PRADO ???
Submitted: Sunday, Apr 01, 2007 at 20:45
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PatNav
Hi iam looking at updating the patrol ,she is an 88mod with 545,000kms she still goes great no prob''s with her yet but was looking for some comfit,thats why iam askin for some thoughts on the toyota PRADO i have looked at 1, its a 1 owner with 56,546 kms auto he is asking for $15800 it drives
well but never been off rd he want let me take it off rd to
test it,are they a SOR(soft off roader)or not too bad i guess iam to use to the patrol never liked the auto but wife is getting her own way a little more now LOL!! any info on these would be help fullmainly in regards to off rd side of things
Cheers thanks
Reply By: Dirty Patrol - Sunday, Apr 01, 2007 at 20:54
Sunday, Apr 01, 2007 at 20:54
PatNav,
Mate what Year ,model, engine, petrol or Diesel are you looking at? auto's are good off road, as long as you learn to drive thru the brakes down
hill so the don't run away on you,muddy up hills are easy in an auto for me any way,Im not having a go just need info so folks can help you.
Cheers
AnswerID:
231086
Follow Up By: PatNav - Sunday, Apr 01, 2007 at 21:03
Sunday, Apr 01, 2007 at 21:03
99mod prado i was lookin at auto ,V6..VX white or r the red one's faster LOLO!! Any thing would be quiker than the old patrol but tougher ??? MMM....
FollowupID:
491991
Reply By: Member - Ian H (NSW) - Sunday, Apr 01, 2007 at 20:54
Sunday, Apr 01, 2007 at 20:54
Good value I reckon and they are very capable of road. Fit a pair of poyair bags for heavy loads. My mate did and
Cape York was no problem.
AnswerID:
231087
Reply By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Sunday, Apr 01, 2007 at 21:23
Sunday, Apr 01, 2007 at 21:23
The 90series Prado are very underrated.
I had two, and took them over the roughest tracks I could find. Never let me down and never had a serious issue. The last Prado I had did the
Anne Beadell highway 3 times,
Madigan Line, And umpteen trips to the High Country and
Flinders Ranges. Don't be put off by the front IFS - The factory
suspension is strong, and rear wheel travel makes up for the limited front wheel travel.
Put the 265/75 tyres on them and a 40mm lift with the
suspension and you'll have more clearance than most other 4wds. You'll get 1000k's on the standard 159litre tanks with the V6.
AnswerID:
231096
Follow Up By: PatNav - Sunday, Apr 01, 2007 at 21:40
Sunday, Apr 01, 2007 at 21:40
Thanks for that info Phil i will look in to the extra cost involved in doing the lift and the 1 i looked at is due for new tyre's
Cheers for that
FollowupID:
492008
Follow Up By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Sunday, Apr 01, 2007 at 21:48
Sunday, Apr 01, 2007 at 21:48
The lift is cheap - new springs cost $300 plus fitting. The shocks are the expensive bit, and there are plenty of crappy shocks out there. I stuck with the factory shocks because they are more reliable than any of the aftermarket, if reliability is important to you. The front lower bush on the 90series seems to stump the aftermarket people - they make the shock too stiff, and the bushes fall apart. Thats why I like the factory shocks.
Its good to buy new tyres. I'd suggest the Goodyear MTRs which were very good on my last Prado, and make the Prado look the real deal.
FollowupID:
492012
Follow Up By: PatNav - Sunday, Apr 01, 2007 at 22:12
Sunday, Apr 01, 2007 at 22:12
I know what ya mean about
suspension my friend found that with the IFS that tough dog was the longest lasting after he had tried others an was replacing then every 6mths,in the patrol i have tough dog but thats had the 4inch lift 2inch body lift,But i guess the prado is chalk an cheese over the patrol.the other thing would be getting use to would be not stopping at the diesel pump an the higher fuel usage.
FollowupID:
492026
Follow Up By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Sunday, Apr 01, 2007 at 22:19
Sunday, Apr 01, 2007 at 22:19
On the highway, you'll get 13-14 l/100k out of the V6 auto Prado (sound similar to a diesel Patrol?). ULP is usually cheaper than diesel. The service intervals are 10,000k; there is less maintenance because all the wheel bearings are sealed. So your running costs will be cheaper than the Patrol.
FollowupID:
492029
Reply By: George_M - Sunday, Apr 01, 2007 at 22:10
Sunday, Apr 01, 2007 at 22:10
I had two 90 series Prados - a '96 model and a '99 model. The only modifications I made to each of them was tyres and
suspension - they really sag at the bum when you put any weight in them. Polyairs fixed that.
I like these vehicles because they have good offroad (not "off track") capability, a large fuel tank standard combined with relatively good fuel economy, and are easy to drive in a wide variety of situations. They also have my wife's seal of approval....
I used a full length roof rack from TJM, as those were the days when Prados had roof gutters.
The only problem I had related to the dashboards. The dashboards on both my vehicles vibrated like crazy when driving over the slightest corrugation. After one
Simpson Desert trip you could stick your hand down
the gap where the dashboard on the '99 model had separated from the firewall. Toyota could never really fix this problem. If you have the misfortune to strike it you'll find some solutions on the specialist Prado groups.
It all depends on having a very good idea of what you want the vehicle to do - there are a hell of a lot of options out there, and twice as many opinions:-)
Good luck with your choice!
George_M
George_M
AnswerID:
231108
Follow Up By: PatNav - Sunday, Apr 01, 2007 at 22:18
Sunday, Apr 01, 2007 at 22:18
Thanks for that George_M so after a few trips off the tare an on the rough roads i should get ready for the rattly dash an what for the gapes to appear i best not leave the wallet on there as it might take the rest of the day to retrieve it LOL!! but i know what ya mean an these days all cars do have there floors ..
Cheers
FollowupID:
492028
Reply By: madfisher - Tuesday, Apr 03, 2007 at 17:05
Tuesday, Apr 03, 2007 at 17:05
Pat ,
That is a very good buy, all the opnes I have checked out have 200000ks on them and they still want $20,000.00
Cheers Pete
AnswerID:
231460
Reply By: Member - Stephen M (NSW) - Tuesday, Apr 03, 2007 at 17:26
Tuesday, Apr 03, 2007 at 17:26
Just bought one PatNav, vx grande very comfortable, plenty of go, yes the rattly dash but not that bad and have heard of a fix. The rear ends sag big time and will need some bags to keep her up level. I am fitting new shocks and springs but not heavy duty dont want it to ride like a go cart. Havnt done fuel consumption
test yet will do one on thursday then another when I get back after
easter after going up north and towing camper. They do get a bit of an exhaust rumble at certain rev ranges but nothing too intrusive. I'm use to an old 2.8 D hilux so this things like a bmw, but hey they all have there faults doent matter what the brand. Wouldnt be as robust as your patrol but you will love driving it. Just be carful if you go th vx with the duel air as I have as Milford dont make a cargo barrier for them you have to get one from caddyshack. My's just gone for a big buff up, my mate does this new beaut paint sealing type of thing and is touching up the flares where they had a few scratches and I have 4 little dents getting taken out from shopping trolleys but I'm a fussy pric#. Youll love it. if you want any pics let me know and will send you some of
mine if you want to have a look at the vx grande but there is a few on the websites for sale. Regards Steve M
AnswerID:
231463
Follow Up By: PatNav - Tuesday, Apr 03, 2007 at 20:23
Tuesday, Apr 03, 2007 at 20:23
Hi Stephen.M
thanks for the insites on the prado do let me know of the fuel consumption would be good to know and u sat your taking a camper ,
Well thats the other new toy i have been looking at gee there r so many out there i might have a look at some at the camping show,I have seen the
Liberty once on a web site they look pritty good for the price but gee where do ya start, By the way with the prado how do ya find it with room in back with the kid's !! they just seem a little narrower than the patrol.do let me know how ya go with fuel have a good holiday
Cheers..
FollowupID:
492444
Follow Up By: Member - Stephen M (NSW) - Tuesday, Apr 03, 2007 at 21:45
Tuesday, Apr 03, 2007 at 21:45
Hi there PatNav, we don't have kids but we have had 2 adults in the back and there was plenty of room. We actually bought a
Liberty camper ourselves, few issues with the first one but they exchanged it for a new one, still a few little faults but not worth worrying about. Have used it a few times now and it's been pretty good. Ours is the off road version, it tows really
well. Not bad value for money, we paid the extra and got the annex as
well. How good it is compared to others we don't know, we had a budget to stick to. It claims to be 14oz canvas, whether it is or not who knows. It does us for what we need. We managed to fit everything in it (including the kitchen sink)LOL. I will get back to you with the fuel consumption. Have a great
Easter Break. Regards Steve M...
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