TopAuto reader Michael has a 2008 Toyota Land Cruiser Prado, which he has taken on many adventures and says is the ultimate road trip vehicle.
He tells us more about owning this powerful SUV, below.
Which model do you own?
I own a 2008 Toyota Prado VX that has done 152,000km, but still idles so silently that it is hard to tell if it is even on.
When did you get the SUV?
I got it second-hand in 2010 when it had 82,000km on the clock.
What are your three favourite things about the SUV?
The practicality of the car is almost unrivalled. I can transport almost everything while doing so in comfort.
I like the park distance control, too, as this helps to manoeuvre through tight spaces.
Its large fuel tanks also come in handy, as the 180 litres provide more than enough range to drive from Joburg to Cape Town without refuelling.
What do you like least about the SUV?
The Toyota is heavy on fuel – although this is to be expected when buying a large SUV.
What is it like to drive your Prado every day?
It is fantastic.
You get used to its large size quickly and get rewarded for it through its ease of driving and comfort.
The Prado also has a strong presence on the road, which causes fewer people to try to cut me off.
What is the hardest journey you have done with the Prado?
I have been on many journeys in this car, such as 17-hour drives down to the Western Cape, road trips through the Kruger, and travels over the mountain passes of Lesotho.
The hardest would have to be the Lebombo Eco-trail in the Kruger – a five-day, 500km, off-roading trip.
While the Prado handled the boulders and rivers in its path with relative ease, a Ford Ranger and Land Rover Discovery 4 had to rely on winches and spare tyres to complete the journey.
Although, this could have been due to the drivers.
Keyword: 2008 Toyota Land Cruiser Prado – The continental crusher