Outer Limits 4x4 Board

I'm in the market for a mid 90's 80 series auto. I've got my options open as to petrol or diesel. I've heard mixed reports as to economy of the 4.5's so would like to here some actual figures for city driving if you have an AUTO full time 4wd yourself.

I'm trying to figure if the economy of the turbo diesel is worth the extra few thousand up front only to service it twice as often, and pay about 25% more for diesel (currently in syd 1.13 V 1.39). Not to mention the well known big end problems of the 1HDT.

Any comments or actual fuel usage for an auto welcome.

I have a petrol auto 4.5. I run 33' BFG M/T's and I get around 22l / 100km.

I used to get 600km from 135L in a 4.5L Auto 105.

My 80 is petrol/auto and I get about 23l/100k around town. A bit better on the highway but it goes up to about 26l/100k when towing 1.4 tons. I'm running 265/75x16 BFG A/T's.

My Turbo Diesel Auto 80 series returns under 12 litres per 100 kms on highway trips and up to 14 per 100 around town. The service intervals on either petrol or diesel are exactly the same however I know a mechanic who has owned a factory turbo diesel 80 since new and he changes the oil at 10,000 kms not 5,000. Hie believes the direct injection motor doesn't dirty the engine oil up with carbons like a normally aspirated pre combustion diesel motor does. Interestingly he has 430,000 kms on the motor and it's never had the head off. He has replaced the engine bearings twice since new. The first time under warranty at around 80,000 (done by toyota due to the "problem they originally had) and he did them again around 250,000 just to be sure although there was nothing wrong with them it costs less than $200 to do the job so cheap insurance.

Cheers
Simo

Thanks for the replies. I ended up buying a V6 Prado. A bit soft I know, but 20 or so bucks a week better on juice and at least with the smaller size the misses will only bash the corners in monthly instead of weekly in the shopping centre carpark. Well I can only hope.