MId-2000s Prados?

[Terribleone]

Both petrol and diesels are solid.

Petrol can sludge up easily from lack of servicing or wrong oil, otherwise solid unit.

A little known fact is that ALOT of people have had numerous sets of injectors done on the diesel to remedy a cold start vibration only to have the exact problem afterwards when it's normally the engine mounts that have failed. Im not saying they dont have injector problems (which they do) but they often get misdiagnosed.

[kneelo]

Nopics has an 07 D4D diesel manual which mostly sees country miles and gravel roads. Had injector and injector seal problems at 140k which cost $2.5k to fix and came close to blocking the oil pickup with carbon... Otherwise has been trouble free, feels very solid and is nice to drive.

[schnitzelburger]

i have one for a company car, its petrol im glad im not paying for fuel, they arent exactly economical. Also every second time you fill up the 180ltr tank the servo attendant freaks about how much petrol they take.

I get around about 1300km out of that 180ltrs, my commute is half city half hwy.

almost ended up with a diesel, happy i didnt cause its slow as fuck.

great car and handles the constant thrash like a champ

comfy as, drives like a car, heaps of room still fits in underground car parks

got it at 100k and i have put another 130k on top of that with no mechanical problems, only gripe is the workshop here cant seem to sort out the spongy brakes, dont know if its common to the car or the workshop lack of skill.

[itsnotagsr]

Thanks!

[schnitzelburger]

FYI its 1.9m high with roof racks

[260BC]

If they're not going offroad & are only doing light towing, a gerlytruk is like having your teeth pulled, every single day of the week, forever. "Saddam, your pineapple is ready".
However, it sounds like they DO want that towing capacity, and they're willing to live in hell for the sake of the extra reliability they'll get from a Prado c/f a 530d or Chrysler 300.

Obviously the gerlytruk would have to have the appropriate towing capacity and sufficient performance, but that's not hard to work out. The out of date idea that a big 4WD is always needed for towing does not take into account what's become available in the last ten years or so, nor does it take into account how durable and reliable soft roaders are and how they are more easily accessible for older folk.

I get the impression that the OP wants a truck for himself, not the parents

[Falc&Send]

My mate has a 20XX model petrol 6cyl Prado and never had any problem except when he tried to get some reverse sensors installed and the sensors didn't work properly and the workshop scratched the fuck out of his bumper (I think they were genuine part but fitted at independent 4WD specialist workshop) and he had to go back a few times to get them sorted. He's done about 100K km in it and never had any work except for regular servicing done. He drives it like a granny though and does a lot of highway kms.

[itsnotagsr]

Obviously the gerlytruk would have to have the appropriate towing capacity and sufficient performance, but that's not hard to work out. The out of date idea that a big 4WD is always needed for towing does not take into account what's become available in the last ten years or so, nor does it take into account how durable and reliable soft roaders are and how they are more easily accessible for older folk.

I get the impression that the OP wants a truck for himself, not the parents

I won't be driving it!

I'm just thinking it will need to tow a big double axle car trailer with a classic car (circa 1200-1300 kg). I don't think your typical soft roader would do that well, even with a modernish 2L turbo diesel.

In Europe where its mostly flat and not so hot yes. In Australia where its 35 degrees in summer and hilly getting over the Blue Mountains, it would struggle.

[Captiva Fan]

^ And rules; ref E60 530d which has 2.7T official towing capacity in Yewrop, only 2T capacity here.

[itsnotagsr]

We used to tow a big pop top caravan with a Volvo 240. Just because it could, didn't mean it was a good idea!

[Fatboy]

Pretty sure he asked for people's experience with said Prado, not what various fuckheads think he should buy instead ?

Our neighbour two doors up had one from new Chris, an '06 V6 auto. Sold about three months ago (actually traded on a new one), with 140,000kms on it. Zero issues apparently, apart from being a bit thirsty around town...

[260BC]

It's just that I hate petrol Prado's, drove one towing a race car to Phillip Island and back which was enough for me. My Challenger tows way better, much more economical and overall a better car for day to day stuff.

[itsnotagsr]

Thanks for the continued feedback. Challengers are within budget and have emailed a few links to Dad.

[bigshipengine.jpg]

Isnt resale on the petrols woeful cause nobody wants to fuel the things?
I personaly think a Pajero drives better than the Prados.

[fly510]

Thanks for the continued feedback. Challengers are within budget and have emailed a few links to Dad.

how politically correct of you :D