Which to buy

[Heidi at]

hi all we have purchased a 17.56-1 due for pickup the sat before Christmas.
At the moment we are looking at tow vehicles, we are tossing up between the landcruiser Prado 150 and a 100 series land cruiser GXV or GXL We have worked out we need a GVM of 3200 once van and car is loaded and we are a family of 6 plus dog.
Vans ATM is 2326kg with ball weight of 213kg so both cars would be fine, however if we buy the Prado we have to upgrade the GVM.
I would love to hear people's thoughts between the 100 series and the Prado and which might be the best fit, would also like to know of any known problems if any with these cars.
The car would be used around town and to tow van so fuel is an issue but also need it to be comfortable for 6 and hubby wants to be able to tow van easily.

 

[jvp]

g'day heidi at.
My tug is a 150 prado purchased new 1010. Diesel auto. The 100 series would do the job easy with less stress on the driver.
I don't like my tug & would go a low mileage 100 series if you could find one. So reliable & popular hence current high resale value.
All the best.
jvp.

 

[bigcol]

hi @Heidi at
if you want to get the GVM upgraded to the Prado - you can only do that to a New vehicle - BEFORE it is licensed
irrespective of what ARB in Frednerksville or Joe Bloggs at Joes Suspension Joint have said..........
it cannot be Legally done to a vehicle already licensed

so I think you should concentrate on the 100 series.
more room (for a large family such as yourself)
tows with ease

expect to pay a premium for a diesel one, but the V8 petty is not bad, providing you drive it with care........
my missus regularly gets 16l/100 when she drives her V8 Cruiser in peak hour traffic - me, when I drive, I get about 22l/100

cheers

 

[Smirke]

Hi @Heidi at . We are also a family of 6. I'm not sure how old your kids are, but when we checked out the prado 2 years ago, we found it had less leg room in the 3rd row of seats than our territory had. (Same with the Pajero). Plus it could only pull what our territory could, so we stopped looking at them.

 

[bigcol]

Hi @Heidi at . We are also a family of 6. I'm not sure how old your kids are, but when we checked out the prado 2 years ago, we found it had less leg room in the 3rd row of seats than our territory had. (Same with the Pajero). Plus it could only pull what our territory could, so we stopped looking at them.

thats what I like - real life usage......

you could always also look at the Patrol - the series 9 with the CRD 3.0l (manual) has a 3200kg towing capacity.

 

[Crusty181]

thats what I like - real life usage......

you could always also look at the Patrol - the series 9 with the CRD 3.0l (manual) has a 3200kg towing capacity.

Good work @bigcol ..... Nissan will save the day

 

[bigcol]

Good work @bigcol ..... Nissan will save the day

@Crusty181 they may be them sort of people
you know - like the toyboata badge...............

 

[dagree]

@Crusty181 they may be them sort of people
you know - like the toyboata badge...............

Hey.... I resemble that comment @bigcol

Getting back to the original question...... We had an early model petrol V8 100 series and it towed the 16.49.3 tourer that we had at the time and a heavy fibreglass boat as if they weren't behind us (Not at the same time). Only sold it as it was used for work and I was doing a lot of Kms each week for little return from the boss.

The V8 Commodore towed the van just as good but didn't feel as stable. Ended up getting withdrawals not having a 4WD so ended up getting a petrol V6 120 Series Prado. It also towed the 16'er without any effort. Have since upgraded the van to a 17.56.2OB with an ATM of 2433Kg's..... Just 70 short of the Prado's limit. It tows the van very well at 95 to 100 kms/hr on level ground but feels it on hills but still happy. (Slipped up to 115 no worries the other day while Mrs Dagree was asleep )

If I was going to get another vehicle? 99.9% chance it would be another V8 cruiser (100 or 200 petrol or diesel TBC). Could even get talked into a Patrol if in good condition and the right price!

 

[Heidi at]

Hubby like toyota's won't go near a nissan, he's keen on the 100 series so I think with all the very helpful advice here that what we will eventually get.

