Hey all,
I'm looking to purchase a Series 80 4.2 turbo diesel in a factory LHD configuration. Unfortunately this is proving to be a bit of a chore as there don't seem to be many 95'-97' Cruisers with reasonably low mileage in good condition for a reasonable price. Thus I'm beginning to consider Series 90 LC Prado's.
Why LHD? I'm working in Angola and it's a gov't requirement to import only LHD vehicles, therefore the cheaper RHD vehicles are out of the picture, and LHD conversions are rubbish in my mind. Because of the tough terrain and lack of roads and bridges in southern Angola, Toyota's are the only vehicle I'll consider.
This is where the questions come in. Does anyone know about reliability on these Prado's? I'm looking at the 3.0 turbo diesel and have heard it's a reliable motor. What about the axles? The front is IFS and the rear is a solid axle. Anyone know if it's the same drivetrain setup as under the 90's Tacoma's? How about factory options, best years to look for, etc... Were factory lockers an option at all like in the Taco's and Series 80's Cruisers?
There appears to be some aftermarket accessories for Prado's from ARB, TJM and Old Man EMU, so I'm not concerned about that too much.
Any thoughts and suggestions would be greatly appreciated as I'm looking to buy and ship to Africa soon.
David
I'm looking to purchase a Series 80 4.2 turbo diesel in a factory LHD configuration. Unfortunately this is proving to be a bit of a chore as there don't seem to be many 95'-97' Cruisers with reasonably low mileage in good condition for a reasonable price. Thus I'm beginning to consider Series 90 LC Prado's.
Why LHD? I'm working in Angola and it's a gov't requirement to import only LHD vehicles, therefore the cheaper RHD vehicles are out of the picture, and LHD conversions are rubbish in my mind. Because of the tough terrain and lack of roads and bridges in southern Angola, Toyota's are the only vehicle I'll consider.
This is where the questions come in. Does anyone know about reliability on these Prado's? I'm looking at the 3.0 turbo diesel and have heard it's a reliable motor. What about the axles? The front is IFS and the rear is a solid axle. Anyone know if it's the same drivetrain setup as under the 90's Tacoma's? How about factory options, best years to look for, etc... Were factory lockers an option at all like in the Taco's and Series 80's Cruisers?
There appears to be some aftermarket accessories for Prado's from ARB, TJM and Old Man EMU, so I'm not concerned about that too much.
Any thoughts and suggestions would be greatly appreciated as I'm looking to buy and ship to Africa soon.
David