buying 120 v6 high km and camper trailer or low km and no camper

[shmick82 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close shmick82]

Hi all,
Im new here and have been reading up a lot over the past week or so. Great info.
So I've decided on a 120 series petrol mainly due to a lack of confidence with modern CRDs (yes I own one). It will be used mainly to and from work and main touring/holidaying vehicle (wife terrified of flying).
So after looking a lot I've concluded that the petrol engine is pretty great with no common major flaws/issues which makes me comfortable getting a higher km car.
My budget allows for a vehicle of around 100,000kms give or take (VX or Grande), or alternatively I could get something in the high 100 low 200 and have enough for a camper trailer. I'm not fussed as to the year of the vehicle because as I understand, from late 2004 after the tranny change, the petrol models (VX/Grande) remained largely unchanged?
Would you guys make the trade for high km and a toy or just go for the low km car and save the rest? I guess with what I read I'm not so concerned with the engine, but the running gear etc.

[shmick82 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close shmick82]

Additional irrelevant info, more a background and introduction, unnecessary to the post above, so don't read unless your killing time-
Hi, I'm Michael. I bought a CRD JK Wrangler some years ago for its cool factor, capability and engine performance (relative to similar) and I was sick of staying on the blacktop (HSV GTO, theres only so many times you can do great ocean road). Over the years I've learnt that I have no interest in hanging out on the A/B grade trails and winching all day long. I'd much rather explore some of the fantastic sights and places on offer. Also I'm in love with QLD and since my wife wont fly we do a once or twice trip to QLD a year, mainly highways, but like to get off the beaten track. I have discovered the solid axles on the Wrangler, while tolerable to me, make the ride pretty harsh and unpleasent for wife. After tossing back and forth between a 100 series landcruiser and a GU patrol for about 6 months, I ended up deciding the prado is the way to go and ticks all the boxes. Goes where I'd want it to go, reliable, affordable, COMFORTABLE, quiet and well serviced around OZ. So here I am. My gripe with CRDs is from experience (though nothing major) and what I hear and read, the CRDs just arent as robust as the diesels of the day. Sure they are economical and powerful, but it seems they are too sensitive. I know that is a generalisation and all cars have their issues, but seems crds moreso. And I'll never forget when my car broke down in the sticks, the look on the tow mans face when I said can the town mechanic fix it. Short story, it spent many hours on the tow truck back to Melbourne (lifter broke, how random). Plus fixing anything on a CRD is just so damn expensive. So back to petrol for now.

[Guest Close Guest]

Mine is an '03 and it is approaching 200K. It is going like clockwork. Find a good example that has been well taken care of and the V6 will keep on going.

[rogjil Find all posts View Profile Close rogjil]

Hi Michael, like you I decided a modern CRD was just not for me. Yes I owned one, 2011 not Toyota and after 8 random engine issues in 18 months, 2 that required towing decided I would go back to petrol.

I thought about 100 series cruiser's and 120 Prado's and test drove both, cruiser first, however as soon as I drove the Prado knew straight away that the cruiser was out.

My choice was to look for a low k's version with no mods and managed to pick up a 2005 GLX with 110k. My reasoning was that in 5 years time it is only likely to have around 200k on the clock and being reasonably cheap we had money left over to add the extras we wanted.

After 5 months my wife and I are very happy with our choice, she uses it as her daily driver and we have managed a two trips to Fraser and a few day trips up Teewah/Double island point.

Regards Roger

[AussieAndy Find all posts View Profile Close AussieAndy]

This is just my oppinion, and advice I give to customers quite often. If you're buying a 4wd to keep long term (over 3 years) and want to use it for touring/travelling always buy the best one you can afford that will do the job you need it to do. The best one might not be the lowest km one, but will usually be well looked after with a good service history and a straight and tidy body and interior. That is of course assuming you can't do any major work (like engine rebuild, panel work, etc.) yourself.

Unless you need a camper right now, a better condition vehicle would be the smarter choice in my oppinion. Don't forget to get it checked out by a mechanic who knows these vehicles and knows what to look for.

