stephano

V8TD brochure says 10.3L, even on economy mode (light footed) can only get 15L, this is 50% more than Toyota say, what is everyone else getting. Sorry we only get the diesel in NZ but feel free to tell us about the petrol models. Toyota would'nt lie to us would they? Have only done 1100km but first tank only got 860kms from 138L diesel tank, was expecting 1200-1400kms. 10.3L with 650nm and 2.7 tonnes does seem optimistic, like the perpetual motion machine.

My L200 GXL Diesel has now done over 15,000ks. Over Christmas I drove to Sydney and back from Melbourne. Driving with four people and a reasonable amount of luggage on the Hume Highway and at the speed limit, I covered 1900 kilometres and used 214 litres of fuel. I make that just over 11 litres per 100kms. I was driving reasonably hard and doing a fair bit of overtaking, so 10.3 litres/100ks is within the realms of possibility. By the way, I love the 6th gear just as it is. It drops in just over 100ks at which point the engine is doing an easy 1500 rpm, perfect for highway work where the limit is 110. It was also great on a recent trip to NT where the limit was 130ks.

Something which I think also helps economy on the highway is cruise control, which I used a lot on the above trip. Throttle changes are a lot smoother and less frequent than 'manual' use of the throttle and this translates into less fuel use.

Now for the next trip: taking the camper trailer across to Tasmania for 8 days.

Steve

I wouldn't even think about it... the 1VD-FTV engine alone is an extremely expensive piece of gear. If anything craps itself, Toyota won't honour any warranty claims relating to the engine/transmission/driveline.

I was told a long time ago that the cheapest thing you put in a car is fuel. I'd be much more concerned about stuffing the engine/warranty than saving a few bucks.

This is not for converting to LPG..........it's LPG injection for added power and torque!!

Thanks, I realise that but it's a high tech piece of equipment that works extremely well (see my other posts re Central Australia recently) and I for one would not be fiddling with it. The standard engine has more than enough performance for towing, highway work, off-road, etc. It's the best engine diesel or otherwise I've ever had or driven.

Steve

It is definately road dust, it commes out of the door fittings (locks etc). These cars get wiped down almost daily. Toyota have now told me not to run the a/c on recirculate as that causes low pressure inside the vehicle which is causing the dust to be sucked in through the doors.

They now have a new problem on both of them. The door seals on the top half of the tailgate have worn through the paint on the bottom half where they join up.

Thanks for your reply anyway.

PS. I have attached some pics...sorry about the quality.

Good day Safari & other 200 drivers.

1st time on this forum, as usually on the Terracan forum (TCO = TerraCan Owner - haha).

I am fortunate as I share a 200 series as a work vehicle with a"back to back" partner.

Ours must be one of the first in Aus, and was delivered late Dec 2007, and now has 38000 kms on the clock.

I would be guessing that about 8000 kms would have been on gravel in the Pilbara WA,

We don't have an issue with the dust, but we never use recirc on the gravel unless there is oncoming traffic, and never follow others in the dust (just pull over and have a leg stretch).

What I normally do with oncoming traffic is crank the fan up high for 10-20 seconds, and the put onto recirc when passing the other vehicle.

We travel on some real crap roads and tracks, and on most occasions when I open the tail gate, I stand back because of the dust.

When I am back at work next, I will check our rear door seals for wear.

TCO.

I'm just back from 5000ks in 9 days of outback travel in my 200 GXL TD to Ulura and back (see other post). Dust was minimal and that included some dry dusty off road work in the Breakaways and Little Desert. We used aircon about 50% of the time only.

The black trim does show a bit more dust but we had very little overall.

Not sure why you are having such a problem.

I wouldn't even think about it... the 1VD-FTV engine alone is an extremely expensive piece of gear. If anything craps itself, Toyota won't honour any warranty claims relating to the engine/transmission/driveline.

I was told a long time ago that the cheapest thing you put in a car is fuel. I'd be much more concerned about stuffing the engine/warranty than saving a few bucks.

