For those who want to know more about choice and fitting out of our car.
The Car
We are driving a 2005 Toyota Landcruiser Prado Diesel automatic. It had 40 000 ks on the clock when we bought it second hand from a Canberra couple who had driven it around Australia.
Everyone will have a different view on the ideal car for this trip - but for what it is worth here is what I thought and what I decided. Happy to be told I am wrong !!!!
I decided ABS brakes were essential, as was central locking. I did not want a sunroof, electric seats, timber veneer on the dash or too many electronic gadgets that can break.
The common rail diesel motor was available in new Prado wagons as we bought ours, but I could not afford a new one - $20 000 more than our three year old model which came with about $10 000 worth of extras fitted by the previous owners.
WIM 345 came already fitted with dual battery set-up, snorkel, high lift heavy duty suspension, cargo barrier, bull bar and extra lights. A modified engine chip has been installed promising better fuel economy. An on-board air compressor operates locking differentials in case of extreme terrain.
Manual -v- automatic
We have always had manual cars. I had not considered an automatic for this trip. Jan suggested however that driving on the wrong side of the road [Australia is like England - right hand drive] juggling maps, chaotic traffic, nerves and other driving challenges might just make an automatic gearbox a sensible choice. After driving a few auto versions of this car I was sufficiently impressed to go with it.
Diesel -v- petrol
The availability - or not - of fuel dictates diesel. Fuel efficiency dictates diesel. Variable petrol quality dictates diesel. Diesel should cost less. It will be slower and accelerate slower. I makes more noise.
Modifications
The Prado has Old Man Emu suspension which previous owner Rob Hutchinson fitted. It lifts the car a little higher off the road but it does not sway. Steel wheels are stronger than alloy in case of serious ruts and holes on the road surface. Alloys can crack and even break and then can not be repaired. Steel wheels can be hammered back into shape if dented. New tyres [Cooper All Terrain] and new batteries were fitted. New driving lights [IPF spots], a fire extinguisher, a car cradle wired in to an external antenna for the phone as well as an iPod connection directly to the stereo have all been treated as essentials. Sheepskin seat covers for comfort finish off our cabin.
Other car choices
I looked at everything on the market before choosing the Prado. We are not sponsored and I have no connection with Toyota whatsoever.
Reliability was top of our list. Second was parts availability in remote locations. Toyota came first on both measures.
The new 2008 Landcruiser 200 seems a mighty truck. But it weighs more than an elephant, is heavily electronic and as a new model, the bugs are not yet ironed out. It is very expensive.
A previous model big Landcruiser would have been an option, but on driving the big sister to our car the additional bulk was a penalty that seemed to offer little mechanical advantage. The fuel capacity also does not match the Prado. With just two of us travelling, space was not an issue.
Fuel capacity [2 x 90 litre tanks fitted as standard] and fuel economy were a major factor. I was surprised at how thirsty some of the competition was. Land Rovers in particular dropped out of contention here. The Land Rover was my sentimental favourite when I started looking - I had visions of ‘Born Free’ with Elsa the Lioness in Africa. But sadly they are now either too soft for this trip [Discovery and Rangie] or too harsh and uncomfortable [Defender]. All are too thirsty and lack power. The tank capacity is less than half the Prado and thus its range is less than half !
Mitsubishis Pajero came a close second, losing out to Toyota only on parts networks. Nissan patrol was way too thirsty. European cars such as M-Benz, BMW and VW were too expensive and too cushy. The others do not have transfer cases and proper four wheel drive.
I did a table analysing fuel consumption, tank capacity, range and power. The Prado won hands down.
I spent days sifting through ads, the internet and stalking people over the phone. I drove about five before chancing on our car on the internet. I got a pre-purchase inspection from the road service organisation [NRMA] and flew to Canberra and drove it home in a day. Upon closer inspection the front off side guard spot welds had given up [apparently not uncommon with heavy off road use] and new brackets had to be made to hold the guard and headlight in place. The wiring needed a tidy up from home made additions from Rob and Robin but otherwise WIM 345 got a clean bill of health.
