Land Cruiser / Prado

Can only answer for Landcruiser and for that price range you are probably looking at a 1hz powered 105 series or possibly an 80 series at lower end of price range however expect huge km for $10k. Both are tough and very capable however are quite sluggish. I have driven both for work vehicle in the past in remote areas of Qld and they never let me down however they were new vehicles at the time.

The 1hz motor is generally very simple and reliable and plenty have lasted well beyond 500,000km with routine servicing. Scheduled replacement of timing belt is critical.

My own experience saw a 1hz motor in a ute fail at 317,000km the cause being the snapping of the idler gear shaft in the front timing gears resulting in a major collision between valves and pistons. This is a rare occurance however you need to be aware things can go wrong with anything however I think the odds are still in your favour with a 1hz.

Because I couldn't get anyone local to rebuild it I opted for an exchange rebuilt motor (about $5.5k plus fitting) which are readily available however you need to be careful of dodgy engine reconditioners.

Not a cheap exercise by the time you replace a few other things such as clutch, harmonic balancer and fan clutch. The vehicle needs to be in good order to make it worthwhile. Having said that I will bet it is still alot cheaper to replace a 1hz motor than a newer common rail one and its associated fuel system.

Hope this helps

Peter

The difference is the prado is not a landcruiser...the prado is ( some will hate this) a hilux stationwaggon.

For good or bad the prado is a lighter vehicle and mechainically closer related to a hilux than a landcruiser

The prado replaced the fourrunner and the surf which where clearly hilux stationwaggons..and the early prados where mechainically identical to the hilux except they had a coil spring rear end.

Regardless of the semantics, the prado's are a good thing.

As far as toyota diesels...I'm running a 5LE hilux ( 3 liter non turbo) it has over 300 000 on the clock on the original injectors and pump...I baught it with 280 000 on it.....and it runs like a clock....compression is still good..still pulls well...never going to be a rocket ship...but it runs fine.

All these toyota diesels like to have good diesel spec oil and regular oil change....some 2 stroke in the diesel keeps em sweet.


cheers

I have a 150 "LANDCRUISER " Prado (yes it does say that on the back).

I have taken mine across the Simpson Desert, up to Cape York, Up and down and across all the major "tracks" and last year up the Canning Stock Route.

Never missed a beat!!

Very very agile 4WD and a heap better on fuel than a big Landy.

BUT if ever you want to tow (as I doing now) only a 2500KG capacity, and that's about the lowest of all the modern day 4WD's.

Had I had my time over again, and knowing what I know about the towing capacity I'd have bought a Cruiser BUT, I cannot take one thing away form the Prado its a ripper 4WD if that is what you want.

Depends on what you primarily want it for. The Prado is still great around town and no slouch offroad either, depending on what accessories you put on it.

The 'Cruiser is a more stable platform for towing or offroad but obviously a bit thirstier and cumbersome to park but great on the open road with a fair bit more room. I liked our previous 'Cruiser but I do find the Prado more user friendly between trips - which is by far, most of our driving.

btw, A "Landy" is generally the term given to a Land Rover.

"Landy" is a term of endearment usually reserved for Land Rover, in most cases the Defender.