Buying a prado for the first time

[Hubble80 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hubble80]

Re: Buying a prado for the first time

My vote would be for a Diesel GXL with a steel ARB bar and Toyota towbar for the camper.

Also I would recommend that you stay away from this site as members will put ideas in your head which will cost you a lot more money in modifications!!!! :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

Hopefully you go the Prado over the Pajero. You won't look back. Just think, you see Prado's everywhere for a reason ... They are awesome!!!!!

Pete

[thylacene Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close thylacene]

Re: Buying a prado for the first time

Thanks for your comments thylacene. On the front bar issue, I thought that the Toyota option literally replaced the original bumper bar and therefore there would be no cutting and consequently possibility of water leakage? I notice that I think you use your vehicle for work Do you do a lot of kms in it? I do about 50k a year so one of the main factors I need to take into account is the value that is left on a 150k Prado at the end of 3 years which looks to be considerably more than the % left on the Pajero.

Novated leasing arrangement, have to do 25K pa to make it work.

Your circumstances may vary. do the sums. Checkhttp://www.redboov.com.au for your data based on models you are looking at, use the used cars estiamtor, then once you have worked out he percentages, decide which one is costing less. But then drive both and see what you like, each has its merits. If you are leasing then the Prado possibly makes more sense, as there is a slighlty better chance you won't end up in a negative equity sitaution. Also if you are leasing, try and keep the term to 3.5 years or less for the same reason. In 3.5 years I can buy mine from the lease for $29800, is there anyone out there who wouldn't consider buying a 3.5 yo Prado for 36% of purchase price when the market dictates 69% thereabouts. The trouble is that you need to do the maths on both ends, what it costs you monthly, in total and what your payout is at the end. This varies by deal, so you will need to do those calcs for yourself.

FWIW, I intend to buy this one out of the lease if I have no dramas with it.

Cheers

T

[hunjy105 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close hunjy105]

Re: Buying a prado for the first time

Im doing a similar lease by the sounds of it Thylacene. 25k KMS per year over 3 years with a $27k residual at the end. I do plan on buying it out aswell if all goes well, managed to keep $19k over 3 years away from the tax man and end up with a 2010 prado !

The only down fall is that you're forced to rack up the Kms although 75k over 3 years isnt too bad i suppose.

[thylacene Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close thylacene]

Re: Buying a prado for the first time

Sounds similar. The up side for us is that we have a shack down the coast just neatly 257 km from home ;^) One return trip allows me to go fishing and rack up the required K's. The package is worth about 8K per year on top of my wages after tax, but the big kicker comes with the GST which is not financed, and I only pay it on the RV, and get the GST returned for opearting expenses at the end of the lease, albeit it is taxed as income. Nett result is that I start off owing 68K on a VX driveaway, 21K per annum in real money including all costs and but it out for 30K at the end of the 3.5 yrs. I can't do it for that privately. Mind you,novated leasing has screwed the 2nd hand market generally.

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

Re: Buying a prado for the first time

Im doing a similar lease by the sounds of it Thylacene. 25k KMS per year over 3 years with a $27k residual at the end. I do plan on buying it out aswell if all goes well, managed to keep $19k over 3 years away from the tax man and end up with a 2010 prado !

The only down fall is that you're forced to rack up the Kms although 75k over 3 years isnt too bad i suppose.

If you r having prtoblems racking upthe K's let me know, i am sure we could help??? LOL

[Marrer Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Marrer]

Re: Buying a prado for the first time

After the wealth of info from you all, I took my first visit to Artarmon's ARB store. God I could live in the place - load of fantastic stuff. Have changed my mind about the alloy bar and will now go steel. Saw the new deluxe bullbar for the 150 series. The steel Sahara looks even better - has anyone much experience with these? I know that they don't cover the lights but they cover the radiator grill and the whole front bar is steel across where they normal bumper bar is so I hope it will be enough. I see what some of you mean about carving part of the original bumper away and I would be interested to hear if anyone has heard anything specific about leakage problems as someone mentioned.
On suspension, I asked the bloke my new vehicle will need an upgrade in suspension but he thought is I was not towing or winching, then probably not: any comments
I also wondered if anyone out there gets a diff lock built into their GXL before getting it. I think it is only on the Kakadu that it comes standard?

Cheers

[wengnuts Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close wengnuts]

Re: Buying a prado for the first time

I also wondered if anyone out there gets a diff lock built into their GXL before getting it. I think it is only on the Kakadu that it comes standard?

You're right, diff lock is not a option for GXL.

[Marrer Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Marrer]

Re: Buying a prado for the first time

I also wondered if anyone out there gets a diff lock built into their GXL before getting it. I think it is only on the Kakadu that it comes standard?

You're right, diff lock is not a option for GXL.

So is this a problem not having it - will it limit what the Prado can do out in the bush? And I wonder why they have it on the Kakadu when this is the model that I imagine is going to live on Sydney's north shore and not in the bush?

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

Re: Buying a prado for the first time

I also wondered if anyone out there gets a diff lock built into their GXL before getting it. I think it is only on the Kakadu that it comes standard?

