My Landcruiser TD Traytop is 10 years old. I'd normally have upgraded it a few years ago. But I have a dilemma - I can't find a newer vehicle that is better....but I'd like a 4wd with a rear
seat so our grandchildren can come 4wding with us.
Been looking at other vehicles:
VDJ79 - current model traytop has airbags but....the track is 100mm narrower at the rear, the starter motor is inaccessable, the alternator is low, the fuel consumption is no better than my 1HD-FTE factory TD, the fuel injectors are not perfect and the oil consumption issues may not be resolved yet.
VDJ78 troopie - as above, GXL 5-seater looks good but it really hasn't changed in 25 years. And its $75k on the road for a very basic vehicle.
FJ Cruiser is a good price and nice on paper and i expect it will make a good weekend warrior, but for desert travel, will need long range tanks (only 80 L standard) and its really a small 4wd, so can't carry a fraction of what my 79series will carry. It also needs premium ULP and from inside the cab, its a very claustrophobic vehicle. I
test drove one today and have crossed it off the list.
The new Mazda BT50 looks very good...but can I trust a BT50 on the remote corrugated tracks in our deserts...so you break down, and need parts.. will Mazda have a clue? And the common rail injectors we find on the latest diesels... have they been sorted yet?
Hilux...
well its a backward step after a 79series and is behind the pack until the next upgrade in 18 months time. And the other dual cabs have potential chassis problems when you load them up and tow a TVan.
Prado... I had them in the past... the 150 series D4D looks great with 8.5 L/100k but it looks such a dawky vehicle. Can't get my head around that aweful front end.
100series HDJ100 - buying a 2006 model to replace a 2002 model with the same motor is no good for me. But this may have
well been the best of the wagons for a long time to come despite the fragile IFS front end.
200series - sure 90k for a TD GXL - or even 75k for the base model GX with vinyl floor and cruddy looking steel wheels.....its a lot of money for a vehicle that has had its fair share of teething problems. But 10.3l/100k is great for such a big vehicle, so I'll keep it on the radar.
What about the next step up... an OKA maybe... but no longer in production - next ones might be from Malaysia and the old ones are a bit dated compare to my 79series. Maybe an Earthcruiser....but I don't want to have to pack up the truck every day to go for a drive.... prefer the Tvan or just a swag, and a 4.5T vehicle won't go
places a 3.3T Landcruiser will.
When I visit a dealer these days,they are more interested in getting my 79series as a trade-in than they are in selling me a new car, so I figure I'll have to hang onto the 79series and if the grandkids want to come, we take the VW Tiguan and a towrope!
So is there something that I've missed? After touring the dealers today, I'm resigned to keeping what I've got for a bit longer :-(