do you plan on going offroad much?

get a diesel...

something around 350NM Plus..


2008 Holden Colorado RC LX $15,400
Kilometres 170,000
4X4
4 cylinder Diesel Turbo Intercooled 3.0 L
8.5L / 100km
360Nm @ 1800rpm

http://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/Holden-Colorado-2008/SSE-AD-3063110/?...

Sprinty,

GET A JEEP

I'd always driven Toyotas, mainly Hi luxes and 75 series landcruiser utes.

nearly everyone in farming does and if you go to the NT or far north qld, then that's what you see.
this has a snowballing effect.
farmers and miners give great feedback on "what breaks" and Toyota can do specific development.
All the mechanics know how to work on them
If you breakdown at the cape, someone can open the bonnet, chuck something at the engine and it will usually fall into place and off you go.

So if you are a serious off road enthusiast , then its a no brainer.

Buy a jeep, or a VW taureg or a Hyundai or a sanyoong musso and you'll be coming home on the back of a trayback truck.

But for the tools in suburbia who think its cool to pick up little Johnny at St Stephens in a big black 4WD beast (wankers) , then there are lots more options.

of the brands that represent good value for money and seem to perform well on my place when people come to visit (ie can get across a river and climb a dirt track)

the Mitsubishi triton 2.5l turbo at about $32,000 and the Suzuki grand vitarra (a true 4 WD, not an all wheel drive) at about $27,000 are the pick.

I would never touch a jeep.

Suzuki are quite capable 4wd manufacturers and that would be my choice in the city (if going for value).

If you want luxurt  the BMW X9 cant be beaten

In a 4 x 4 you'd want a diesel at least.

greggerypeccary wrote on Jan 23^rd, 2015 at 10:04am:


Yep. Agreed.

Sprintcyclist wrote on Jan 23^rd, 2015 at 10:20am:


last time I checked a comparison, the Patrol actually outperformed the land cruiser

John Smith wrote on Jan 23^rd, 2015 at 12:17pm:



Patrols are good John,  the electronics are a bit complicated, the diesel injectors need a bit more servicing, the plastics under the bonnet a bit more prone to perish.
The 3 litre is underpowered, the 4.2 is a good solid unit.
I would think a patrol may be better value than a cruiser.
Great tow vehicle too,

I don't like Navaras,  and all those other funny cars like x trails which are flimsy

its an awful feeling sprint,  no, once you are on mud especially if going sideways , you have no control.
ive actually been able to get someone to jump out and hold the damm thing.

all those traction control systems just cut the power to any tyre that is spinning (in the same way an ABS cuts the braking to any tyre that is NOT spinning).

Not knocking them, they are great , but its easy to get into some sticky terrain using them , that you wouldnt be able to access with out them .

And going back down a steep track is always more nerve racking then going up one.

as a side note a oli filter for a hilux is $9.
for a mercedes deisel 2000 sdi  $190 .

love toyotas

brilliant Honky ... I didn't think he'd make it

Prime Minister for Canyons wrote on Jan 23^rd, 2015 at 9:50am:


I did look at diesels. Was unconvinced with the Toyota diesels.

the 4.2 TD in the older landcruisers is very good.
With the 5 speed auto or manual.
Those are very expensive. About $50K 2nd hand.

the prado D4D 3L diesel has a few queries over it.
injector seals, glow plugs, injectors. You can get a massive repair bill if unlucky.
It has a timing belt that needs replacing.

the prado V6 4L has an excellent rating. well priced on the 2nd hand market.

the V8 petrol in the landcruiser is a lexus motor.
As mentioned, oil lock in the cams might be an issue.
I had not heard that but it could well be.

petrol are $10-15K  cheaper to buy. Often have had an easier life.
personal choice

here we go.

2001 prado, 3.4l petrol manual, 283,000 kms, $7500, looks pretty sttraight, clean standard.

Quote:



http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/waikiki/cars-vans-utes/reduced-2001-toyota-prado-...

