Prado's

I roughly do 60kms a week day, don't use my car much in the weekends, so maybe 300-400kms a week. Love that landcruiser, thanks for linking that. Wouldn't have a clue re lpg but it's worth a look. I dont mind paying a bit more for petrol, hubby loves diesel but i like the up and go of petrol. Not a fan of the ssangyongs. Will keep an eye out for a landcruiser or patrol, see if any come up

One of my bosses bought a V8 Petrol Landcruiser, told everyone it WOULD be ok on fuel, drove it to work a few times then started asking questions about the fuel consumption , the Landcruiser was quickly disposed as it used so much fuel. From memory he did about 2000kms in it and lost a shitload of money getting rid of it. I would not even think about buying a Petrol V8 Landcruiser - at 300-400kms a week it will cripple you with the petrol costs alone!

He could afford $120k for the Cruiser but can’t afford to put petrol in it? I’m surprised he lost big money selling it. 200 series Cruisers even ones that are ten years old and have 200,000+ km are still worth over $60k. Not many vehicles that still retain half their value after that long and that much mileage.

The poster you were responding to never mentioned it was new. More likely it was an older 100 series. Toyota don't sell the v8 petrol 200 series cruiser here (without a lexus badge that is). The diesel in the 200 series makes more power than the petrol v8 in the 100 series.

You can get the 298kW petrol v8 nissan patrol Y2 here. Rated at 14.4l/100km).

As you say fueling these sorts of vehicles is not a big issue for those that pay $100k+ for them new, but is very steep for those who buy them as used vehicles which have depreciated down below the $20k mark. The patrol for example has a 140L tank, and takes premium.

Ultimately these types of powertrains are targeted at wealthy buyers, and focused on the US and arab markets where petrol is much cheaper than in NZ.

It was a second hand Japanese import which already had about 3 NZ owners(in a short space of time! ) ,from memory he paid around $25k and got about $18k back for it.I never said it was a 200 series !

OP, I have a 120 V6 Prado, used primarily for towing, it is the 3rd petrol Toyota 4WD I've had in the last 20 years, I do around 7-9000km a year and they have all worked well both from a reliability and long term cost of running perspective, I continue to be happy with my choice.
But, if you are doing 60km a day you will be using north of 55-60 litres a week. They are cheaper to buy than the diesels, but a false economy in your situation.
Take a look on fuelly.com, nearest USA equivalent is the v6 4L Toyota Tacoma. There is extensive data there.

I don't really care about fuel economy - my husband drives a jeep wrangler. I'd rather have the get up and like & enjoy what I drive than worry over fuel economy.

The petrol V8 Landcruisers dont hold their value, sure the Diesel Cruiser do but not the petrols.

Fair enough. Should consider total cost of ownership of course. Could easily spend more than the cost of the vehicle over a few years with some of the options on the table. Also consider if you finances would be fine if petrol shot up to say $3/L once the pandemic ends and airlines ramp back up again.

With regards to get up an go, note that the 4.7L 100 series has a 0-100 time of 11.2 seconds, so isn't dog slow like the diesel's of that era, but isn't exactly super quick. Basically all the modern 6 cylinder MPV's and vans will outperform it (often substantially) while using less fuel, as will many modern diesel's. As an example a modern Kia Sorrento diesel can do 0-100 in 9 seconds, while using 6.6L/100km.

What you are getting is a vehicle that will last a very long time if you can afford to keep putting fuel in it, great towing ability, and great off road performance.

Consider if your household actually requires needs two highly capable off roaders. Many households do like ours, and have one car that we take away on holiday etc, and another that is pritty much for commuting and the likes.

For me, would have the V6 petrol Prado every time in preference to the diesel. The only proviso would be if vast mileages were involved because the petrol will use slightly more fuel. The 200 kW 4 litre petrol is powerful, silky smooth and known to have few issues and to be good for huge kms.

There seems to be some dated thinking here about the petrol/diesel comparison. The modern EMC controlled, DOHC, 4 valve per cylinder , variable valve timing petrol can compare very favorably with diesel. One recent towing test on YouTube compared the Y62 petrol 5.7 liter V8 Patrol with a diesel 200 series Landcruiser towing a large caravan. The Patrol out pulled the cruiser easily and they both used 21 litres/100 kms. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQvlTzMXvdo

I have driven a SUV for the last 25 years and recorded lifetime fuel consumption of each as below:
1993 TD27 Terrano diesel 14.5 litres/100
1998 1KZ-TE Prado diesel 12.7 litres/100
2011 FJ Cruiser petrol 13.5 litres/100

And it goes without saying the petrol FJ with another 125 kW and 150 Nm is a much more pleasant drive than the thirstier Terrano. Another petrol I have some experience of is the Ford 2.3 litre Ecotec. It has comparable torque to a diesel, much wider rev range, and is nicer to drive.

Personally I would not consider another diesel unless it could be justified by a significant margin on a commercial vehicle

The dated thinking is because we are looking at dated vehicles.

The 4.7L v8 in the 100 series only makes 170kW and is rated at 16.3L/100km combined cycle.

Not really comparable to the current direct injected petrol Nissan patrol which makes 298kW and is rated for 14.4L/100km in a substantially larger vehicle while spinning 33" tires.

The 179kW from the v6 in the J120 prado is nearly as much power, and pushing a smaller vehicle would be faster. Its rating is 13.6L/100km.

1998 1KZ-TE Prado diesel 12.7 litres/100 - These are rated at 9.6L/100km, so you were using 32% more than rated.
2011 FJ Cruiser petrol 13.5 litres/100 - these are rated at 11.4L/100km so you were using 18% more fuel than rated.

I suspect you spend a lot of time in city traffic or towing, or with additional drag - lots of stuff on board, roof racks, towing, A/T or mud tires etc.

It is a reasonable prediction that you would use at least 19L/100km (20% above rating) in a v8 powered 100 series.

Completely agree at 6 + cylinder petrol engines are much more powerful, and nicer to live with than the diesel engines. If one can afford the fuel cost. But at OP's mileage, $7000 a year or $135 per week is a lot to spend at teh petrol station.

Regarding the overseas 200 series diesel / y62 towing comparison at 21L/100km each, note that NZ tax laws (a bit of a mess if you ask me) favor diesel cars at high fuel consumption.

21L of 95 ron @$2.219 = $46.60/100km
21L of diesel @1.419 + $7.6 RUC = 37.40/100km.

In NZ the patrol costs 25% more in fuel and RUC while heavy towing.

Given how diesel exhaust fumes have be confirmed as causing cancer, I think we should be re balancing our tax / RUC systems to avoid forcing people to diesel that don't want it.

Sad reality of the current situation is that Toyota didn't sell enough of the 4.0 v6 petrol Hilux's and Prado's to continue to justify continuing offering it as an engine option anymore.

Low range 4x4's command a lot of money in the used market, meaning that OP's budget is insufficient for a modern one.

Depends on your part of country for price of 95. It can be had for 1.819 in Chch.

Agree with your comments, this in particular.

Usually the places with cheap 95 also have cheap diesel.

If Gaspy can be believed. Pack 'n Save Moorhouse has $1.817 95RON, and $0.997 Diesel.

21L of 95 ron @$1.817 = $38.16/100km
21L of diesel @0.997 + $7.6 RUC = 28.54/100km.

At Pack N save morehouse, the patrol costs 34% more in fuel and RUC while heavy towing.

Diesel is heavier, and both more energy dense and commissions dense per liter. In this test, The fact that they are using the same volume of fuel means the patrol is more efficient & less emitting, yet our tax system significantly incentives the less efficient, more emitting 200 series.

As such, barely any of the Y62 patrols get sold here, and they deprecate steeply despite the highly rated 295kW petrol power-train. (The land cruiser using less fuel while not towing, and having a solid rear axle are likely also factors)

Or $1.757 in Rotorua. Diesel @ 0.977

Exactly correct, they hold their value is part of their advantage.

I have owned a 2006 Prado VX V6 for 10 years, bought it with 275,000km and its now well into the 300's. and I have (touch wood) never had an issue with it. Its always been well serviced and I keep that up and its a great vehicle.
Yes they are thirsty but depends how they are driven. They also have a ton of grunt for towing or passing. The RV is NZ new base spec and VX is higher spec. Main difference is VX has cruise control and coolbox (fridge). Also i think 5006 was first year with 5 speed Auto, before that had 4 speed. They also 8 seater with removeable rear seats when you need the cargo space.

Anyone who compares them to anything else cant have owned one, Anyone who compares them to a freaking SSangyong needs psychological help!

The personal insults aren't needed. The Prado and Rexton II are both similar size, body on frame SUV's. Neither have the roof load rating to take duel roof tents. If the comparison is good enough for motoring publications it is good enough for me:

https://www.motoringnz.com/tested/2018/4/25/ssangyong-rexton-spr-toyota-prado-gx-toughness-at-the-top

Objectively the Prado is a better vehicle, but that is well priced in in the used market.

OP's $15k budget buys a 2005 Petrol Prado. The diesel is out of price range unless you are willing to accept 600,000km on it. Diesel of that era only made 96kW, so would be quite slow pushing such a vehicle anyway.

$12k-13k buys a 2011 / 2012 Rexton. The 5 cylinder 2.7L diesel makes 137 kW which is more than what is offered on a 2020 Prado. For somebody doing higher annual mileage like OP, the Rexton is going to be substantially cheaper to buy and fuel.

Not sure I understand that.

You have a budget of $15 to $18k, but looking for vehicles that will burn anything updo $8k a year to run? Over say 5 years, you could burn $40k to run an older vehicle. Thinking something like a hybrid Lexus 450h (not seven seats admittedly) or CX9 might end up costing a lot less to run over the daily commute, so you could spend close to $30k and still be better off in the long run.

I get you like the look of the Prado, but given low interest rates you could spend much more up front, get a better vehicle with 'get up and go' and spend less.

If you mainly go camping over the summer holidays a few times per year, then maybe think about keeping a trailer or old 4WD for those weeks to cart your tent city, and get something more efficient and fun for the daily commute. Basically the fuel saved could pay for another vehicle.

Do you also need 7 seats every day? I know some people that have blended family's that occasionally need that, but most days on the commute just need the 5 seats