Fuel efficiency?????

Or does the model land cruiser make a difference

If you think any 4wd will be fuel efficient you are dreaming..sorry.

Ya simply cant change the laws of physics, jim.
Hiluxes and prados weigh over 2 tonnes loaded and landcrusers weigh over 3 tonnes.....those are little truck figures, because these are little trucks.

It one time diesel was considerably more economical than petrol, the fuel was 2/3 the price of petrol and diesel engines needed less maintenance......the case for diesels is nowhere near as strong as it was.

Diesel is now more expensive than petrol and reasonably modern petrol cars require very little maintenence.
Moddern common rail diesels, if they cop any sort of fuel contamination will cost you thousnads to repair....notvthat that will be an issue before about 04.


Besides...even with the latest generation of turbocharged common rail diesels...the petrol engines produce more power form the same sized engine.

The case for LPG is also rapidly erroding...the government is deliberaltly increasing the price of LPG AND remember the LPG tank needs to be removed every 10 years and tested.

Remember all fuel system repairs to an LPG vehicle need to be done by someone certified to work on gass.

NOW ask ya self...do you need a real 4wd.....realy...are you going off road...realy

IF not a RAV or similar will be far more fuel efficient than any 4wd, they have heaps of space will tow a camper trailer or small caravan and are a fabulous highway and dirt road vehicle....while not a proper 4wd a rav will do modest off road work quite well.

I own a diesel hilux 4wd, a petrol hilux 2wd and the wife drives a RAV

Seriously, if you are not going propper off road have a look at a RAV and you may just stretch to a new one for the money you will get a good used prado.

Unfortunatly, late model used RAVs are bad value they hold their vaulue far too well......account for the fixed price service the whole new thing and the creaming finance deals that are arround these days

the other thing that might be acceptable is a late model grand vitara.....looks like an SUV but is a real 4wd....appart from off road the RAV is all over it like a rash.

cheers

You can use redbook to find the "official" fuel use ratings for the vehicles on your short list. They may not be accurate but at least they'll give a good comparison between vehicles.
Typically the diesel version of a prado will use maybe 20-40% less than the petrol version - but in the early years of the 120 series the diesel wasn't that great (low power and high fuel consumption). So if you're looking at 2001-2003 then I'd suggest the petrol is the better choice.

Louie,
you will get a good idea if you go to www.pradopoint.com there will be some honest consumption figures there and info on the good points and bad.

Instead of the Landcruiser Prado you may also wish to have a look at a Mitsubishi Pajero.

We have an 08 pajero 3.2L diesel and hwy driving I get 9.2 and and around town about 10.5
Good thing with diesel is the price doesn't float like petrol. Maybe up and down by a few cents. The other week at the high fuel cycle for unleaded was 157.9 at our local and diesel was still 149.9. We used to own a 2000 Prado v6 auto and that thing was shocking on fuel and that's why we sold it.

I have had two 90 series (These models range from 1996 to 2002,) one petrol (3.4 V6) and one turbo diesel both grande's both auto's, both running the same gear which was steel winch bullbar (ARB), OME suspension (ARB), towbar, same tyres (BFG A/T's up a size) The best ever out of my 3.4 V6 on the highway was 12.2L per 100, around town 17.2L per 100 and this was taking it easy, boot it all the time and it would be higher. The diesel was around the 14's around town and depending on wether you stuck to 90k or 110k would range from tad under 10L per 100 obviously this was keeping under 100 which was a pain in the arse just to save a few $$) but it would jump higher then the petrol if pushed to 110/115 and if it was a wet and hot steamy day running aircon it would jump to 15's, yes this is the diesel Im talking about.But remember this is the 1KZ not the D4D (latest motor)

The 1kz in my opinion is not an economical motor especially in auto form (I believe the manual is far better ??) and must say is better geared for the 1kz then the auto (just my opinion from having both petrol and diesel in the 90). The head (diesel) went on my 90 (very common in the 90's not in the 120's) cost 4k for repairs and went at 103k was extremely well serviced oil and filter every 5k and genuine parts always so wasn't from neglect. Personally I think the 1KZ is to smaller motor for the 120 especially in auto.

LPG was the biggest mistake I personally ever made, hated it and would go back to a vitara before I change my current V6 120 to LPG. To smaller tank, felt like I was forever filling up, Gutless for towing, could watch the gauge drop when working it on sand/beach, stunk of petrol on hot days (common) couldnt fill the reserve tank any more then 3/4 on a hot day to allow for expansion or it would drip on the ground, so decreased your touring range (some thing I should have thought about prior, my mistake) The truth is I sold that vehicle due to the LPG, I didnt trust it (set up) and I didnt feel safe putting our 4 year old in it. I even took it to the RTA about the dripping onto ground and they didnt want to know about it.

