New 4wd

[Brad Y]

Finally our house is almost done and Ive been lucky to score a very good promotion at work. So we are going to do a heap of financial change arounds etc once the boss and I move into the house and get the wedding out of the way in november. I want to replace the subaru forester with a bigger 4wd for towing the boat around and escaping down south or up north. Looking at spending around the 35K mark for a 2nd hand prado or similar. Anyone have any suggestions? It has to be diesel too.

[Hyper Tackle]

Hilux unbreakable "Oh What a Feeling":D:D;)

Mark

[Brad Y]

Should have specified... need a wagon.

[Stealth]

Prados are a really nice wagon IMO

[cleetus]

prado after '05 (with D4D engine)

[palaran]

but don't discount the Pajero.
Bigger deisel engine and very comfortable both on and off road and cheaper to purchase. cheaper to run around town in. you lose the dual rear tank but if your not remote then the 90ltr tank will provide 800km plus and better space in the rear. good towing capability. smaller turning circle and greater vision from inside the cab.
our servicing bills have been very economical and cheaper than toyota.......
different chassis/body system than a prado but regardless it is still very capable 4WD and have won numerous 4WD of the year awards.
strong drive train and the sport mode auto is sweet; and powerful
it's your choice but would recommend test driving the Pajero.
good luck

[Squidgee_Man]

I was in the same boat Brad about 3 months ago. I brought a 05 GLX Pajero DiD and i couldn't be happier. I paid $30k and she had 105,000km on the clock. The Pajero is filling all my expectations and more. I just returned from Exmouth last week and i was towing my mates 6mt boat which was just on 2 tonne with the trailer. 3 guys and maybe 100 - 150kg worth of food and tackle, clothes etc in the cars and the Pajero cost me $360 in Diesel one way from Perth to Exmouth! I was looking at the Prado's until i found out they suck the juice apparently. I to recommend the Pajero, it took a while for me to find mine. It seems there isn't many 2nd hand Diesel Pajero's up for sale, plenty of V6's but the diesels are hard to come buy. But well worth a look imo.

[Brad Y]

Yes the pajeros are an option, they have great specs compared to the prado. Sewelly and Bear both run them and from what I hear they cant be happier.

Will have a good look around. Not in a huge rush.

[Fishigan]

Mate, do yourself a favour and buy a Prado! Reliable, economic, comfy, better resale value, should I go on? I'm a RAA roadside assist mechanic and I have NEVER had a call for a Prado that was a major breakdown. Just flat batteries etc
Pajero's don't break down much either but the resale value aint good.

[CARRAGANT]

Cant beat a toyota 3litre deisel for reliability, prados are a very nice rig....

[Shane]

I have an 04 Turbo diesel Prado, so can only give feed back on that ;)

Country driving I get around 10km to the litre. Doesn't matter if I am towing the boat or not, just seems to be how much it uses ;) Around town I get a bit less.

Comfy to drive, likes hanging out on around 130km ;) Not bad in the beach bashing stakes, just dont let your mates with the 4 litre Patrol with fat tyres take you on a beach the locals wont even go on. We got the Prado mainly because of comfort and the dual air bags.

Your more than welcome to take mine for a bash the next time you're near it ;) Cost us $36k 3 years old and under K's. Pajero's didn't have the dual air bags so I wasn't allowed to look at them ;) but they are a Dakar winner.

[Squidgee_Man]

I have an 04 Turbo diesel Prado, so can only give feed back on that ;)

Country driving I get around 10km to the litre. Doesn't matter if I am towing the boat or not, just seems to be how much it uses ;) Around town I get a bit less.

Comfy to drive, likes hanging out on around 130km ;) Not bad in the beach bashing stakes, just dont let your mates with the 4 litre Patrol with fat tyres take you on a beach the locals wont even go on. We got the Prado mainly because of comfort and the dual air bags.

Your more than welcome to take mine for a bash the next time you're near it ;) Cost us $36k 3 years old and under K's. Pajero's didn't have the dual air bags so I wasn't allowed to look at them ;) but they are a Dakar winner.



My 2005 GLX Pajero has duel airbags:confused::confused:

[Shane]

Was that as standard?

Maybe we missed out by a year :D

[Alex]

I was looking at the Prado's until i found out they suck the juice apparently.

