Prado
Submitted: Tuesday, Mar 13, 2007 at 08:38
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2514
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Member - Stephen M (NSW)
Hi all, getting excited picking up Prado this afternoon. Yeah I know nothing like a rodeo or hilux but thought of a bit more comfort. Got the VX Grande V6 Petrol, 90 series. Hopefully will be as reliable as the lux has been. It has 150k on the clock and is like brand new, the usual never been off road or even put into 4wd for that matter. How nice will it be cruise, dual air, all the gear wont know myself and Ill be able to keep up with the speed limit even on the flats. I know its goimg to cost me at the bowser but still be cheaper than cruiser to run (hopefully). I know they dont have the wheel travel the cruisers and patrols have got but made a bit of a compromise. Will be in my rig profile very soon. Wife said here we go again,
snorkel, lift kit, bullbar, dual batts all the gear but she loves me luckily LOL. Have a great day everyone. Regards Steve M
Reply By: Member - bushfix - Tuesday, Mar 13, 2007 at 08:48
Tuesday, Mar 13, 2007 at 08:48
G'day mate,
a great vehicle, on and off road. don't forget to the 90 series Prado group at lcool.org. congratulations, you've been looking for a while eh?
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Stephen M (NSW) - Tuesday, Mar 13, 2007 at 12:53
Tuesday, Mar 13, 2007 at 12:53
Hi there bushfix, yes certainly have, was being as patient as possible but have frazer coming up so wanted some thing
well before to set it up. All I can say in regards to the rodeos is they must be a bloody great vehicle cause there was jack sh#t for sale and the ones that were for sale were obviously work horses (which is what they are) cause they were knocked about but still going. Yes have already joined lcool, some very handy info on there as
well. Regards Steve M
FollowupID:
487927
Reply By: Member - Jeff H (QLD) - Tuesday, Mar 13, 2007 at 09:01
Tuesday, Mar 13, 2007 at 09:01
G'day Stephen, you looked for long enough, and I'm sure will have done
well.
Good on you, (and God Speed with your 'mods' programme).
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Stephen M (NSW) - Tuesday, Mar 13, 2007 at 12:57
Tuesday, Mar 13, 2007 at 12:57
Thanks Jeff, hope fully it will serve me as
well as the old girl has. I know it will be thirstier but cant have it all. If the figures of 15L per 100 round town and 12/13 on the open road are correct I'll be as happy as a pig in mud. Have heard some cases of 17's but this is working them fairly hard so thats still acceptable. Regards Steve M
FollowupID:
487930
Reply By: Oz Travellers - Tuesday, Mar 13, 2007 at 09:40
Tuesday, Mar 13, 2007 at 09:40
We probably have the same model, 2000 Prado Grande 3.4l petrol, 95000km, great vehicle. Sparky
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Stephen M (NSW) - Tuesday, Mar 13, 2007 at 13:00
Tuesday, Mar 13, 2007 at 13:00
Hi there Sparky, just took a look at your rig profile see what goodies I can add to the list, like the draw system great idea. This one hasnt even got a bullbar yet but will be the first thing on the list. Regards Steve M
FollowupID:
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Reply By: Voxson - Tuesday, Mar 13, 2007 at 10:43
Tuesday, Mar 13, 2007 at 10:43
Is it true that you cant fit a cargo barrier into a Grande or VX because of the ducted air conditioning?
Or is it crap like most things people say
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Follow Up By: Voxson - Tuesday, Mar 13, 2007 at 10:45
Tuesday, Mar 13, 2007 at 10:45
Notice i said MOST and not ALL....
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Follow Up By: Member - Stephen M (NSW) - Tuesday, Mar 13, 2007 at 12:50
Tuesday, Mar 13, 2007 at 12:50
Hi Voxson, have no idea havnt looked into it that far yet but will certainly find out and let people know. Regards Steve M
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Follow Up By: Member - Des - Tuesday, Mar 13, 2007 at 17:42
Tuesday, Mar 13, 2007 at 17:42
Milford don't make one for VX/Grande, but we got one for our 2000 VX from another manufacturer. Forget the name now, but we found it easily in web search. Barrier fits in two positions, which is a bonus too. Complies with Austn Standard too.
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Follow Up By: Member - Stephen M (NSW) - Tuesday, Mar 13, 2007 at 18:11
Tuesday, Mar 13, 2007 at 18:11
Hi there Des, if you do happen to remember can you send me the manufacturers details if possible. Would be appreciated. But I will still do a search.Regards Steve M
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Follow Up By: Member - Des - Wednesday, Mar 14, 2007 at 09:58
Wednesday, Mar 14, 2007 at 09:58
Ausguard. We got it from www.caddystorage.com.au - they have branches in Melb,
Sydney and
Brisbane. It was quite a bit cheaper than Milford too - from memory around $400 - $450 fitted.
