2018 Prado

[Snouto Member Find all posts View Profile Close Snouto]

Have just ordered my new vehicle to be delivered early next year, to replace my 2010 LC150 VX, but new VX does not have KDSS so after consultation with SWMBO I was allowed to order the Limited version, Kakadu in OZ. I really wanted KDSS, minimises body roll and great when towing, seemed to keep the vehicle level, suggest you check the TOYO web sites for an explanation of what KDSS does and how it works. If you can afford it then get it !

Rob

Limited version Kakadu?

[Snouto Member Find all posts View Profile Close Snouto]

I looked at a gxl standard, gxl with leather, a vx and a Kakadu yesterday. The standard gxl is fine and all, but one thing I thought would immediately annoy me was the fabric covering the door arm rest area. It doesn’t feel comfortable to the touch to me. In the Kakadu it’s leather on the door as well as the seats and knee cushion against the centre console - much better, and it has that nice looking centre console switch gear where other models just have a cubby hole. Interestingly the gxl with leather option also did not have leather in the door, nor did it have leather on the centre console, so the leather option is strictly for the seats only. The vx felt very nice, having leather seats as standard and leather in the door and on the centre console. Originally I thought the vx offered little value over the gxl but the alloy wheels are larger and much better looking imo, the leather details make a difference, and you get 360 degree camera, front sensors, cool box, better sound system, illuminated side steps, auto dimming rear view mirror and auto windscreen wipers. All together that still probably doesn’t justify $11k difference, but have to remember LCT too. I’ll be going for the VX, but the lack of kdss is a real sickener.

[sydney_sider Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close sydney_sider]

At around $10k more than VX, Kakadu offers KDSS, multi-terrain select, drive mode select, rear air suspension, moon roof, blue-ray screen and power fold 3rd row. Definitely not cheap, but good value I would say!

[Snouto Member Find all posts View Profile Close Snouto]

At around $10k more than VX, Kakadu offers KDSS, multi-terrain select, drive mode select, rear air suspension, moon roof, blue-ray screen and power fold 3rd row. Definitely not cheap, but good value I would say!

Too rich for my blood, will have to make do with the already expensive VX. Are there after market suspension kits that do the same job as kdss?

[RobP69 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close RobP69]

faux wood trim on the kak really is unsightly and looks cheap

Dropping KDSS from the VX is a bummer

This ^ - Can't begin to say how disappointed I am...;

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

which dealer are youwith? Give you a prado loan car! I can only have Yaris.

Yeah......normally a Yaris or Hybrid Camry(with embarrassing signage plastered all over it!) for me also, but because i've bought a few cars off them over the years they do sometimes spoil me, having said that, earlier this year when we updated the wife's Hilux i had to go to another dealer for a decent deal.....will be interesting to see over the next week or so if they've found there pencil sharpener!

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

Too rich for my blood, will have to make do with the already expensive VX. Are there after market suspension kits that do the same job as kdss?

I've no doubt you'll be very happy with the VX......that auto fading rear view mirror is worth its weight in gold!!...they're brilliant. Don't believe there's any after market version of the KDSS, if there is it would be expensive!

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

This ^ - Can't begin to say how disappointed I am...;

Would you buy the VX over an optioned GXL ?
I'd think for the coin it's a leather optioned GXL or KAK

[Snouto Member Find all posts View Profile Close Snouto]

This ^ - Can't begin to say how disappointed I am...;

I’m of a different opinion, I thought the darker more subtle wood on the glove box and steering wheel looked quite nice. Much better than the lighter wood of previous models I thought.

One difference here and the vx I forgot to mention earlier - the vx only has wood near the glove box, and not on the steering wheel. That’s fine by me, no idea why anyone would want wood on a steering wheel.

[Snouto Member Find all posts View Profile Close Snouto]

Would you buy the VX over an optioned GXL ?
I'd think for the coin it's a leather optioned GXL or KAK

I would, and in fact I plan to. The gxl with leather isn’t as good as the vx with leather IMO (see my earlier post), and when you consider the nicer alloys on the vx plus the other extras, spending the extra $11k to the vx is not such a bad idea. Obviously if you can afford the Kakadu it’s the one to go for, but it’s quite the financial jump from a gxl.

[Snouto Member Find all posts View Profile Close Snouto]

I've no doubt you'll be very happy with the VX......that auto fading rear view mirror is worth its weight in gold!!...they're brilliant. Don't believe there's any after market version of the KDSS, if there is it would be expensive!

That’s what I thought would be the case. Some form of uprated shocks will have to do for me further down the line, when the car is at least a couple of years old and I’m less concerned about bumping it around off road!

[prado R83D Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close prado R83D]

Bigger rims mean your tyres will also cost more, a large cost factor over the life of the vehicle.

[Mushie Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Mushie]

....., and when you consider the nicer alloys on the vx ......

I can see how the 18" would be better for city/hwy driving, but not ideal for offroad I would have thought. Although I am not very experinced in this, so I could be very wrong.

[Rorz Banned Find all posts View Profile Close Rorz]

Did anyone get out on the weekend to dealerships and discuss drive away prices? Cheapest so far Ive heard of is $62,900 drive away for GXL in Silver.

[Snouto Member Find all posts View Profile Close Snouto]

Bigger rims mean your tyres will also cost more, a large cost factor over the life of the vehicle.

True but how much are we talking about, $100 extra for a set of four?