80 vs 100, petrol vs diesel

Sorry, but who is E1??

hi rose

i tow an 18 ft evernew 27 years old built like a brick s#*#*# t house with a 12 ft tinnie on the car and an 18 hp o/b on the a/ frame of the van
i tow with a 97 80 series diesel Toyota and average around 19 ltr /100k 23 into a head wind it looks at a good hill and says i think i can i think i can and has never let us down yet

............................ len

Only auto diesel in the 100 is the expensive TD, I think. Nice car though, will do whatever you need, I'm sure. (I have one but don't tow anything.)

What's wrong with the Prado?

teege

Hi Rose, I have owned an 80 series petrol (1998 model) and it was a very good unit. It would tow 2500kg comfortably, but used 22 -26 Litres per 100, sitting on 100 kmph. (30 one day going to Darwin, into the wind, but that is up hill you can see that on the map :) )

I now own a 100 series TD and my prevous van weighed 2525 loaded to go. I averaged 17.5 over more than 5000 kms.

If you can manage it go diesel. The cost of running wont be much different (higher cost of diesel & servicing, off sets the economy) but is is a lot easier tow and you recover the initial cost on sale.

Hi Rose,

You already have a Landcruiser .... a Prado.

I've just completed Driver Awareness training with the Toyota Landcruise Club in Vic. It's not just about driver skills but about how well vehicle performs and the new Prado diesel automatic very well indeed. I traded in my 1996 petrol Prado at the beginning of this year and have no regrets. This is my first ever automatic and I wasn't too sure about it. After learning the handling techniques I'm sold.

Acting on my experience with the first Prado, I have fitted after market suspension (OME) and a couple of other things and it came up trumps. The clearance is better and the wheel travel quite remarkable so I'm really pleased with the investment.

The handling and power are great, the turning circle is as good or better than the others and the fuel consumption excellent. If you need something bigger than the Prado that's a different story, but it's an excellent vehicle.

I tow a small trailer with camping gear on board, and the automatic makes that very easy. It's fitted with electric brakes and large wheels which track in line with the car. If you need to go into rough country, the diesel will do it.

Hope this is helpful, and happy to comment further if you have questions.

Hi Rose, I agree with comments that the newer Prados are very good. However, for what its worth:

My 95 LC80 petrol auto was an extremely capable and reliable vehicle. Handling, comfort and towing ability was very good. Aftermarket gear is easy to get 2nd hand too and suspension mods are quite cheap. I ran 285x75x16 tyres, rear drawers loaded with a 100kgs+ of gear and permanently fitted roof rack and generally got about 18-22ltrs/100kms around town, with the average being asbout 20. When towing a full size tandem furniture trailer loaded with 1500-2000kgs I used 25-32ltrs/100kms with average being 27. When towiing a kimberly camper fully loaded, car loaded, roof rack loaded and 4 people I averaged 26ltrs/100kms . I did make enquiries into doing a gas conversion, however there was a lot of feedback suggesting that for around town and country driving with light loads it would be great but when towing or heavily loaded, the economy would be so poor as to make the actual cost insgnificantly different to running on fuel. I am not saying this is fact, but I believed it enough to not worry about the gas conversion.

My TD auto LC100 achieves about 15-18ltrs/100kms around town and on highway runs with low/light loads (again with roof rack, 150kg+ in rear, rear wheel carrier). Towing the same camper trailer as the LC80 and with same koad I achieved 23ltrs/100km.

The difference in purchase price and fuel price is not enough to justify the purchase of the LC100.

The big ticket things I like better about the 100 over the 80 are; more interior space, awesome engine for driving (even though the petrol 80 is good, its hard to match the TD engine in the 100), better on-road handling, better handling when towing and better brakes. The big ticket things I liked better about the 80 are; a little bit narrower which meant less scratches on overgrown tracks and easier manouverability off road, size is also better for car parks and general around town driving (my wife hates the size of the 100), more capable off-road due to live axle front end and finally, it was cheaper to do many of the modifications to the 80 than it has been to the 100.

Value for money the 80 is probably the best buy, but the TD auto 100 is the better towing vehicle.

Rose
Price wise, a 4.5 80 series auto is the cheapest reliable option, the auto is truck like, and the motor is powerful but thirsty. 170 aux tank and you have 1000 kms between drinks....how do u get a low km one though....a better bet is the 4.5 100 series, put scuba LPG tanks under the side rails and you have 145 litres of lpg or 270 if you put long range tank in, and 75 litres of gas, or 250kms....bigger interior, better brakes, go for that option....
t/d are usually higher kms and for the money spent on outlay, plus running costs, not as cheap as the 4.5......but economy wise, and handling wise, better on road.
Andrew

yes rose i am in swansea ( lake Macquarie) not far from you at all if you want to look at my setup you can email me if you like