2018 Prado

[bigowenb]

Good news for me, have put a deposit down on a 2018 build VX in Peacock Black (wife’s choice). Should collect in March. Got what we consider a great deal at $71400 including the afore mentioned metallic paint, tow pack, bonnet protector, mats front and back and cargo mat, plus first service for free. Took a swerve on the nudge bar after seeing the photos from bigowenb. Now we have to count down the days, weeks and months! That bloody KDSS though... god damn it.

Congratulations, the wait will go quick, it'll be March before you know it! When I picked mine up on Thursday was chatting to the dealer and they've been as surprised as I have with the popularity of the VX.....they've sold more VX's than any other variant, looks like Mr Toyota knows more about what sells than I ever will! lol.....although I think it helps when every media report and review makes no mention of the fact KDSS has been deleted from the VX.

[bigowenb]

Thanks for the information and photos, really useful to see how they've attached the bar to the truck. I'm at a loss as to why they couldnt source you some black parking sensors though, it looks pretty unusual the way you have it now (especially since I'm guessing you have the Kakadu). Also yeah, the holes in the bumper where the old plate was is also a "why didn't they just ..." moment. That said, the bumper isn't going to corrode with those holes and the steel looks great. Would you mind at all sticking up a couple of photos of the car from the front and at an angle so I can see the bar and the car in full context? We're considering pushing for a bar in our car but would appreciate more of an idea how it looks. It seems like it's a good bit of protection for parking bumps, people backing in to us, and maybe some small roadkill (it probably isn't going to protect the from end from anything more than a few feet high).

Photo's attached ......when I take it in for the 1000km inspection i'll be seeing what they will sell me a pair of black sensors for and then i'll re-run the loom along the bracket, put the white sensors back in the bumper and the black ones in the Nudge Bar.

[Snouto]

Good news for me, have put a deposit down on a 2018 build VX in Peacock Black (wife’s choice). Should collect in March. Got what we consider a great deal at $71400 including the afore mentioned metallic paint, tow pack, bonnet protector, mats front and back and cargo mat, plus first service for free. Took a swerve on the nudge bar after seeing the photos from bigowenb. Now we have to count down the days, weeks and months! That bloody KDSS though... god damn it.

[Snouto]

I've always had a Nudge Bar fitted, protects the bumper when the wife 'kisses' the garage brick wall.......picked up the new Prado yesterday, the new genuine Nudge Bars are a huge improvement over all the ones i've had fitted in the past. Stainless steel (not alloy like before), thick tube, mounted 2 places on each side with heavy duty brackets.....very solid! What I don't like is the way they remove the parking sensors from the bumper and put them on the Nudge Bar. Looks ugly how the loom comes out where the sensors were, should bring the loom out along the bracket and put a plug in the hole. Also they need some sort of plate to cover where the number plate normally goes on the bumper, looks unfinished. Was going to put a light bar on top using the mounts but it'll cover the camera and radar sensor in the badge.

Thanks for the information and photos, really useful to see how they've attached the bar to the truck. I'm at a loss as to why they couldnt source you some black parking sensors though, it looks pretty unusual the way you have it now (especially since I'm guessing you have the Kakadu). Also yeah, the holes in the bumper where the old plate was is also a "why didn't they just ..." moment. That said, the bumper isn't going to corrode with those holes and the steel looks great. Would you mind at all sticking up a couple of photos of the car from the front and at an angle so I can see the bar and the car in full context? We're considering pushing for a bar in our car but would appreciate more of an idea how it looks. It seems like it's a good bit of protection for parking bumps, people backing in to us, and maybe some small roadkill (it probably isn't going to protect the from end from anything more than a few feet high).

[Fasteddie]

Local paper had run out prices on Prado GXL auto, with metallic paint, no other options listed, drive away $61990.00.
Once the dust settles in the new year, and stock becomes available, I would think an astute buyer, should be able to secure a 2018 GXL auto with towbar for under this $62 K, advertised amount.
The new ARB alloy bar looks good on the previous model, I'm sure they won't be long till their ready for the 2018 release, it follows the shape of the front end very well, is winch comparable, with a steel mounting bracket. But in typical ARB, they won't quote the weight of their steel models or the alloy models, to compare the difference?
The ECB is prob the stronger, better made, only my impression, not based on any fact though, and Australian made.
It has a straight once piece, main bar design. Their very clear about weight, specs, and if you'd like it can be powder coated to limit the polishing required.
I'll definitely considered both these two for next yr.
The Toyota factory bars are improving, but are lighter, don't protrud as far out, to fit in garage etc, but are still not comparable to after market as yet. Only based on what I've seen for the new hilux ranger, though. 👍

[rags]

......and that sovereign bar was crap! It was bolted together and a day or 2 on corrugations saw it fall apart [ not to mention the support brackets which broke and were subject to recall]. It was a nightmare to keep clean as well. At the very least one hopes the new bars are one piece.

It was the failure of the bracket that resulted in the bar dislodging in some occasions rather than the sovereign bar itself falling apart.
Quite easy to keep clean if it was like mine, powder coated charcoal. It was an option at the time and cheaper than the polished bar, typically fitted to the GX model

[404pug]

......and that sovereign bar was crap! It was bolted together and a day or 2 on corrugations saw it fall apart [ not to mention the support brackets which broke and were subject to recall]. It was a nightmare to keep clean as well. At the very least one hopes the new bars are one piece.

[Desirable4Driving (D4D)]

I saw a my18 Prado leave a dealership today with the premium alloy bullbar on, it looked awesome. Best genuine bar since the 120 series days.

[Desirable4Driving (D4D)]

Check out their fb page, just autos nambour, a few stock examples there with dyno sheets. No one said anything about retaining warranty hence why I wouldn't contemplate handing a 60-80k vehicle over to them. But it certainly is nice to hear from these aftermarket guys how over engineered Toyota engines are once they start breaking them down. Couldnt agree more Krytpo I'll have my Toyotas anyday over the over rated over stressed Euro gear any day when heading off the beaten path.

[krypto]

A 200 series makes poor power levels for what it is. But they are enough for our needs hence why toyota derate everything for long lifespans.The Europeans pull 300kw out of 8cyl tt Diesel engines. Jusy autos safely dyno tune the 1vd to excess of 800nm. A 2.8 engineered in 2015 is very capable of close to 200 levels of power

"safely dyno tune the 1vd to excess of 800nm" Love to see the warranty that comes with that.

Highly tuned engines are great and I would love more grunt in my Prado. However, it's not so simple to get high specific power outputs (kw/litre) without adding stress to all parts of the engine and when you can't guarantee fuel quality. With that power comes complexity and lots of heat.

There is a difference between a high performance diesel designed to cruise autobahns, and one that gets used as a tractor in really harsh conditions. My mates super duper Range Rover with those sorts of specs regularly breaks.

Apart from why do you need 800Nm, not sure how it would go towing in crappy conditions on a 40C plus day. I'm not sure that you will find many high performance engines in truly remote and harsh places such as parts of Africa, Australia etc. Unless perhaps you can bring your own spares and workshop like in the Dakar rally

[mjrandom]

Dyno charts please.

[Desirable4Driving (D4D)]

A 200 series makes poor power levels for what it is. But they are enough for our needs hence why toyota derate everything for long lifespans.The Europeans pull 300kw out of 8cyl tt Diesel engines. Jusy autos safely dyno tune the 1vd to excess of 800nm. A 2.8 engineered in 2015 is very capable of close to 200 levels of power

[krypto]

Nothing comes for free. If you increase the power and and more importantly the torque that dramatically you will be getting well inside and possibly beyond the design safety margins for the engine and drive train.

The power of 200kw is within the range of what that gearbox and drive train can handle, although the engine would not be designed for that level of output. The engine, gearbox and drive train would not be designed for 650NM of torque. Even the GX470 (American Prado) with a V8 only makes around 200kw and 440NM.

[Fasteddie]

Thanks for the feedback, I'd never consider a motor trimmer for the leather option, would definitely pay to price the option, agreed on OEM leather wouldn't be the same quality as a quality after market trimmer, but would be hard to give the ok, to pull apart the new interior to redo, I just love the heated / cooled seat options, and standard intergrated controls. When I've finished paddling ocean ski, at 630 on a winters morning the heated leather seats are worthwhile luxury to me !!

As a standard 2.8GD prado, makes 450 Nm and 130 kW in auto, with pdf system, extracting 200 series power is a little unrealistic ? (650 Nm and 200 kW). On a $70 k vehicle with 3 yrs warranty, who's going to jeopardise the motor/warranty tunning an engine way past its manufacturing design parameters, chasing V8 twin turbo power levels.
I understand modern diesel are a compromise, with tuning for emissions, fuel efficiency and power, but a tune can only do so much, adjusting fuel pressure, boost, and making it flow more air, etc, very hard to do with a PDF system.
A 10% might be achievable, but always risks the manufactures warranty if something goes wrong, and if it was easy would Toyota have offered more.

I think for me for a family wagon, surf rig and remote touring either the gxl prado would suit, but so would the gx 200 !!!, for a premium above the premium Toyota want for the Prado.

Maybe the economics of the 10 % ish saving on purchase price, smaller dimensions for day to day commuting, better fuel range, better fuel usage all lends the win to the Prado, but a test drive of the gx 200 could make it an decision of the pants for more power !!!!!.

In keeping with the thread, I'm sure this new updated 2018 Prado will deliver Toyota increased sales in a very competitive market, as it offers a great platform for family off roading and touring, for those of us that do not get the dual cab hype, and prefer a wagon.
A decision for the new year, and a first world problem if there's ever been one !!!

[Desirable4Driving (D4D)]

You can get a safe 200Kw out of the 2.8 with a dyno tune?

Yea talk to the guys at just autos nambour. The 2.8 is very derated, a small turbo lets it down a bit too.