more ground clearance, come with a rear diff lock as standard, and will take 33" tyres (285/70R17) on the standard rims without a suspension lift (minor rubbing on plastic trim inside wheel arch at full lock - gone with standard 2" lift). 35" are not uncommon with a 3" lift and BMC.

If you can live with the styling and the petrol only engine, then they can be quite the bargain. Yep, I'm biased as I have one. With 33" tyres, 2" lift, roof rack, rear drawers, fridge, water tank, etc, etc. Around town I get around 13L/100km, and loaded for a trip I get about 15L/100km. Quite reasonable to me, but I'd still prefer a diesel engine option.

Something to think about anyhow..............

John

[gantulga Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close gantulga]

Hmm, 200 series biturbo could do the job for you, but expensive way to pull camper. why not you downsize the camper and opt to stay with 150 series.

[chester ver 2.0 Member Find all posts View Profile Close chester ver 2.0]

How's the rear seating for 3 people..... having 3kids, this is one thing that I will always need to consider with any future buy until the kids are off our hands....which is many years away ATM.

What's the ride like being leaf sprung?

Rear seat is nice i spent about 2 hours in there and was OK mind you it is top of the line with leather.

The rear is quite comfortable however i have put an ARB drawer in an with it loaded is about 100kg of weight so that has settled it a bit. Honestly the only time i can tell it is a leaf spring is when the back comes off a speed hump it is a lot firmer than the coils on the prado

It goes back to ARB on friday for suspension i opted for the 0 to 300kg springs even though with the camper hooked up and the back loaded i am over the 300kg optimum performance weight i only tow on occasion so wanted it still comfortable to drive around town.

Only thing i am glad i have is due to extra lenght a reverse camera has come in handy

Build details

[rob_macca67 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close rob_macca67]

OK.... so the room in the back is good for when 3 people are in the back?? Is the room in the back the same as the Ford Rangers?

I was looking at the Rangers and noticed the Rear Towbar.... couldn't believe at the size of the box section.... Huge !!! Really stuffs up your departure angles....

[chester ver 2.0 Member Find all posts View Profile Close chester ver 2.0]

OK.... so the room in the back is good for when 3 people are in the back?? Is the room in the back the same as the Ford Rangers?

I was looking at the Rangers and noticed the Rear Towbar.... couldn't believe at the size of the box section.... Huge !!! Really stuffs up your departure angles....

Yep about the same as the ranger with one bonus there are some feet vents that the air con comes through that come out of the bottom of the console for the rear passangers that the ranger or BT50 did not seem to have

[Jon Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Jon]

Please wait; details later

[pradokid_399 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close pradokid_399]

i'm from the Caribbean and over here Toyota has a different variety of vehicles...but i still imported a Prado!! but anyway in my country we have the Toyota Fortuner available manual/auto trans, 3.0 D4D etc. and its got > 3000kg towing capacity very nice looking suv powerful too. do you have that in your country? it 's close to an improved hilux in SUV form
http://www.motorbeam.com/wp-content/...r_Launched.JPG
http://indianautosblog.com/wp-conten...ortuner-13.jpg
http://www.autotrader.pk/app/webroot...-Fortuner1.jpg

[Guest Close Guest]

Yes the Fortuner looks good. It's a bit more the size of our Mitsu Challenger I think.