Things I have learned whilst owning a Prado

[JimmyC Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close JimmyC]

Since the Prado was my first 4wd and first diesel I thought I would post a few things I have learned. Keeping this light and humourous to hopefully initiate a bit of a list from everyone.
1. 4wd's are expensive to buy
2. The amount of arguments I've had about the Prado being a 'soccer mum' car
3. The thought process of: "I don't need this accessory", 2 months later "maybe I want it if I have the spare cash", 2 more months later "I NEED THIS NOW"
4. The warped reality you get from having a 150L tank, or 230L in my case. "oh no I only have 1/2 a tank showing, better fill up right now!" but in reality you still have more fuel left in the tank than 90% of the cars on the market hold when full
5. Constantly trying to explain to people how the tri-zone climate control works
6. Explaining to people why I have 2 antennas on the bulbar
7. Being my first diesel coming to terms with the weird array of noises it makes that are 'normal' according to everyone else
8. Double, triple and quadruple checking that I have picked up the diesel pump at the servo
9. Spending months on end trying to work out the fuel transfer and fuel system on the dual tanks but just conceding that magic is all that occurs and no one will ever be able to explain it, not even a scientist
10. The constant battle with the rear wing dirt!!

[Andyfive Member Find all posts View Profile Close Andyfive]

11. I bought Mud tyres and it hasn't rained since.

[Rusty62 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Rusty62]

11. I bought Mud tyres and it hasn't rained since.

Well get ride of them, we need the rain.

[BiLLz0r Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close BiLLz0r]

I love this post Jimmy and agree with all of it (except I have a Petrol so no loosing sleep on Diesel issues for me).

[mickwebs Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close mickwebs]

12. Dual batteries are are like quantum physics NOBODY can give you a straight answer and there are multiple theories but no unifying principle !

[BiLLz0r Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close BiLLz0r]

13. Everyone has a different opinion on lift kits and what's best.
14. For a 4wd the Prado is quite low in places.

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

15. The unbelievable deal I got when I went to test drive the 155 SX. Salesman asked what it would take to get me to buy on the spot. I said a price I can't resist and he exceeded my wildest dreams by over $6000. Six years later and I still can't believe the deal I got and I am still very happy with the SX.

16. The amount of time, effort and money some owners spend preparing for any eventuality without ever seeming to get outside their own postcodes. I have a dual battery, Polyairs in the rear springs and left EVERYTHING else standard including tyres, suspension and NO bulbar. We have travelled over 30,000 km and seen some fantastic parts of Australia between Melbourne and Darwin. There is so much to do and see; just know you and your equipment's limitations and be safe.

[Bushbasher Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Bushbasher]

12. Dual batteries are are like quantum physics NOBODY can give you a straight answer and there are multiple theories but no unifying principle !

Yes there is. The one unifying principle in a dual battery system is that there are definitely 2 batteries.

[brogers Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close brogers]

17. I have learned that not everyone reads the Prado owners manual
18. That "oils ain't oils" and many people have an opinion on engine oils but seemingly very few are actually correct and its very easy to use the wrong engine oil if you believe what folk say.
19. I have also learned not to "trust" what anyone does to your car, always check before a service exactly "what is to be done", and then check "what was actually done", don't trust what folk "say" they are going to do or what they have actually done. Its very easy for anyone to make a mistake.

[BiLLz0r Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close BiLLz0r]

19. I have also learned not to "trust" what anyone does to your car, always check before a service exactly "what is to be done", and then check "what was actually done", don't trust what folk "say" they are going to do or what they have actually done. Its very easy for anyone to make a mistake.

So true and why I started servicing my own cars myself. I should of done it earlier.

[oceanracer Moderated member Find all posts View Profile Close oceanracer]

You don't look at the petrol pump for the $ amount, just the litres put into the tank

[JimmyC Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close JimmyC]

20. It takes so many L to fill up that the spend $5 in store and get 4c off a litre deal works in your favour.

[Nik83 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Nik83]

I now wait until empty to fill up my tank for free drinks.

[Fred63 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Fred63]

21. How far you ca go in a basically stock Prado. Kills the Soccer Mum argument.

[OldGreyFart Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close OldGreyFart]

Do you reliase how many trips/kms a soccer mum doers in a fortnight.

21. How far you ca go in a basically stock Prado. Kills the Soccer Mum argument.