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.

Hilux unbreakable "Oh What a Feeling"

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.

[Danmaso]

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]

Originally Posted by 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.

My 2005 GLX Pajero has duel airbags

[Shane]

Was that as standard?

Maybe we missed out by a year

[Alex]

Originally Posted by Squidgee_Man

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

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]

Originally Posted by Alex

If it's Paul, then I get 12l

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

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