Looking to Buy New

[Naviguesser Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Naviguesser]

Hi

Been hunting around here trawling through various threads, I think I have nearly read every thread on 150's.
Joined tonight to ask some questions to assist in joining the community and buying a Prado.
I have a old Land Rover Discovery, which is a weekender only at the moment, but am re-organising my fleet

My thoughts are to buy a GX and fit a few accessories via the dealer. My reason for doing it this way is to use a car allowance to pay for it all, rather than out of my pocket. If I buy a GXL, the budget for accessories is lowered and I hate the way the third row seats fold into the floor a waste space.

It will have tinted windows, ARB bar, Safari Snorkel, tow bar, dual battery, some sort of LT tyres (AT3?), roof rack (would like Rhino).

Its jobs will be: Daily drive, tow my race car (1800 kg on the trailer), mild 4WD trips around Vic, desert trips (Simpson etc) and tow a caravan in the future

The questions are:

1. Manual or auto? Is there that much difference in towing or fuel use?
2. Is the standard suspension up to it for the first 50,000 or so?
3. Do I really need lift given my usage and question two?
4. Do I need under body protection? My old Disco needs nothing.

Thanks

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

1. Manual or auto? Is there that much difference in towing or fuel use?
2. Is the standard suspension up to it for the first 50,000 or so?
3. Do I really need lift given my usage and question two?
4. Do I need under body protection? My old Disco needs nothing.

In my view
1. Auto - easier to nudge up on things, more control generally. Smoother in low traction situations
2. The Std suspension should be fine for 100,000 if you don't put on a bull bar or need a lift
3. A lift is handy for clearing rocks and reducing drag on sand in trenched tracks, but not essential. I did the cape in a std car including Frenchmans and the Telegraph track. Some of my friends have done the Simpson in a std suspension, but I am glad mine was now lifted.
4. Not essential, but depends a little on how you drive. It certainly helps to give a little comfort you won't do too much damage when you are in difficult situations.

This will no doubt raise some debate -

Enjoy the new car

[Naviguesser Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Naviguesser]

The dunes in the Simpson are likely to be the worst it encounters at first, perhaps a trip up the cape in a few years time

And if I upgrade/lift, what is the consensus on height 30mm or 50mm ?
I haven't seen much love for the 30mm OME

[BMman Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close BMman]

I got a new GX diesel in April this year and it went straight in for a 2" lift and better suspension, better tyres, second battery and towing stuff (including brake controller), all important in my mind for what i do. I initially persisted with the original suspension on my old 90, but even from new it bumped the ground a lot. With the lift i rarely hit anything under the front/middle only accessional the rear fuel tank. New Prado has done one desert dune trip and some mountain stuff. We tow a small trailer (1 tonne, TVan) or the stock trailer. I will be replacing the front bash plate however as it has a scoop in it and has "scooped" up lots of spinnifex on the last trip. Bugger to clean out. I have also since that trip put a new transfer case guard as the original was small and did not protect the actuator (where a found a stick named and was concerned). The new guard is available through the this web site.
I agree about the GX - who wants to loose storage space, and carry all that extra weight. I am a "manual" driver. I like the lower gearing and better engine braking in the manual, and i am more than happy to shift gears myself.
All the best with the decision making.

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

1. Manual or auto? Is there that much difference in towing or fuel use?
This is really a personal choice, I love the auto even though I've only driven manuals previously. Auto really needs additional cooling if you are doing serious towing, however this is not a big deal as a trany cooler only costs 200-300.

2. Is the standard suspension up to it for the first 50,000 or so?
Yes, if you weren't fitting a bullbar which will cause some front end droop. Me and my mates do a bunch of 4WDing with standard suspension. My mate has comfortably done the Simpson in a GX with Standard everything, except tyres. Definitely upgrade the tyres.

3. Do I really need lift given my usage and question two?
See above. All the guys I know up north have stock everything and their vehicles get hard weekly work outs, mainly beach stuff though. So maybe if you are planning rock work.

4. Do I need under body protection? My old Disco needs nothing.
As above.

My two bobs worth

[Naviguesser Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Naviguesser]

Thanks for all the input everybody.

But I just put the hard earned down on a Pajero.
It was a close decision but the Pajero won on price.