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

On the capped price servicing for our Toyota work vans they actually itemise everything that is done,replaced,checked,etc.
If you were really worried it would be easy to tell,just mark a filter with a nikko pen,as we do to the tyres now.

Not long ago we caught them out not rotating tyres but had been charged for it,so anything is possible.

Originally Posted by jon3950

its a very different vehicle.
Cheers,
Jon

It certainly is. To quote what the managing director of Toyota Australia said sometime last year, "White goods On Wheels"

You are lucky that you did not get a Playdough about 3 years earlier.

My neighbor recently purchased a low mileage, full service history one and not long after it copped a 6K bill for injectors.

Lucky from him he got it from a stealer and it had used car warranty.

Six months later it happens again. Research told him it is a common problem and had he known about it he would not have gone near one.

Originally Posted by PAT303

Thanks Wilesy,there has been many people who have done the capped price servicing but have been burnt as many things aren't covered,my vehicle came back without filters being changed,I was told,one of those my mates uncles brother stories that vehicles that are used on the school run weren't serviced but simply checked,my vehicle was a town vehicle.I also cannot see how they can service a vehicle for $210,they are loosing money hand over fist and having it as part of the lease only muddies the water even more. Pat

Totally agree, it's hard to stay on top and make sure everything's done. I'm sure the cost of servicing was in the purchase price somehow anyway.
Never the less, it has been good for me...so far. Fortunately for me I usually just pay for my vehicles, I never borrow to buy a vehicle.

It's been my experience that it won't cause you any drama,ours went wrong from the start,friends did the same,if you haven't had any problems by now it won't have any.You weren't on the Overlander forum a few years back were you?. Pat

It always used to annoy the crap out of me when motor mags would compare a D3 with a Prado when they should have been compared to a 100 series likewise a D4 to a Prado when it should have been compared to a 200 series.

A Prado is not the flagship model nor does it have similar specs to either a D3/4 or a 100 or 200 series, so in my opinion why compare the Prado to a Disco. it asks to much of a Prado and underestimates the Disco, again this is in my humble opinion.

Originally Posted by PAT303

It's been my experience that it won't cause you any drama,ours went wrong from the start,friends did the same,if you haven't had any problems by now it won't have any.You weren't on the Overlander forum a few years back were you?. Pat

You have a good memory, Yes I was on Overlander a few years back, but migrated to 4x4 Action and was appointed Moderator shortly thereafter which made me spend a lot more time there. I said a brief hello to Overlander and 4x4 Action members on my introduction thread.
Wilesy is in the Building


I intend spending a bit of time here learning about my new RRS as most people here probably know much more than me at this stage, if you need to know about Toyotas or Nissan Patrols (I owned 8 new Patrols) I could help, but LR's I know limited knowledge on, not owning one for more than 10 years and so much has changed so hopefully I will learn something here.

Originally Posted by TerryO

It always used to annoy the crap out of me when motor mags would compare a D3 with a Prado when they should have been compared to a 100 series likewise a D4 to a Prado when it should have been compared to a 200 series.

A Prado is not the flagship model nor does it have similar specs to either a D3/4 or a 100 or 200 series, so in my opinion why compare the Prado to a Disco. it asks to much of a Prado and underestimates the Disco, again this is in my humble opinion.

The Prado should be compared to the Pajero and Jeep,the Jeep wins by a mile. Pat

Originally Posted by Wilesy

I find this thread such an interesting read, especially coming from people who haven't owned a particular vehicle, only test drove one or was told by a mate.

Anyway, let's get a few things into prospective, the D4 and the Prado 150 have about a 15-20k difference in price, and IMHO the D4 is a closer comparison to the LC200 rather the Prado, that's to begin with.

Amongst many other 4x4's I have owned, though these seem relevant to this conversation, I have owned the Disco 1 V8 for 100k the LC100V8 for 200k, the Range Rover Vogue for 80k and currently the Prado 150 diesel with 100k on the clock, all purchased brand new at the time.


I usually travel about 70k per annum. I also own a BMW X5 M-Sport which I also drive on weekends, hence the reason the Prado only has 100k after 2 years of driving, though not really relevant to this conversation.

