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150K on the clock of the 2003 3.0 td Patrol now - not a problem with it what so ever. It's a great ride and feels far more steady in the sand than the last Prado I had.
I got the same decision to make in March this year and I think I will be going around again with the Patrol ST - L but the Prado certainly has a lot of creature comforts
Toyota 100% - spent a lot of time when I lived down south with Vic Widman (reasonably well known 4WD guy - written a couple of books etc.) and he has travelled all over Aus and always, always drives a Toyota.
One small advantage the Prado has over a full size 4x4 is that it is lighter which equates to easier beach work and less fuel plus it's easier to park/manouvre when not off road(shopping centre carparks etc).The reason the midsized 4x4s are so popular is because they fill the roll of on and offroad use well without compromising too much either way.If your cruiser or patrol is offroad most of the time(you live in a remote area etc) then they will serve you better but if you only go offroad occasionally or tow a boat every few weeks then this means a compromise 4x4 makes more sense as you will be doing most of your driving in normal road situations where you would want easier handling/parking a softer ride and better fuel economy but still want a REAL 4x4 when you head off the blacktop and a vehicle like the Prado serves this purpose extremely well-imo.Jace.
Both are great vehicles, very reliable ,very good reputations and have had their bugs ironed out by now. As a mechanic i have had customers with both and all have been very happy.
In reality you can't really say which is the better vehicle as they are both so very different.
PATROL: Tough as nuts, rugged, strong and reliable.
Really a truck (seperate chassis, solid diff front and rear, heavy duty driveline)
PRADO: Refined, smooth, comfortable ride, better performance.
More like a car (smaller and therefore lighter, independent suspension, smoother, quieter, more comfortable on road)
Base your decision on the type of use you intend to do the majority of the time. Both vehicles drive well on and off the road, the Prado is slightly nicer to drive on the road but that doesnt mean the patrol is not good. In the same respect the the Patrol is better when the going gets tough but that doesn't mean the Prado wont get you there either.
Both will tow your boat with ease, the Patrol maybe slightly slower but at the same time more stable (heavier/wider). Around town the Prado will be easier to park, give a bit better ride and be a bit quieter and smoother therefore easier to live with, so if its going to be driven around the city by the missus most of the time this is the vehicle i would go for.
On the other hand if you plan to do lots of offroading as well as towing the patrol will do it better.
I personally would be prepared to sacrifice a little comfort and refinement for a more rugged and durable vehicle, but then again I don't spend a lot of time driving around the city.
In the end both will do the job very well so take both for a nice long drive in your intended environment (take it out for the day if you have to) and im sure you will soon know which vehicle you would prefer to spend the next few years driving.
Both vehicles get good write ups in all the 4wd press and forums so its personal. The Toyoat is far more refined and if you are goann do a lot of around town stuff is probably the better choice.
I have no experience with the Nissan 3.0ltr but I am a huge fan of the 4.2TD. I had one and towed around 5.8mtr boat and gear that topped 2 tons on the weighbridge and it was always a willing and smooth performer.
I have had both for work and find the Nissan a better vehicle. It's biggr which helps with the family side of things and the newer gen3 nissan engine have sorted out most if not all of the engine problems.
I found the prado a bit small inside and a bit tinny off road.
Take them both out for a drive and see what you think. Me I like the nissan.
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