Hi am contemplating buying a 200 series Sahara and was just wanting to find out how everyone has found them.. Any problems and alike..

Have heard positives and negatives

I have now done just over 5000k in my 200 GXL TD and have a trip to the Centre coming up (later this month) so will have a better idea after then. So far so good. Love the engine and the overall performance, including towing a fairly heavy camper trailer on occasion. Has used more oil than my previous 2003 TD Hilux (and much earlier 1984 60 series diesel) and hope this settles down as some have suggested will occur. Would rather a manual (my first ever auto in 38 years of driving) but times change I suppose. General interior fit out is okay but my (also) previous) TD 2 litre VW Golf had better features and finish, e.g., fairly ordinary plastics, no controls on the steering wheel despite the radio/CD obviously being designed for these (hence tiny fiddly controls). No power outlet in the boot (are they kidding? - the Golf had one).

What off road stuff I've done so far has been very impressive. I'm glad I have the 138 litre tank, by the way and not the smaller capacity of some of the other 200's.

Overall, an awesome vehicle which I would buy again, but time will tell. At the moment, feels bullet proof and inspires confidence. Good around town too (grudgingly acknowledging the ease of the auto in traffic).

Finally, standard tyres are rubbish - will replace with Coopers after 20k. Had two sets of STs on the Hilux (fantastic) but may try ATRs.

Hope this helps but haven't driven a Sahara.

Steve

Cheers man give let me know how you find it during your trip.. Think my mind is made up to go for it though!!!

Well I'm back after over 5000ks in 9 days. Pulled the camper trailer to Uluru and back, mainly on the tar with some light off road.

Performance was awesome and I was able to overtake easily even at 120 plus (130 limit in the NT by the way).

Cruise control made it very easy and the thing sat in 6th gear at anything over 100ks on the flat.

I didn't calculate fuel consumption but did spend a fair bit. Top price 199.9/litre at Cadney Station, most fuel around 190.

Put a bit under one litre of oil in at Uluru.

Fitted a factory alloy bar before I left and glad I did. Looks a lot better in the metal by the way. Tried to get an ARB snorkel before I went but the waiting time was too long. Maybe later.

Absolutely no problems and very happy with the car, including the dust problems that some have mentioned.

Temperatures up to 37 outside and the aircon was freezing - only used it occasionally.

Didn't realise I had the camper trailer on most of the time.

Steve

Hi am contemplating buying a 200 series Sahara and was just wanting to find out how everyone has found them.. Any problems and alike..

Have heard positives and negatives

I have now done just over 5000k in my 200 GXL TD and have a trip to the Centre coming up (later this month) so will have a better idea after then. So far so good. Love the engine and the overall performance, including towing a fairly heavy camper trailer on occasion. Has used more oil than my previous 2003 TD Hilux (and much earlier 1984 60 series diesel) and hope this settles down as some have suggested will occur. Would rather a manual (my first ever auto in 38 years of driving) but times change I suppose. General interior fit out is okay but my (also) previous) TD 2 litre VW Golf had better features and finish, e.g., fairly ordinary plastics, no controls on the steering wheel despite the radio/CD obviously being designed for these (hence tiny fiddly controls). No power outlet in the boot (are they kidding? - the Golf had one).

What off road stuff I've done so far has been very impressive. I'm glad I have the 138 litre tank, by the way and not the smaller capacity of some of the other 200's.

Overall, an awesome vehicle which I would buy again, but time will tell. At the moment, feels bullet proof and inspires confidence. Good around town too (grudgingly acknowledging the ease of the auto in traffic).

Finally, standard tyres are rubbish - will replace with Coopers after 20k. Had two sets of STs on the Hilux (fantastic) but may try ATRs.

Hope this helps but haven't driven a Sahara.

Steve

I am about to seal a deal to buy a Sahara 200 Diesel with 6 Speed Auto. Small problem is that Saturdays Herald-Sun (Melb) had a article which claimed that the 6th Gear would only engage at speeds above 120 kph. Therefore fuel economy on Highway was around 13.1/100.

