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gmanual · 13-03-2016, 11:54 PM

PREFACE: Recon & Purchase.

I did a lot of research to decide what 4WD I would purchase, but I definitely couldn't have done it without consulting three different people in my life, my dad, my close friend and a coworker. It would be a topic of many weeks of research, discussion and more research. I would go away and research for a couple of days at a time then ask each person "Petrol or Diesel", "Toyota Hylux vs Landcruiser vs Prado", I'd refine and refine my carsales search more and more until I couldn't refine it any more. I'd send links from gumtree and carsales for feedback. I was getting closer and closer, my email alerts would only trigger a couple of cars a week, I would evaluate each and carefully consider the details, looking at the pictures. I had a good idea on how much I wanted to spend, started working out if I was going to use savings or get a loan. Things were moving along and I knew I was close, so close I could feel it, It was Friday, only a few more hours until the weekend.... I was made redundant.

F##k... f##k!!! I drove home and did what I thought was the most logical thing I could do after the events that had just transpired, I pulled into the closest bottleo and ignored my complete lack of future income, I spent at least $300 on booze. I was home early, I reviewed my budget, I was actually not that ill prepared, but at the time I think I was in emergency mode. I calculated based on my previous spending I had 5.7 months of savings if I did nothing, that didn't stop me from cancelling everything I considered non essential, sending text messages to cars sellers I was going to check out on the weekend, I couldn't fathom this expense at the moment, worst case I'd be selling my existing car and going without just to get by.. My friends were coming over to hang out, I couldn't actually bear to share what had happened to me at work, it's just the way I am.. I'm not going to lie, I almost burst into tears.. I powered on, enjoyed the night, woke up, hung over.

My head hurts, It's Saturday, why... why did I do that.. mhmmmm uhmm uugh.... It's actually not that bad.. last year I did a bunch of industry certs, a month ago I got my resume up to date and professionally reviewed, if I was going to get a 4WD I was considering getting new employment closer to home, I kinda knew this was coming, but I guess didn't want to believe it. I'll get through this..

Sunday morning I get a carsales email alert, someone on Saturday had uploaded a 2003 Prado, it matches all my criteria, the km's are in my range, the price is in my bracket, the pictures... look amazing! That is my f##king Prado. (I actually played videos games most of the morning and didn't see the email until later in the afternoon but that's how I choose to remember the story). Ok, let's do this. I updated my resume making all the changes suggested in the professional review, took longer than I expected, and was up pretty late. I then proceeded to spam Seek, every job in my industry I was somewhat qualified for, even jobs I was grossly overqualified for, it was late, my frustration with HR job forms grew to an all time high. I went to bed exhausted. I woke Monday morning, early, reflexes from my normal routine, I spammed the rest of Seek, anything I missed.. I applied for.

Tuesday I got calls, the first line of defence, recruiters.. ewww.. Finally a gem, a call in the mix, "Can you come in for an interview, tomorrow?" ..."Ok."

I had a good feeling... Email came in, carsales, price drop.. grrrr.. don't you dare, do not even think about going anywhere else..... I'm working on it.

Wednesday, interview day, I was ready, I was prepared, I had a good feeling, I got this. Interviews are pretty stressful, they said they would let me know. They let me know.. like an hour later. Green light all the way. It's on, It's happening, first message.. family? friends? No... "Mate, do you still have the Prado?" "Yeah mate you wanna come check it out?"

The rest is history.

Chapter 1: The Clean

I was pretty excited when I first picked up the G-Beast, I didn't even know if it was going to fit under my house, I had to wait, finally the next morning, I had some time.

I moved my Subaru out of the parking spot and onto the street, I reassessed the situation, examining the Prado then the parking spot, it was going to be close.. It was going to be close trying to fit between the pylons, it was going to be close fitting underneath the house.. F##ken hell, I almost convinced myself it wasn't going to work and I haven't even tried yet.

I opened the gate, in fact I stepped out and cut the power to the gate, the last thing I want to be worried about is an automatic gate trying to close while I'm trying to park. I edge closer, windows down, I move forward, edging up towards the park, the mirrors on either side feel like they're millimetres from the pylons, I keep edging closer... I fit! At least the width fits, calculating that even if the height is a problem, I can probably park outside and close the gate behind. I move forward, it's a slight ramp up, I stop and poke my head out the window every foot I go forward, I'm not worried about the car, I'm worried that the roof rails won't make it.. Slow and steady I move forward, finally testing myself to go all the way, less than an inch of clearance.. I made it.. F##k yes!

Well that just made my day, it seems like something so small and meaningless but getting the Prado in a secure park without having to worry BS was a huge relief. I moved the Subaru in behind and got the vacuum out, my parents were interested in the Subaru and were driving down to pick it up, I wanted to make sure it was ready to go. It was not really such a big issue, over the last 10 years I've kept it clean, and in fairly good conditioning. Only 89,000km it didn't need much work, and at family rates it was an easy deal. I hunkered down and detailed the Subaru for the last time, not much too it, and it was done in less than an hour.

My parents arrived, I was probably more excited to show them the new rig, and they were more excited to take the keys off my hands for the Subaru, I showed them my dream purchase, acting excited, it had been less than 24 hours and it hadn't really sunk in yet, it looked presentable, this is it! Obviously they were happy, I was happy, it was good vibes all around.

After they left, I was in a cleaning mood, I have the vacuum out, I thought, "I might as well give the Prado a once over...." and honestly the series of events that have transpired, from that one thought, have kept me busy for weeks... Yes... Weeks!

I have the vacuum out, I'll just vacuum inside and I'll be done. Which kinda worked, it worked as well as you would expect. It was then I decided, "Maybe I should take the seat covers off.." Something I can only describe as a layer of filth was waiting for me under those seat covers.. Five, maybe ten years of stuck dirt, sand and whatever else had formed the layer between the covers and seat. It was time to call in the big guns..

Lets just say, the next 48 hours I was busy.

Chapter 2: Underbody

If you're been following, and you probably haven't. I've gotten through the clean. I've also replaced the cabin air filter, and I'm just going to say, this helped a lot with the stale smell in the car. I would describe it as if you completely cleaned something but you're still not feeling like it's complete.. Bang! cabin air filter change.

gmanual · 13-03-2016, 11:55 PM

To Do:
Recovery points
Deep cycle battery

gmanual · 13-03-2016, 11:56 PM

Another Reserved Post

gmanual · 13-03-2016, 11:58 PM

Final Reserved Post

prado2004 · 14-03-2016, 09:30 AM

good choice I love my 2004 1kz. have a look through my build for some ideas. good luck!

Announcement

G-Beast - 2003 GXL - KZJ120R - 1KZ-TE

G-Beast - 2003 GXL - KZJ120R - 1KZ-TE

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