90 or 120 Grande

[Chris220220 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Chris220220]

Hi all,
have been reading as much as I can and would like to ask a question.
I have the option of a late 2001(2002 model) v6 3.4 Grande and a 2004 v6 4lt Grande.
One is $23k the other $34k the 2002 has done less around 136k km and the 2004 159k km.

We are a family of 4 two girls and a camper trailer. We would like to take Nan and Pa with us on some outings so all seats are sometimes needed.
I have a lease car for most of the general running around and for a couple of years may only do 8000km a year. A 2010 diesel Xtrail with highway tyres. Just not up to real 4wding like it is.

Is the extra $10k worth it ?
Is the 4lt better for towing and economy?
Please help.


Regards
Chris220220
Melbourne Vic

[Chris220220 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Chris220220]

PS does the 2002 have factory diff locks or just traction control? Carsales reaseach states the 2002 has diff locks is it a type?

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

If you want a weekend off road toy, get the 90. If its something the wife has to live with every day, get the 120.

90 series has better clearance and rear axle flex in stock form and you'd be less afraid to punish it. 120 series has more refined suspension so will be much nicer on road and the 4.0 V6 has a good deal more power than the 3.4L V6 which will make the 120 more bearable as a daily driver.

The 2002 Grande has TC me thinks.

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

Agree with Will. Just note a diesel is always better for pulling a camper (ie torque)

[Chris220220 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Chris220220]

Thanks guy's.

It is a light unbraked soft top camper so less than 700kgs.
Wife test drove a 90 series and quite liked the feel and handling.
Was a short trip on side streets.

I guess with the 90 I can add extras and still come out costing less then the 2004.
Are ongoing similar?

[mathewmeldrum Member Find all posts View Profile Close mathewmeldrum]

agreed, 90 series you wouldn't have to worry as much and has better ground clearance.
as far as looks go 120 is a better bet.
I think they are both at the top end of what they are worth.
After market accessories are harder to come by for a 90 series as well. which makes them expensive.
go a d4d (diesel) 120 if you can afford it, Grande are top of the range but a GXL isn't a bad place to sit.

[Guest Close Guest]

go a d4d (diesel) 120 if you can afford it, Grande are top of the range but a GXL isn't a bad place to sit.

D4D's only started in late 2006. No offence to 1KZ owners but that was pretty slow. Better to get a v6 if buying in that era (2003-06). V6's are easier to find as well.

Both 90 and 120 (and 150) has a centre diff lock.

I've only ever sat in a 90 but went for a 120 instead.

History of Prado models -> http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...ned-when/page4

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

I think they are both at the top end of what they are worth.

I have never looked at 120 pricing, but 90 series Prados can certainly be had for less than $23K.

Its true, 90 series have fewer accessories to choose from, but we have more tyres to choose from with our 16" rims

[Chris220220 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Chris220220]

We have a 98 falcon currently and will be trading that(for the little it's worth) it has an air bag at least.
What I don't want to do is go backwards safety wise. Hence the Grande 90 which has a set of airbags in it.
I'm still struggling to decide, $10k is a lot of petrol and extras as aposed to better ride and luxury.
Hoping to drive them both tomorrow or Saturday. Hopefully one will stand out from the other.
The 120 GXL is only a little less than the Grande's but a good GXL 120 would do and also fit the budget better.

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

Hey Chris,

The nice low k's on the '02 has pushed up the asking price (my '02 has done 170k's), depends on how good your buying skills are to see how low they will go
As far as power goes, the 3.4 is pretty bloody good and even on gas she still boogies. And definitely cheaper to run! The accessories to suit the 90 are things like cargo barrier, diff locks f & r, plenty of bull bar styles to suit your taste, snorkel. You can't get the twin spare wheel carrier, but that is what the camper is for :P
How well kitted out is each car? If the 120 is fully done, go that way. Otherwise get the 90 (it is a great car) and you'll probably still have coin left over for more fun stuff

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

Hi all,
have been reading as much as I can and would like to ask a question.
I have the option of a late 2001(2002 model) v6 3.4 Grande and a 2004 v6 4lt Grande.
One is $23k the other $34k the 2002 has done less around 136k km and the 2004 159k km.

We are a family of 4 two girls and a camper trailer. We would like to take Nan and Pa with us on some outings so all seats are sometimes needed.
I have a lease car for most of the general running around and for a couple of years may only do 8000km a year. A 2010 diesel Xtrail with highway tyres. Just not up to real 4wding like it is.

Is the extra $10k worth it ?
Is the 4lt better for towing and economy?
Please help.


Regards
Chris220220
Melbourne Vic

One thing about the 90 that nobody has said yet is, the 90 has a stronger driveline.

and as others have said, more ground clearance, better approch and departure angles too.
As for the equipment, the 120 will have more gear but the sunroof in the 120 is made from metal, it tends to rust out and the sunroof jams up on them, the 90 on the other hand, the sunroof is made from graphite/plastic, this does not rust out or jam up.
As for accessories, it is much of a muchness, the 90 has as much gear available for it as the 120, and it is not dear to get, unlike what has been said above, the 120 is bigger and heavier. Fuel wise, the 120 uses about the same as the 90, but the 120 holds 180ltrs of fuel, compared to the 90's 160ltrs. On the fuel tank side of things, the set up of the 90's tanks is much better than the 120's, as the 90's work independantly, where as the 120's don't, good if you hole one tank.
Power wise, both V6's have ample power ,(no probs for towing the camper), with the 120 having 40kw more, but that is gone because of the weight of the 120. You will not have too many problems with either, but the 10k you save buying the 90 gives you plenty of gear to buy.
Ultimately it is your choice..... or your wifes...lol

[Chris220220 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Chris220220]

Both cars are stock standard and just have tow bars fitted. the 02 I believe has had shocks and struts recently replaced.
Neither are quoted to having been used off road. A check underneath should verify that.
I'll get a full check done before getting either as I'm not that well versed with checking cars out.

[Guest Close Guest]

The 120 has hill descent control and rear height adjustment (if that is important to you).

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

One thing about the 90 that nobody has said yet is, the 90 has a stronger driveline.

Is that stronger in sense of; GVM vs driveline strength?

The driveline consisting of: Auto box, Transfer-case, Diffs, axles/CVs

The auto boxes are same in the year models mentioned (correct me if I'm wrong)
Ditto for the T-case
The rear diffs are the same but the front diff is strengthened in the 120 (8" diff in 120 vs 7.5" in 90)
Rear axle are same me thinks and not sure about CVs but I thought a read somewhere that 120 CVs where strengthened over the 90 CVs

So I'm figuring for the amount of torque required before failure the 120 has the stronger driveline with the bigger front diff. Is you're statement basically that the extra weight of the 120 undermines any increase in driveline strength?

[mathewmeldrum Member Find all posts View Profile Close mathewmeldrum]

in mid 1999 90 series changed a tad with the addition of airbag standard across the the line so i have read. something to do with new Australian standards.
but i think its just a drivers airbag. not sure, prob worth reading up on it.