upgrade from 120 to 150 or not

[Whatever Member Find all posts View Profile Close Whatever]

Hi guys just looking for slime general advice and fors and against.
I have a 120 prado 06 diesel auto done 190000 km with a few mods. I am torn weather I want to up grade to a 150 model diesel auto or not. I am looking at it for a tourer set up with the best fuel economy I can get towing a small pop up caravan I would like some good and bad points for this as I don't know much about the 150s and there towing and fuel economy any help would be great thanks Corey

[D4D Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4D]

150 carries less fuel, has less room in the back unless you rip the 3rd row seats out, 2nd row seats don't tumble and roll, you can't carry as much gear due to the higher vehicle weight to GVM and that dash layout is so 1970.

[matt150 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close matt150]

Can only comment on my upgrade from 2004 petrol auto, too 2012 diesel manual. The change has been substantial in my eyes, in terms of refinement, drive ability, ride and safety. Fuel economy, considering the set up of each vehicle is growing to be the same; is brilliant. The 120 averaged overall, mid 17's while the new 150 fitted with a chip is averaging overall 10.4. The 150 has comfortably achevied 12.2 towing a camper trailer on the highway.

In terms of suspension and chassis, they seem near identical. I have down abit of work on the undercarriage and yes, things seem old school on the new 150. I have towed with the 120 and found it comfortable, if not abit impractable in the long term with a camper or horse float long term. The 150 manual eats up towing the camper with grunt to burn while still making long term towing financially practical.

Hope this assists you.

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

I wouldn't be changing for economy reasons as the extra cost of a new 150 may swallow any savings to be gained. But if there are other reasons like a desire for a newer model with less potential break downs with a newer vehicle with a dealer warranty over one that is approaching an age [km wise] that will require an active preventative maintenance program then a 150 is it .You don't mention if the 120s is a D4D or the older 1KZ motor as in some folks eyes many would consider a D4D motor to be better than the older motor, but then again some of us now have our doubts now when you read some of the issues with the newer motor. As Matt posted i am sure that a 150 is more refined as is the nature of evolving motor vehicles today.I guess it comes down to the almighty dollar. Me i will stick to my old 1KZ but only because i own it and i am over bondage with the bank,but if i had the spare dollars then i would upgrade but probabily to a dual cab ute.
cheers Russ

[Whatever Member Find all posts View Profile Close Whatever]

I have the 1 kz motor not d4d. I thought or upgrading to a 120 series d4d engine but have been told.the d4d are the common rail engine and don't last as much as the 1kz motor does.

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

I agree with Rags, if you want to upgrade for fuel economy, in order to save money then you will never make up the 30k + that you are likely to spend on the upgrade. If however you want the economy for touring distance, or you just want a newer vehicle for the warranty or the new carpet smell that is a totally different thing all together.

Some would argue that the 1kz in a 2006 120 series is as good as it gets, but thats a matter for each individual. The D4D certainly has a few issues, but I am yet to be convinced they are any worse than any other modern common rail diesel. I know plenty of people running them, mostly in Hiluxes, that do stacks of k's without issue.

Cheers Andrew

[jimmy91 Member Find all posts View Profile Close jimmy91]

I'm upgrading my 120 to a smaller car, will be brand new, 7L to the 100km, short wheel base 2 door, live axle front and best thing a gas strut on the rear. Thats the one thing i hate about my prado, no bloody gas strut on rear door.

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

Or not.

THe 150 is a nice unit, better economy, newer, a few more knobs and gadgets, but I am hoping something else comes about before its time for me to update my 120. Oh, FJ is not an option, too small, but would seriously consider a 6 cyl diesel Prado if they show in Oz.

mlc

[jimmy91 Member Find all posts View Profile Close jimmy91]

fj's are alright my mate just got one on friday, i'd buy that before a 150. can run decent tires then.

[150gxl Member Find all posts View Profile Close 150gxl]

I am torn weather I want to up grade to a 150 model diesel auto or not. I am looking at it for a tourer set up with the best fuel economy I can get towing a small pop up caravan I would like some good and bad points for this as I don't know much about the 150s and there towing and fuel economy

Hi Corey,

We did just over 11,000k trip Brissie to Tassie and back, in Feb - April this year.
In tow was an 1200kg (total weight loaded) Avan Cruiseliner - Probably lighter and more aero-dynamic than your pop-top van
This was the type of trip that we bought the 150 Auto D4D specifically for.

Our return for the total 66 days was 11.57 litres/100.
A small run from Corryong to Gadd's Bend, towing, returned 9.3l/100 - it was Good Friday, not a car in sight, so we sat on 70kph and took in the views and were blown out by the economy.

We had looked at a 76 series wagon but dismissed it due to the dearer V8 rego, the 11.9L/100 best-case scenario (not towing) and lack of auto box.
When not towing, I'm usually getting around 8.0 to 9.0 L/100. I don't get caught up in peak hour traffic and I use freeways highways as much as possible.
While the 150 has only a 150L tank, you will go just as far, if not further, due to the better efficiency.
We travelled in company with a 120 with the same motor as yours, albeit a manual and the 120 always used significantly more diesel than us. Admittedly, it was towing a 15' pop top about 300~400kg heavier. Nonetheless, the driver of the 120 would have the 150 auto in the blink of an eye. Towing in undulating and mountainous terrain was just hard work in the manual and we constantly "lost" the 120 in these conditions.
BTW, some of the hills the 150 did included Ben Lomond (1550m high appx) in Tassie (not towing of course!!!!) and Mt Hotham (1830m) from Smoko side, towing the Avan, Sassafras Gap towing the Avan.

I haven't driven a 120 auto diesel but I can tell you things I don't like about the 150 Auto D4D (besides the godawful rear door c*ckup)
- the electric steering is as vague and tiresome as the journos claim (about on par with a vehicle that's already travelled 100,000k)
- the cruise control is woeful - worst on any car I've owned in the last 15 to 20 years (change on average 3 yearly) - it will lose about 10kph before changing down a gear when on undulations - you really have to work the auto in these conditions, that's why they call it a semi-auto in the book I suppose. It still not as hard work as a manual of course.
- when in Drive, going down the Gateway bridge in Brissie, or Westgate in Melbourne, or similar gradients, if you tip the brakes just to stay within the speed limit, the box often drops from 5th to 3rd, and locks in belligerently. You just have to get used to selecting 'S' to prevent this and it can be a real PITA.
- the standard suspension is disgraceful if not dangerous. Nose dive under braking is severe. You'll need do the shocks and springs up, just to get the suspension somewhere near normal and acceptable.

For all of that, the 4 cyl rego, excellent fuel economy and 150L tank set it apart from the current opposition and swayed us.
The price is reasonable now and less than the equivalent 120 was back in the day (or so an owner told me).
The premium for diesel over petrol was only $1k when we ordered June last year. We got that back already.

For me, the FJ was not a serious consideration - 70L tank, petrol motor = wasted opportunity Mr Toyota San!!

HTH's