Close to buying a 120..BUT

[jhiace Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close jhiace]

Hey guys,

First time post here so here goes...

I am thinking about buying a 120 Prado and just wanted to suss out a bit more about them from the experts..

I am looking at possibly a 2006 model in petrol Automatic 5 spd. I guess the first thing is how reliable are these cars, and what are the major (expensive) services?

Is there a lot of difference between the 03,04,05 and 06 models? I think that the 5spd auto would be much better economical wise and probably overall but is there any real difference in going the 5 spd over the 4spd auto, or even manual for that matter?

I have read through the petrol usage threads and although it is helpful most people forgot to write whether they were in a manual OR auto.

Any additional info, hints and tips will be really appreciated.

Cheers, Josh.

[Hutch Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hutch]

Had a 120 07 auto petrol, best car I ever owned, now have a 150 petrol auto.


Hutch- 2012 Prado 150, some TJM Kit.

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

So Hutch the 120 is/was better than the 150?

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

Hi Josh, Im on my 3rd prado 1 petrol 90 and one diesel, currently own 120 prado 05 5speed auto GXL with now 109k on it. Mate I have owned a few cars/4wds etc and I would have to rate the 120 one of the best I have had. Yes its a bit thirsty around town BUT cheaper then my 3.4 V6 in the 90 was. On a long trip its cheaper then my 90 was also. Best I ever got out of my V6 90 was 12.2L per 100, the 120 has been 11.6 L per 100. There is no timing belt to change on the 120 V6 compared to the 90.
Now I reckoned the 90 was a great prado, the diesel I wasnt that rapped in but not just saying this cause I own a 120 but it kicks ass when you plant the foot and blows some of these doof doof machines into the weeds off at the lights, the VVTI engine goes, but if you drive it like that all the time it will drink it but just normal driving I dont think its that bad and you have the go to overtake if you want. At the time I didnt have the $$$ to buy a D4D and if I did I would have bought the diesel but to be honest Im loving the petrol and if i was to update to a 150 (wont be happening any time soon lol) I would go the V6 again unless toyota was to update their engines. My mate had the 04 4 speed auto he now has the VX 06 5peed auto, he reckons slightly better on fuel and the ratios seem to be better. He said about 0.6L per 100 better off (buggar all really). Oil and filter every ten k, and general servicing I dont see any known issues.
I have personally seen the old 90 V6 with over 400k on them and still going without issues so if the 120 is the same you cant complain about that, again you wont get it if you dont service them (that goes for anything really) I do think a disc rotor upgrade would help with the breaks which i will do when pads are due. From what i have read they are not as good as the 90 as far as letting dust in especaiily around rear cargo area but some of this can be eliminated (post on here about it). The alloys seem to peel on some of them (mine ok at the moment). The biggest issue with the 120's is the dashpad, cracking etc (about 50 odd pages on here about it). Some getting replaced under warranty, some half/half, some none at all but you can read all up about that on here. Now my wife wasnt super keen on the 90 as I had it lifted, bigger tyres, snorkel etc and she reckons it was truck like. The 120 I struggle to keep the keys in my pocket, while I dont have it lifted yet etc (does have bullbar) she loves driving it where ever,when ever except the local westfields (which is a good thing lol).
Mate if its been a good well looked, serviced vehicle I dont see it giving you any troubles. I was talking to my mate the other day in regards to getting the transmission serviced and he said he has had a couple in now with the transmission gone bang BUT if you listen to your car he said you will hear it starting to make a strange noise coming from the box. He said its a bearing that is on its way out which can be fixed for minimal cost BUT if you let it go it strips the bearing and rips the guts of the box out and its a full rebuild but that seems to be the only main thing mechanical I have read about or heard of......... Regards Steve

[jhiace Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close jhiace]

Steve, that's pretty much what I wanted to read.... I should also mention I'm looking at a grande model..

Seems like all I have to do now is find the one I like and hand over the big ones! My hilux was very capable so I figured these things would be too an I love wagons!

*off to find a good 120*

josh

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

This one you may like http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Toyota-La...#ht_500wt_1361 Be wary of this

[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

And this [IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

The pics of the dash are extreme cases but this is the end result. The rust issue I found in 3 prado grande's I looked at and at the time their were minimal VX's around so is why I went the GXL. I do miss the traction control on my GXL (had it on previous 90 grande) and its good. Now there are plenty on here who have grande's and dont have the rust issue but since I posted that issue a while ago I have had a couple of PM's telling me they have found rust so just some thing to be wary of. If its a private buy be careful if you pull the rubber back cause if you pull it back to far thats it and it wont go back in place, if a car yard so be it then they will have to fix it before the next customer comes in the door. Really check over the dash, around the speedo area, side air vents, around passengers airbag, seems to be some of the starting spots. ...........Cheers Steve

[jhiace Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close jhiace]

Thanks Steve.

Where abouts were the common rust spots? With the cracking of the dashboard I have seen this before and it happens more then you might think and in a lot of different makes too, the most common cause of this is a vehicle being left in the sun all the time but thank you for the heads up I will make sure I pay very close attention to the signs of this and the rusting.

[Hutch Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hutch]

So Hutch the 120 is/was better than the 150?

What I am saying is that I had the 120 for 5 years, all I did was service it and replace the starter motor(Mud and sand inside) the 150 is a superior vehicle in all aspects bar the fuel tank, and if it is reliable as the 120 in 5 years time it will take the mantle of best car owned.

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

The rust was along the front of the sunroof panel, the part that slides not the actual body of the car. If its shot its a 2g plus repair for a new one, unless some one drops a rock from an overpass onto the sunroof and it cracks as your crusing down the freeway, then it would be an insurance claim.......Dont be fooled thinking its just the sun causing the issue. There are people on here who have had their cars since new, have had dash covers all its life, garaged at home and work etc. Yes the sun probably moves it along a bit BUT they are still cracking either way..... Cheers Steve

[jhiace Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close jhiace]

Yeah it would cost a fortune to fix it, i will keep an eye out for that when inspecting.

I'm a motor trimmer by trade and have seen this a few times and have replaced 1 dash in a prado for Toyota, after speaking with the owner they told us they always put Armorall on it to keep it shiny like new and it was in the sun 90% of the time. The keyword here is Armorall, that shit is woeful and full of silicone which actually dries plastic out.

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

Yeah I hate that shit, bloody caryards spray that crap over every thing thinking it makes the car look pretty. Pain in the arse especially when I worked at a smash repairs, bloody silicone in the air....Cheers Steve

[kav Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close kav]

yeah guys the rust in the sunroof is an issue but as you say its not the body usually . get glass insurance , from my investigations its 4.5g for a new sunroof . in the grandes you also have the fm antenae in the rear quarter glass , some one correct me if im wrong . buy one you won't regret it . i didn't , and i bought mine by sheer luck . i wanted a hilux sr5 diesel . glad i didn't buy that , my 03 grande poo's on that . mind you the sat nav system is pretty much useless unless you like paying toll fees .

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

Hi there Kav, Im sure the antenna is in the rear 1/4 window of all the 120 prados ?? I know both my 90's was in drivers guard and have no idea about the 150, but Id presume the 150 the same as the 120. To be honest I reckon there a shit idea as the reception compared to my 90's is shocking and if you put metal window tint film over the top it makes them worse although in the VX, and grande 120's you have privacy glass anyway so no need to tint except front driver and passenger window or I think it looks odd.Cheers Steve