2005 prado diesel

The 05 auto GXL that I drove briefly was a beauty - a fine vehicle all round - the owner still loves it - used for a variety of distance touring and medium level towing. No technical disappointments at all. One thing to focus on..... the new CR-TD is around 126 KW while the previous edition was about 96kw - IMO that is a big difference when looking at higher load applications.

Agreed although never owned one. A builder I work for has had two in four years with no mech troubles whatsoever but the older TD wont handle the hills as good as a new common rail. His 06 Grande TD struggles going through the tunnels up the freeway (Adelaide) but cruises on the flats no worries. His consumption is approx 14Lt/100km around town and never been off road so dont know what it gets there. I test drove the D4 Prado recently and was very impressed, very quiet and very responsive off the line.
Have you considered a Pajero? Appentices Dad has a 06 Exceed TD and claims to tow a 21 foot boat up the tunnels at 100kms easy but yet to see that. ;)
I have a Petrol/Gas Injection 100 Cruiser so am biased toward that but each to their own.

Cheers Chard

The newer one is getting about 25-30% better fuel figures. Mine is an '04 Manual TD and with the full roof rack and Goodyear MTR tyres on it gets around 14l per 100km.

Mate at work has a new one and it does less than 10l per 100km.

Mine already has good cruising range with the 180l tank - 1200 to 1300km - but the new one will easy to 1600 to 1700 before needing a drink!

When combined with the extra kw I would REALLY be trying to stretch to the new one. Even consider getting a lower grade perhaps. If you are lokong at an '05 GXL then maybe look at a new GX and then add a few bits later once the finances improve.

Cheers
Muddy

was told by a Toyota dealer yesterday that it is at least 4 month wait for the diesel prado

G'Day All & Rob,
Firstly, long time reader (2001) and finally got around to becoming a member last month! Anyhow, we bought a 2003 GXL TD manual Prado in September last year. Mechanically, I dont think there have been any changes up to the release of the new D4D model recently. I'm mildly curious with some of the fuel figures that you guys are reporting. I regularly get 11.5 l/100km around town, and on a recent trip from Wagga Wagga to Adelaide towing 700kg C/T and a car full of stuff, I averaged 13.1 l/100km @ 110km/hr with A/C on. I dont drive like I stole it, but I do put the boot into it as required. After owning a N/A 3.0L Diesel Hilux previously, the Prado feels like a F1 car - well almost.
At the end of the day, you get what you pay for and I think you'll be chuffed with the Prado, though 126kw would be nicer than 96kw!

Cheers, Matt

Sorry guys but i did not post this something has gone wrong
some one has hijacked my log on info or some thing.
I don't want a new prado as yet the 80 series is just fine.
I have alerted the moderator to see if he knows what has happened
I wonder if any one else has had this problem before.
Thanks for the reply's but you have all be given a bum steer.

I have a 2004 manual TD. I regularly tow a 5.3m aluminium runabout with it and, on occasion, a 16ft caravan. Before the van we used to tow a Cavalier Camper.

None of these have presented difficulties however I have a D-tronic chip in it. The difference is chalk and cheese. Without the chip, the diesel is sluggish to 1800RPM (Euro fuel control measures not turbo lag - refer LCOOL) but with the chip it is a whole lot easier to drive. It maintains highway speeds easily, I don't need to change down gears to climb hills. For those that know the F3 freeway north of Sydney, I can climb the hill - southbound - at Ourimbah at 110 km/h with ease.

I used to live in Toowoomba and needed to change down to 3rd in my LPG Patrol but could climb the range in 5th with the Prado.

They are a great vehicle, very capable - on and off road - and I average about 11.5 l/100km.

I haven't driven a new D4D and I would probably want one if I did BUT the old TD will cost you between $15 and $20K less, you will probably pick up one with a load of off road options that have never been used apart from school runs, and you can chip it to get about another 15% more power. If you are going to tow a lot though, I would suggest an automatic rather than a manual. After all, they are still only a 3 litre 96kw (112ish Kw with chip) diesel.

Cheers