Now can I also say this was not just some thing my 90 did, my neighbours up the road did it and so did 2 people who I had never met before but I approached them in the shopping centre car park and approached them asking them about fuel smell and drips on hot days and they all said yes they had to leave a window down when getting back in car to get rid of the smell so wasnt just mine and also a member on here has/had the same issue think he modified it himself to solve the problem) wont mention there user name. Yes the 90 flexed well off road and do sit higher then the 120 standard but nothing a lift wont solve.

You will probably want to drive the 90 , then if still wanting petrol try the 120 V6 (if $$$ allows) The 3.4 V6 in the 90 is a great long lasting motor and vehicle and known to do extremely high klms with minimal repair costs. The only real know issue with the 90's is the rattling dashboards but again can be fixed due to Pradopoints forum on how to fix it (not major), better then the 120's cracking issues (on some of them but can be extreme, again on Pradopoint) which is a bleep load dearer to repair if you cant get it through warranty....This is all my own opinion and I am sure there are people who will disagree with my reply, every one to there own.......I love the 120 V6 I have and on long trips I get better then the 3.4 did. Freeway I get 11.6L per 100, around town 15 to 16 BUT I don't have any major mods like off road tyres but do have an alloy bar. I run two sets of rims the other been steel with muddies for off road use. The 120 V6 absolutely slaughters the 3.4 and I kid you not puts you back in your seat (if need be) but again driving it with a heavy boot will jump from 15/16 around town and easily see you get a ticket.

Which ever way you go one thing that I would recomend without fail is rear aircon if your going to have 7 or more people in there, its gets bloody hot up in those rear seats. This is available in the VX Grande (series one) a few limited edition models, TX which is the diesel, BUT be wary if going for the diesel grande (the first of them but still a series 2) as they didnt have duel air, in 02 they fitted duel air in the grande diesel and it was also climate control (I wonder what toyota do some times)

Dual air in the 120's was an option pack on the GXL (option one or two) then the VX and grande had duel climate air standard, the GX which is the base model is also available with it as an option pack........................................

poor old Louie only asked a simple question and managed to almost start a war.

all fuels have both their good and bad points.
Mum, dad and 5 kids...... maybe a 4x4 toyota coaster"...............

if you are worried about fuel usage try my xlt f250 as a town runabout

regards

Geoff

In the long run, the choice is going to be yours. Petrol, diesel, whatever. Take a few different ones for a drive. Unless you get something similar to a small bus, your always going to have trouble with 5 kids.

A friend of mine has a reasonably new Prado. Apart from his wife, who is in the front, he also has to fit five kids in the back. Three of them teenagers. We are about to go on a two month trip. No room for luggage so he bought a camper. He is hoping he can get enough luggage on there.

Another friend has seven kids. They bought a bus. Or close enough to it.

Ever considered other transport during the week? Do you have to drive to work? Can the kids ride a bike or walk to school? Catch a bus?

Leave the big car mostly for the big trips.

Even not driving the car one day each week could possibly save money over the course of a year. I have a Nissan Patrol. Only drive it once or twice a fortnight on average now for shopping. Rest of the time I ride or walk.

ok Louie: you want something big enough for 5 kids and fuel efficiency. Not really compatable but I would say the best compromise would be Prado/Pajero. Fuel type? Personally; diesel especially if towing, otherwise not a lot in it. Both have their pros and cons especially if you find a petrol version of the same car much cheaper than the diesel, otherwise, go diesel. LPG? Is fantastic for running about locally but if towing, you'll be filling up pretty frequently as any car gets through the stuff pretty quickly, although it is cheaper. You can get it most places but sometimes, just when you need it out in the country, they either might not sell it, or they do, but just don't have any. You get through a lot of LPG towing. You also need to make sure it is properly installed as there are a lot of cowboys out there who do a crap job of it. It happened to me. I chose an installer who seemed pretty well versed in LPG installs and had done a lot of them - he just didn't do a very good job. If it's done right, it's great, esp at home/city/suburbs where you drive mostly. It's all a compromise because nothing does everything perfectly. Diesel Prado/Paj for me but if not towing, petrol just as good and usually much cheaper to buy. Do your homework/comparisons.

you'll have to do a bit more of your own research or homework as well because nobody on here can tell you what you need - sorry if I wasn't any help

on my recent trip around oz diesel was actually cheaper that petrol a third of the time especially in queensland and I would not be without my turbodiesel landcruiser especially when towing had petrol pajero was good but same van landcruiser average 17.5l/100kms pajero petrol 28l/100kms towing landcruiser city 11l/100kms pajero city 14l/100kms on hills towing petrol is bleep But a good diesel landcruiser costs a lot Just my experience
Steve

Thanks heaps to everyone who posted your input has been fantastic i'm hoping i am now one step closer to that passion. wow I still have some thinking and some test driving to do Thanks again......