Is this a problem that others are aware of?

My GXL TD now has almost 4000 ks on the clock and last weekend on a freeway trip it went into 6th at 100kph on the flat. On 110k limits it looks like it would use 6th without too much drama. Why all the fuss?

Steve

Hi, bought new 200 TD - done 693 km (had car just on one week) stationary at lights, put my foot on the accelerator to take off - no response. pressed the accelerator again and the vehicle took off but with limited power. managed to get my car to the car park where I let it idle for a few minutes and the engine kept cutting out. Immediatley called dealer who claimed that they have not heard of this happening before. i insisted that they look at the car immediately and figure it out. turns out they want my car for one week as they want toyota australia technicians to look over it and run 14 hours of tests - just what I need on a new car! Initial thought from service guy is that they have heard of some problems with the diesel pumps. Have I bought a lemon?

Steve, any outcome with your car - I will update you when I get my car back.

After the dealer had my car for two days they said they could not find anything wrong with it. Have done around 1700ks since with no repeat. I don't think it was fuel in my case but some form of electrical interference with the 'key'/push start.

Steve

I have done 11500 klms in my 200 T/D GXL now mainly towing a caravan. I am getting 20l / 100 klms towing and 12l / 100 klms without van. I am sure the above figures could be improved if the right foot was lifted abit but the motor and auto transmission tend to encourage " performance ". It has no problem pulling 2.5 tons at highway speeds ; you have to actually watch the speedo to make sure the speed does not get away.

I am glad the GXL Turbo is the only model that does not have the KDSS suspension as standard as this model is the only one to get the 138 litre fuel tank. A 90 litre fuel tank for pulling caravans in Australia is ridiculous. Imagine a petrol version with a 90 litre tank ; probably about 250klm range. The T/D with KDSS has about 400 klm before light comes on ; I get about 600 klm before light comes on ( takes about 120 litres so about 15+ left )

Regards Tony

I'm now on my third tank of fuel. On the second tank, which was mainly used for around town stop start and one weekend pulling the camper trailer, I got 15.8l/100k. Only a fraction was freeway speed. This isn't bad and will improve. I must admit to dragging off a few other 4WDs at the lights while pulling the camper trailer. The 200 TD is a great engine.

Steve

After looking hard at all the different brands, materials and designs we have just sorted all the additional gear for our new GXL LC200 TD from ARB. They offered the best deal and design of front bar. (Im a mechanical fitter)

Fitted prices are:

Deluxe colour coded steel front bull bar with fog light $2735 100kgs

Warn Winch 9500kg $2148 25kgs

IPF spots $594

Long Ranger fuel Tank 180ltr $1917 200kgs

Six STT Coopers $2418

ARB steel roofrack $1000 30kgs

Water bladder 75lt $250 75kgs

TX3440 UHF + Aerial $917

Thumper battery $1144 20kgs

Safari snorkel $680

Kaymar rear twin wheel carriers $3200 50kgs

---------------------------------------------

Off Road Systems, Sydney:

Alluminium Double long drawers + two drawer fridge pack $4565 140kgs

Grand total $20,568 Totalkgs 640kgs approx guesses of weights

ARB are looking into a suspention pack to upgrade the carrying capacity with Toyota and the Transport Departments do to the fact that the 200 can only carry 600kgs?

Weight is a big issue when that total dosn't include recovery camping gear and food and of course Amber fluids??

We are off out accross the Simpson again, then the Gunbarrel Highway, Canning stock route and back along the Tanami track and Plenty Highway. Cant wait.

Sounds great

I haven't seen any rear bars/carriers for the 200 yet - I'm afraid all that plastic is not going to last. What are the Kaymar's like? Are there other alternatives?

I'm also leaning towards an ARB snorkel and b/bar when I have the readies.

Steve

I've just experienced my first problem with our four week old 200 GXL TD. Twice within five minutes on the weekend driving at between 20-50ks the engine cut out in traffic without warning. On pulling to the side of the road the car immediately started.

