I prefer the 80 series as a 4wd and updated my old 90 model 3F petrol to a 97 model. I briefly considered buying a turbo diesel but after driving one opted to go with the 1FZFE petrol auto with LPG. More power, revs better, tows better and no smelly oily Diesel all over your shoes and hands every time you fill up....

97 80 series GXL factory turbo diesel with over 300,000 Kim's on the clock... $25 to $30 grand. I got a 97 petrol auto GXL never been off road, 220,000 Kim's with gas for $7000...... $20,000 buys a lot of petrol...

NSW and Qld are ripped off when it comes to LPG... When we left Victoria in July last year gas was 59.9cpl... We crossed the border into NSW and it jumped up to 94.9cpl... We crossed the border into Qld and it was 89.9cpl. Petrol was pretty much uniform at around $1.44pl and diesel $1.57pl.

friends with the turbo diesel get around 18L per 100klm towing a large van and I get 25L per 100klm on gas towing a large van.

Byron, why do you say a diesel is a better 4wd than a petrol? The only place I have found a diesel has an advantage over petrol is on down hill engine braking.... Petrol is far better on hill climbs, far better in sand and far better on muddy tracks.

I have driven and towed with a V8 petrol GXL 100 series and they are great for towing, pull well up most hills even with a large caravan, I just don't like the independent front end on them for serious 4wding. The LX470 Lexus is brilliant but far too much electronics for me.