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There's no justifying here - anyone who buys a vehicle based purely on the head would buy a $10,000 third hand school-run 4WD and pocket the $70,000 in savings. Personally I think anyone who tries to 'justify' a new 4WD purchase is really just trying to convince themselves. I've got no dilemmas in admitting I bought the Y62, in part, based on its looks, size and the power I don't really need at all. There are sooooo many variables out there in an individuals mind and wish list of wants and needs - anyone who knocks another persons choice is a peanut.
Having said that, the Prado 2.8 is, from my experience, a dogs breakfast. It's known for DPF failures (had two, third on its way), driveshaft failures (had that too) and from the 3.0D4D for it's injector failures. Now it's the dusting in the 2.8 as well (this was suspected in causing bearing squealing when I sold it). I bought the Prado after buying into the Toyota reliability myth and it's cost me a fair bit of money. TMCA are great to deal with - right up until the point where it will cost them money for something to be fixed (I can't, however, say that Nissan isn't like this as I haven't needed to ask so far). They stalled on every single fix, every step of the way. It was NOT, however, the dealers. They went above an beyond trying to help out - to the point they showed me the communication between them and head office in Sydney with them pleading my case and the TMCA replies just requesting more tests to be done (which reads as more time off the road at my inconvenience).
If you want Petrol, you're left with (in the affordable > 5 seat market) with the LC200 or Y62.
As for the Y61 Titanium - there's a fair bit out there that would lift it's power just slightly, but enough to make a good difference. Minor chips or remaps, exhaust and better cooling should see a noticeable increase. And they've fixed the ZD30 years ago (which is what the 2.8 is becoming in the Prado/ Hilux/ Fortuner). My bet is that it'll be one of the last half-million kilometre engines with a bit of care.
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