4 speed versus 5 speed auto

[flyfisher Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close flyfisher]

My buddies with Prados have encouraged me to buy a 2005-6 KZJ120 Prado to avoid the common rail engines.Reckon they are bullet proof and good for 500,000Km if looked after and serviced every 5000 km or so with fresh oil changes. If I get a 4 speed auto, how high is the 4th gear for highway cruising...high revving and noisy or not? Is the autobox a good unit or not?
I would be happy to buy a manual but my wife prefers the auto.
In addition to the above question, what are the common pitfalls I should look for in a pre purchase inspection?

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

I'd say it will be much the same as the 5-speed with a bigger gap between 1-3, with 3 being the 1:1 the same as 4th in most 5 speeds.

[flyfisher Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close flyfisher]

thanks for that...happy to go ahead then

[macaroon1 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close macaroon1]

Go ahead mate....they are great engines. A you can see from my sig, I've the 4 spd and it's going great...original injectors too....I give it fresh oil and filter every 5K.
Truth be told I've spent some coin on it, performance exhaust, steinbauer chip and manual boost controller so that's around 2.5K. I never asked for the boost controller, went to get it Dyno tuned and the place automatically put it on, now running 12psi (from 9si).

A lot of people say get the manual if buying the 1KZ. I spoke to the mechanics about and all could not fault the Toyota auto transmissions.

They are a bit noisy esp with the straight tru muffler. Towing, people complain about the TCC kicking back into third but you can buy TCC lock up switches to combat the problem. Common pitfalls are the cracked dash and if buying the grandes, rusted sunroofs and rear airbag suspension that needs replacing after @8 years. IMO I would not worry too much about the 4 spd box , I'd say go for it but maybe replace all the oils, x2 diffs, transfer and transmission.

[Dabeanian Member Find all posts View Profile Close Dabeanian]

Hi Macaroon1,
Glad to hear comments about the 1kz motor, mine is an 06 with 210 ks now ,haven't replaced injectors fuel economy still 12.2 per 100 ks, good or bad I don't know, spoke to a diesel shop and he recommended I get injectors done , what for??still starts well, no smoke, only thing I ever need to do is oils and filters never let me down, got a cooler on the 4 speed auto,
Got a three inch exhaust,Manta. Towing the caravan over 10,000 ks my economy went to 17.7 but the weight loaded is about 2.2 / 2.3 T happy with that, was considering an upgrade to a D4D but scared of the injectors issue , and the $$$ to upgrade, been procrastinating about a chip for a long time , been to GTURBO hear in Perth spoke with a very knowledgeable guy who recommended a DTE MODULE and some tuning on the dyno , like a stage one I suppose,bring the boost up to about 18 and wouldn't kill the motor, told him I just wanted a bit more oomph when towing the van, like I said he seems to know his stuff , he is a turbo and dyno shop I suppose , and has a good reputation with the boys who like to burn rubber, and knows turbos,
I think the quote was about $ 2200 , I'm told the DTE module/ chip is a product from steinbouer, the two brothers from steinbouer split up and one now produces the DTE module, ?? has more refinements / adjustments makes the DT CHIP boys envious ,quote, but I don't know.

Not cleaned my intake side yet of any gunk, not done any blocking off either, should do I suppose after reading PP Comments.
Would like to know a bit about your 1KZ , mileage , economic etc , I don't really know how to compare my Prado unless I have some kind of benchmark, experience with the chip etc,

And there comes OZBUSH WITH HIS MANUAL MAPPER AND PUTS ME BACK TO SQUARE ONE ,
Don't know if you have read his posts on PP but he sounds like a very knowledgeable guy also, as are a lot of people on PP,
It seems to be the only think I read these days , used to read Bryce Courtenay and Wilbur Smith but now it's Pradopoint, sad init.
Cheers for now Alan.

[Dabeanian Member Find all posts View Profile Close Dabeanian]

Hi Macaroon1,
Post went in twice , read above Alan.