Thread: Long term cost of ownership :Discover 4 vs Prado

Originally Posted by discolandinaus

Might be a stupid question. I understand that all these vehicles have a lot of softwares and if you service the vehicle yourself how do you get the software update?

By the way, I will also soon learn some basic mechanic work.

You purchase a device called Nanocom.

Originally Posted by Bandi1950

I have always had land rovers but did have a look around at Prado's and LC200's before I bought my D4 to see if the Toyota product could win me over. Although the LC200 is no bigger than the D4 it felt very big and you did not get a lot of fruit for your money. Was not too keen on the 3l diesel in the Prado after the motor in my work Hilux self destructed at only 140,000km. approx. $10000
The D4 has done 120,000km with no problems so far. Only additional items outside of normal servicing have been a transmission sump and oil change and pads a set of brake pads. First 104,000km was free servicing and since then have serviced myself.

Thank. I believe, being large vehicle break pad needs to get replaced more often which is common with every 4*4.

After going through the post I understand that the thread subject is not right. The comparison should be between Disco vs LC rather than Prado. Anyway I was never looking for an LC. I have very minimal usage of the vehicle. Week days around 20km/day and weekends around 75km/day. I am not sure whether this justifies a Diesel vehicle. Any thoughts??
However, I am planning for long drives couple of times a year.

Ill Throw my 2c in on this one.

I own a D3 (and only had it for a few days!)
but one of my two best friends is a toyota fan boy, the other a Land rover nut like me (he has had 4 RR classics and 2 Disco's currently a D2, and looking at a D4 for the wife)

My mate who is the Toyota nut, not a mechanical bone in his body, he couldn't tell you the alternator from the fuel tank, but he swears by his Prado 150, says its the best 4x4 on the planet, unstoppable, unlimited power, tows anything without feeling it, comfort unrivaled. . . I personally found my Defender 90 I had before my D3 to ride better and have more go, and I got rid of the D90 for the D3 in favor of comfort!

Ive driven his Prado 150 (top of the line spec he says, I don't know what model that makes it) plenty of times (I don't drink so I become the designated driver) and the thing felt gutless, the gear shift felt more flogged out than my 1963 Morris mini! the clutch is on or off with no feel what so ever (nor matters if you are getting an auto) towing my 7x5 trailer with green waste he struggled to keep up with me in my d90 towing another 7x5 full of logs, and if you buy the Prado in an Auto, the towing capacity is reduced to 2500kgs. . . and it moves even slower 0_0
his seats are uncomfortable, the steering has no feel to it and you wonder if its going to turn at all some times, the body roll is phenomenal. . .

you could not pay me to own that thing. . . it only has 20xxxkms on the clock too.

My Other mate the LR nut, he is a Mechanic and recons the Prado 150 is a pretty good car, and was considering buying one for his wife really soon as he was impressed that is was better than his D2 for comfort and safety (he has a 1 year old daughter) when I picked up the D3 and took it to him to check over for me. . . he was sold, his Wife is now getting a D4 instead of the Prado, but he still stands buy that Mechanically there is nothing wrong with the Prado.

I know what I would buy, the only people I know who will take a Prado over a D3/D4 are Toyota fan boys/girls as they do not feel like a premium product, the feel cheap, drive cheap. . . . my D3 has 181xxxkms on the clock and feels like new to drive, its quieter and more comfortable than the Prado 150 hands down. . . heck Id Take a Defender Back before I went to a Prado.

If you want cheaper spares and Mechanics around the country who know how to work on them, Maybe the Prado is still the car for you, If you want to be comfortable, have a endless grin on your face while driving, and feel like you are in a premium product, buy the D4.

Leroy.

Originally Posted by discolandinaus

Thanks for the detailed explanation. Your response is very helpful for me to take a decision.

Might be a stupid question. I understand that all these vehicles have a lot of softwares and if you service the vehicle yourself how do you get the software update?

By the way, I will also soon learn some basic mechanic work.

I haven't had the software updates, so cant answer that, but I bought a code reader for fault finding. there are a few different sorts, but im my opinion they are the most important thing to buy.


Cheers Ean

Over the past 20 years or so, I've had -

a 90 Series Prado (diesel)
four 120 Series Prado's (three V6 petrol, 1 diesel)
a 150 Series Prado (diesel)

I also test drove a new FJ Cruiser (150 SWB Prado with a different body on it).

For offroad capability - the 90 series Prado wins hands down. For comfort and long range bitumen travelling - the V6 petrol 120 Series is a good wagon.

The 150 series - had this up at Nullagine and used only on dirt roads with a few "rough" tracks in the mix - this vehicle was rubbish.

The FJ Cruiser - well for the price, I had to try it as I was looking for a new vehicle at the time. Waste of time really - it had no redeeming traits that I could point to (other than it was a cheap way to get into a Prado).

