Confession Time

[JohanM]

For those that knows the History of my beloved Hilux "Brakkenjan" that I rolled on a Sunday drive out to the farm will know that it was my first ever owned 4x4. It was my Baby for 12 years. That was the benchmark of my reference and yes it had a lot of short comings but I loved it to bits.

Last week the new owner managed to track me down and rang me up. We had a discussion and ill be soon on my way next weekend to PTA north where it is being fixed up in a back yard. Still need to remove the tracker unit from it and see what it looks like. One thing that struck me was that I will always have a place for a SFA Hilux and yes maybe in some time in the near Future I will buy one again and make it look good again.

Will it replace my Prado???? No it just cannot come close for what I use it for. Long distance and overland travel. However the two vehicles have a character difference as big as the sun and the earth. I love them both and would love to own both.

Have I gone soft?? Maybe but also I value my comfort and the ability to drive 1200 km in one day and feel still fresh on the other side. I have to say that the stability of the Prado on dirt roads is something to enjoy. I drop the tyres to approx 1.8 and lock the centre diff and cruise at 80 in refrigerated comfort on the roads. Yes the dual aircon in mine really cools down to the point of becoming too cold on a long drive if kept on all the time running.

This I tested when I left cape town in late December where I picked it up and the drive up to Kleinzee, then onto Upington and Home including other day trips the aircon stayed on all the time with the fan set at speed 2. By the time @ 18h00 in Kleinzee I climbed out of the fridge and stepped into the west coast. The wind was cold, but since i just got out my fridge it was really just a breeze. Yes it was around 35 in the heat of the day, yet the vehicle didn't really notice it was that hot outside.

I have done a few solo long distance trips in my SFA. I survived it and it was part of the stories. It wasnt that comfortable even with the aircon modded for 2-5 Degree airvent temp depending on outside temperatures above 35.

Since I replaced the Hilux with the Prado I have racked up 5000 km in 3 months. Part of it was driving it home which was most fun as I learned to love my new vehicle. Having learned to stay at 120/125 on the open road with the SFA, I have adopted the same laid back driving style with the Auto V6. Fuel consumption is way better than expected driving it relaxed and enjoying the scenery rather than the keeping up with other SUV's and 4x4's speeding by @ 140 +. So far my average on openroad driving @ 120/130 is approx 12.5L/100 or about 8km/litre which i rarerly could achieve in my Special modded 4Y Hilux.

Somehow I still manage to get a lot of bypassers looking at my vehicle when they overtake or when I park it somewhere.

So would I buy this vehicle again if I had to??? Yes its a Toyota afterall and the V6 Auto is highly capable in most situations.

Yes I do miss my SFA and the rugged character of point and drive attitude when offroad.

One day I will own one again and still have my white appliance (Overland Prado).

[4x4BEES]

Really glad you love your new Toyota.

Who knows, maybe one day you will be lucky enough to own both

[ThysdJ]

So val die grotes. :)

[Family_Dog]

Johan, you have said it all! The Prado 90-series is a great vehicle, it is built very solidly, and of course its comfort second to none.

Happy days for your old SFA, from what you say it seems it will be on the road again one of these days? Please encourage the new owner to join the forum and post pics and reports of his progress.


-F_D

[the BuTch3R]

Johan. I too can relate. My SFA was stolen a few years ago and I was absolutely devastated at the time..... so much so that I couldn't even bring myself to log in to this forum.

I bought a v6 pajero shortly afterwards (was the nicest 4x4 I could afford at the time ) and got my first taste of the "luxury 4x4" class. This was an interim purchase and was never gonna be a keeper in my mind. Yet, the drive was very comfortable and still very capable. I also loved that fact that we could pile 2 families into the van and hit the long road. The power of the 3.5 liter motor was amazing compared to the 2.4 Hilux, yet fuel consumption was less. This was the beginning of me going soft....

I've just recently managed to save up enough cash for a suitable upgrade and so began the internal debate - Hilux or Fortuner or Prado? After weeks of deliberation I eventually opted for a 120 Prado and found a very neat one-owner van on Gumtree........ WOW! what a vehicle!!! The comfort of this van is unbelievable. The 4.0L, Auto box combo is such a pleasure to drive. 180+kw of power and even lighter than the Pajero on fuel! On tar it feels like I'm gliding on ice and offroad it's a beast. I seriously don't see myself going back to Hilux anytime soon (read never).