Took the car to the dealer who had it for over a day and found 'nothing wrong with it'. I don't know if it was fuel or electrics (I suspect the latter as there was no indication of fuel starvation) but it would not be good to have this happen again at speed on the freeway with a truck at the rear.

Anyone else had this?

Steve

Hi Steve

I have not had the problem myself but did hear the reason for the delay in releasing the Turbo Diesels back in November was they took some to Cairns for a press release promotion and a few suffered a similar problem. As a result they held them ( the T/Diesels ) back and on investigation they found there was a fuel or fuel filter problem so maybe this is your problem.

Regards Tony

Thanks Tony

After thinking about this for a while, I reckon it could be some form of electrical interference (inside the car or outside) with the electronic start/stop button and/or the electronic 'key'. It hasn't done it since.

I don't think it was fuel simply because there was no sign of fuel starvation and it started instantly when it was put in park and the start button pushed.

Steve

Hi Steve,

Yes the prices are very high and that is the reason I am asking the questions. Given the euphoria of a new vehicle purchase it is easy to succumb to the moment and just spend up. We do not want to be miserable with extras, but we have to get value for our retirement money.

I joined this forum so that you good people could advise me of our best options, so what experiences have you all had regarding dealer fitted options as opposed to after market,..........and which direction is the most practical, in terms of cost vs practicality. Should I shop around other dealers before we collect the car or do I push the selling dealer to come to the party? or do I simply collect the car and arrange for suitable after market suppliers to do the work and guarantee it?

Does the 200 series have a problem with after market fitments or are some comments that I am getting elswhere just urban myths?

Thanks again

BrigalowO

Thanks for that Brigalow

I'm a bit cautious. I got the dealer to arrange the wiring because I needed it for towing but I'm waiting until the aftermarket people get their act together before buying any other extras. I must admit that the large size of the front and rear 'bumpers' and the fact that they have so much important gear behind them has me thinking twice about a bullbar for the moment.

If I was in your place and spending so much, I'd be shopping around for the best driveaway price after trade in, including the extras you need. Play one off against the other if you can. I did and saved a fair bit.

Best of luck

Steve

Hello people, I need some kindly advice please?

We ordered a new GXL TD Cruiser today, and apart from, essentially being forced into paying extra $350 for front window tinting, I passed up on the Toyota dealer fitted extras as I think they are just gouging. I might have to reconsider this after your advices.

Thing is, we have to have it wired for electric brakes, (plus 12 volt power outlet for Waeco Fridge in rear luggage area) Quoted cost for just the trailer harness only, is $550. They tell me that it is a special harness to mate into their wiring system.

We also rejected the factory bull bar at $2490, (no winch, but very attractive) as we would prefer an after market colour coded or alloy winch bar if it is available.

Main question is, has anyone compared prices on dealer fitted options, (with full waranties) as opposed to after market accessories? The cost factor is significant, but is it practical?

Thanks in advance

BrigalowO

These prices seem high to me. I had my wiring done through the dealer four weeks ago when I got mine but in fact some of the work was done by a local auto electrician.

Prices:

Rear power outlet $150

5o Amp Anderson outlet $250

Trailer pack $450

I was also quoted around $2000 for the factory alloy bull bar, but didn't get it and $250 for side and rear window tinting.

Steve

I've just experienced my first problem with our four week old 200 GXL TD. Twice within five minutes on the weekend driving at between 20-50ks the engine cut out in traffic without warning. On pulling to the side of the road the car immediately started.

Took the car to the dealer who had it for over a day and found 'nothing wrong with it'. I don't know if it was fuel or electrics (I suspect the latter as there was no indication of fuel starvation) but it would not be good to have this happen again at speed on the freeway with a truck at the rear.

Anyone else had this?

Steve

Spoke to service manager last week when my LC 200 was in for a service ( love the Toyota Advantage Service at $180 / service for the first 6 services ) and he said they are still trying to work out why the clunk from the transmission when pulling up or taking off. Pumping grease into the driveshaft splines has not fixed the problem.

