Overtaking with 3 door prado 2.7L petrol engine

[Hannon Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Hannon]

Hi everybody, I'm new to these forums and I think they're a very nice place to share opinions, congrats for what you've got here guys.

Well, I'm not a prado owner, I actually drive a little rwd BMW, but I'm convinced I want to trade it for a 3 door prado cause it suites my lifestyle a lot more... the BMW was sort of a crazy buy, anyway now I know better.

I'd love to buy a diesel SWB prado but here in my country we only get the 2.7L petrol in the SWB, and the 4.0L V6 petrol in the LWB. The other day I went for a test drive around the city with a 3 door 2.7L petrol engine prado and I think it's a great machine, it was very comfortable and the throttle response in daily city-driving conditions was great. However I don't know how it would cope in B-road conditions, and here is where I need your help and experience.

Let me put you an example:
Imagine you're driving on a B-road with just one lane on each side, and the maximum speed in that place is 120km/h (74miles/h). Everything is cool, you're driving at the maximum allowed speed and then you find a guy in front of you that's driving at 100km/h (60miles/h), and you want to overtake him. I'm used to doing this kind of overtaking in my little BMW hatchback (it's got 170hp and weights about 1350kg) with ease, of course if the road is in good conditions, there is good visibility and there is enough straight line road to do it. How do you think the prado would do? Have you had some experience like this with your petrol engine SWB prados? Let's say conditions are quite neutral (level road, not so much wind) and good visibility, some traffic coming the other way. I know doing this kind of overtaking in uphill conditions would be quite irresponsible and dangerous, but has any of you had to push hard on the throttle in uphill conditions with the 2.7L petrol SWB prado? How did it cope?

Well, sorry for the long post but that's the only thing that's really keeping me from buying a Prado. I'm in love with it, but overtaking with confidence is something I consider of major importance in terms of safety, and the 2.7L in an SUV that weights more than 2 tons is giving me some worries.

Thanks in advance guys, any kind of feedback would be really helpful!

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

Re: Overtaking with 3 door prado 2.7L petrol engine

G'day Hannon,

In Australia our B-Road limit is 100km/h & on our freeways its 110km/h. Only in the Northern Territory is the speed limit 140km/h - its very flat & open out there!

The 2.7 has 112kw & 240Nm & I can only compare that with my Diesel having 96kw & 343Nm...

The 2.7 should be faster than the Diesel considering that it will rev further & most of its power is developed higher in the rev range. The other advantage is the 3 door should be lighter than my 5 door & also from memory the 3 door doesn't have the extra fuel tank to add that extra weight too.

Now we need to overtake B-doubles on these roads. They are speed limited to 100km/h. A b-double (B-Train http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B-double) is a truck that is 26m long & takes some time to overtake when you are trying to pass without a runup.....a technique us Diesel drivers often have to employ!

Its not going to match the BMW by any means.....and as your speed goes up the aero drag on the Prado also goes up!

Really its understanding the differences in the types of vehicles.....the BMW is a sports car & 'needs' to be driven that way, a Prado is never going to be a sports car. Its heavy, its underpowered, its bulky, it doesn't hug the road....

You do need to be more patient in a 4WD its just a matter of accepting that. The 4.0L will be better & you may find that you like it better as a car if you have come from the BMW....

Is there any way you can test drive the 2.7 on the open road?

Cheers

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

Re: Overtaking with 3 door prado 2.7L petrol engine

Gidday Hannon. You will probably find the 2.7 totally fine in normal use around town and cruising at around 100 kph but the moment you hit a good hill or a strong headwind with a good load all those kw's and torques that are attributed to the 2.7 turn into garbage. I would suspect you would hate the damn thing before too long. 4 cylinder petrol hp = pit pony as apposed to v6 or diesel/turbo hp = draught horse. In NZ here the 2.7 Prados are regarded as dogs and have very little resale value (even the v6's are not too flash in any brand) whereas the diesel turbos (of any brand) really hold their price - 1996 with 200,000 km still around 15k - 19k. The 4 cyl's can also suck fuel along with the best of them when heavily loaded. Cheers.

[Hannon Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Hannon]

Re: Overtaking with 3 door prado 2.7L petrol engine

Hi guys, thanks for the replies.

Well, I was considering the 2.7 3 door prado mainly for 2 reasons...

1) I think it won't drink as much fuel as the 4.0 V6. Any thoughts on that?
2) If I want to get the V6 I'd have to get the 5 door version, which I think is too big for what I normally use the car (mainly city driving... some weekend trips to ski centers and the outback with my girlfriend and some other people). I also like doing roadtrips, which I do maybe twice a year or so, I think those would be the only occasions in which the 5 door would be better suited for me... but the hasle of looking for a big enough parking space in everyday driving.... Anyway, maybe if fuel consumption is not THAT different between the 2 engines I might consider it.

Maybe I should consider an FJ Cruiser? that's sort of in the middle in terms of size, with the 4.0 V6 engine... but fuel consumption can be sort of a deal breaker for me...

Cheers.

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

Re: Overtaking with 3 door prado 2.7L petrol engine

Hannon, I doubt there will be much difference in fuel consumption between the two. You may find that @120km/h the 2.7 may use more fuel than the 4.0. Remembering also that the more throttle the more fuel you will use, but the 4.0 will do it a lot easier. The 4.0 will also be in cruise mode more often in undulating country. The 2.7 will be under load at the slightest hill.

You will find the 4.0 sporter too! Especially if your loaded with friends & their gear.

Regarding parking, I got to say my biggest issue is the width of the car, not the length.....although you do need to leave enough space at the back for the rear door....

Another thing to consider & I think Derb mentioned it, resale value.....the 4.0 will keep more value than the 2.7.....but thats in countries like Australia where we are used to large sedans as the norm so our carparking is geared that way...generally....

Take the 4.0 for a drive if you can....really its to only way to see the difference & get the feel of the 5 door....

Cheers

[Hannon Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Hannon]

Re: Overtaking with 3 door prado 2.7L petrol engine

Thanks guys, I'll try to test drive the 2.7L on the road and a 4.0L and let you know what happened. Any other opinions are welcome.

Cheers.

[moby Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close moby]

Thanks guys, I'll try to test drive the 2.7L on the road and a 4.0L and let you know what happened. Any other opinions are welcome.

Cheers.

Hi Hannon,

I have seen your old post. Not sure if you are still checking your account.

Could you please help me making my mind. I am more than month contemplating on this subject going with SWB 2.7 would worth it. My initial reasoning was based on assumption that swb will be lighter than its lwb counterpart, thus in a way i could in someway partially solve the problem of 2.7 being underpowered.

But the other day I have learned that as kerb weight there is not much difference like around 130kg which is not much. Could you please share you thoughts. Does it worth, now it become even pricier than previous year. around 33k $.

The main reason I am a single person, do not have any reason to carry passenger. usually just drive to work on highways.

Thank you.