After weeks of searching, test-driving, crawling under rusty frames, and pretending I understood suspension geometry, the hunt is over.
I found her. The one.
She’s a 2003 Toyota Land Cruiser Prado 120.
Price? 229,000 CZK — about 9,200 €.
Mileage? Around 426,000 km.
Yes, that’s a lot. But if it were a horse, it’d just be getting warmed up.
Why Her?
I drove across the country.
I looked at dozens of listings.
I photographed at least ten underbodies — some flaky like croissants, some blacked out with fresh undercoating that screamed „cover-up.“
I test-drove:
- A 95 Series — tough, raw, but felt a bit… prehistoric.
- A 100 — smooth, powerful, but bulky and overpriced.
- Several 120s — some sketchy, some tempting.
And then came this one.
Maintained for 17 years by a doctor (according to the seller).
Serviced regularly at Toyota (allegedly).
Recently upgraded:
- New injectors, filters, and oils
- Brakes, wheel bearings
- Undercarriage treated
- Two sets of tires, including fresh all-terrains
The frame? Solid.
The engine? Purring.
The interior? Worn — but honest.
There was something about this car that didn’t just say „buy me.“
It whispered: “Let’s roll.”
The Beast
This isn’t just a car. This is my bestie.
It’s not perfect. But it’s mine. And it’s ready.
Coming next: First upgrades, first mistakes, first diesel bath.