Has anyone else heard of a solution. Every owner I have spoken to has the same problem. I personally think it has something to do with that silly hill assist arrangement they have put on the TD.

Regards Tony

I've only done around 1000k in my 200GXL TD and have not experienced any clunking either starting or stopping. Basically, I'm rapt although I would have preferred a manual. Towed the camper trailer into the hills and back over the weekend for the first time and towing ability was awesome pulling around 1 tonne.

I made the decision with my GXL TD not to go with KDSS, mainly for financial reasons. Time will tell if this was the right move - I would have liked to do a comparison with the two systems but no 'real' test drives were available at the time I signed on the dotted line (I'm not talking about round the block).

I wasn't aware of losing the sub-tank so that's one bit of good news - I wanted the full 138 litres. Pulling either the boat or camper trailer with the old 3 litre TD Hilux with a standard tank, I seemed to be filling up every 250ks.

650 Nm is massive, I would not recommend it.

As others have pointed out, chipping results in greater fuel consumptions and greater stress on the engine. If it was any good, Toyota (and other manufacturers) would have made it a standard fitting or authorised option.

The diesel V8 is going to go down as a great engine, trust me - why fool with it (and stuff your warranty)?

Greetings all.

I have a 40 litre Engel fridge. With my Hilux, I had it mounted on an Engel slider which was bolted to the tray - no problems. However, with the 200 and the third row of seats, which I would use only rarely, bolting the slider to the floor would cause problems with using the third row (or at least one of the third row seats). I don't want to install a full drawer system and I'd prefer not to strap the fridge down.

Has anyone solved this one?

Sorry can't help you with that - However it is a bit poor that their is only one power supply on the front dash - Will have to get one installed at the rear for things like fridges etc.

Yes, I was a bit unhappy about being charged $150 for a rear power outlet for a so-called off-road vehicle when my VW Golf pavement machine has one as standard.

Greetings all.

I have a 40 litre Engel fridge. With my Hilux, I had it mounted on an Engel slider which was bolted to the tray - no problems. However, with the 200 and the third row of seats, which I would use only rarely, bolting the slider to the floor would cause problems with using the third row (or at least one of the third row seats). I don't want to install a full drawer system and I'd prefer not to strap the fridge down.

Has anyone solved this one?

My first land cruiser was an 84 60 series diesel purchased in 86 (as new condition from a Pitt Street farmer). I had it for around 14 years and all I did to it was new suspension and wider wheels. In that time it had one set of glow plugs, several sets of tyres and a couple of batteries. A great truck. After a long gap I purchased our current 4x4, a 2005 diesel twin cab Hilux which has given great service but has trouble pulling our camper trailer and boat up hills (not at the same time, I might add). So after a long break, we are about to take delivery of a 200 GXL diesel (can't wait). I'm rapt at the prospect of the V8 for towing and general work and the fact it rides and performs so well. My only concern is the gear box (apart from the lack of proper bumper bars and no power outlet in the boot). I've never owned an automatic and wonder how others have found the box in the diesel (I know all about the issue with 6th). How have others found it?

Thanks Towering

That's encouraging.

S.

My first land cruiser was an 84 60 series diesel purchased in 86 (as new condition from a Pitt Street farmer). I had it for around 14 years and all I did to it was new suspension and wider wheels. In that time it had one set of glow plugs, several sets of tyres and a couple of batteries. A great truck. After a long gap I purchased our current 4x4, a 2005 diesel twin cab Hilux which has given great service but has trouble pulling our camper trailer and boat up hills (not at the same time, I might add). So after a long break, we are about to take delivery of a 200 GXL diesel (can't wait). I'm rapt at the prospect of the V8 for towing and general work and the fact it rides and performs so well. My only concern is the gear box (apart from the lack of proper bumper bars and no power outlet in the boot). I've never owned an automatic and wonder how others have found the box in the diesel (I know all about the issue with 6th). How have others found it?