$20k what would you buy?

[mcfisherclan Member Find all posts View Profile Close mcfisherclan]

Hi guys,

Well we miss our prado too much (even after the bad taste from the injector saga) and are looking to buy another one. Problem is due to circumstance we only have $20k (less really but will stretch if we can).

It will be the main driving car for the family. However at the moment we are doing a lot of caravan touring and as such fuel costs are also a consideration. What should be the best vehicle we can expect to get for that sort of money? and at that price point im expecting to only get high km cars, so what are the things i really need to get checked out? Should be look at 1Kz or would a Petrol be a better option? for towing would a manual be more reliable (if a little more work for the Mrs, she wants auto and i understand that)?

We really need someone to step up and really help us out please. We keep getting burnt by cars and just want some help from people who know these cars. If you know of a good vehicle that someone wants to sell and would be willing to let it go cheap to a good home/family in need then please let us know.

We are currently stuck in Darwin with a car that we bought 12 months ago that now has a $12k repair bill for a bloody DPF what a joke...

PLEASE HELP

PS i have looked at heaps online, but other than what they look like in pictures its hard to know which ones are good.

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

I'd go a petrol 120 personally. Would get more car for your money than a diesel and with the price of diesel at the moment I reckon you wouldn't be much worse off with fuel costs?

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

Yep. X2 on the petrol 120.
Good reliable powerful and cheap to buy.
My next prado will be a petrol.

[t303 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close t303]

Lowest Km KZJ95 you can find, unfortunately SFA in Darwin. I had to go to Vic to pick up mine. Check out the cooling system carefully, perhaps consider a new radiator. The weight of the van you are towing is also a consideration. Around 2 tons and you will never see more than 80-90kmh, I personally reckon max around 1.5t or you will be flogging it.
cheers
Steve

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

X3 for the petrol V6. I know someone that recently bought a 2004 V6 4 speed auto Grande for $20K from a dealer here in Sydney. You'll be able to get a 5 speed auto GXL in a V6 for the same money.

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

Ok I'll ask a dumb question, what is a DPF ??? Cheers Steve

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

Ok I'll ask a dumb question, what is a DPF ??? Cheers Steve

diesel particulate filter

[jss Moderated member Find all posts View Profile Close jss]

Ok I'll ask a dumb question, what is a DPF ??? Cheers Steve

We both must be dumb Steve.

[mcfisherclan Member Find all posts View Profile Close mcfisherclan]

No not stupid at all. I didn't either until they told me they wanted $9k to replace it on my 5yo Santa Fe. Consumable item they told me, not covered under warranty. Shouldn't have happened but its not their fault I have a dodgy one. Just like any other filter only it costs more than a new engine.

[mcfisherclan Member Find all posts View Profile Close mcfisherclan]

Why a kzj95 and not a kzj120? I would like to cruise with my 1700kg van at 110 not 90. The crappy Santa Fe with its 2.2lt diesel did 110. How thirsty are the petrols. The economy thread is a little all over the place.

[chester ver 2.0 Member Find all posts View Profile Close chester ver 2.0]

If you go the KzJ 120 look for a 2006 one just before they went to D4D as these ones had the 5 speed auto the older ones with the 4 speed auto will annoy you towing or just go a manual
However as above i have to agree if it was me i would go a 120 petrol

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

No not stupid at all. I didn't either until they told me they wanted $9k to replace it on my 5yo Santa Fe. Consumable item they told me, not covered under warranty. Shouldn't have happened but its not their fault I have a dodgy one. Just like any other filter only it costs more than a new engine.

I don't know what dpf system the Hyundai uses or how you drive, but if the vehicle isn't driven correctly they can clog up to the point that they're no longer serviceable.

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

I doubt you would pull 110k with 1700 kg of van behind you with a 1kz all day with out the head going on you unless the head has been done, and the fuel probably in the high teens if not more. Mine would struggle to maintain 110 not towing with aircon running and on a warm muggy day it would average 15 L per 100, then pulling up hills like on the F3 it would drop back to 85/90 k foot buried to the floor but just enough for it not to kick back and rev the ringhole out of it. If i was to go down this path again (which i wont) it would be in manual, i personally think the manual is geared alot better then my auto was. Beside the head issue which wasn't a known issue with the 1kz in the 120's there a pretty basic reliable motor and cheap for parts compared to the D4D but I found it to be very gutless and certainly wasn't what I expected for turbo diesel coming from a 2.8d hilux and certainly not economical. Compared to your santafe I think you would be very disappointed, while you have had bad luck with that filter which is ridiculous might I say.there a ripper of an engine a and would even out pull a d4d. If your happy to cruise at 85/90 towing with out been in a hurry and don't mind it dying up hills there a good reliable engine but by the sounds of it you want a bit more grunt for every day driving and you like to not pussyfoot around when towing. Mind you when pulling the van next April for the GTG I will be one of this pain in the arse starting to go gray nomad doing my 90k in the left lane even with the grunt of the petrol as I find to be a good cruising speed for myself and for economy which I'm sure I'm going to be in the low 20's pulling just over two tonne. Will be interesting to see. It certainly won't be as economical as the D4D towing lol..... Cheers Steve sorry wooley i know you like paragraphs etc lol but i didn't paragraph this reply as i did it on my iPhone, my 3g toshiba computer finally died after 6 months of age, but to be fair think due to a virus......

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

Yeah Wooley our friends had a xtrail in diesel and pissed it off as they had it in Nissan a couple of times due to this filter. They were lucky to be done under warranty but were told the next time it wouldn't be so he pissed it off. He was told he had to do at least 80k (speed wise) for at least 20 mins for the filter to burn off the crap to keep it clear if that makes sense, other then that he loved it, he actually we to a petrol version.... Cheers Steve

[cfryback Find all posts View Profile Close cfryback]

http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...-quot-for-sale

Bit more than what you have, don't know if it is still for sale.