Baz (NSW) replied:

Go to post 18231

David Au replied:

Have you looked and taken the Pajero Exceed 3.2 DiD for a drive?
You could not help but be impressed with the performance and other features, and importantly 50% of the service costs of Toyota. Ask other Pajero 3.2 DiD owners, that is your best guide.

Truckster (Vic) replied:

Look at the 4.2 patrol and look no further.

Utemad replied:

"The vehicle will be mainly a town car used for regular weekends away. I am in Perth now so the bulk of the offorad work will be on the beach."

If this is your intended use then IFS is better for you than solid axle IMHO. I would go IFS for bitumen and sand any day. If you need it for the occaisional bush trip then see how far it will go standard and then get lockers if you need to go further.

I'd pick the Prado for this use.

MrBitchi replied:

Playdoe would be fine for this type of work but the Pajero has a better auto tranny and more powerful deisel engine. Also 4 wheel Independent suspension gives it better handling on road and still very capable off road.
John

GO_OFFROAD replied:

The prado for your intended use will be an excellent choice, and the V6 would be the choice of the 2 engines with the new gearboxes, with excellent economy returns of 11-14lt per 100km from hwy to desert weekend trips.

The prado certainly excells on sand, and snow, and gravel, with the "drumming" commented on caused by the monocoque body of the pajero, along with the few people who have emailed me regarding kinked roofs on the pajero with sunroof, from 4wding loaded, and striking the tow bar making it a vehicle which is marginal for the use, and perhaps not even around for back up service in the near future.

When pitted against the patrol, simply driving the 2 vehicles will be enough for you to see what the perfect choice would be, and when the prado is 300+ kg lighter than the 100, it not only allows more carrying capacity, but also is easier on the car as a whole in day and weekend trips.

Michael ( Moss Vale NSW) replied:

"Lacking in creature comforts", yeah but not too much of a slouch, and Its 10 grand cheaper!!!!!

In hock replied:

If you were going to be doing that trip again I would certainly suggest a base GX Prado auto T/D. No flares etc to fall off. Same comfort in the cabin and 180l fuel tank.. Grab a snorkel & your away ;)

Member -Dodger replied:

Try a pushbike if you want to be pretty.
But if you want to play hard...
Then its a 4.2 Patrol.
I ain't biased.........Much.

Wormboy replied:

But, if you get a prado don't forget to let your missus drive it as -quote- "it's a girls car"
come to think of it around SEQ I mainly see wimmen driving them -why is that?

Member - Jimbo (VIC) replied:

Pete,

If you're considering a Prado, consider a Terracan. 20 grand cheaper, similar size, similar power, 5 year warranty.

They absolutely love the sand and eat dunes for breakfast. Mine did a dune at Robe that took two goes for a 100 series T/D and I had no experience, just fed the power in as I needed it with plenty to spare.

Has handled some reasonably serious tracks with ease and tha was before I had the lift kit fitted.

Just another option, as is the Pajero.

Good luck with whatever you go with, there are many fine vehicles out there.

Cheers,

Jim.

Bob of KAOS replied:

If you are talking diesel the Prado has the least refined engine in its class. I'd wait 'til they catch up with the rest of the pack in a year or two. No I wouldn't - I'd get the series 3 Disco or the Pajero. Too much chrome on the Prado for my liking - maybe that's why its a popular sheilas' town car.

harry5 replied:

Test drive them all then test drive DiD Pajero Auto or save yourself some time and skip the rest and go straight to DiD.Great car, Quick sand is the only thing that will stop it on the beach

Member - Rob J (WA) replied:

Well Pete ,you said you didn't want to stir but boy they can't help themselves can they. I am the owner of a 3litre diesel 2004 man Patrol and as far as economy is concerned it is really great. Around the city it's a pain, too slow in first, but as I live in Busselton it's not too much of a problem. We bought a manual Patrol because it can tow up to 3200 kg , auto is 2500 kg same as the Prado.
We owned a 96 Prado V6 3.4 man before we came to Busso in 2000 and found it to be a very good vehicle, towed a 16ft full height tandem axle Coromal van to Cairns and back in 99, clutch was shuddering and Scarb Toyota replaced it under warranty no questions asked. I probably would have gone for the Prado on looks and past good performance but for the towing rate.
Before we bought the Patrol, I watched the posts on this forum and don't think the later 3 litre Patrols are a problem.
You are right, the 100 series Cruiser is way over priced

peter16 replied:

Hi Pete
I went through a similar dilemma last Christmas and after a lot of test driving, heaps of advice from this site and other research I bought a diese Prado GXL auto. This is my third 4WD in a row (preceded by Pajero NM, 98 petrol Prado and a Land Rover in the distant past) and is the best of the lot. Most of my driving is around town (Melbourne), lots of highway, not enough weekends away and 4 or 5 off-road trips a year: it is easy in traffic, easy on fuel, enormous range (I do Melbourne -Canberra plus a week of around town in Canberra on one tank), carries a full basketball team most Friday nights (8 seats), tow a tool trailer, horse float or a caravan easily, and "she who must be obeyed" does NOT get to drive it although she would love to. It has been great on snow, on mud and on sand but I have not done any serious rock-hopping in it (might scratch all that chrome!!!) We have regular holidays with 2 current model Pajeros and a Landcruiser 100 - we keep having to wait for them to fuel up - and although we have done a bit of towing out (the Pajero's) we have never needed help ourselves.
The only negatives in my mind have been the tyres: great for town but prone to puncture off road - need something a bit more resilient if off-road is a priority. Could also do with a bit more storage e.g. room for a decent tool kit and bits of gear.
A mate has a manual diesel Patrol and sweras it is the best car he has ever had for towing and travel but he has just bought himself a small car to run around town: the Patrol is to hard to get around in. Perhaps an auto would fix that.
For us, the Prado has been great but whatever you choose I'm sure you'll have fun.
Peter

Member - Captain (WA) replied:

Hi Peter,

I know your dilema, I went through it just on a year ago now. Having had an 80 series diesel and reckoning it was god's gift to 4WDrivers, I was very keen on another cruiser. But Toyota wouldn't sell me a live axle T/D 100 series (either GXL or standard), even when I said I would wait 6 months for a special order and pay what they asked! And no, I wasn't going to put an aftermarket turbo on a brand new vehicle and lose my warranty.

Yes, I could have gone 100 series IFS and had all the benefits of on-road performance, and yes, an IFS would have got me through anywhere I have been with my Patrol so far. But now that the IFS 100's are cracking "A" arms when fitted with dual batts, steel bars and winch, well I am glad I went live axle. I am certain that Toyota will eventually fix all up under warranty, but it does highlight the "softening" of the 100 series over the 80.

So, enter the Prado. Well, same problem with IFS, plus all that chrome. Yes its a great vehicle and it too would have got me everywhere my Patrol has been, but for whatever reason the Prado just didn't do it for me. I test drove a range pf Prado's and they where definetly the pick of the bunch on-road. Great fit and finish, great rode manners and overall a very "stylish" vehicle - but just not for me.

While there are others like the Discovery, Pajero, Terracan and Explorer, they too are pretty good vehicles but was not keen on them due to IFS. Yes the Discovery is live axle I know!, no real reason why I discounted it and was probably to my detriment but just no "chemistry".

So that left the Patrol (in my books). As I only wanted a diesel, the decision was 3.0TD or 4.2TD. After driving them both, there is no comparison. The only advantage the 4.2TD had (driving wise) was the bottome end torque, but a Dtronic has improved this problem. The real issue for me was the question mark on the reliability of the 3.0TD. Great engine but bad reliability rep at the time. As I get to replace my vehicle every 3 years, it was always goin to be under warranty so while it was a concern it was never going to cost me money down the track. But I fully understand others in a different boat wanting the proven reliability of the 4.2TD, no-one can argue about that.

After having the 3.0TD for a year now, I reckon it was the best decision for me. Yes it drives like a truck in comparison to the Prado, but thats part of the 4WD character. Yes a Prado would have, on paper, been better technically for what I do. But somehow I don't think a glitzy looking IFS 4WD would provoke the same emotion for me as the boxy, live axle "truck" thats my GU.

Bottom line is, all are great vehicle, you just need to work out which one will "do it" for you.

Cheers

Captain

Member - Peter (on the move) replied:

Thanks for all the responses gang.

I have driven the new Patrol....impressed.

Going to drive the Prado later today.....in my skirt and high heels so i can see how the pedals will work with me in this get up.....i am going with an open mind though.

Lets see what transpires.

Thanks for all the assitance. Pete

Baz (NSW) replied:

I don't know why you guys bother anyway we all know the truth about which is the best 4WD, the most popular one of coarse !!

We all know which one it is.

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