prado 120 advice

Hi Drive safe,

That’s good advice, I should try some other cars, oops it not my car well I suppose if the colour is right the other half will be happy. But you are right I have a habit of getting one car in my head and if I like we buy it but unfortunately we have a limited choice as its a company car. The reason I am taking my time over choosing the car is after the 2 year term is up we get the chance to buy the car.

The discovery is a good idea but I do not want to buy such a new model. I am also not to pleased that the discovery has went independent suspension all round and a very debateable separate chassis. It has electronics to make it behave like a beam axle but in my mind it needs to prove itself first but also only the top end model gets these electronics. The base models are left with fully independent, in my opinion Ford have destroyed the discovery The Range rover is currently using this T5 chassis and suspension set-up. Got a shot in one at the last Land rover off road day and is was a stunning machine but I’m still not convinced that electronics are the way to go.

The most worrying thing is the Defender looks like it will follow the T5 chassis route, but its only rumours, not even ford would dare wreck the Defender. I drive an old defender for fun and trash it offroad at weekends so I am well aware of its need to be updated. But all crap aside the defender is the ultimate offroad expedition vehicle, it might not be perfect, far from it but it is the best when the going gets tough. Before I get shot down in flames I do not mean a standard Defender and certainly not that crap TD5 engine. What I mean is, in the UK there is a massive following for the Defender to such an extent there are thousands of specialists who can convert the Defender into anything for the right amount of cash. It is this adaptability that makes the defender unique and the moment they fill it with crap gizmos is the day the defender will end. I am not saying that other car with similar modifications could not equal it what I am saying is, its the ease at which you can modify a Defender which can not be beaten. Ford better not wreck the Defender.

Sorry I am off the subject, on a rant about the defender again.

So yes I will look at other cars but not the discovery for the above reasons. I will not consider the old model either just because they are everywhere in the UK as they outsell almost every other 4x4.

Oops just been given into trouble with the other half about the colour slander as she puts it. I take that back, but all joking aside she is not really interested in cars but she does find the patrol too big, that was another reason for looking at the smaller land cruiser.

Hi Tony,

What was the leg room in the prado like compared to the GU and th LC 100.

I'm 6ft tall, my left leg is almost straight when I use the cluch, and the drivers seat can still move back further.
I've had 6ft tall people in the back and they have had plenty of leg room.
I didn't end up driving the GU, so I can't compare the two from personal experience.
The seem to remember sitting more upright in the LC 100. It's more like sitting in an office chair. Where as the Prado feels more like a normal passenger car. Visibility is still excellent in the Prado, on-road and off-road.

A test drive will confirm the comfort for your use.

Hope this helps.