All of the Prado's were company cars - and came with a fuel card and all costs paid for, so I can't really comment on the cost of ownership - other than to say that they ALL used more fuel than a diesel Discovery (of any model).

At the same time as having all of the above, I have had three Disco's which were my own private vehicle - a D1 V8, a D2 Td5 which my son still has, and now the D4.

Would I ever buy a Prado myself - not a chance.

Any of the Disco's I've owned would walk all over any of the Prado's off road, and while the 120 Prado was a great vehicle on a long (bitumen) run and had better range than any Disco (with 180 litres of fuel as standard), they are not as comfortable as the Disco and use more fuel.

Reliability - I've never had any problems worth mentioning with any of them - the Prado's or the Disco's.

If you like driving "whitegoods" - buy a Prado. Some of them can be an OK drive - but so is my wife's Camry.

The best Toyota I've had was an 80 Series GXL Landcruiser. I had this and then a new 100 Series (which was rubbish) before the 90 Series Prado.

Originally Posted by BMKal

Over the past 20 years or so, I've had -

a 90 Series Prado (diesel)
four 120 Series Prado's (three V6 petrol, 1 diesel)
a 150 Series Prado (diesel)

I also test drove a new FJ Cruiser (150 SWB Prado with a different body on it).

For offroad capability - the 90 series Prado wins hands down. For comfort and long range bitumen travelling - the V6 petrol 120 Series is a good wagon.

The 150 series - had this up at Nullagine and used only on dirt roads with a few "rough" tracks in the mix - this vehicle was rubbish.

The FJ Cruiser - well for the price, I had to try it as I was looking for a new vehicle at the time. Waste of time really - it had no redeeming traits that I could point to (other than it was a cheap way to get into a Prado).

All of the Prado's were company cars - and came with a fuel card and all costs paid for, so I can't really comment on the cost of ownership - other than to say that they ALL used more fuel than a diesel Discovery (of any model).

At the same time as having all of the above, I have had three Disco's which were my own private vehicle - a D1 V8, a D2 Td5 which my son still has, and now the D4.

Would I ever buy a Prado myself - not a chance.

Any of the Disco's I've owned would walk all over any of the Prado's off road, and while the 120 Prado was a great vehicle on a long (bitumen) run and had better range than any Disco (with 180 litres of fuel as standard), they are not as comfortable as the Disco and use more fuel.

Reliability - I've never had any problems worth mentioning with any of them - the Prado's or the Disco's.

If you like driving "whitegoods" - buy a Prado. Some of them can be an OK drive - but so is my wife's Camry.

The best Toyota I've had was an 80 Series GXL Landcruiser. I had this and then a new 100 Series (which was rubbish) before the 90 Series Prado.

Your spot on with all you say i had a 150 Prado Altitude before my D4 and it wasn't a bad car pretty comfy and all that but i didn't really excel at anything apart from having a big fuel tank that was all it did well!! It was pretty damn gutless especially when it came to over taking and trying to get 3 cars at once bloody hard there, the back cargo space was stupid with its raised up area that was on a slight lean for the back seats.

I did like how comfy the seats were and it was relatively quiet nothing on a D4 though, and i did like how they all come with keyless entry no need for a $2500 option like on the D4s.

As for the FJ they are a pretty cool car but a big V6 petrol i know mates that cant get over 400kms a tank out of the old 72L tank before Toyota changed it to a 140L tank but I've heard people say they just drink heaps of fuel, definitely need a diesel there!!

The old 80 series i think everyone seems to agree they were the last decent 4WD Toyota made.

Originally Posted by garrycol

Can we stop calling then SUVs - they are 4wds. Yes I appreciate the battle against this Americanism has probably been lost but there is no reason to reinforce its use.

I'm with you, Garry. Even LR's main site calls the new Discovery Sport an SUV.

Originally Posted by nat_89

Your spot on with all you say i had a 150 Prado Altitude before my D4 and it wasn't a bad car pretty comfy and all that but i didn't really excel at anything apart from having a big fuel tank that was all it did well!! It was pretty damn gutless especially when it came to over taking and trying to get 3 cars at once bloody hard there, the back cargo space was stupid with its raised up area that was on a slight lean for the back seats.

I did like how comfy the seats were and it was relatively quiet nothing on a D4 though, and i did like how they all come with keyless entry no need for a $2500 option like on the D4s.

As for the FJ they are a pretty cool car but a big V6 petrol i know mates that cant get over 400kms a tank out of the old 72L tank before Toyota changed it to a 140L tank but I've heard people say they just drink heaps of fuel, definitely need a diesel there!!

The old 80 series i think everyone seems to agree they were the last decent 4WD Toyota made.

You can keep the keyless entry ................

The prado 150 I had up at Nullagine had this feature - nothing but trouble as far as I'm concerned. It used to amaze me how many times the thing locked and unlocked itself when I was giving it a squirt with the hose to get some of the red dust off it.

My D4 hasn't got it - and I don't want it.