Buy now or wait for new model?

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

Re: Buy now or wait for new model?

I'd be very reluctant to buy the new model right off the bat. As we've been saying a while now, let someone else have all the issues that brand new cars invariably have. Let someone else jump up and down outside the the dealer with warranty issues. Wait a year or so for some good user experiences to surface surrounding the new model and make a choice then.

I agree.

If you have a servicable 4x4 right now then you could wait and see what eventuates in regard to the new model. If your current 4X4 is clapped then I'd have no hesitation in signing up a 120 right now.

Good advice.

So I'd be buying a 120 right now.

Obviously it will depend on your finances, but you say you were looking at a LC200. So I take if you have the money and therefore the likely savings you should make by going with a Prado over the LC200 you should you with some extra left over money to put towards upgrades or add-on a few accessories to fit your needs. Either way, buy a new or a good second-hand 120 and you shouldn't be disappointed. 8)

[Hitam 2 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Hitam 2]

Re: Buy now or wait for new model?

I've been very fortunate to actually own both vehicle currently and I can tell you from experience that the LC200 is a hungry beast and has a very limited GVM (can be increased but not so cheap). So my LC200 is basicly to be used as to carry people around when my extended family comes for a visit. Don't get me wrong, LC200 is a fantastic machine but its not without its flaws. On the other hand, the prado is so much more flexible of a car, true and tested in terms of reliability and if you don't need the 3rd row seats, it actually has more room than the LC200 (can't so easily remove the 3rd row seats on LC200 :x ). It comes with standard longrange tank and much better fuel economy compared to the LC200. So, good luck in deciding which vehicle.

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

Re: Buy now or wait for new model?

I decided today that a current model 120 series is the way to go. I feel the new model may well rely more heavily on electronic gadgetry and the like and Im not overly keen on that. Im also fortunate enough to get more than 20% discount on any Toyota vehicle through family employed by Toyota so I figure if the new model does come out then I can always sell and upgrade at relatively little cost. Even at full RRP, I believe the 120 is still great value for $$. Seems my mind has been made up! Now, to decide on the colour and accessories... better let SWMBO decide that one.

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

Re: Buy now or wait for new model?

I decided today that a current model 120 series is the way to go.

You won't regret it.

Im also fortunate enough to get more than 20% discount on any Toyota vehicle through family employed by Toyota

Fortunate... that's an understatement. :roll: Are you sure you don't have a long lost brother in Darwin??? :shock: :wink:

[rhs58 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close rhs58]

Re: Buy now or wait for new model?

I decided today that a current model 120 series is the way to go.

You won't regret it.

Im also fortunate enough to get more than 20% discount on any Toyota vehicle through family employed by Toyota

Fortunate... that's an understatement. :roll: Are you sure you don't have a long lost brother in Darwin??? :shock: :wink:

Aren't we all members of the Pradopoint family.....as such we should all schmooze up to croozer and get the family discount...

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

Re: Buy now or wait for new model?

Well done Croozer
I'm sure the new Prado .... when it finally comes.... will be better in various ways, mostly in road friendliness, at the expense of offroad usefulness. I looked long and hard at the LC200 before I updated last year, but came to the conclusion that it was not as good in the final mix as it's predecessor and the price hike wasn't justified. The Prado was better for my needs. My guess is that the new Prado will go down a similar route as the LC200: that is, not as good for 4wd'g as the previous model. The 120 is a good truck that should do you for years!

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

Re: Buy now or wait for new model?

Haha! Who needs friends when you have schmoozers! As for long lost brothers, they always seem to come out of the woodworks...strangely enough it always seems to be at a time theyre after a new car too... Coincidences huh. Thanks for your input tho guys, it has helped me in deciding whats more important to me in the purchase. Think I'll wait till after mid-year before I place an order. Who knows, they may even throw in one last upgrade to the 120 series!!

Now, if only there was a way to show my thanks to all you Toyota owners who contributed to this thread...

[D4D-GXL Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4D-GXL]

Re: Buy now or wait for new model?

Don't forget that with a new model comes dissappointment in aftermarket parts (such as ARB Winch Bar) not being available for some time. Also noted is the batch of generic faults that you find with new models, regardless of manufacturer. I would wait until the first lot of faults are rectified and then possibly purchase the new update.

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

Re: Buy now or wait for new model?

Now, if only there was a way to show my thanks to all you Toyota owners who contributed to this thread...

20% discount on all Toyota parts would be a good start! :lol: :lol: :wink:

[tileys Member Find all posts View Profile Close tileys]

Re: Buy now or wait for new model?

Looks like you've made your mind up now but here's my 20cents FWIW.

We were in a similar position. We bought a new 120 in November just gone. We were considering the ins and outs of new model versus old. We test drove a few cars and chose the car that would best suit us for the next few years: Sure I'll get new prado envy if late in 2009 when the new one's due out it comes with a 170kw/550NM D6D, crawl control, KDSS etc (I like my gadgets but that doesn't change the fact that this is the right car for us now and in the meantime we can use it to comfortably get to those places we're keen to check out with friends.

From what it looks like any newer 4WD incarnations are likely to have larger rims (pain for tyres), less fuel tank capacity (neater look with spare under the car ?), more electronics and better safety and probably a bunch of inexplicable and really annoying things that make you wonder who they're pitching the car at e.g. less GVM margin, no 12v in the back, non-standard audo upgrade options etc. The 120 is a known quantity in that regard.

[IRON-PAWW Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close IRON-PAWW]

Re: Buy now or wait for new model?

Went with the 120? Yep I think that's the right choice to make. Seeing as you're in the Toyota family and get that mega discount then you may as well. I too suspect that the new Prado will be filled with doohickery that very well may go up in smoke along the Gunbarrel.....

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

Re: Buy now or wait for new model?

There are probably some 90 series owners who found themselves in the same boat, as regards the 120series, when it was first released.

Wonder what they have to say, going for "tried and true" 90 as against the "new and unproven" 120 series - I'd be interested to hear... :wink:

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

Re: Buy now or wait for new model?

There really isn't much separating the electronic gadgetry in the LC200 from that in the Prado 120. Most of it is tied in with the ABS, Air bags, DAT, SAT, and all that.

People were saying the same thing about 4WDs and passenger vehicles 25 years ago when the first locally assembled EFIs hit the streets. I remember the "I wouldn't go too far with all that under the bonnet!" and look where we are now. I laughed at a mate when his fly-by wire throttle broke on his T/D Discovery, hundreds of kilometres from nowhere. And now my own Prado has the same system!

My 95 series has given me 10 years of solid motoring without too much hassle. If my new 120 t/dsl gives the same I'll be more than happy.

I would wait until a year after the introduction of any new model just to be sure they had ironed out any bugs. We get lots of new vehicles in my line of work (government) and I reckon we get all the cars made on a Friday because they always fall apart and need repairing.

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

Re: Buy now or wait for new model?

I would wait until a year after the introduction of any new model just to be sure they had ironed out any bugs.

True... wait until they've ironed out any teething bugs, accessories become more available, spare parts become more available and cheaper.

Suggest you save some dollars (for upgrades) and go with existing model or wait for a while until the newer model settles in. Otherwise, if none of these things worry you and you want to be a trendsetter in your neighbourhood and on this forum, go for the new model as soon as it becomes available. :wink: 8)