Offroad-Express

Hey all.

I've been looking at 4WD's for the past few weeks trying to figure out what I like and what suits my needs and have ended up with a short-list that includes 2 1996 SWB Prados; both have the 3.4 litre V6 petrol, ones an auto and the other's a manual.

I'm just wondering if anyone has any words of wisdom regarding these vehicles?

Yes I know the 3.4 petrol can be thirsty (if anyone can say exactly how thirsty it would be handy, especially auto compared to manual) and I know an IFS front will never go quite as far as a solid front end but I'm only looking at these vehicles as potential daily drivers that can go out on family shiny and shiny 4x4 trips with the CCVC, not hard yakka stuff.

Thanks for any comments

Gyxx wrote:Hey all.

I've been looking at 4WD's for the past few weeks trying to figure out what I like and what suits my needs and have ended up with a short-list that includes 2 1996 SWB Prados; both have the 3.4 litre V6 petrol, ones an auto and the other's a manual.

I'm just wondering if anyone has any words of wisdom regarding these vehicles?

Yes I know the 3.4 petrol can be thirsty (if anyone can say exactly how thirsty it would be handy, especially auto compared to manual) and I know an IFS front will never go quite as far as a solid front end but I'm only looking at these vehicles as potential daily drivers that can go out on family shiny and shiny 4x4 trips with the CCVC, not hard yakka stuff.

Thanks for any comments

when i had my 2003 double cab with the 3.4 i filled her up in Rangiora. towed a boat to lake sumner and back and the gas light come back on in rangiora hahaha very thirsty lol

err...umm... Real big boat was it?

We have a vzn185 surf with the same motor and love it. Can go from Dunedin to Wanaka drive around for the weekend in Wanaka and drive back to Dunedin on a tank. Around 600-650kms a tank. That's not towing but still loaded up inside. The yanks love these motors and reckon that they get 300,000miles out of them with out any major failures as long as standard servicing of everything including radiators etc is kept up. Around town we get maybe 400kms per tank.

The 3.4 Surf is similar to prado, and i've seen guys claim 10km per litre(on trademe-trying to sell!). However, i know a guy with one, and truck only does between 7-8km per litre, and that is on a long trip, to auckland. My 2.7 3RZ surf does 9km per litre on the same trip.(it does 7-7.8km per litre under daily driving on road/farm/liitle bit of towing 1Ton) The manuals are claimed to be 10-20% better on fuel.

Hey thanks guys that's just the sort of feedback I was hoping for. Now I understand the Prado will use more gas being a full time 4WD as opposed to the Hilux's part time 4Wd. Anyone have any idea how they compare?