I run December 07 Prado D4D. On a trip without a boat I get 8.7 - 9l/100 km

In town-10.5l, towing 10-11l/100 km depending on terrain and who's driving ;)

If it's Paul, then I get 12l :D

Great car and highly recommended.

Good luck with your choice.

Or better still get a good 100 series LC and put it on gas (if you are ok with its size).

[ruski]

If it's Paul, then I get 12l :D

I blame Dale and all his gear for that fuel consumption figure :p

And as a comparison, my '99 Petrol Prado gets around 15.6L/100km towing a 435 hornet through the hills.

Not as comfy as dad's '07 but it does the job :)

[Squidgee_Man]

Was that as standard?

Maybe we missed out by a year :D

Yep. Maybe it was from 05 onwards. I think whatever you get will do the job. Just make sure its a Diesel. Way better economically for towing and lifespan imo.

[StuKlose]

Brad i would agree that the Prado is a great alround 4WD but try and get the D4D. You might have trouble getting one for your budget though.

[Dror]

I'd say your only two real choices are the Prado or the Pajero Yatesy. From memory the D4D only came out in the Prado from 2007. It was in the Hilux from 05 but took another couple of years to get into the Prado. I could be off but I am pretty sure that's correct. In which case as has been mentioned it may be hard to find one for the money you are talking about.
If you buy one of the older model Prados you will just get upset every time a Pajero hoses you off.:D
I'd say you just need to go and drive both and see which you prefer. Sewelly went to buy a Prado and ended up with the Pajero after driving it and realising it was actually better, but your criteria might be different. Just don't accept some of the "toyota is great and everything alse is crap" rubbish that gets spruked around all the time as being gospel.
A 100 series is an option I guess but you will have to look at something older and the torsion bar front end is crap as far as I am concerned. Plus the fuel use will be higher in either the deisel or petrol.
Get out and drive a few I reckon and see which you like best, after all it's your money. Oh hang on after November it won't be.:D

Cheers, Dror

[Dave W]

Something out of the box a bit is the Hyundai SantaFe - Coupla boys over this way pull their Skeeters with them and can't rate them highly enough.

Plenty of bang for the buck, economy is great with the 2.5 diesel....... one gent reckons his tows better than his V6 Holden ute ever did.

[Brad Y]

Get out and drive a few I reckon and see which you like best, after all it's your money. Oh hang on after November it won't be.:D

Cheers, Dror

Hehe thats the best bit- its OUR car, she can pay half! Im getting one of the hackabout utes from work to do up for a wandering "recreational vehicle" so that will be around, plus we plan to drive the camry alot more.

Ive been looking lots and realised the D4D prado is a bit out of range, but the pajero's are looking sweet. I know sewellys car is pretty sweet so its a matter of driving them and seeing what is comfy. Unsure of whether to go the exceed or just a GLX considering we will have a big black furry creature to come with us next year.

[Squidgee_Man]

There's actually quite a few good options on car sales atm Brad. More than when i brought mine. I was looking for a good 3 months on the website and the decent Diesel Pajeros didnt come along that often. I think there is at least half a dz worth looking at on there atm. I didn't go for the Exceed mainly because if the leather was damaged i think id get real sad:D But that 03 Exceed (118,000km)for $32k aint bad imo. Has all the goods, spotties, bullbar, duel tanks. And its an Auto Diesel.

http://www.carsales.com.au/all-cars/results.aspx?PriceTo=444&N=1216+1246+1247+1252+1282+4294964597+4294964596+3 95+444+904&PriceFrom=395&keywords=&tsrc=allcarhome&Nne=15

[Brad Y]

Yes the exceeds are real nice, but Im guessing a new labradore pup would probably make a mess of them too. There is a GLX in a yard here for 39990 that has only done 57K on the clock but has a few nicks and scratches on it. Might take it for a spin, but I dont think I would go for it. Got to keep the feelers out i guess. When im up in perth next we might take a look around.

[cleetus]

A 100 series is an option I guess but you will have to look at something older and the torsion bar front end is crap as far as I am concerned Regular 100 had a live front- only the TD and V8 had the IFS. ( very early TD was live front as well)

[Dror]

Yep you could go for a live axle bottom of the range model but then you get absolutely zero comfort specs and are stuck with a NA diesel (sloooow). I think Jen would like some creature comforts.
Brad, when you said you were going to be taking a big black furry creature I thought you meant Phil for a minute.:D

Cheers, Dror

[phil jagger]

That's right...My favourite treat on any drive is a lovely, juicy, leather headrest......woof.