Luv this forum

 

[bigcol]

Hey.... I resemble that comment @bigcol

Could even get talked into a Patrol if in good condition and the right price!

now your talking some sence @dagree

 

[dagree]

Note: That last sentence started with "Could" @bigcol

 

[bigcol]

Hubby like toyota's won't go near a nissan, he's keen on the 100 series so I think with all the very helpful advice here that what we will eventually get.

Luv this forum

told ya @Crusty181 - them sort of people

all good @Heidi at
depending on your usage weekly, I would go the 100 series V8 petty Cruiser
the Turbo diesel same 100 series is usually about $15k dearer - thats a hell of a lot of petrol - take a hell of a lot of holidays to use that up

also, bare in mind, that nowadays
a petrol and a diesel cost pretty much the same overall per year to run - I think the diesels win by about $30.00 per year cheaper to run
4wd mag did a comparo a few years back
100series V8 V's 4.2 turbo
80 series 4.0 petrol V's 4.2 Turbo
Patrol 4.8L petrol V's 3.0L CRD

the average over the 3 different test were quite interesting
I cannot find the Mag it was in - I think it was 4wd Monthly, not 4WD Action..........

 

[bigcol]

sorry, I thought you said "SHOULD"

 

[achjimmy]

hi @Heidi at
if you want to get the GVM upgraded to the Prado - you can only do that to a New vehicle - BEFORE it is licensed
irrespective of what ARB in Frednerksville or Joe Bloggs at Joes Suspension Joint have said..........
it cannot be Legally done to a vehicle already licensed

Col you can in Vic and NSW . I know of two 200's been GVM upgraded post Rego in NSW and one done in VIC. The but is that the GVM upgrade is only good for Rego in that state, as opposed to doing it before Rego you get a federal compliance plate. The other states acknowledge the upgrade if your traveling through, so it's no biggie , just means it's not accepted if you sell the car interstate.

 

[Heidi at]

I think we are looking at the v6 got upto $30000 to spend but figured we would look around $25000 in case we needed to add some upgrades ect, we are travelling Aust late April for 6 months so really what something that tows easily and hopefully is reliable.

 

[bigcol]

Col you can in Vic and NSW . I know of two 200's been GVM upgraded post Rego in NSW and one done in VIC. The but is that the GVM upgrade is only good for Rego in that state, as opposed to doing it before Rego you get a federal compliance plate. The other states acknowledge the upgrade if your traveling through, so it's no biggie , just means it's not accepted if you sell the car interstate.

I have been lead to believe that the 200 is the only one they will re-rate......

but I dont know the complete picture and wasn't 100% sure, thanks @achjimmy

 

[Drover]

100 series all the way, better suspension, comfortable towing and from someone who once had a mob of 6 and 2 big woofers, it has the room while the Prado misses on all points, mind you I do like the Patrol, same all round value just not paying big $$$ for the hype.

 

[bigcol]

one guy I worked with before, he had a 100 series Sahara - all the bells and whistles, he brought his F-in-laws 200 Sahara (when his lease was up the price was right, so he got it)

Missus uses the 200 -
while he prefers the 100 - the way it drives, handles, etc........
he use the 100 to tow with...........

I would ALWAYS go a real Cruiser over a L/Cruiser Playdoh..........

 

[Drover]

I insulted a Tojo Rep once after taking a Prado and Kluger for a run, I said they were nice but no way would I have something with those names...................................I was interested in a ute anyway but did enjoy the test drive...................F250 Diesel yes please, or the big arse Chev.

 

[achjimmy]

A Playdoh will never be rated up to 3.5t. The 100 series is the go, some great buys now that the diehards have finally woken up and realised the 200 is called a 200 because it's 100x better lol.

In all seriousness the prices on 100's have tumbled, collegue at work sold his 2003 TD GXL with King/Konis in excellent condition 235ks all it needed was a ball joint and one CV rubber for $20k