Prado GXL

Well in my biased opionion (because I drive a 00 3.4l petrol, auto).................

It goes pretty much everywhere I want it to, but I'm not into extreme offroad, panel damage type stuff. It happily goes where my friends in hiluxes, landcruisers and patrols go. I've had no reliability issues at all.

It does benefit from the usual offroad upgrades of a 2" suspension lift, and larger (265/75R16) tyres. If you have the extra money, a rear locking diff is also a benefit as most toyota LSD diffes, loose there "limited" capability by the time tey've done 50-100K km's. That being said, it's a nice to have, not a necessity.

I personally prefer the auto. Works better for me than the manuals on every surface except the steep downhill runs. Over here in WA with lots of sand, an auto is great.

Fuel economy, well with the larger BFG At tyres I have, I get around 14l per 100km with my mixed hwy around town driving. Less with country cruising (around 13l / 100km) and a lot more in the soft sand (around 18-20l / 100km).

For a roughly 2 tonne vehicle (I've usually got storage drawers fridge etc in the back all the time), it's quite reasonable on fuel. The 159l worth of fuel tanks are a bonus too.

I'm sure you'll get other opionions, but for a petrol, second hand, mid sized wagon - it was my choice over the pajero (the only other serious contender I looked at. - Simply a lot better offroad than a pajero, but it cost a few dollars more to buy).

Oh yes - theres, lots of em about that have been used by the "soccer mum" set, so real easy to buy ones thats had no offroad use before at all.

John

Cliffy1, I pretty much agree with prado4x4 - nice summary. I got the same vehicle, same year. I can add that I don't like the downhill speed when steep even in LL-1. Would get a manual if it was just me (but I have a better half). I have lost the airflow sensor and the starter motor in last 6mths, but I knew the previous owner well and he had no problems at all. By all accounts, they are extremely reliable.

Gday Cliffy
Not sure if this will answer all your questions but it may give abit of an insight into the vehicle you are interested in.
PRADO INFO
This is from my workshop from our experiences.
Hope some of it can answer some of your questions.
Cheers
120scruiser

The first post was pretty much on the mark, EXCEPT the TD is the go from an economy, towing and off road perspective.

You just cant comapre the 3.4 V6 to the TD in these area's.

BTW mine is end of lease, and has to go (and its pretty much kitted out).

Dave
prado_95@yahoo.com