You're right, diff lock is not a option for GXL.

So is this a problem not having it - will it limit what the Prado can do out in the bush? And I wonder why they have it on the Kakadu when this is the model that I imagine is going to live on Sydney's north shore and not in the bush?

You have traction control and you will be suprised how far these vehicles will go, traction control and diff locks both have their pros and cons however both will take a vehicle a lot further than the avergae Joe will want to take their car.

[Marrer Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Marrer]

Re: Buying a prado for the first time

In regards to upgrades - 1) Tyres, 2)Snorkel (dusty roads) 3)Dual Batteries 4)Suspension. The Prado is a very capable vehicle with great off road ability and great to drive on the main roads(which is where we drive mostly). Your comment on the bullbars is highly debated though i am very head strong in buying steel. The alloy variants, aftermarket or genuine will not take the hit of a big roo, cow, wild horse whatever. You'll find it will do more damage than good.

Hi Bushchook, I am a bit further down the track now since my last post and have ordered my D4D - can't wait. I have been reading threads on tyres and think that I will drive straight to a tyre shop and switch the Dunlops over either to BFG or Bridgestone. The Bridgestone AT with the LT walls seem to be the ones that sound better although I notice you say Coopers. Do you have any comment from your experience? Also planning to do our first trip later in the year probably up to Birdsville and Alice/Ayers Rock. Do you think it is vital to get a snorkel beforehand. At this stage, the only modifications I was planning was an ARB steel bar ( not sure whether to go deluxe or Sahara at this stage as my vehicle has to be smart for work once I get back and I think the sahara looks smarter) and change the tyres. I would be interested to know whether your other comments of snorkel, dual battery and different suspension was absolutely vital at this early stage.
Cheers
Roger

[cbm8880 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close cbm8880]

Re: Buying a prado for the first time

Rhetorical Question :

Will having diff locks only get you further into the sh!? that you are buying them to get you back out of anyway?

Not an answer to the rhetorical question :

If one is asking if they "need" diff locks, then generally the answer is no. As stated above, with the modern traction control devices on most 4x4s these days, the average (or even above average) 4x4er wouldn't really have a need for diff locks.

Good luck with the new rig!

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

Re: Buying a prado for the first time

Hi Marrer

We have a 150 and have done some serious off roading in it already, the traction control is fantastic, I have had over 10 4WD's in the past 25 years, with all sorts of mods and TC beats them all.

I drove the car from the dealer to the tyre store and got a set of Mickey Thompson 4 rib ATZ's, also fantastic off road but noiseier than BFG AT's. I have fitted the deluxe bar as I want the protection for the lights and guards and am very happy with it.

We have done the Cape, Simpson Desert, Victorian High Country, outback SA, Fraser Island and all places in between without a snorkel. The answer is if the river crossing is deep a water bra is fine and cleaning the filter every couple of days in the bush is a good idea. You will still have to do this with a snorkel anyway.

Dual battery is a must, suspension is also advisable for when you load up with all the gear and drive some of those outback roads. I am looking at the existing suspension at present with air bags in the rear as the front of mine with the steel bar and dual batteries has only dropped 5mm. This may change with age as we have only done 5000kms so far.

Hope this helps, Richo.

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

Re: Buying a prado for the first time

Richo, i went the same way. Standard suspension and polyair air bags in the rear.

i do a lot of towing however, so i want to raise the vehicle with a better suspension package, but, considering how well the airbags perform under load, i'm going to keep this for a bit longer to see how the prado settles with the bar, winch, batteries and blackwidow draw system when i get it in shortly.

i leave my airbags up on 20PSI all the time, and the ride is fine - not harsh at all. sits nicely as well :mrgreen:

dan

[Marrer Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Marrer]

Re: Buying a prado for the first time

Richo, I noticed that you have BFGs on your new prado. I am aware of the need to change mine when I take delivery of the vehicle and I noticed you got the 70 profile. Does this cause much of a drama getting the spare in the cover at the back and also does it throw the speedo out much? Don't know too much about different tyres yet but I need something that will be hardy on dirt as well as on bitumen and had wondered about BFG or Bridgestone. Any comments on your experience and also with this size?
Thanks
Roger

[yowie Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close yowie]

Re: Buying a prado for the first time

Richo, i went the same way. Standard suspension and polyair air bags in the rear.

i do a lot of towing however, so i want to raise the vehicle with a better suspension package, but, considering how well the airbags perform under load, i'm going to keep this for a bit longer to see how the prado settles with the bar, winch, batteries and blackwidow draw system when i get it in shortly.

i leave my airbags up on 20PSI all the time, and the ride is fine - not harsh at all. sits nicely as well :mrgreen:

dan

Dan,

Can you let us know how the extras go, as I am going to fit similar things to yourself, but not until later in the year when I save up my money. I looked at the black widow system, but it is not cheap. Also looking at the Outback system, which I had in the 80 series cruiser. Probably only a little bit cheaper anyway.

I will be towing from next year (when the new van is built), so will probably upgrade with the Bilstein Shocks and Kings springs with the poly bags.

Dave.