GRANDE - What're they like?

[riverside03 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close riverside03]

Hi everyone, what a great site with heaps of information. i have just bought a 2004 prado grande, 4ltr v6 4speed auto, i havnt owned one of these before but they seen to be a great car. Picking it up tomorrow (cant wait) Can anyone tell me if this is a good model ofr is there anything to look out for.
Many Thanks

[buckled1801 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close buckled1801]

2003 TOYOTA LANDCRUISER PRADO GRJ120R GRANDE

Hi,

I am looking at purchasing the '03 Prado Grande and was just wanting some feed back on any issues this model might have, I have read on the forums that they have some issues with the air bags popping out. any information on this model would be a big help the car has done close to 150k.
also with the sat nav i noticed when driving you cant enter any addresses in you have to be stationary can this be overridden or is it better to just purchase the aftermarket one DIG Options??
thanks for all the help in advance.

Regards

Marko

[Guest Close Guest]

Re: 2003 TOYOTA LANDCRUISER PRADO GRJ120R GRANDE

I currently own the model you are referring to. I have not had any troubles with it so far since owning it from July 09. The airbag suspension popping out issue is quite rare and only at the most extreme articulation of the rear suspension. There is an airbag strap that could be fitted and recently, there was an occurence of that snapping as well. But it is still quite a rare occurence.

As for the satnav, there is an override but you have to do that everytime you start the car. So it is inconvenient. I've learnt to deal with it but more recently, I think there is dust on the laser of the DVD drive that reads the satnav DVD. So sometimes, I can't get the satnav going anyway. I have a PDA and a mobile running Win Mobile, so I use either devices for navigation. It has Tomtom and OziE loaded.

The thing I like about the Grande is the self levelling suspension but the suspension is a bit soggy. I find that I am now driving around in Sport mode because when I am in Comfort mode, when I go over humps, the shocks will bottom out. However, it is fine for us as we don't tow and don't have a bullbar, winch or dual batts. Sometime down the track, I may consider upgrading the suspension once I get those big accessories on.

[Way2go Member Find all posts View Profile Close Way2go]

Re: 2004 PRADO GRANDE

It's a great model - I have one!

Nothing specific to watch out for that I am aware of.

Just enjoy!

[Guest Close Guest]

Re: 2004 PRADO GRANDE

Nice. Mine's an 03 built, 1st rego'd in 04.

Suspension might be a bit soggy but I like the self-levelling feature. The height adjustment is not that useful like the one in the Disco3 where you can actually lower the suspension when on the highway. Can't do that on the Prado.

I'm not overly excited by the satnav because now, there is an intermittent error in reading the disc. I suspect that the laser head is dirty but I can't get a CD cleaner to work. Much prefer a solid state based satnav device.

[moamajohn Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close moamajohn]

Re: GRANDE - What're they like?

Gday,I have had an 03 for 4 years I,m up to 160Ks . I am a plumber { old one !] so I haul a construction trailer behind it everyday @ 1100 kg. Its an absolute delight to use with no probs to date .I also drive it 450 ks every single weekend to my farm where it becomes my workhorse again . Its on LPG & its the best vehicle I have owned .I figure by the time I fall off the perch some freeloading grandchild will take over her helm .

[Guest Close Guest]

Re: GRANDE - What're they like?

Love mine.

Have replaced the suspension with a Bilstein Ridepro combination (45mm lift) and 70 series MTZ.

I have had the following issues replaced under warranty:

Driver seat leather worn (replaced twice now in 100,000 / 3 years)
Radiator replaced.
Sunroof motor replaced.
Stereo/satnav replaced (and about to be again as wont read discs.)
Rear passenger flare replaced as fuel dissolved tape used to hold it on.
Rear passenger back window replaced (cracked trim)
Reverse sensors replaced.

Apart from that which were all fixed by Toyota I am happy with mine.

I still have and use the adjustable height to get into carparks and stuff, the bilsteins made an awesome difference to the handling over the standard TEMS stuff.

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

Re: GRANDE - What're they like?

Love mine.

Have replaced the suspension with a Bilstein Ridepro combination (45mm lift) and 70 series MTZ.

...

I still have and use the adjustable height to get into carparks and stuff, the bilsteins made an awesome difference to the handling over the standard TEMS stuff.

TP, have you documented that setup anywhere?

Replacing the TEMS with the setup you have does that mean that the ride settings no longer operate as stock does?

Cheers
OldGreyGuy

[horsepeople Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close horsepeople]

Re: GRANDE - What're they like?

Hi
Strongly syggest you read the section on here "cracked dashboards".....not a matter of if
....but when.....cos they are all breaking up and renders car unroadworthy and uninsurable
and tmc are treating us all with total contempt..
good luck......we had had toyotas for years....never again after this. :evil:

[Guest Close Guest]

Re: GRANDE - What're they like?

Old Grey: I have the Grande kit from Darren McRae & Autocraft (EX ATS) there is a thread on it.

Bilstein shocks revalved to suit Prado, and with adjustable height on front.

Ridepro Front coils.

Airbags in rear still with Autocraft mod to raise them 45mm. This allows factory raisint (70-80 mm lift!) or lowering (No lift) to suit from the factory button.
The TEMS is disconnected, best thing I ever did! It rides so much better now, it has a comparable ride to being on "Sport" all the time.

Best thing I did to the car!