DEALER FOCUS – United Autos
When you’re in the market for a used car, you want plenty of options – make, model, condition and price. Some dealers claim to offer choice, but United Autos actually delivers, with HUNDREDS of vehicles available across two yards at Car City in Minchinbury (Lot 8-9 and Lot 14-15), with more options at a third dealership in Windsor.
At any one time, United Autos have almost 300 pre-loved cars, SUVs and 4x4s available, with new stock constantly coming in. All cars are workshop tested and come with RWC and PPSR check to certify clear title.
If the car you want isn’t in their huge range, United Autos can help find your ideal vehicle. Simply provide details of the car you’re after – new or used - and United Autos will do all the legwork to find it, saving you time and hassle. And if you’re interstate, United Autos can deliver your dream car at a reasonable cost.
United Autos buy cars, too. If it’s time to sell, call into their yards at Car City, Minchinbury, or complete the online application and the team will get back to you with an offer. They pay top dollar for quality used cars and are happy to look at anything of value for a trade-in – motorbikes, boats, caravans, camper trailers and more.
United Autos can arrange no-deposit finance on-site or online. The latter is a fast, no obligation process that has no impact on your credit score. United Autos has a proven record in swiftly arranging finance and even drive-away loans for approved purchasers. Many options are available, including pension finance.
Once you’ve got finance and found the car you want, United Autos can also offer an extended warranty. In partnership with Integrity Extended Warranty, unlimited kilometre and unlimited claim coverage is available Australia-wide - including parts and labour for repairs - for one, three or five years. 24/7 Roadside Assistance is also available with an Integrity Extended Warranty.
Along with providing peace of mind, this warranty can also add to the value of your vehicle when it’s time to sell. Contact United Autos to find out more.
CONTACT US
To get in touch with the team at United Autos, click HERE.
4x4 FOR SALE
Here’s a fresh arrival at United Autos:
2019 Toyota LandCruiser Prado GXL
- 2.8lt turbo diesel four-cylinder
- 6-speed sports automatic
- Seven seats
- Extras include aftermarket bullbar, brush bars, spotlights and snorkel
- Low kms
The LandCruiser Prado has become such a staple of the Australian four-wheel drive market that it’s hard to imagine it’s only been available here for less than 30 years. The nameplate first appeared in Japan in 1990 as a road-biased offshoot of the LandCruiser. Still capable off road, the Prado came with revised trim and detailing, plus an automatic transmission and adjustable damping as standard.
Australia got its first taste of the Prado in 1996 with the release of the second-generation ‘J90’ series. Prados for our market were prefixed with the ‘LandCruiser’ name to reinforce the vehicle’s capabilities on rough terrain. Independent front suspension and a live axle rear were standard, with the initial drivetrain offerings split between two petrol engines – a 3.4-litre V6 and 2.7-litre inline four – matched to a five-speed manual and dual-range four-wheel drive. A 3.0-litre diesel four became optional in 2000, along with a four-speed automatic.
In 2002, the J90 Prado was replaced with the third-generation J120, which reached Aussie shores in 2003 in GX, GXL, VX and Grande grades. Despite a shorter wheelbase, the J120 was bigger in most other dimensions, resulting in improved cabin space. Initial engine offerings were the familiar 2.7 petrol and 3.0 diesel, but the petrol V6 was upped to 4.0 litres and fuel capacity increased. Reflecting what was now becoming a family car, the J120 Prado came with more comfort, safety and driver assist technologies, and while full-time four-wheel drive remained, a Torsen centre diff was new.
The J90 Prado proved to be a hit in the Australian market, becoming our best-selling four-wheel drive of any type in 2003. Gradual improvements throughout the third-gen Prado included the introduction of a six-speed manual, five-speed automatic and a 3.0-litre turbo diesel, which soon became the preferred engine.
Toyota probably didn’t know it at the time, but when they launched the fourth-generation J150 Prado in 2009, they gave the market a 4x4 that would remain fundamentally unchanged for 15 years – a remarkable run for a vehicle of any type, let alone one in the increasingly competitive SUV market.
Australian-market J150 Prados were available in GX, GXL, VX and Kakadu grades initially, with an Altitude grade added in 2012, priced between the GXL and VX. A year later, the three-door Prado option that had been available locally since 1996 was dropped due to slow sales.
Notable improvements on the fourth-generation Prado included third-row seating that now folded into the floor instead of against the sides of the boot area (increasing luggage capacity), better safety features and an overall improvement in in-cabin appointments.
Suspension was recalibrated to suit the J150’s increased weight, with the 4.0 petrol and 3.0 diesel engines tweaked to improve performance and economy. The 3.0 diesel would be replaced with a more efficient 2.8-litre engine in 2015, with a six-speed auto transmission introduced at the same time. In 2017, the 4.0 V6 was dropped from the local market and braked towing capacity finally increased from 2,500kg to 3,000kg.
In 2018, Prado GXLs, like the example featured, received more safety tech, bringing them into line with the upper VX and Kakadu grades, while the rear-mounted spare could be deleted. This option repositioned the spare under the boot floor, making parking a little easier, but the trade-off was reduced fuel capacity.
With seven seats, a potent turbo diesel engine (130kW and 450Nm), an abundance of driver-assistance tech and a 5-star ANCAP rating, the MY19 Prado GXL ticked a lot of boxes. And of course, being a Prado, it combined good on-road manners with impressive off-road performance.
On the Prado featured, the factory 17-inch alloy wheels remain (fitted with Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac RT tyres), but it has some aftermarket add-ons, including a Safari snorkel, TUFF Australia bullbar and brush bars, non-factory sidesteps (possibly also TUFF), Roadvision LED spotlights, a UHF aerial, and a towbar. What else has been added, like engine tuning or infotainment upgrades, is unknown, and despite the UHF aerial, there’s no evidence of a CB inside. Potential buyers should contact United Autos for the full list of features added to this vehicle.
Prados from the 2015-2020 period are known for issues with the DPF, so this should be checked, along with wear and tear to the suspension and underbody, as the add-ons suggest this vehicle has done some off-road work.
Standard features on a vehicle like this include the aforementioned 130kW/450Nm turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine, a six-speed sports automatic transmission, full-time four-wheel drive with low range, 150-litre fuel capacity and a claimed 8.0lt/100km fuel economy (combined cycle).
Roof rails, side steps and power mirrors are standard, while safety features include ABS, ESC, EBA, EBD, Traction Control, Trailer Sway Control, Hill Descent Control, Hill Holder, Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Alert, a rear camera, rear parking sensors and seven airbags.
Dimensions are 4,995mm x 1,885mm x 1,890mm (LxWxH), with a 1,585mm track and 3,000kg braked towing capacity. For off-roading, the ground clearance is 219mm, with a 700mm wading depth, and approach/departure/breakover angles of 30.4/23.5/21.1 degrees. The bullbar at front and tow bar at rear impact this, but the snorkel will increase wading depth.
Inside, a 2019 Prado GXL like this one came standard with a seven-inch colour centre touchscreen, 9-speaker sound system, satnav, power windows, rear privacy glass, keyless entry and push-button starting, 12V and 240V sockets, velour seat trim and leather-look accents on the steering wheel, handbrake and shifter boots. Being a GXL, seat adjustments are all manual, limited to height, reach and recline for the driver, reach and recline for the front row passenger, and recline for the second row.
Overall, this Prado GXL presents very well. Listed mileage is 159,412km.
For more details on this vehicle, click HERE.
This is just one of the many vehicles United Autos have at Car City Minchinbury. To see the rest of their stock, click HERE.
