After nearly 12 years ownership I'm at last considering moving on from the trusty 90 series to something a little newer. Each time I come back from a trip it seems I have to repair/replace something so I'm starting to loose a bit of confidence in the old girl.
I just got back from Bremer Bay, where, on a sloping sandy track near the beach in Fitzgerald River National Park the four bolts connecting the lower control arm to the lower ball joint decided they'd had enough. The CV was pulled out of the diff and the wheel was pushed up into the wheel arch badly damaging the fender. Luckily we were able to reinsert the CV without any problems and managed to scab four bolts from elsewhere on the car to reconnect the control arm and ball joint.
I'm considering looking at something like Pickles for a replacement 150 series, so just after a bit of info from those that may have gone down the same path. Are they really any cheaper, can a good bargain be had? I went to one of their auctions about 18 months ago at my sons urging, but they had very little on offer that interested me at the time so I left before they finished. I guess most Prado's they'd be selling would be ex mine/rentals so its a bit of a risk, but the 90 series I bought had obviously been through an auction house and was an ex miner and its been a great vehicle.
You can see vehicles up for auction on their website, but are you able to find out how much they actually sold for, or do you have to be there on the day? Pickles Perth is nearly 50kms from home so its going to be a bit of a mission getting there, not to mention time off work. Any feed back welcome.
The 90 series is going in for panel and suspension repairs this week, then off to the mechanic for a thorough inspection before I make my mind up about its future.
I just got back from Bremer Bay, where, on a sloping sandy track near the beach in Fitzgerald River National Park the four bolts connecting the lower control arm to the lower ball joint decided they'd had enough. The CV was pulled out of the diff and the wheel was pushed up into the wheel arch badly damaging the fender. Luckily we were able to reinsert the CV without any problems and managed to scab four bolts from elsewhere on the car to reconnect the control arm and ball joint.
I'm considering looking at something like Pickles for a replacement 150 series, so just after a bit of info from those that may have gone down the same path. Are they really any cheaper, can a good bargain be had? I went to one of their auctions about 18 months ago at my sons urging, but they had very little on offer that interested me at the time so I left before they finished. I guess most Prado's they'd be selling would be ex mine/rentals so its a bit of a risk, but the 90 series I bought had obviously been through an auction house and was an ex miner and its been a great vehicle.
You can see vehicles up for auction on their website, but are you able to find out how much they actually sold for, or do you have to be there on the day? Pickles Perth is nearly 50kms from home so its going to be a bit of a mission getting there, not to mention time off work. Any feed back welcome.
The 90 series is going in for panel and suspension repairs this week, then off to the mechanic for a thorough inspection before I make my mind up about its future.
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