2006 Toyota Prado - any thoughts ?

[FatBoy]

Can't sell my rather immaculate shitbox (low km fully optioned VZ SS Commodore) so i thought i'd have a shot at trading it in...

I was sort of keen on a Prado as they have a 2500kg towing capacity and did some searching. Found an '06 Prado (4ltr V6 auto) with 40,000kms on the clock for 40k, they've offered me 22k for the VZ so 18k changeover...

Main reasons for going 4WD are that i have a boat that tows pretty well behind the SS, but struggles a bit on slippery ramps. Current boat is a 16 and a half foot half cab but i'm thinking of buying something a bit bigger (maybe 18ft ?) in the next year or so which will probably pump up the towing weight from about 1100kgs to maybe 13 or 1400...

Also tow a mates racecar from time to time, and eventually want to build another circuit car myself so i figure a decent 4WD would cover all bases. It also helps that i wouldn't mind doing some beach fishing and camping - so the 4WD bit wouldn't just be for show...

The clincher is i want to take 6 months off work and do a "around Australia" trip sometime in the next 18 months or so - i figure it'd be perfect for that.

My girlfriend works less than 3km from home and would probably drive it everyday, so fuel usage wouldn't be an issue - and it's probably no thirstier than the SS which i put 30 or so kms on everyday anyway. She has an '08 Astra that i'd take as my daily and maybe trade it on something better down the track...

Anyone have any thoughts (good or bad ?) on the current model Prados ? I'd prefer the new diesel (D4D) variant but given she only drives autos and they are 65k new i'm thinking a low km V6 at 40k isn't such a bad option ?

Anyone own one ? Have just started checking out pradopoint but they all seem like fanboi's there. I think a few PF guys might own Prados ?

Cheers,
Paul...

[Forg]

Drive before you buy, obviously, the step back to the 80's in NVH & handling might be offputting depending on expectation (but now it's been said you're probably primed so shouldn't be too surprised ). There's nothing particularly wrong with the Prado, it's just "mid-large 4WD" normal.

Apart from that; it'll probably tow better'n the Commode, and I've heard nothing bad reliability-wise (as a road-car, which is what most of them are - dunno about how they hold up with serious-ish offroading).

[Uncle Arthur]

Typical Toyota, I've driven a V6 auto long distance towing , it was OK, very thirsty though. Lump of a vehicle but that does not seem to bother most.

[turbo510]

I have used them as hire cars a bit for work. We always seem to get the diesels though. They drive alright for what they are. Nothing outstanding about them, nothing too bad either. Just another soulless Toyota 4wd.
Played around in the sand with them a bit too. They struggle a bit with the standard cheese cutter wheels but I am sure a set of wider rims/tyres would help a lot.

[bjp]

What about something like my import Hiace Van? Same motor as Prado. Doesn't have low range though. If you needed it a mate has a TD Delica. Plenty of room to carry stuff, sleep in when you go away. My van toes my 5m Stacer like there is nothing behind it.

[fly510]

these are a solid rig and the v6 4.0L is a winner (and this is coming from a d40 pathfinder owner). They drive great for what they are and the fuel consumption is what you would expect from a 4wd of this weight & size.

Its likely a prado will replace my current pathy when the lease is up.

Does this have the 5spd auto?

[Potsy]

Forget the V6, look for a D4D.
Better resale as well.

[Stevesv8]

Paul,

06 should have the 5spd auto I think?

We had the 4L petrol in 4 spd auto and it drank more than a PF pokeherr night - think 18/20L per 100km average. It will make your SS look like a Prius in terms of economy!

as above the D4D is a great choice - i have a couple of mates that have gone from 4L petrol across to them and they reckon they are grouse!

[Defender]

They drink ... ALOT !

D4d all the way

[elfturbomax]

I had a 4L manual GXL and would echo FLY510's comments. The fuel consumption was fine (13.5 ish L/100km) although an auto (get 5 speed auto, not 4 speed) would use more. Some of them make strange noises from the back end when stopping (mine did) variously attributed to tailshaft spline grease and broken fuel tank baffles.

What I particularly liked was the 180L fuel capacity and it was very quiet on the highway. When the price of petrol was high you could just keep on driving it until the price went down. 1200 km without trying from a tank and 1300+ with any kind of cruising. Also only one filler and no changeover switches, etc and the guage rescales from 180L to 90L below half full.

The main problem with GXL's or lower spec is that there is no seat height adjustment for the driver's seat. If you or the GF are not so tall then it will be a problem parking as the corners are hard to judge. The spec level is fairly ordinary but all the windows are one touch up and down.

[GTREA]

Fucked if i'd ever pay Toyota tax for one of there overated souless appliances!

40K for an 06 Petrol probably base or mid spec Prado.

You could buy our 'top of the range' 2006 Black Pathfinder Ti 'diesel' with a '3000kg' towing capacity for that!

I'd also buy a Pajero before a Prado.

Btw, I pumped the tyres up on this thing and it has dropped the fuel consumption to 9.2l per 100kms which is damn impressive as it is a 90% school and shop mobile!

[FatBoy]

Cheers guys.

Yep, from mid '04 onwards (i think ?) they went to the 5spd auto...

I'm a bit suprised by claims of mega fuel consumption though - i didn't think they'd be any worse than the SS, which normally averages around the 16 to 17 ltr mark...

