Help! I cant make up my mind - Petrol V Diesel 120

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

Out of 3 prados I've had the 120 petrol so far is the best. I've had the 1kz grande in previous prado (also had petrol), and thought the 1kz was underpowered and I reckon would be more noticeable in the 120 due to it being bigger. You still have the head issue which seems to be popping its head up again but more so in the 120. Mine cracked at 103k 4k later. Open road in 1kZ sitting on 110 would see figures anywhere up to 15/16L per 100 depending on weather temp never had those figures in either of my petrol prado's the current 120 being bout 1 to 2 L per 100 better both round town and open road then the old 95v6 I also had. I've seen plenty of prado's including 95 series petrol doing water crossings with water over the bonnet with no issues and no blind either. You may have a better chance of the diesel not cutting out if you got hung up on some thing while in the water but if the water gets to the ECU in either your screwed any way. If I wss towing a big load all the time then I'd possibly look at turbo diesel but to be honest wouldn't be Toyota anyway, too far behind in technology in my opinion. Except for being a tad thirsty round town I can't knock mine. Just check the rear door rubber for rust pull the rubber out and off to check, rust around sunroof if looking at a grande, cracked dash pad in any of them, and go for October 04 upwards with the 5 speed auto and a couple of revised things eg back door (cracking around hinge) and exhaust manifolds although most still make a fluttering sound. Also 120 has more torque in the lower rev range then the 150 V6. 150 May have more killawasps then the 120,s 179 kW but mine pulls harder off the line then his 150, but drive them with a heavy boot either of the V6's and they become thirsty. Love my prado best one I've had...... Cheers Steve

[BiLLz0r Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close BiLLz0r]

I am not convince that these new small high output diesels are the way to go anymore.

I'm exactly the same. There is a reason the big 6cyl TD Landcruiser's and Patrol's fetch so much money. Proper Diesel engines. Every 1 of the 4cyl 2-3ltr Diesels these days seem to have inherited issues that last for years. I know the Patrol versions are ticking time bombs (even with NATS done to it I would never get 1). Navaras have had issues, as have Rangers.
The only 3ltr 4cyl TD I would buy would be a D-Max. Proven reliability for years. It might be old tech but it works and works bloody well too.

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

I do like the colorados with the 500nm's under the hood but not sure if any reliability issues. I also like the look of the Rangers with the 3.2L 5 cylinder havnt heard any thing on them yet. Ranger may be my next one but won't be for a while just bought the wife a new mazda 3 sedan, which keeps her out of my prado which she loved driving..... Cheers Steve

[404pug Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close 404pug]

Steve, the Ranger will be available very soon in a wagon. I saw one at Arkaroola on test in May . Neil

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

Mmmm that would be interesting to see although I think my next one wi be a ute, miss the space and versatility of a ute..... Cheers Steve

[ross gold coast Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close ross gold coast]

The only regret I have with my 09- 4lt is that my wife drives it like a race car and gets 19s around gold coast, and I get 13-14 lts /100 doing same.
Comparing works 150 diesel to my 120 petrol, mostly on road work, both GLX, I would take my petrol.
The extra 40 odd KW and the 5 speed auto is smooth as. Torque is the same but the turbo peaks at much lower revs.
Towing an 18ft tinny loaded, at speed limit I still only go up to my wife's normal rate at about 19's.
Not an ounce of trouble with regular book services.

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

Cheers Andrew

[r4ndll Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close r4ndll]

Cheers Andrew

Love that sticker... My dad owned diesels from before I was born up until I left home. Think I am a bit addicted to the smell.

Owning an auto, going down a steep descent in 1L I'd rather be in a diesel than an petrol.

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

Yeah I drove my first diesel when I was about 10 years old, burned a lot more diesel than petrol in the 35 years since then, I think I have it in my veins

Interestingly the guy who that sticker was mainly aimed at has now bought a diesel, after years of trying to convince everyone (but mostly himself) that his petrol was so much better, a few more years and he will drop the Mitsubishi's and get a Toyota and he will wonder why he took so long to see the light.

Cheers Andrew

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

Owning an auto, going down a steep descent in 1L I'd rather be in a diesel than an petrol.[/QUOTE]

I've followed plenty of people in diesels in low down steep descents , and there is f*#k all difference unless you are towing 2 tonnes of caravan . It just becomes a competition as to who wants to hit their brakes last so as to say hey the diesel is better down hill . Cheers

[r4ndll Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close r4ndll]

Owning an auto, going down a steep descent in 1L I'd rather be in a diesel than an petrol.

I've followed plenty of people in diesels in low down steep descents , and there is f*#k all difference unless you are towing 2 tonnes of caravan . It just becomes a competition as to who wants to hit their brakes last so as to say hey the diesel is better down hill . Cheers[/QUOTE]

Both petrol and diesels have benefits and drawbacks. I prefer the diesels.

It could be purely subjective but I've always felt the petrols got away quicker. It might be less of an issue in the modern 4x4's with all their modern electrical funkjastical tricknology. (I'm coming from 60 series, 40 Series and Series II/III landrovers

Diesel's compression ratio of 20:1 vs Petrol's 9:1 means it resist RPM increases more than a petrol. But doesn't stop it completely. But you'll be on the brakes earlier and more often. More use of the brakes = less brakes at the bottom.

And the car is less likely to explode refilling from Jerry can's near a campfire

[r4ndll Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close r4ndll]

It just becomes a competition as to who wants to hit their brakes last so as to say hey the diesel is better down hill . Cheers

This is because of the well known fact that diesel drivers are braver than petrol drivers, especially D4D drivers. It's why we sit behind a big lump of metal that can go boom at any time

[barney14 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close barney14]

I have been reading and researching for a while and was set on a diesel....now i just read this!! I'm thinking petrol as i only tow the camper a few times a yr.

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

I own 3 diesels , and 3 petrols and I know what a would prefer to drive . Having said that I've just crunched the numbers , as to how my missus drives , and holy f*#king jesus , I can no longer allow her to drive any vehicle that I own .

[Willem Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Willem]

I have a Petrol V6 and I am glad I got it. Compared to the KZTE engine (up to 2008) models that I could get for the same price the power is AMAZINGLY much more! And I only offroad 5-10% of the time and almost never towing a load and I am glad of my choice.

As many a wise 120 driver has said measure up what you need and decide accordingly. For me I needed: Cheap services, less maintenance (since I use is as everyday car), more power and more driving fun, so I took the Petrol.

But I cannot get to the consumption figures a lot of you guys are quoting. I know there is section for economical running, but I have my tires pumped to 2.8 bar and regularly clean my MAF sensor and airfilter and I get 11-12.5 l/ 100km combined per tank. On the open road cruising fully loaded with small trailer I can get 10l/100km at 120 without cruise control, which is perfect for me. Cruise control ruins the fun though and sucks more juice.