So... what car do you guys drive when not flying?

[Ric]

Toyota Kluger?

 

[JohnM]

Toyota Kluger?

Nuh - petrol; heavy on the juice.

One thing that I do like about the Prado is the dual fuel tanks with, what, about 160L onboard. Can pretty much avoid Jerry cans unless going way off the grid like the Canning Stock Route - but I've done that little number in a 4.5T Troopy.

If I'm at my son's camp, it's all diesel fuel, so I would be able to pinch some without backtracking to Menzies, Kalgoorlie or Coolgardie - let alone the good leeway for any other trips deeper into the bush.

 

[Quickstatus]

Toyota Kluger?

The full sized spare under the vehicle is prone to theft because it held on by a wire instead of the LC200 chain

 

[JessicaTam]

Nuh - petrol; heavy on the juice.

One thing that I do like about the Prado is the dual fuel tanks with, what, about 160L onboard. Can pretty much avoid Jerry cans unless going way off the grid like the Canning Stock Route - but I've done that little number in a 4.5T Troopy.

If I'm at my son's camp, it's all diesel fuel, so I would be able to pinch some without backtracking to Menzies, Kalgoorlie or Coolgardie - let alone the good leeway for any other trips deeper into the bush.

My work car is a Prado. I would probably beef up the suspension for any serious off-road travel. It is ok on the black-top, but still a bit too soft for my liking. Fortunately work are phasing them out as they don't meet the organisation's speed requirements! So this one will be my last.

 

[JohnM]

Fortunately work are phasing them out as they don't meet the organisation's speed requirements! So this one will be my last.

Love it - I want your job .

That begs the question: What will meet their speed requirements? It could heavily guide my thinking.

 

[Cossie]

I have a friend with a D-Max which he is very happy with, he put an alloy body on the back for outback trips, tent on top, kitchen and extra water/fuel tanks and all that sort of thing, it's big though, I considered a MUX but again, I don't want something quite that big.I'll probably end up with an X-Trail or similar if I can ever get around to making a decision.

The guy that bought my Escort Cosworth rally car also bought this D-Max offroad, he was going to do the Condo 500(?) and Finke, but I'm guessing not now.

He did a short test rally a couple of weeks ago.

 

[JohnM]

I guess the thinking behind why I'm narrowing to an Everest or a Prado is that if I were wanting a dual-cab, the HiLux and the Ranger are the clear market leaders and my choice would probably be a toss-up between those two. But I don't want a ute or dual-cab; I want a wagon.

Now, I know that a Prado is not a HiLux-as-wagon, but the Fortuner which is just doesn't seem to have 'it'. On the other hand, the Everest is a Ranger-as-wagon. It gets good reviews but the main criticism seems to be that it's a bit more costly than it should be.

The Ranger probably acts as a better proxy for the Everest than the HiLux for a Prado, but just wondering if anyone out there has experience/opinions on the relative merits of Ranger compared with HiLux? Ranger has been outselling HiLux for while now; there must be a reason for that.

At the moment, they are the two that I'll take a closer, comparative look at. I'm sure they are both good vehicles fit for my long-distance cruising and solid, but not over-the-top 4WD needs, and that there will be upsides/downsides with both. And of course, the comparative cost will enter the equation as to what seems to deliver best bangs for the buck.

 

[Tropic]

Following your analysis closely as in addition to the Seltos for parents, I'm also looking for a good out back touring 4wd dual cab with rear canopy with swing up doors each side to replace my xtrail. Other option for me is a 4wd campervan but cost is prohibitive unless buying 2nd hand, along with all the problems that can deliver.

 

[JessicaTam]

Love it - I want your job .

That begs the question: What will meet their speed requirements? It could heavily guide my thinking.

Pajero fits your 4wd wagon criteria.

 

[Cossie]

My friend is really happy with his D-Max, it's a dual cab, the alloy rear section was made in Brisbane, he has already done many trips and was about to do the Oodnadatta track, probably not now. I can email him and ask what company he used.

 

[JohnM]

Pajero fits your 4wd wagon criteria.

Indeed - but it's an old platform in decline. In fact, I believe it may have already been withdrawn in some markets. I can't see it being re-modelled to survive into the future. A good choice - 15-20 years ago...

 

[Matt_01]

I have a friend with a D-Max which he is very happy with.....

I am not into serious 4x4 off roading but I am quite partial to Isuzu running gear and IME Isuzu is pretty tough. I have not had any issues over the past 9-10 years, it does have a few mods from when new including; suspension, custom made tool bins, dual batteries, pure sine inverter, electric brake controller and the list goes on. It was once a work truck and not that flash to look at but I cannot see myself getting rid of it anytime soon.

 

[JohnM]

The MU-X is the wagon derivative of the D-Max. Undoubtedly tough, but I really want something less 'agricultural', for want of a better term.

 

[Matt_01]

So are you after a “soccer mums” truck/ wagon.

 

[JohnM]

So are you after a “soccer mums” truck/ wagon.

If the dealer throws in a yummy mummy to sweeten the deal, they might just get my business.

 

[Cossie]

The MU-X is the wagon derivative of the D-Max. Undoubtedly tough, but I really want something less 'agricultural', for want of a better term.

Yes, I agree, that's one of the things that put me off and the size as it would be the daily driver.
My friends D-Max has a Norweld canopy on the back, actually made in Cairns not Brisbane. Said he has done 50,000kms and no dust inside as yet.

Norweld Aluminium Ute Trays and Aluminium Canopies

 

[JessicaTam]

Still waiting. CGU are not my favourite company right now. I will be trying again on Monday. *sigh*

Today I heard that the insurance company is going to fix my car.

It only needs a long motor!* I don't expect to see it for at least a month.

*That's from the oil cap on top to the sump plug down below, and everything in between!

 

[JohnM]

Today I heard that the insurance company is going to fix my car.

It only needs a long motor!* I don't expect to see it for at least a month.

*That's from the oil cap on top to the sump plug down below, and everything in between!

So, what was the full story on what actually happened to seize or blow up the whole donk? Unless I've missed something, IIRC you had a (minor?) prang in Tassie that caused something to break and disaster ensued from that?

 

[JessicaTam]

So, what was the full story on what actually happened to seize or blow up the whole donk? Unless I've missed something, IIRC you had a (minor?) prang in Tassie that caused something to break and disaster ensued from that?

I was offroad and hit something that broke the radiator late in the day. It must have been a slow leak as nothing showed up that arvo. The next morning the engine lost power so I pulled over and called RACT. Engine cooked!

 

[JohnM]

I was offroad and hit something that broke the radiator late in the day. It must have been a slow leak as nothing showed up that arvo. The next morning the engine lost power so I pulled over and called RACT. Engine cooked!

And no temperature warning light activated?