My new Prado

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

my old lux

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

Just got back from a weekend out camping first trip in the Pardo, she towed fine. I was happy with how it handled, just have to get used to how soft the Pardo is compared to the Hilux. It even sat nice and level, Cheers Steve.

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

Duel battery all fitted with a redarc bcdc

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

Done a oil and filter change today, and booked in for a 2 inch lift at TJM. Can't beat the 3 years or 100.000km warranty on there lift kits installed. I normally get tough dog on my llast two hiluxs but time for change.

[drew_1 Find all posts View Profile Close drew_1]

looking good Steve and great to see you're using it as it was designed to be!

[pradokakadudavid Member Find all posts View Profile Close pradokakadudavid]

Glad to hear you are so pleased Steve. I think Toyota have finally started to realise that if they do not lift their game and start to produce some comfort and sophistication into their 4 wheel drives that many people will opt for the soft roaders instead. I mean the new Sante Fe is just so good, as an SUV, most people will wonder why to waste their money on a 4 wheel drive they may never use. I entertained this argument for 12 months but finally bought a real 4 wheel drive in the form of a 2016 Prado Kakadu so I know what you mean about all the nice bits and pieces that they now have. As you say the downhill assist is very clever (I have crawl control in mine which does the same thing) and the six speed sports shift is great for maintaining speed while cruising up hills. Unlike most people, who will humiliate me for this decision, I opted for the V6 pertol motor as I like the power and smoothness which the diesel cannot match. It has 210 klws or near enough saw this is good for over taking on the ope road. Admittedly it is a thirty engine by comparison but I can live with that. Glad you are enjoying your new purchase.

[pradokakadudavid Member Find all posts View Profile Close pradokakadudavid]

Hi Steve. I had this same gearbox on my earlier 12 IS350F Lexus (nice to know they hand the crap downhill) and the trick is to quickly change from drive to sports (meaning as you say it will pop automatically into 4th gear) and then quickly do a double shift up and then up again to select 6th gear. This will engage 6th gear straight away. In lay man's terms (e.g. me lol) I think the fuzzy logic on this gearbox assumes that if you select sports mode, you wish to have some over taking power. By selecting 4th gear as the default, this gives you a good boost and would not be dangerous at any speed as my previous 2012 Lexus would easily do the old ton and far more in 4th gear auto. Once you get used to it, it is very simple to operate and once you do as I suggest above, it will change up and down through the gears automatically but with higher shift points with higher revs. It was a lot of fun to drive this car but pails into insignificance compared to the previous Subaru Liberty GT B spec (sob sob I sooooooooo miss that car).

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

Hi David, yes the auto will take some getting used to. I always liked the V6 and yes more power . I to had Subaru's my last was a WRX and mmm mmm mmm, power. But my lovely wife says we are getting a bit old lol. Thanks for the advice, cheers Steve.

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

out at Beltana camping, great place for 4x4ing.

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

with the TJM lift, the camper sits nicely behind the Prado.

Out the farm, very rocky place.

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

Fitted a ARB front recovery point today. What a mission that was.