New 4WD But Which One?

Prado's started in 96, they are 90 series (first shape) up untill 03 (2 series) then the 120 series was made (3 series) then the 150 (current shape) the first diesel in the prados wasnt untill 2000 (series 2 with clear blinker lights) but you would be pushing to get a td for 15k unless it had huge klms, petrol on the other hand 3.4L V6 heaps arounds with in your price range, they have a 90L main and 69L reserve the 120 has 2x90L = 180L but you wont get one of them for the $$ After having the petrol and currently the diesel (both 90 series) I wouldnt hesitate in going back to petrol, not much difference in economy at highway speed bit more around town but take into account diesel dearer to service and requiring oil changes every 5k (a must) then theirs buggar all difference. Personally think the petrol is actually a better engine then the diesel which are prone to blowing/cracking heads (mine did at 104k) and cost 3600 to fix. By the sounds of it the type of driving you will be doing the IFS will do the job fine, unless your rock hopping or really pounding it accross ruts IFS wont be an issue. The 120 with the D4D engine would be the go (great power and economy) but not in your price range. Discos, rangies great vehicle but have very little back up in certain area's and were some issues between the TD 5 and TDI but I have no personal experiance with them but have seen them in action and would eat the prado off road but then Im talking more harder stuff. Maybe jump on the website/forum for landy's/discos etc and see what you can find. Alot of people dont like them for certain reasons and maybe rightly so I'm not sure but we nearly bought one before the prado but some one said to me dont buy one of them there heaps and blow heads, well guess what so do prado 1kz's. Regards Steve M

From what I have read (not personally owning either) the toyota's are better in the fuel department, the 100 series with the factory t/d's are down in the 10L per 100k range when cruising even the old 80 series with the t/d were getting that as well, I believe the patrols are up around the 12/13's when crusing 4.2 not the 3 litre, this is all based on no towing or off road, Im just talking freeway driving, I may be wrong and possibly am in regards to the nissans its only what I have read on forums but I know for the sure about the cruisers as we have 2 in our family (Im not one of them unfortunately) My uncles will do tens on open roads, 13 round town and 15/17's pulling his 23 foot van with boat on roof and all the mod cons you could possibly have in a van and the cruiser normally has the outboard in the back and other stuff he lugs around, he reckons out of all the 4wd's hes had its the best. I have put my hand up for it if he trades it in but he doesnt like the GVM on the 200 series, loves the grunt as he's test driven one but the weight is an issue for him. I get 13.2 round town in the prado and just come back from been away at xmas and mine was 13 freeway driving sitting on the posted speed limits all the way and its a 1kz 4 cylinder turbo diesel, so the bigger boys 6 cylinders are doing better then my four. The only way I get just on tens is with sitting on 100k no head winds and no off road, to crack the tens I need to be closer to the 95k and I will get 9.8L per 100 and not running aircon. My mate gets 11.2L per 100k out of his 06 VX petrol prado 4 litre 5 speed auto with 6 on board running his climate air all the way 2000k round trip, bloody great for a big petrol motor. Regards Steve

Thanks for the info there Steve. I know a bloke who bought a new Hilux with the D-4D motor in it, I'm guessing it's the same as in your Prado and he wasn't too thrilled with his economy, I just feel that the 3 litre motor isn't big enough and you have to flog it to get to and stay on speed, hence the poor economy. I don't know how the 3litre Patrols cope? Takes me back to the 4 cyl commodore days.

I think I may home in on the 100 series cruisers. Still not sure whether to go petrol or diesel. I'm going to look at fuel economy and running costs and go from their. I'm guessing a petrol 100 series will be easier to find and cheaper than a turbo diesel.

I think I can even increase my budget. Thanks everyone.

Thanks Phil, I will look into them, may be getting a bit long in the tooth though, but I guess I can only get what I can afford. Thanks again.