Any 120 series LC Prado owners on here?
Discussion
I'm considering buying a 2005 ish Land Cruiser Prado with the 3.0 D4D engine, most likely an auto seeing as manuals seem to be like hens' teeth.
What are they like on fuel? Would 25 mpg average for mixed town and country roads driving be realistic? The only similar vehicle I've owned is a Mk2 Mitsubishi Shogun with the 2.8 turbo diesel engine. I used to get a pretty consistent 28 mpg from that on mixed town and country B-roads driving, creeping up as high as the mid-30s on a long motorway run if I took it steady. That is of course lightly laden and not towing.
Any major issues to look out for? I've read some stuff about (unsurprisingly) rust, particularly above the rear axle. I also read about possible leaking injector seals. Other than that they sound pretty bomb-proof, which is partly why I'm interested in getting hold of one.
What are they like on fuel? Would 25 mpg average for mixed town and country roads driving be realistic? The only similar vehicle I've owned is a Mk2 Mitsubishi Shogun with the 2.8 turbo diesel engine. I used to get a pretty consistent 28 mpg from that on mixed town and country B-roads driving, creeping up as high as the mid-30s on a long motorway run if I took it steady. That is of course lightly laden and not towing.
Any major issues to look out for? I've read some stuff about (unsurprisingly) rust, particularly above the rear axle. I also read about possible leaking injector seals. Other than that they sound pretty bomb-proof, which is partly why I'm interested in getting hold of one.
bad_panda said:
I'm considering buying a 2005 ish Land Cruiser Prado with the 3.0 D4D engine, most likely an auto seeing as manuals seem to be like hens' teeth.
What are they like on fuel? Would 25 mpg average for mixed town and country roads driving be realistic? The only similar vehicle I've owned is a Mk2 Mitsubishi Shogun with the 2.8 turbo diesel engine. I used to get a pretty consistent 28 mpg from that on mixed town and country B-roads driving, creeping up as high as the mid-30s on a long motorway run if I took it steady. That is of course lightly laden and not towing.
Any major issues to look out for? I've read some stuff about (unsurprisingly) rust, particularly above the rear axle. I also read about possible leaking injector seals. Other than that they sound pretty bomb-proof, which is partly why I'm interested in getting hold of one.
Yoohoo.What are they like on fuel? Would 25 mpg average for mixed town and country roads driving be realistic? The only similar vehicle I've owned is a Mk2 Mitsubishi Shogun with the 2.8 turbo diesel engine. I used to get a pretty consistent 28 mpg from that on mixed town and country B-roads driving, creeping up as high as the mid-30s on a long motorway run if I took it steady. That is of course lightly laden and not towing.
Any major issues to look out for? I've read some stuff about (unsurprisingly) rust, particularly above the rear axle. I also read about possible leaking injector seals. Other than that they sound pretty bomb-proof, which is partly why I'm interested in getting hold of one.
25mpg general running about is pretty well there, you can get 30 on a run but that's about as good as it gets.
Mine's been superb as have all the other Toyota 4x4's i've owned, the only actuall failure being the alternator died couple of years ago, cost me £120ish recon unit and a couple of hours to fit.
All other work has been maintenance friction materials etc and annual anti rust treatment, all DIY., its an LC5 with the electrically adjustable shocks and rear air suspension.
Supposed to lots of trouble but an airbag is an easier change than a spring and when the shockers pack up standard shocks from the rest oif the range bolt straight in which is just as well cos new TEMS shocks are scandalous cost.
Its 19 years old now and is very likely to see me out.
Rust is the biggie, beware of anything thats lived in Scotland because it will be rotten.
Not just the chassis, check underneath the inner sills at each end near the wheelarches, they get heavy weathering and can in extreme cases perforate.
Look out for chassis plastered in waxoyl, its probably slapped on to cover the rust.
Rear live axle can rust badly too.
Prepare to look at several and still not end up with one, the bodywork that can be seen can look pristine, so first place you look is underneath, take a torch and something to lie on.
My record from arriving to view a 'mint' example was 3 minutes after a 140 mile drive, slid under poked my finger through a brace, marvelled at the thorough waxoyling it apparently had which comprised of a single pass of a waxoyl aerosol from some joker leaning under the front bumper.
Lots of overdescribed rubbish our there, some in the hands of alleged Landcruiser specialist sales.
If you find a good one buy it immediately because it won't be there long., remember anything regd after March 2006 will be highest VED band, except for a handful of 2009 models which they somehow got down to the next band.
My suggestion if you really want one would be to import one from Japan, it'll be slightly different in trims and specs but nothing to really concern yourself about, the main thing is it won't be riddled with rot and shouldn't be penalised with high rate VED.
There two LC forums in Britain, one is much busier than the other but there's lots of valuable info and reading there for you on both.
I've got a 2015 but the same engine. It's VERY agricultural... But I wanted reliability / longevity rather than LR smoothness with reliability issues.