I did love my GMC in America.
6 liter V8 power. Was really manoeuvrable too.

In UK now I have Volvo XC90 which is pleasant enough but more an SUV.

I get them for the wife, she likes to be higher up for safety.

Andrei.Hicks wrote on Jan 28^th, 2015 at 2:33pm:



Farrrrrk you are a FIGJAM if ever I heard one!

He is probably on the dole in a Newtown housing commission house!

Pajeros are a decent bus and can be had a bit cheaper than the Prados. The DID diesels are good and the V6 is built like a tank but expect 13-17l/100  for the petrol. They are bigger than the Prado but not as big as the Landcruiser.

Another option is the Challenger, although the diesel is a bit industrial and the turbo lag can be a bit disconcerting with a quick pull out into traffic, but you can get them S/H a few years old under $30k with balance of new car warranty. They have a good and versatile drive train being 2WD and 4WD.

skippy. wrote on Feb 11^th, 2015 at 9:32pm:



It's the 'driving round Aussie' dream.  A long time away, but I enjoy the planning.

The corollas depreciate so little they represent bad buying on the 2nd hand market to me.

Any suggestions on a 4X4 to go dreamtime in ?

it's a jeep thing

skippy. wrote on Feb 13^th, 2015 at 8:04pm:


sigh, that's the dream

Andrei.Hicks wrote on Jan 28^th, 2015 at 2:33pm:


Ha ha. You drive a volvo.

Explains a lot.

Doctor Jolly wrote on Feb 14^th, 2015 at 9:16am:


My wife does.

Of course it's for her. This car is all about safety which is what she wants.
Look how much higher up than the rest of traffic we are...

But are 4WDs and SUVs actually safer, or do they just give the impression that they are?  If you don't really need one for going offroad or towing, you could get a conventional car instead and cut your fuel bills by more than half.

I know what you mean about the line of sight, as I have quite often been a passenger in a smaller SUV (Mazda Tribute) and I can imagine what the bigger ones are like.  I can't say that it would make me want one though but then, that's more of a personal decision and not everyone has the same opinion on that (it would be boring if we did).

As to cost, unless you cover long distances, using more than double the amount of petrol isn't so much of an issue I suppose, although the reverse would be a bit of a bonus.  My previous car would do something like 9l/100km (I never accurately measured it, so this is a bit of a guess) and my new one seems to average around 6l/100km.  It was something I considered when looking around, but I didn't see it as that important.

SUVs are more expensive to buy though.

skippy. wrote on Feb 15^th, 2015 at 10:50am:


Is hers a large SUV/4WD running diesel?

Doctor Jolly wrote on Feb 14^th, 2015 at 7:10am:


during my research the paj was rated as the best tow vehicle.
The only 'problem' with them was the rubber on the cam chain tensioner should be replaced.


the prados need 0-rings in injectors replaced every 2 years, injector every 100,000 kms ...........

I have a friend with a Pajero with over 300,000 on the clock, he uses it to tow boats and reckons its the best thing since sliced bread.

Andrei.Hicks wrote on Feb 15^th, 2015 at 7:30am:


Bwahaha...what a ditz.

Suv's are far less safe than a conventional car and they make the roads less safe for drivers of conventional cars who need to look through their windows and past the shopping bags to get a glimpse of oncoming traffic.
Knowing Hicks, it's more about the inconvenience to other motorists than anything else.

rhino wrote on Feb 15^th, 2015 at 7:03pm:


had another look.
For about the same money ($20 - 25K) can get a petrol prado 2005+ish or a pajero diesel 2008+ish.

the prados can get an extra 60L tank to extend the range.
Needs a bit of 'care' with weights when towing something heavy.
t's a 4cyl so will be cheaper to register and it's a good diesel, so cheaper to run.
Reliability should not be an issue.

The prado should have the renown Toyota reliability, will be smoother to drive, a lot dearer on fuel.