Prado for 30K?

[booze Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close booze]

Hi, obviously new here

Went for a bash in a friends clapped out Pajero the other day and now Im hooked. I need a 4WD!

Im on a budget of 30K and think I have narrowed it down to a Prado as I would like an 04 model onwards. Would also like a Cruiser but dont have the funds and have heard too many horror stories re the Patrol.

My question is, what would you recommend, diesel, petrol, manual or auto? Im not going to be a hard core 4x4er but would like to get to the beach and track work. Fuel economy is also of concern. What real world figures can I expect?

Are there any things to look for when looking over a Prado? Any help would be great. Thanks for reading!

Booze

[Prado BB Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Prado BB]

Re: Prado for 30K?

Hi Booze, welcome to the forum. You may want to read through this thread click here but I depending if you are towing or not and how many modifications you are planning, I would say with a stock 120 diesel (04-06) pre D4D, you will get around 12lt/100 and around 10lt/100 with the D4D. Petrols are a few lt/100 more. I would go the auto if you plan beach driving and would keep the tyres standard HT, to save on fuel and get better floatation on the sand. Have a look through the build up threads and trip reports to see just how capable these things are.

cheers

[Guest Close Guest]

Re: Prado for 30K?

My 03 V6 Grande is currently returning 15L/100km with muddies and roofrack on. Will be returning it to standard tyres and no roofracks and hope to achieve 14L/100km of suburban driving. More if I was doing rush hour driving.

I went with petrol auto as I don't do towing.

[D4D-GXL Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4D-GXL]

Re: Prado for 30K?

If you get an auto for 30k you will only be getting a 4 speed + overdrive. The later models (from Aug 07 I believe), has 5 speed auto + overdrive.

[Hutch Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hutch]

Re: Prado for 30K?

If you get an auto for 30k you will only be getting a 4 speed + overdrive. The later models (from Aug 07 I believe), has 5 speed auto + overdrive.

The auto changed from 4sp to 5sp in Septemnber 04 for the petrol model and went to 5sp in diesel when the d4d arrived in Dec 06.

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

Re: Prado for 30K?

booze i paid the trade in price $25 500 for my 03 grande v6 , 145 000 ks , 4 spd auto . nrma values it at 30 000 . fuel figures seem to depend on your right foot. ive had 14.5l /100 at 150kph air on in 30 degrees ,12.5 - 13.5 on real short hops around town , 12.5 across blue mountains , recent 500k round trip through southern highlands down to 11.2/100 doesn't matter what you buy theyre bloody good an thats from a bloke who never really liked them before .