[bonscottfan]

mate i've got a nissan navara stx deisel 2.5litre and i couldn't be happier,i have 2 golden retreivers and they dont come much more hairier then them except with my dual cab i put a canopy on the back so dogs in the back and just open the sliding doors of the canopy and they are happy-back to the car great on fuel,plenty of power,comfort and towing you wouldn't even know the boats on the back,have taken mine up 2 kalbarri 4wdriving up and down dunes all day long and performed like a dream even had die hard tojo fans impressed with it maybe another option to look at.hope this helps

[DaiwaFreak]

Buy a Disco TD5 and then chip it.

Cheers

Daiwafreak

[Brad Y]

Found a bit of a determining factor... and its a bit of a rookie mistake. Our new house has been built and usually only comes with a carport. Thats fine. We have had a remote garage door installed and now it hangs down lower in the carport. If we had of known, we would have had it done 4 courses higher up.... now we have 1.92m of clearance. The prado and pajero are both over 1.9m but should still fit...just. The pathfinder is looking to be a real option as its slightly lower to the ground.

[StuKlose]

Brad look closely at the Pathfinder as it has dual range but is really limited in its 4WD ability because of its suspension setup. The navara with a nice canopy would be a lot more capable.

[Zac 87]

go a petrol Prado brad. why boring old diesel??????
the fuel consumption is great with my 09 hilux, normally 10L per 100kms and none of the hassles of diesel.

[Alex]

and none of the hassles of diesel.

Hi Zac,

I would be interested to know which hassles you are referring to.

Any examples or personal experiences?

Cheers

[Harro]

If your going 4wd it pays to have a bit more clearence IMO

[Brad Y]

go a petrol Prado brad. why boring old diesel??????
the fuel consumption is great with my 09 hilux, normally 10L per 100kms and none of the hassles of diesel.

I dont want to go petrol for that reason. Normally the diesel consumption is a whisker better in regular driving, and the consumption is better when towing. The petrol motors just guzzle when towing. Diesel is not hassle at all. In fact in busselton its the same price as unleaded. And going diesel is my little contribution to the environment. Ive been impressed with diesels ever since I watched dad in his old 3.2l diesel navara pulling a 100 series petrol cruiser and big fiberglass surf cat up tantabiddy ramp. The low down sheer grunt is there when you need it.

Stu, the 4wd capability i need would be a bit of soft ground like sand/mud around the farm laneways and maybe going on a beach a little. Apart from that its gravel roads and on the highway. I guess I should have elaborated that I feel my boat is a bit big for the subaru, in that the little car is pushed around a little by the boat. Something larger in size is needed for towing safely and it has to be a wagon or Jen wont have a bar of it. Belive me, a ute would be much more practical for spotlighting out of, but even a dual cab with canopy isnt going to happen.

[StuKlose]

Brad a Pathfinder may then be a real good alternative based on your needs and budget.

[Squidgee_Man]

none of the hassles of diesel.




Hassles!:confused: what hassles?. The better fuel consumption, longer engine life, more torque. Im confused, what hassles are you referring to?

[ruski]

Brad a Pathfinder may then be a real good alternative based on your needs and budget.

If you do go down the Pathfinder path, just make sure you've tried towing with it, as I know my old manager isn't too thrilled with it's towing capabilities and he's towing a 450 Quinnie Top ender with a 50hp 4stroke. I think it's a late 90s, early '00 petrol model...

[Zac 87]

when i got my hilux i looked at both and for that particular motor the petrol had more power more torque and less frequent "cheaper" services. i also like to be able to overtake and the petrol is a bit better for that.

[DJC2]

Amazed this hasnt turned into the classic Landcruiser vs Patrol debate but guess thats a sign of the times with Toyota jumping up a class in terms of price and Nissan not really bothering to update the Patrol for the past 20 years!

I'l go into bat for the Patrols anyway - there were lots of problem with earlier models but go anything Series IV onwards (from about 2004) and you're fine - the newer common rail diesel models are supposed to have a bit more poke. Am finding a bit big for the city but I love it out on the open road with more than enough power when towing, doing beach work etc.......

Cheers
Darren