D4D would be awesome and i'd take one in a heartbeat. Can't cop the almost 70k pricetag though, especially at the moment.

Guess i should probably ask for a longer test drive and cruise around in it for a day - that'd help decide if i can live with a land whale and what the fuel consumption is likely to be...

My preferred option was a D40 turbo diesel Navara but the dragonlady isn't real impressed with them... And of course, it'd have to be auto...

[Uncle Arthur]

On fuel consumption, we were towing a race car interstate so mostly steady speeds but sometimes 'on the floor' for passing, it certainly slurped petrol though. Think its a 5 speed auto, anyway it was slow to drop a gear or two for passing, pretty ordinary vehicle overall.

Now his missus has it for the school patrol, perfect for that

[DrNick]

Yep, drink a heap of fuel Paul. Old man had a 3L turbo 2004 GXL. Was a very nice car.

S

[AndyMac]

Pathfinders appear to be a little more suited to serious 4WD'ing too.

[tim510]

My parents had the previous 3.4 V6 and now the 4.0L V6.

The newer one has been a good car. They have had issues with the dash cracking, fuel sender/dash gauge issues, read tailshaft problems. Everything else has been good. They are looking to replace it with the new model when that is released.

[fly510]

yeh the big tank is tops, particularly as it automatically moves the fuel over.

Whilst I genuinely love my D40 the Toyota seems to be a little better finished and will probably retain a bit better resale value.

[Dave75]

The only 4WD to buy is one fitted with a diesel motor....much better fuel consumption, more torque,longer lasting motor[in comparison to petrol].
As with any car...regular maintenance is essential.
The first accessory I would buy would be a Snorkel to get the air intake out from under the front mudguard.
ALL 4WD's [IMHO] have too many electronic gimmicks..too much to go wrong,& as90% of 4WD's rarely/never see a dirt track or a rough ,steep hill,things like hill descent are a waste of money.

-------
Dave

[ViNcEnXo]

I have the 4.0L V6 in a Dual Cab Hilux and it returns around 13L/100km every tank... great engine, plenty of torque and drives nicer than the diesel.

I tow a 2000kg trailer from time to time and it drinks the fuel then... 65L in around 350km consumption - which is a PITA that you need to stop every couple of hours to refuel - apart from that though great donk.

Mine is an auto too btw.

[tim510]

the hilux's have the WORSE auto ever. dad's 4.0 auto is aweful. feels like a 300,000km datto gearbox. and the downhill gearing kick down is just plain retarded.

the engines are great though, but jesus that hilux gearbox is a dud.

[excelboy]

Weren't the gxl's being run out for 50kon road at the peak of the "fuel crisis", might be able to swing one cheaper?

[Sturmovik]

I thought the manual V6s were the dud and the autos were the ones to get?

[Forg]

I'm a bit suprised by claims of mega fuel consumption though - i didn't think they'd be any worse than the SS, which normally averages around the 16 to 17 ltr mark...

With these large-ish 4WD's, that's highway-cruising fuel economy for petrol versions. It's why the likes of Toyota got away with charging an extra $10k for the diesel engine for so many years.

[ViNcEnXo]

the hilux's have the WORSE auto ever. dad's 4.0 auto is aweful. feels like a 300,000km datto gearbox. and the downhill gearing kick down is just plain retarded.

the engines are great though, but jesus that hilux gearbox is a dud.

Shit hey - I think the auto in mine is one of the best autos out of the non-luxury cars I've driven.

Found it far better than any falcon/commo box and shite loads better than the auto in the Ranger.

It changes smoothly and quickly, when it should and it kicks down when it needs to without lag.

[Sturmovik]

Shit hey - I think the auto in mine is one of the best autos out of the non-luxury cars I've driven.

Found it far better than any falcon/commo box and shite loads better than the auto in the Ranger.

It changes smoothly and quickly, when it should and it kicks down when it needs to without lag.

Err go drive a ZF equipped Falcon

[FatBoy]

Forg - reading this thread http://www.pradopoint.com/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=40 it seems the guys getting really bad economy all have big arsed bull bars, lift kits, bigger tyres etc...

Seems average around town is about the 15/100 mark, and 11's on the freeway. That's not too bad i guess. My SS is sub 10's on the M4 outside peak times, but it sucks like a Thai hooker around town...

It is going to be really really boring to drive though isn't it ?

[ViNcEnXo]

Err go drive a ZF equipped Falcon

I haven't driven a ZF 6 speed coon more than around the block, sorry, I should have clarified that one - they may be better.

[AndyMac]

It is going to be really really boring to drive though isn't it ?

Otto Bins

[ZENNON]

As for 4WDing ability - I went 4wd'ing on Sunday and there was 2 in the group - very capable 4wd

[charged]

Paul the brother has a 05 Prado with the older diesel, tows fantastic, good fuel economy, nice on the highway. Cant go wrong and they are worth more than 5 cents when your ready to trade in. The Toyota tax works both ways

James Sutton also towed his R100 to Tassy for the nats with a Prado Grande with the 4l and got better economy than he did towing his R100 to Bathurst with a VX V6 commode

sr20trx originally posted

Fucked if i'd ever pay Toyota tax for one of there overated souless appliances!

So your Pathfinder isn't souless, Ive yet to drive a 2.5 tonne 4wd that gets me excited dynamically...... what a fuckin ridiculous statement