Having said that, it comes down to application. What is your primary use of the vehicle. Of course it would be awesome to own both the SFA and the Prado. In fact if my Hilux hadn't been stolen I'd still be charging obstacles and making fun of the "softroaders" trying their best not to scratch the paintwork or damage the tupperware. But now that I've been bitten, if I had to chose just one vehicle..... Prado wins hands down.

[pietpetoors]

Yip, fiend of mine "upgraded" from Prado 90 to Prado 120 and he regrets it.

[dalkill]

since we all confessing... i've been looking at +-2000 colt 2.8 4x4.
it's half the price of KZTE, and performance numbers not too far off, lighter on fuel.
Yes, the colt notorious for blowing head, but KZTE not immune to this. Alot depends on owner.

whoa is me... i want a hilux, but purchase price is just not justifiable. Nostalgia does not fill that hole in the wallet.

[ThysdJ]

I have a confession too.... I love my Jeep... more than I ever loved any SFA Hilux I had....

[4x4BEES]

I have a confession too.... I love my Jeep... more than I ever loved any SFA Hilux I had....

It's not a confession if the whole world already knows this








But have to admit, daai Jeep van oom is darem maar mooi

[ThysdJ]

Kevin as jy weet hoe erg ek oor my SFA Hiluxe was, dan is daai een moerse confession!!

[Family_Dog]

Purgatory!!

You know what happens to guys who fib like this - they burn their toes.


-F_D

[FIRSTGEER]

Johan I can really identify with you.I sold my OLD FAITHFULL 2,8d dc sfa last year with a very sore heart to "upgrade to a 2,5 d4d s/ cab 4x4 to enable me to build a camper for overlanding.My new d4d has much more comfort and power etc for the long haul on open roads to "get there" but on the rough terrain,the sfa still takes the cake.The main thing is that it is still a Toyota.

[JohanM]

Yip, fiend of mine "upgraded" from Prado 90 to Prado 120 and he regrets it.

Pieter, die een ding wat baie opmerkbaar is in die nuwer generasie voertuie is dat hulle almal word laer en ronder buffers wat meer op pad en grondpad gebruik gemik is as werklike ernstige 4x4 alhoewel hulle steeds dit kan doen.

Die 3 generasies se "offroad" angles is soos volg.

Approach angle - 95 Series (36) 120 reeks (34) en die 150 reeks is (32).
Departure Angle - 95 Series (30) 120 reeks (28) en die 150 reeks is (24).
Break over angle - 95 Series (28) 120 reeks (20) en die 150 reeks is (22).

Iets wat ek self opgelet het is dat die nuwes raak baie groot en kan nogal n pyn wees om te parkeer en te ry op nou 4x4 roetes. EK sal graag wil weet hoekom hy spyt is. Ek self het die 120 reeks oorweeg maar was net te styf vir die begroting.

Thys ek moet se dat daai 3 deur jeeps is baie lekker speel voertuie en hulle is soveel pret daar by julle in die kaap met die see en sand so ek verstaan dat jy hom so geniet. Ek self sal so voertuig kan geniet en baie ook. Maar ek dink n Suzuki Samurai wat mooi gemaak is kan netsoveel pret wees.


Shaun, yes they win the race if you look for the best allround capable vehicle that can still be used daily and do the long haul in rough country on safari without trouble.

[the BuTch3R]

...die een ding wat baie opmerkbaar is in die nuwer generasie voertuie is dat hulle almal word laer en ronder buffers wat meer op pad en grondpad gebruik gemik is as werklike ernstige 4x4 alhoewel hulle steeds dit kan doen.

Agreed. As standard, the 120 is pretty low. Although, nothing a suspension upgrade doesn't remedy. Was the first thing I ticked off when I purchased mine. Mine is fitted with Old Man Emu and results in about a 50mm - 55mm lift all-round. Massive difference to the clearance and angles... and no longer looks like a "Moms Taxi".
Next I plan to fit an ARB front bumper which should "raise" the nose even more.

I too am not a big fan of the 150. But if I was gifted one, I'd drive the cr@p out of it