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Reply By: mj1 - Tuesday, Mar 13, 2007 at 14:06
Tuesday, Mar 13, 2007 at 14:06
Congrats please let us know what real world economy you get from it
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Reply By: GQ_TUFF - Tuesday, Mar 13, 2007 at 17:26
Tuesday, Mar 13, 2007 at 17:26
good one........did you get it local? (penrith)
Cheers Stefan
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Follow Up By: Member - Stephen M (NSW) - Tuesday, Mar 13, 2007 at 17:44
Tuesday, Mar 13, 2007 at 17:44
Hi there Stefan, was actually from Blacktown way, hopefully there will be no major mechanical problems although I havnt heard of any except some head problems on the 96 models which shouldnt affect
mine. Regards Steve M
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Follow Up By: GQ_TUFF - Tuesday, Mar 13, 2007 at 19:30
Tuesday, Mar 13, 2007 at 19:30
gee wizz.....Lux to a prado, the power is gunna scare you I reckon!!! Lol
Did you get a fair trade for it?
Stefan
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Stephen M (NSW) - Tuesday, Mar 13, 2007 at 21:45
Tuesday, Mar 13, 2007 at 21:45
Hi there Stefan, na all done privately no dealers involved. Yeah big difference between hilux and prado mind you just got
home and put in garage I reckon bugger all difference in length and width but wife does love the extra leg room up front. How good is it to put the foot down and merge onto the m4 and be doing 110 halfway down the entry ramp then hit the cruise control. Lush LOL Regards Steve M
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488067
Reply By: Member - Tour Boy- Tuesday, Mar 13, 2007 at 21:43
Tuesday, Mar 13, 2007 at 21:43
Hi Steve,
The 90 series are infinately better off road than the 120 series even in standard trim (discounting the electronic traction aids) don't know why. relies have both types and the 90 always comes up best. But the 120 V6 has oodles of grunt (4litre).
You should get 12-13l/ 100km once you are used to driving it.
I sent you a member msg the other day too.
Regards
TB
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Stephen M (NSW) - Tuesday, Mar 13, 2007 at 21:50
Tuesday, Mar 13, 2007 at 21:50
Hi there TB, yeah I've heard in the vicinity of the fuel figures you have quoted. Definitely didn't get your member msg, It normally flashes up to tell me message definitely didn't flash at me and still isn't. Lost in cyber space. Regards Steve M
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488070
Reply By: Member - Des - Wednesday, Mar 14, 2007 at 10:16
Wednesday, Mar 14, 2007 at 10:16
Steve,
Regarding fuel economy we average about 14L/100km overall, but that is with very little city use. Ordinary city driving is 15-16, highway 11-14 (depending on loads, speed, headwinds, etc), windy back roads 13-15. The real killers are heavy off-road work (averaged 23 doing Cobberas Trail) and bumper to bumper in city (18-19).
I have run it on 98RON for 18 months, which is good for economy and performance: see article at lcool about this.
We also kept the weight down by putting on alloy nudge bar, and deciding against electric winch and dual battery. We have also lightened the load (and increased space) by taking out second and third row seats. If you are going to load up the weight you will pay for it in fuel consumption.
I find tyre pressures make a big difference. I generally run on 36 psi on bitumen; if I drop to 32 or less, fuel consumption goes up by about 1-2L/100km. If you run aggressive tyres, that will make a difference too.
The Prado is very capable off-road. Despite IFS, wheel travel is excellent. If you upgrade
suspension, would be even better - ours tends to scrape the tow bar a bit on departures. If I were you I would consider rear diff lock - would be a HUGE improvement. LSD is all but useless, and if yours is pre-1999 upgrade won't have traction control.
Enjoy the car.
Des
AnswerID:
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Reply By: madfisher - Wednesday, Mar 21, 2007 at 22:11
Wednesday, Mar 21, 2007 at 22:11
Hi Steve,
I have been aw2ay for a week so i am just catching up.
Congratulations on the new vehicle, I am in the same position and a Prado is my first choice, but will look at Jacks or pajero. Have not heard a bad word about them.
Biggest problem is finding a low milage one as they seem do do more ks than pajeros or jacks on average
Goodluck Pete
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Stephen M (NSW) - Wednesday, Mar 21, 2007 at 22:24
Wednesday, Mar 21, 2007 at 22:24
Hi there Pete, thanks for that. Yes very hard to find one with low klms, but I also found it depends on how much you want to spend, the more $$$ the lower the klms which is the normal. There are alot out there with big big klms which in a good way is good cause at least they seem to go the distance which is the main thing. Now all the extra's start again, Lift, bullbar, dual batt etc. Its all the fun of it I reckon although some times a bit of a pain in the rear but worth it in the end. Thanks Regards Steve M
FollowupID:
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