[shmick82 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close shmick82]

Good points. I do intend to keep it long term, so I suppose a 200,000km car now will have well over 300 in 5 years. Probably cheaper to save for a camper and buy a good condition car.
Rogjil (I'm so envious of your location noosa is where I'll purchase my next home) what did you prefer about the prado over the LC? Oddly enough my mates got a 100 TD and I haven't driven it yet.
AMTS-I looked at your build page, good job on developing your own products.

[rogjil Find all posts View Profile Close rogjil]

Good points. I do intend to keep it long term, so I suppose a 200,000km car now will have well over 300 in 5 years. Probably cheaper to save for a camper and buy a good condition car.
Rogjil (I'm so envious of your location noosa is where I'll purchase my next home) what did you prefer about the prado over the LC? Oddly enough my mates got a 100 TD and I haven't driven it yet.
AMTS-I looked at your build page, good job on developing your own products.

I suppose the Prado was just more car like and worked better on the bitumen, where unfortunately the car will spend most of its time.

Rack and pinion vs recirculating ball steering, the first cruiser I drove was solid front axle not ifs and since we are not into extreme 4wding I was quite happy to have the better ride and handling of the ifs, seat of the pants the Prado had more grunt (did not drive a V8 cruiser), for the same dollars the cruiser was slightly older with more k's, easier to find a nice unmodified example of a Prado, not quite as big does not seem as wide to drive, and now with a ARB Sahara Bar, 50mm lift, Rhino Platform, with snorkel and new tyres to come looks way better than any 100 series cruiser ever did.

[shmick82 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close shmick82]

so I was looking more and turns out the 07 on GXL have rear cooler and digital controls upfront. does anyone know in terms of off road (ie traction, diff lock etc) how it differs from the grande? Im not too keen on leather or the rear airbags on grande but like the other features. but if I can get a late model gxl without losing much in driveline, id possibly go for it.

[TBPrado Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close TBPrado]

If you don't want leather than look at one of these:

http://www.carsales.com.au/dealer/de...16556904/?Cr=5

http://www.carsales.com.au/dealer/de...7135866/?Cr=12

When I bought mine I wanted the 5sp auto, extra airbags, traction control, rear cooler etc. But didn't want leather and sunroof so went with the VX. I found the seats were a bit better than the gxl's. My last trip home from QLD I drove 1,400km in the one day and no stiff backs or anything.

Go and take a few for a test drive. They shouldn't have any squeeks or rattles. The only thing that will need replacing on them if they are above 100,00km is the shocks and springs.

Once I've had a car for 3 years I'm looking for a change, however I can't come up with anything that I'd replaced it with. They are a top car.

Biased opinion of course because I have one. As said above buy the best example you can afford because you'll end up wanting to keep it.

[Anth120playdo Banned Find all posts View Profile Close Anth120playdo]

Decide your budget for vehicle & get the best looked after example for that price. Say 25k will get you a very nice gxl.
However 200k is nothing if its been looked after correctly. You will find a 200k'er well under 20k.
I personally feel that a vehicle with circa 150k is what is ideal value for $$$$$.
So get a good one & you can't go wrong. Depends how soon you would really like to get the camper & which one.

I just sold my tru blu Aussie made camper trailer to people who hated their ezy trail. It cost them over 10k to upgrade, so there's a tip about the cheaper trailers. They might suit someone, but this family was happy to part with nearly 5 times the coin for a good trailer. Make sure you experience set up & pack of the trailer before you purchase. I think easy set up & pack up is important.

[shmick82 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close shmick82]

Hey all, ended up getting a 2005 White Grande, V6 with 147K. $24000. Picking up on Wed. Question, it has a nudge bar, but I really like the look of the Sovereign bar and there is a second hand one near where the pick up is taking place. Is it worth getting one? I know there are lots of complaints about impossibility of getting alloy to look good? I'm on the fence about it as the just over $1K can buy me a second battery and a roof cage of sorts or a set of draws, these are things I'd use on a day to day basis. I always struggle with needs vs wants (must be just me )

[vitelli Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close vitelli]

Shmick82, I would be interested in your nudge bar if you did change over to the Sovereign bar, been hunting one for a few months now without any luck. I am NT based now but may be moving back to Melb later in year, see how you go.......

[shmick82 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close shmick82]

vitelli, that deal fell through as the inspection was not too great. Though I did pick one up last night (Grande). No nudge bar. or any.