After not being able to find a new Patrol recently, we booked a test drive
in a 200 series diesel.
On route to the dealer we had a phone call saying the one and only car was unavailable now.
Considered our options, made some phone calls and found a dealer who had a petrol one so we diverted mid-stream to the new dealer and took a base model GXL petrol 200 series V8 for a test drive.
After the test drive (reviewed below) we did the inevitable sit around the table getting ready for the pitch.
At least this dealer (Ringwood Vic) supplied cappicino's.
We soon found that the dealer had no cars , the test drive unit was leased I think , and that they already had orders for the pre-xmas boatload on the way, these orders included the new Prado which no one even knows the details of yet but they just want one.
In this enviroment , you have no bargaining power at all , I went in on the fact that recent specials had seen this car go for $69k against the Patrols $53k and all the salesman did was quote the RR price of $83k on road.
We had a quite nice low pressure discussion drank his coffee's and left without even making any attempt to discuss pricing. Its was simply, if you order now, you will probably get one before Xmas.
The Car
The white GXL petrol Cruiser we drove was a nice car with 20k on the clock.
Its was actually very nice, had no vices and simply worked
well everywhere.
But it was just a car - plain and simple.
Nothing you could get excited about , no V8 sound or performance, despite some 202kw on tap.
Its good but a little slower than your family
sedan , no real difference to our 7 year old patrol, in fact the engine did seem slightly overworked but it was quite quiet about it.
We did a freeway cruise with a good bit back street driving , tried the brakes when the salesman in the car thought he saw a speed camera, and drove it up some kerbing to check it wheel articulation.
It didn't even have
seat height raising ability like the Patrol, KDSS is not an option so it would always be fundamentally less capable than our Patrol given the available aftermarket options.
While no petrol Cruisers or the 4800 Patrols are currently available the
one conclusion we could draw out of the whole thing was that while a lovely car it just was not value for money.
Next week we are promised a 200 series diesel drive and I hope it will be more impressive, as will the price be I guess.