What to replace the Prado with?

[mybo Member Find all posts View Profile Close mybo]

Haven't read all of these posts, but has anyone suggested the Isuzu D-max or MUX? Good engine and transmission.. Definitely need a rear wheel carrier and long range tank on the MUX though..

[Mattfunk 120 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Mattfunk 120]

Haven't read all of these posts, but has anyone suggested the Isuzu D-max or MUX? Good engine and transmission.. Definitely need a rear wheel carrier and long range tank on the MUX though..

These do look the goods especially for towing. I think the utes are good for 3.5 t

[Jeff and Cel 120 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Jeff and Cel 120]

Ill throw in my 2c. I have been working in Dealerships for over 10 years. We have a v6 120 with 203000kms still drives beautifully.
Have seen 6 engines and 4 transmissions replaced in BT50's in just over 3 months. Average wait time for parts is about 3-4 weeks. I imagine the ranger is in the same boat as it is the same car.
Paj/triton tow big weight well however servicing costs are high. $650 every 2nd service) That said Mitsubishi are pretty good with warranty claims.
Navara. Reliability issues galore.
Toyota all seem to be reliable apart from the well known issues. Friends of ours tow a 3000kg van approx 40 weekends of the year. Have recently traded their 200 on a disco 4. Plenty of power, quiet, more comfortable than 120 or 200. 25000km service intervals are a bit of a concern but that is what land rover say.
We looked seriously at vans/campers with the stipulation that it had to be towed by the Prado and had to sleep 3 in semi proper beds.
If we were to get a bigger van, we would look seriously at the disco 4

Thanks
Jeff

[mybo Member Find all posts View Profile Close mybo]

These do look the goods especially for towing. I think the utes are good for 3.5 t

Yeah, I think I like the MUX because in some ways it is so much like a 120 D4D Prado... similar size, live-rear axle and IFS, 3.0L common rail diesel with variable geometry turbo, 5 spd auto, similar power and torque, good fuel economy... All for about $50K

Disco 4 is a beautiful car, but really is in another price bracket completely.

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

Yeah, I think I like the MUX because in some ways it is so much like a 120 D4D Prado... similar size, live-rear axle and IFS, 3.0L common rail diesel with variable geometry turbo, 5 spd auto, similar power and torque, good fuel economy... All for about $50K

.

65 litre fuel tank would be hard to live with though.

Cheers Andrew

[mybo Member Find all posts View Profile Close mybo]

Definitely need a rear wheel carrier and long range tank on the MUX though..

Agreed.

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

The Disco 4 would be a great and I've seen a Video where it leaves the 200's for Dead in a Drag race with both cars loaded up.... The 25k service intervals is nuts though for our country, but in saying that, u don't have to wait for the 25k, u can simply stick with the 10k servicing.... I've been told that u definitely need to READ the Owners Manual fully and understand how all the electronics work as this is vital in getting the most out of it offroad. Maintenance is the key as usual and the little I've read is that u have to be a bit proactive in replacing items, like the battery, etc b4 they fail as this can turn out costly otherwise.... Would I buy one? I simply don't know... apparently their reliability has greatly improved and they don't seem to have the current injector issues like Toyota, but the car is full of computers... six I believe.... Time will tell though.... Fewer Service agents throughout Australia too, so u have to factor that in as well

Ill throw in my 2c. I have been working in Dealerships for over 10 years. We have a v6 120 with 203000kms still drives beautifully.
Have seen 6 engines and 4 transmissions replaced in BT50's in just over 3 months. Average wait time for parts is about 3-4 weeks. I imagine the ranger is in the same boat as it is the same car.
Paj/triton tow big weight well however servicing costs are high. $650 every 2nd service) That said Mitsubishi are pretty good with warranty claims.
Navara. Reliability issues galore.
Toyota all seem to be reliable apart from the well known issues. Friends of ours tow a 3000kg van approx 40 weekends of the year. Have recently traded their 200 on a disco 4. Plenty of power, quiet, more comfortable than 120 or 200. 25000km service intervals are a bit of a concern but that is what land rover say.
We looked seriously at vans/campers with the stipulation that it had to be towed by the Prado and had to sleep 3 in semi proper beds.
If we were to get a bigger van, we would look seriously at the disco 4

Thanks
Jeff

[Mattfunk 120 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Mattfunk 120]

The Disco 4 would be a great and I've a Video where it lest the 200's for Dead in a Drag race with both cars loaded up.... The 25k service intervals is nuts though for our country, but in saying that, u don't have to wait for the 25k, u can simly stick with the 10k servicing.... I've been told that u definitely need to the Owners Manual fully and understand how all the electronics work as this is vital in getting the most out of it offroad. Maintenance is the key as usual and the litle I've read is that u have to a bit proactive in replacing items, like the battery, etc b4 they fail as this can turn out costly otherwise.... Would I buy one? I simply don't know... apparently their reliability has greatly improved and they don't seem to have the current injector issues like Toyota, but the car is full of computers... six I believe.... Time will tell though.... Fewer Service agents throughout Australia too, so u have to factor that in as well

A mate at work with a 12 year old disco (2.5L) beat a 2012 hilux D4D in a race over a couple of hundred metres. Didn't see that coming

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

A mate at work with a 12 year old disco (2.5L) beat a 2012 hilux D4D in a race over a couple of hundred metres. Didn't see that coming

I gather that would have been a TD5 Disco-2 (5 cyl) which is similar to a CRD and is computer controlled. With these u can remap the ECU or chip it, but I believe remapping is the preferred option.... These vehicles have their issues too (eg: The 3 Amigos) but once u understand them and keep up the servicing, u will get a long life out of them >500k. The last 2yrs of this model('03,'04) has most issues sorted....

[peter_mcc Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close peter_mcc]

The Disco 4 ... is full of computers... six I believe....

It would be way more than 6 - perhaps 6 main ones. The system diagram for the Networking on the 150 series shows 45 different networked systems if everything is fitted!

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

I had a Rover Sd1 once. 3500 V8 4 door hatchback, I'm sure you all know the shape.

Very comfortable cruiser, would do 200kph on the open road, no problem. Suspension was sht so I replaced it with Koni sport. The thing that killed it was the electronics. From the electric windows to the ECU everything was built to rubbish standards. I finally gave up on it when the ECU decided to run on only one bank of the V8. Replacement was $3k+ Luckily I had an electronics whizz mate who replaced every non-proprietary component in the ECU for me and got it going again. Traded it immediately on a Mazda, glad to see the back of it, will never buy a Rover again.

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

There is a reason why Lord Lucas was referred to as the Prince of Darkness by English car owners of that era!