Buying a 90 prado: 1kd-ftv vs 1kz-te

[ka1]

Hey everyone!

Im Kai, from Switzerland and I'm looking to buy a 95 prado and converting/using it as a camper and some daily use from time to time. I found two great offers, both are very well looked after cars (no rust, good service history):
- 1996, 1kz-te, 260'000km, painted all black, bit cheaper
- 2002, 1kd-ftv, 350'000km, had starter battery, cooler and many other things replaced very recently, bit more expensive but looks better too
Now im currently stuck between the two. The 1kd-ftv has much better fuel economy and is more powerfull but on the other hand it's supposed to be more sensible and expensive to repair, so at the end of the day the 1kz might still be cheaper to maintain... But I feel like the 1kd is going to be much nicer to drive, the only thing thats holding me back is the high km, what do you guys think? Is it worth investing in a 1kd with 350'km or will the 1kz save me more money in the long run and make less problems?
Thanks a lot for any inputs etc.
Greetings, Kai

 

[renago]

Hey everyone!

Im Kai, from Switzerland and I'm looking to buy a 95 prado and converting/using it as a camper and some daily use from time to time. I found two great offers, both are very well looked after cars (no rust, good service history):
- 1996, 1kz-te, 260'000km, painted all black, bit cheaper
- 2002, 1kd-ftv, 350'000km, had starter battery, cooler and many other things replaced very recently, bit more expensive but looks better too
Now im currently stuck between the two. The 1kd-ftv has much better fuel economy and is more powerfull but on the other hand it's supposed to be more sensible and expensive to repair, so at the end of the day the 1kz might still be cheaper to maintain... But I feel like the 1kd is going to be much nicer to drive, the only thing thats holding me back is the high km, what do you guys think? Is it worth investing in a 1kd with 350'km or will the 1kz save me more money in the long run and make less problems?
Thanks a lot for any inputs etc.
Greetings, Kai

I would change my attention towards a 78 !
If you are willing to make a camping car .
Much better use of space , more space , slower , endless motor , worst fuel economy, very easy to repair if it ever will need it , no electronics.
And much cooler car
Holds value much better

 

[ka1]

I would change my attention towards a 78 !
If you are willing to make a camping car .
Much better use of space , more space , slower , endless motor , worst fuel economy, very easy to repair if it ever will need it , no electronics.
And much cooler car
Holds value much better

Sadly they are very hard (expensive) to find in Europe and I feel like the prado will be better travelling on a budget and some daily use.

 

[OM617YOTA]

With that many KM's on both, I'd choose based on how they were maintained and what their current condition is, rather than which is the better engine.

 

[AgreenDK]

I would go for 2002, 1kd-ftv, have had both and 1kd-ftv has the power surplus needed. My 95 Prado was scrapped when it had done 650kkm without major repairs, still have it, can't bring myself to sell it even though I've switched to a 2012 150 prado

 

[Perfect]

The bottom end of the Kz and Kd is exactly the same. The main difference is the head, turbo and ecu.

The Kz's is prone to cracking their heads but it has old, cheap mechanical injectors. Their diesel pumps can give issues and is quite expensive to repair.

The Kd's have a 16 valve head that is way less likely to crack and more powerful.
Injectors is way more expensive to replace. I have very seldom heard of Kd pumps that is troublesome. The electronics is a tad more complex.

The Kz can be tweaked to produce almost the same power as a Kd with an upgraded turbo, exhaust, intercooler and a Unichip - but that quickly adds up financially.

 

[OM617YOTA]

By 260k km, the head on the 1kz has already been done.