To be clear, I have no bias toward any brand, I buy what I like at the time, what I feel is reasonable value for money and what fits into the current budget so hopefully my opinion has a little validity.

Having said that, I have just ordered a Range Rover SportTDV6 which will be arriving in March and I intend on keeping my Prado also because I think it's a great car and has never let me down.

When purchasing a vehicle, everyone's needs and expectations are different, the budget you have, your intentions of how long you intend keeping the vehicle, your usual driving requirements etc.

In my particular case, I purchase the vehicle, Service it regularly according to the book and dispose of it after about 3 or 4 years, if I intended keeping it long term maybe I would do a few things differently, but I don't.

In the case of the Services between the Prado and the D4, I can only comment on what the Prado costs me and what I have paid to date.

I purchased the vehicle in January 2013 and with all Toyotas had at no extra cost the capped price servicing included in the purchase. It has cost me to date and all up to 100k, $2600 according to all of my receipts in total for all Services including a full set of brakes replacement at 70k. (Plus a new set of tyres, BFG At's @ 75k not included) That's 10 dealer Services. Pretty cheap Servicing in my book.

The vehicle is comfortable enough, has a fuel tank (TwinTanks) which allows me to travel 1300klm's between drinks and I get an average of according to the computer 9.2 litres per 100 klm's on average. Has reasonable power for a 3.0 litre diesel and the fit and finish are above average. Off road ability is reasonable and beyond most drivers abilities anyway. And just quietly, I always drive it as though I stole it....

Let me say that not one thing has broken since purchase, not even a bulb, so let's get a few things into prospective, they are a nice 4x4 and it does what it's meant to do so let's not bash the Prado too much, it maybe not everyone's cup of tea, but neither is the D4 so let's be a little fair, and neither is the price difference.

It just gets up my nose a little when people say I wouldn't own one for any money all based on what a mate said or they have just driven it a few times, if that was the case, and most LR owners would agree, that no-one would buy a LR if you read every story and believed everything which was said....Having said what I have just said, I won't even go down the conversation track of what went wrong with my Disco and how much it cost me to keep it on the road, it would make most people here cringe....and it never even saw a dirt road..

I can certainly comment on the Prado 150 as i have owned on and your right there isn't really that much wrong with the Prados, they are just a typical Toyota product with the perception of long term reliability and go anywhere ability, but there is not special about them they dont really excel in any area they just do everything okay. Yes they have a long range fuel tank and yes there comfortable and not to bad on fuel either but theres nothing special about them. They dont bring a smile to my face like the D4 does every time i drive it i just have a grin or a feeling inside that makes you happy its hard to explain but i find the D4 just does everything so well.

And to date 35000kms in 11months not one issue at all to speak of nothing!! As for the servicing costs my Prado had the capped price servicing that only goes to 60000kms so maybe your lucky to get yours up to 100000kms, my D4 is under the corporate program so i have no idea what the costs are surrounding it.

As for the drive away pricing if you compare a D4 HSE against a Prado Kakadu there actually is only a few grand difference in the price. Yes when you compare the TDV6 against the GXL Prado the difference is quite big but up in the higher spec models the gap gets a lot smaller.

I have also had a BMW X5 40d and it was a great car drove beautifully but really only good for highway driving no off road ability plus the lack of spare was a bit of an issue aswell also i found it a little bit rough out where i am in QLD.

Yes Toyota do make a great product and i did like the Prado whilst we had it definitely great the long range tanks and the seats were all very comfy. But one drive in the D4 and it just brings a smile to your face the way it does everything the way it accelerates the beautiful sound from the stereo the way it just eats up so much stuff in the back area and just how beautiful it steers and how nice the seating position is, we just love it!! I cant explain it there is just something infectious about the D4 that makes you feel special when you drive it i love it every time i get in it, you just put your foot down it squats down and just takes off it is such a beautiful engine and i love the sound to!! Yes i would love an extra 70L of fuel but that minor thing is easy to get over when it does everything else so well. Its my first of what i expect to be many many Land Rovers!!

For $60k the Prado GXL is a great practical all round car and doesn't really do anything wrong it just isn't a D4