Prado or LC200?

Buy shares in Shell before you go.

Apparently they give a discount to shareholders...

bill

Fuels efficiency is not that different. Prado listed as 8.5l/100km and the 200 as 10.3. I reckon once you start towing the difference would be even less.

I have a 200 and would buy one again in a heartbeat. But like all fuel figures the ones from Toyota are not a real world guide. I can't speak for the Prado but you can expect about the following in a 200.

10 - 11 on the freeway in stock form
13 - 14 overall all in the country if you add bull bars, suspension, tyres, bullbar etc etc
15 - 18 towing with your van or around town in peak hour ( with above stuff too)
32 - 33 crossing the Simpson while towing

I suspect the Prado will use 2 - 3 l/100km less but it won't put a smile on your face like the 200. I'll never forget one time going up a long steep freeway hill not too long after I got it ( 7 years ago). There was a GU 3.0 quite a way in front of me and we were sitting on 110. I had cruise control on. Somewhere around half way up the hill, the GU was down to about 85 or so with smoke billowing out of the exhaust. The 200 didn't even know it was towing 2 tons and was still doing 110 at the top.

One other point is that swing open doors like those on the Prado can interfer with the hitch and front of the trailer. Ask the trailer manufacturer if there are any issues with the rear door on the Prado. I am sure they will know.

2 other points.
1)Do not believe any "My brother has one and ....." stories, almost every one of these is wrong or relates to issues fixed in June 2009 ( for new and owned vehicles) Only listen to people who own one.

2)Join LCOOL. There are literally thousands of owners of both vehicles and tons of threads on fuel use, problems, even your question.

I have a 2007 120Series D4D Prado. 4mm lift, bar, winch, storage system, BFG All Terrains. To follow up on Boobook's figures:

10s on the freeway in stock form (never could get the claimed 9.3)
13-14 overall in the country with the above fit-out
15-17 overall in the country as above, towing 2.2 tonne
19-20 towing in Snowies, Vic High Country

Have done a Simpson trip, heavily loaded but not towing but it was a long time ago and I cannot recall the fuel consumption. The vehicle performed magnificently in hot, dry sand. 1200 or whatever dunes and not one second attempt, not even Big Red. In fact, had to extract our tour leader's 100 Series a couple of times :-)

Cheers

I should add that you can reasonably expect slightly better than that with a 150 Series -= they've been tweaked a bit over the 120s.

4mm lift??? Hardly worth the expense :-) Should be 45mm

Yeah, I've thought of that. Still means a difference of about $5-7k if we own it for 2yrs. I also get the sense the 200s are holding their value better.

Yep, agree with Steve, my Daughter and SIL have a 200 series, my wife and I have both driven it on the tracks in Gove and I am constantly being hounded to buy one.
Yes Dear I'd love one but....$$$

Hi Simon,
I could get 10.5 however that changed once I had my lift done, added winch/bullbar, replaced my tyres with a larger rolling diameter and added a roof rack. Best I can do now is 13 to 13.5 however that is for a 3.4tonne vehicle with full tool kit and rear drawers.

Cheers,
PeteS

should be NOT regret it…lol

Or drive slower and have a look around, and enjoy the scenery. :-)

Thanks. I realise I've been double counting the weight of everything that's in addition to the kavango. I was estimating 1800kg all up and at some point added the weight of gear again. So, I think it's more like your 1700kg we'll be towing.