On ATs I get a max of 27mpg on a long run at about 65mph.
Rural bimbling I get 23-24mpg.
Mine is the top spec one with rear air bags, kdss, rear locker, etc. so it rides well and is amazing off road / in the snow.
I love it but it is quite thirsty.
ETA... Yes rust... Get a tidy one and get the underside dinitrol'd
On ATs I get a max of 27mpg on a long run at about 65mph.
Rural bimbling I get 23-24mpg.
Mine is the top spec one with rear air bags, kdss, rear locker, etc. so it rides well and is amazing off road / in the snow.
I love it but it is quite thirsty.
ETA... Yes rust... Get a tidy one and get the underside dinitrol'd
Thanks both. Some very useful info there. I forgot about tyre choice and the fact that ATs and MTs will make fuel economy worse. I also wasn't aware that some of the 2009s managed to get into the lower VED band either (which is why I was specifically looking at ones registered before 23rd March 2006).
Presumably the VED is lower for imports, then? Any issues with insurance? I did once have a Jap import and it was a bit more expensive but not a huge difference, however that was over 20 years ago.
Presumably the VED is lower for imports, then? Any issues with insurance? I did once have a Jap import and it was a bit more expensive but not a huge difference, however that was over 20 years ago.
This is my daily, I brought it a few months back for £2.5k with 140,000 miles on a W plate (2000)
Previous owner spent about £1000 on injectors, head gasket, radiator and thermostat.
Runs great, agricultural, but who cares, I can drive it anywhere and not worry about it getting dinged.
No idea on mpg, it’s juicy due to being an auto, but no worse than my T6.1 4-Motion.
Previous owner spent about £1000 on injectors, head gasket, radiator and thermostat.
Runs great, agricultural, but who cares, I can drive it anywhere and not worry about it getting dinged.
No idea on mpg, it’s juicy due to being an auto, but no worse than my T6.1 4-Motion.
Edited by DirktheDaring on Tuesday 25th June 19:00
^^ah the lovely 90 series Collie.
I sold mine, green too, when the 120 cropped up unexpectedly.
I think the Collie is the best looking LC made (70 series apart), its just right from every angle.
Mine only averaged 18mpg cos it had the 3.4V6 petrol, sounded wondrous and went like hell, hard ride though cos some previous owner had fitted a set of Aus spec stiffer springs and shocks.
I sold mine, green too, when the 120 cropped up unexpectedly.
I think the Collie is the best looking LC made (70 series apart), its just right from every angle.
Mine only averaged 18mpg cos it had the 3.4V6 petrol, sounded wondrous and went like hell, hard ride though cos some previous owner had fitted a set of Aus spec stiffer springs and shocks.
Nearly forgot.
Aircon.
The higher spec versions have dual aircon, the pipes are made of some sort of alloy and corrode eventually, Toyotas aren't alone in this, the aircon shop who did mine are always doing similar refits and RRs and Shoguns.
The answer is either to spend a ridiculous amount of money getting the pipes replaced through to the rear, or get the rear aircon blocked off and make do with the front only, which is fine for most people.
I'd quite forgot i'd had the expensive full refurb job done on ours because dogs in the back, don't ask how expensiive that job was i still have the twitch and stating the cost will bring me out in hives.
So, make sure the aircon works, and no it won't just ''needs a regas guv'' if its not working.
Aircon.
The higher spec versions have dual aircon, the pipes are made of some sort of alloy and corrode eventually, Toyotas aren't alone in this, the aircon shop who did mine are always doing similar refits and RRs and Shoguns.
The answer is either to spend a ridiculous amount of money getting the pipes replaced through to the rear, or get the rear aircon blocked off and make do with the front only, which is fine for most people.
I'd quite forgot i'd had the expensive full refurb job done on ours because dogs in the back, don't ask how expensiive that job was i still have the twitch and stating the cost will bring me out in hives.
So, make sure the aircon works, and no it won't just ''needs a regas guv'' if its not working.
DirktheDaring said:
Mine’s a bit slow to start, turns over at a good rate (twin batteries), but slow to catch.
Not sure if glow plugs or a small split in the fuel feed somewhere and then sucking in air?
Try priming the fuel filter pump till solid before starting, that should rule out fuel starvation.Not sure if glow plugs or a small split in the fuel feed somewhere and then sucking in air?
Assuming yours is a D4D common rail it shouldn't need glow plugs to fire up, mine benefitted greatly in all running and power matters by cleaning out the EGR which was badly caked up.
DirktheDaring said:
Ok, great idea, I’ll give it a whirl, thanks.
EGR? I thought/hoped as a W reg it might not have all that gubbins.
I don't know for sure, just going by yours having the facelift wheels that it will be a common rail so would expect an egr of some sort.EGR? I thought/hoped as a W reg it might not have all that gubbins.
Cleaning out the 120 EGR released oodles of torque.
Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff