Offroad-Express

Just got a ph call from a mate asking advice on Prado's, which I know nothing about.

He is picking one up this weekend (KJZ78 I think-93/94 LWB)
It's down to 2 vehicles, both 220km, one auto with lift kit, and rear difflock and manual hubs, the other standard, but manual.

What are the auto's like in these, and can they be easily modded to manually lock up, or convert to manual box? I told him to check the manual has a solid flywheel, as I assume they came with dual mass?

Both vehicles are the same price (I think), but I've always been anti auto, whereas he is tempted to go for the modded one, so thought advice from those in the know would be more appropriate. He does a bit of 4wding, nothing hard yakka (think it's riverbed work for trout fishing), and tows his 5m alloy boat once a month.

Any advice on the auto vs manual on these would be great, and what he should check when he takes it for a drive (I've told him to get an AA check)


Cheers,
Dave

I have had an Auto version for near on ten years.. Family off roading and now harder stuff. Auto has never missed a beat.
Easy to control. But I would recommend a Trans cooler for it. (Insurance)
Go the auto... Manual hubs, rear diff lock and lift. Very nice package. All the bugs re hubs are sorted and the rear diff lock is a bonus.
As said nothing hard yakka, and if he sitting in the river there is no problems with water and clutches...Like the manuals.

Calvin

I had a 93 prado/dual lockers/auto/manual hubs/ loved it. I used to be a manual fan boy, but an auto is waaay better. Manual lock up and shift change is pretty easy too. Never got round to it on mine.

have one thats an auto, find it sweet on the road and real good ofroad, iv had both and the ony real thing i dont like is down realy steep declines, i find it a little to high geard

Thanks for the info. Mate missed the auto one, and wasn't that impressed with the manual one.
I'm getting an AA check done on an auto one in ChCh in the next couple of days with a bit of luck.
Gave up on trying to find a LWB Safari, and for $6k less, one of these might be worth a try until I find a good GU.


Cheers