gxl/vx vs grande ride comfort

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

Hi all, after my grande purchase fell through, im back on carsales. Theres a vx i really like but i keep getting hung up on what i lose. After scouring forums, it seems that generally the grandes comfort setting is way too soft (i had statesman and hated boat like wallowing). So has anyone driven both and can comment (on leather comfort also). Short of the grandes suspension, the only thing i like about grande over vx is cooler. The cost difference between the current grande and vx im looking at is several grand. Wife likes the black learher, i like the beige cloth. Sigh.

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

Also, if i went gxl, do the traction, stability etc play big role in off road capability? Im in a jk wrangler now so 4low takes me anywhere i want, no experience with prado.

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

You can get traction and stability with Down hill assist in a gxl and gx if it was optioned up. Same with dual climate air in the previous gx and gxl's (prior to 07) duel air was standard after that in the gxl's. I think traction control works a treat off road. I certainly miss it after having it in my previous grande (95 series). Some people hate it in the sand as you can't turn it off in any of the 120 range, where as you can now in the 150's. I also wanted a grande when I was looking but every one I looked at had rust in the sunroof and vx's seemed to be rare so went with the gxl. I havnt heard too many if any complaints about the grande air bag rear suspension except the earlier ones had a bit of an issue popping out on full flex but believe this was rectified on later models and fixable on the earlier ones. Personally I'm not a lover of leather so I can give or take it. I had it in the old prado and found it seemed to show early ware for klms the vehicle had done and was looked after from new, conditioners ect. VX is a great model I think if you can find a good low klm one. I had beige trim on previous prado and found it showed the dirt compared to the grey/black trim I have now. Wife hated the beige but each to there own liking.... Cheers Steve

[Guest Close Guest]

Traction control is fantastic. Never had an issue in the sand.

All 120 Grandes suspension airbags have the potential of popping out if lifted.

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

If it hasn't got traction control just add a locker instead. - Just a thought

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

Can set the stiffness of the shocks via the TEMS switch in the Grandes. Full comfort for corrugations, Full Sport for around the hills and in between for the rest . Love it!

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

Only the rear ones. Gimmick.


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[Rusty62 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Rusty62]

Had two 120's a 2005 GXL manual and present 2008 VX auto.
Leather seats are much better ( in our opinion) but always park the back to the sun, those seats get and stay hot.
Traction control works very well and when compared to our older 80 series twin air locked, would give you about 70% drive with the exception that the system does not work very well under water in deep crossings. We have added a locker to the rear after the carpets dried.
Have towed the camper on soft sand with low tyre pressures and no issues with the traction control. It really does work well.
Can't comment on the ride of the Grande.

Rusty.

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

If it hasn't got traction control just add a locker instead. - Just a thought

Add 2 lockers

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

Only the rear ones. Gimmick.


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Both front and rear. No gimmick . Great in corrugations . Those that don't have it , don't know about it . If you want Ferrari handling don't buy anything with airbags . The grande does everything standard that a locked and lifted GXL will do . Only better . Yes the grande has some gimmicks . But I wouldn't buy anything less . I've done everything and more , easier and in more comfort in my standard grande, than the most highly modified prados on this site .

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

Lockers, lol, yep. So we went to look at a few more 120s on weekend, leather and non, and ive never been a big fan of it, but we have decided leather is the go, just looks so much cleaner. Thanks to your comments, grande it is. What got me was the mention of corrugations. After driving the wrangler for 4 years, my spine and brain need a rest from the beating ive copped. Thanks all. Decision made. Oh, i was quite pleased to learn that the suspension adjustments are for front and back, thou twice the obscene cost to fix. Oh well. Cant be as expensive as fixing anything on a diesel wrangler. I once paid 600 for brake pads as no one had wrangler ones except jeep. Now just to agree on light or dark interior with wife

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

The electronic shocks are a bucket load cheaper to replace than a set of bilsteins and from what I read on this site will last 3 - 4 times longer than anything else on the market . The airbags are only good for about 8 years . The dark leather will show wear faster , the light will show dirt easier . Mine has 206000 on the clock and the only sign of wear is on the drivers right hand squab . The rest looks like it rolled out of the show room . I have the beige interior . For the record I'm not a fan of leather but it doesn't suck up sweat like cloth or velour does . The grande also has the rear aircon which helps cool the car down much faster , and the dog loves having her own aircon system .

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

I've done everything and more , easier and in more comfort in my standard grande, than the most highly modified prados on this site .

Geez mate that's a big call...


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

Not a big call at all . Genuine fact . The passenger of the most highly modified 120 on this site questioned me as to what I had done to my car after doing the Creb track with them . " you're car made us look ridiculous and all with a beer in your hand " his quote . Before we started the creb , I was told I might struggle with no lift and AT tyres .

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

The most highly modified is also a big call, but regardless, highly modified doesn't mean well modified. I know the vehicle you are referring to and IMO it probably has the worst suspension setup of any Prado on this forum, yeah its got a 4" lift, but that was achieved by simply stuffing tall springs into short struts. I doubt it had very much down travel in the suspension which would have it loosing traction and reaching for the lockers driving over a marble.

Here is a pic of the front suspension on said rig, the UCA is angled way down suggesting it is almost hitting the spring, hence my guess that it has little or no down travel.




It might look impressive but I wouldn't mind betting most Prado's on this site would run rings around it!

Cheers Andrew