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#1
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new Africa Prado or 95 Japan import?
We're moving to Zambia in a few months and we want to buy a Prado; my wife works for an aid organization, so we can buy a new vehicle from Toyota-Gibraltar -- customized for Africa / "extreme climactic conditions". Alternatively, for just over a third the price, we've found a 95 (75,000 km, KD-KZJ78W-MET body ) Japanese import already in Zambia looking for a buyer. We can afford the new one, but it is a lot of money that will be lost over our anticipated 3+ years in country in terms of new vehicle depreciation and probably higher insurance (assuming we don't get the next post in another right-hand-drive country). On the face of it, and I am a novice 4-wheeler, it seems like the 95 would provide 95% of the enjoyment of the newer one -- a friend with a 94 Japan import Prado in Zambia is 150% happy with hers, she test drove the 95 and reports it is better than hers. My current concerns about the 95 are the 95/96 changes I've been reading about. In 96 they switched to full-4wd from part-4wd, and I find books (like an english-language owner's manual) on Amazon covering 96-02 but nothing else. The vehicle would certainly be used for daily school commutes with the kids, but we're buying because we intend to do lots of cross-country on the weekends and holidays. I'm anticipating bad and washed-out roads as opposed to more enthusiast dune climbing or super-offroad action. I don't understand what "part-4wd" means for the older Prados -- it clicks in automatically when a wheel starts to spin, shift into it, or "dirt road coming honey, let's get out and fiddle with the hubs" ? Besides the extra money, the main drawback that I can see of the new one is the (probably small in Zambia) carjack risk. Both vehicles have similar accessories - bullbar, central locking, AC, etc. Both are 3.0l diesel, manual transmission. I'd really like to read your response on my dilemma one way or the other. thanks, rob. |
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#2
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Get the old one. You will worry less about it and it is still fairly new by
toyota standards. Regards Stephen "rob" > wrote in message ups.com... > > We're moving to Zambia in a few months and we want to buy a Prado; my > wife works for an aid organization, so we can buy a new vehicle from > Toyota-Gibraltar -- customized for Africa / "extreme climactic > conditions". Alternatively, for just over a third the price, we've > found a 95 (75,000 km, KD-KZJ78W-MET body ) Japanese import already in > Zambia looking for a buyer. We can afford the new one, but it is a > lot of money that will be lost over our anticipated 3+ years in > country in terms of new vehicle depreciation and probably higher > insurance (assuming we don't get the next post in another > right-hand-drive country). On the face of it, and I am a novice > 4-wheeler, it seems like the 95 would provide 95% of the enjoyment of > the newer one -- a friend with a 94 Japan import Prado in Zambia is > 150% happy with hers, she test drove the 95 and reports it is better > than hers. > > My current concerns about the 95 are the 95/96 changes I've been > reading about. In 96 they switched to full-4wd from part-4wd, and I > find books (like an english-language owner's manual) on Amazon covering > 96-02 but nothing else. The vehicle would certainly be used for daily > school commutes with the kids, but we're buying because we intend to > do lots of cross-country on the weekends and holidays. I'm > anticipating bad and washed-out roads as opposed to more enthusiast > dune climbing or super-offroad action. I don't understand what > "part-4wd" means for the older Prados -- it clicks in automatically > when a wheel starts to spin, shift into it, or "dirt road coming > honey, let's get out and fiddle with the hubs" ? > > Besides the extra money, the main drawback that I can see of the new > one is the (probably small in Zambia) carjack risk. > > Both vehicles have similar accessories - bullbar, central locking, AC, > etc. Both are 3.0l diesel, manual transmission. > > I'd really like to read your response on my dilemma one way or the > other. > > thanks, > > rob. > |
#3
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Fanie wrote: > Get the old one. You will worry less about it and it is still fairly new by > toyota standards. Thanks Stephen, I've done as you suggest. rob. |
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