Looking for a SUV when i come over to Brisbane in January. Have been looking at a secondhand Prado, Touareg and X5 online. Anyone had any experience with any of these? Probably will never use it off road.

Thanks
Peter

I wouldn't go calling a Prado an SUV as that's a sure fine way of upsetting the locals. Heck, we've got a Jeep Wrangler so know all about the loyalties you get around 4x4's but I'm prepared to stick my neck out here and say the Prado is defo not to be compared to the other two road tanks you've listed.

If you want to ferry the family around town get them. If you want to travel a bit and see some stuff, get a 4x4.

G

Looking for a 4X4 when i come over to Brisbane in January. Have been looking at a secondhand Prado, Touareg and X5 online. Anyone had any experience with any of these? Probably will never use it off road. Thanks Max&Ozzy

Thanks
Peter

European is going to cost you. We have a basic Subaru Forester which isn't luxurious but is bigger than a regular car and it's AWD. We love it and won't feel too precious about it when we go onto rougher ground etc. We won't be truly off roading in it. With a young family it is utilitarian and suits us.

We could have had a Touraeg or an X5 but why would you want a Chelsea tractor in Australia?

I think the Prado is useful if you have many kids/dogs and plan to go out of town and off road lots.

Just my penniesworth after a few...........

You could also look at the Mitsubishi Outlander. Nice comfortable ride and the petrol usage gets down to around 8L/100kms on a trip if you treat it right - that's with the 3Litre V6 auto. If you take it off-road (not boulder-hopping stuff) it performs very well and 2nd-hand 2008 models are relatively cheap to buy.

From those three the Prado hands down. The diesel only unless you enjoy filling 180 ltr tanks with poor petrol fuel economy though.

Cheaper servicing, parts, reliability and resale. The Prado is one of the best selling 4x4s in Australia for a reason. Although you say you wont, its also the most off road capable of all three easily and its long distance fuel tanks make for excellent touring.

Thanks Guy's.

Really like X5 and VW but sensible head is telling me to buy Toyota. Also the 7 seats would be handy. Will be a second hand one any suggestions were to buy in Brisbane?

Whatever you do don't buy a Ford Explorer with cruise control!

Given that choice the Prado is an EASY winner...

Simple cost of maintenance on anything else makes the Prado an excellent choice. I foolishly bought a Discovery once whilst tossing up whether to get it or a Prado.. I regretted it.

Dont be fooled into thinking Diesel is the only decent option. Its an expensive fuel here and any gains you make in fuel usage can easily be wiped out by higher cost of fuel and maintenance if you're not careful... and then theres the rattle.... and the acceleration lag....

It's virtually the same price as petrol - well it is in WA anyway, there's only a few cents difference and recently it has often been cheaper.

Diesel vehicles do cost more to buy new though - but that's the same the world over.

The service and maintenance costs of a Touareg/X5 here will really hurt. The locals buy Toyota for a reason - bulletproof and not too expensive to service.

Ok - I'm sure last time I looked (and it was a while ago) Diesel was 15% more than UL petrol. Of course fueld vendors being retarded as they are in Australia this may have been because I looked on a Tuesday, perhaps on a Saturday they'd cost the same? (For the uninitiated, petrol prices have a weekly cycle of variance 15-20%, Diesel prices are relatively static)

I know we are not talking SUV's here but full 4WD cars.

If I was after a larger car (SUV) I would consider Toyota Rav4 or Kluger. Both good road cars with quite a bit of off road potential.

If looking for a smaller 4WD like Prado the competition should be also considered.

I had to get a car in this size 2 months ago and I decided on Mitsubishi Pajero.

More info on both can be found on user forums:

http://www.pradopoint.com/

http://www2.pajeroclub.com.au/forum/index.php

Have you considered a Toyota Kluger, I have one and love it, also you have a seven seat option.

According to Fuelwatch, for tomorrow, the metro average for ULP is 118.9 and for B20 bio-diesel it's 119.9