u/EntrepreneurMassive5

Hey fellow Redditors,

I saw an ad for a 2006 Prado 120 Series Automatic with 250,000 km on the clock (1KD engine). It was listed for $10,500, and I managed to negotiate the seller down to $8,500. I'm based in Australia.

I went to inspect the car during my lunch break from work, with the intention of hopefully buying it. When I arrived, I found out the person showing me the car was selling it on behalf of his "friend." The seller was Vietnamese and his English wasn't great, so I assumed the owner wasn't confident speaking English either.

I started asking questions about the vehicle, but the seller had no idea about its history. He kept saying, "I'm just selling it for my friend." There was no service history, no information about previous owners, and no real knowledge of the vehicle itself.

I checked the body for rust and couldn't find anything major. The interior was also in reasonable condition with no significant damage. When I looked underneath the vehicle, however, I noticed a couple of leaks (photos below). I suspected it may have been a transmission leak.

I then took it for a test drive, and to be fair, it drove really well. The gearbox shifted smoothly, including when engaging 4WD. The steering felt good, there were no major rattles, and nothing immediately stood out as a serious issue.

However, when I returned, another couple had already arrived to inspect the car. The pressure of having other buyers waiting made it difficult to think clearly. I asked whether I could leave a deposit and have a mechanic inspect it later, but the seller wanted a $500 non-refundable deposit.

In the end, I decided to walk away. I didn't want to risk losing $500 if a mechanic later found major issues, especially given the following red flags:

No service history

Air conditioning didn't work despite the ad stating that it did

Oil seepage underneath the vehicle

Unknown injector history

Pressure to leave a non-refundable deposit

Now I'm second-guessing myself and wondering if I should have just bought it. Part of me feels like I may have missed out on a good deal, but another part thinks walking away was the right decision given all the unknowns.

What do you guys think? Did I make the right call?

Edit: Thanks everyone for the kind words, and support makes me feel better about my decision!

https://preview.redd.it/nd22iv09ll7h1.png?width=710&format=png&auto=webp&s=dc2e525fdd9fa4e73cebb1a241985beeafa79925

https://preview.redd.it/kh6v1fz9ll7h1.png?width=710&format=png&auto=webp&s=20f553609ca3d62e6c4a4e68267c869fff97d259

https://preview.redd.it/5a30osibll7h1.png?width=634&format=png&auto=webp&s=249091d6b1cd77b9efe21960d16922c1b37faa64

Hey fellow Redditors,

I saw an ad for a 2006 Prado 120 Series Automatic with 250,000 km on the clock (1KD engine). It was listed for $10,500, and I managed to negotiate the seller down to $8,500. I'm based in Australia.

I went to inspect the car during my lunch break from work, with the intention of hopefully buying it. When I arrived, I found out the person showing me the car was selling it on behalf of his "friend." The seller was Vietnamese and his English wasn't great, so I assumed the owner wasn't confident speaking English either.

I started asking questions about the vehicle, but the seller had no idea about its history. He kept saying, "I'm just selling it for my friend." There was no service history, no information about previous owners, and no real knowledge of the vehicle itself.

I checked the body for rust and couldn't find anything major. The interior was also in reasonable condition with no significant damage. When I looked underneath the vehicle, however, I noticed a couple of leaks (photos below). I suspected it may have been a transmission leak.

I then took it for a test drive, and to be fair, it drove really well. The gearbox shifted smoothly, including when engaging 4WD. The steering felt good, there were no major rattles, and nothing immediately stood out as a serious issue.

However, when I returned, another couple had already arrived to inspect the car. The pressure of having other buyers waiting made it difficult to think clearly. I asked whether I could leave a deposit and have a mechanic inspect it later, but the seller wanted a $500 non-refundable deposit.

In the end, I decided to walk away. I didn't want to risk losing $500 if a mechanic later found major issues, especially given the following red flags:

No service history

Air conditioning didn't work despite the ad stating that it did

Oil seepage underneath the vehicle

Unknown injector history

Pressure to leave a non-refundable deposit

Now I'm second-guessing myself and wondering if I should have just bought it. Part of me feels like I may have missed out on a good deal, but another part thinks walking away was the right decision given all the unknowns.

What do you guys think? Did I make the right call?

https://preview.redd.it/c0n1j62cfl7h1.png?width=710&format=png&auto=webp&s=b5ba03753d2b4e0602acd6d3cae6f5f3e24130e2

https://preview.redd.it/2tk7i0gafl7h1.png?width=710&format=png&auto=webp&s=77eef769a2ddeaa53a5abd93f1c80ab36f8bf315

https://preview.redd.it/sqmsv746el7h1.png?width=336&format=png&auto=webp&s=f5feea86a2a5c2e1aee729210dc2c146439df6c2

https://preview.redd.it/0cvfvzo3el7h1.png?width=634&format=png&auto=webp&s=fc493ff7e3ce97cb9eef3a134807d7087b973e2f

https://preview.redd.it/z2pr5672el7h1.png?width=572&format=png&auto=webp&s=3b467a4734e8217314980c6a70b0065b0b7fce5c

Hey fellow surfing community,

Hope you have all had a fun weekend of waves!

I have actually picked up a new CI sled, its a bit of a throwback and I am planning on surfing this board tomorrow morning before work. I am not sure if It is a sin to take out such a new board like this tomorrow morning, but it claims to be a, "Tom Curren Design" so I feel like I need to, and I have been nerding out on Curren footage as of late (so I couldn't believe my like finding this on facebook).

I was hoping to get some more factual ID/ idea of what this board was made for, and the general outline. Seems like a board with not too much rocker, a bit of a hip in the tail with a double vee running through it.

It's Dimensions are 6'6 , 19 1/8 , 2 3/8. With the number written 1315 (i assume a stock shop board?) - Then Tom Curren Surf Designs logo on it.

Such good condition for how old it must be, and glass in fins with CI logo on the fins feels pretty special. Even the nose logo has USA, France, Australia, Japan written in the hexagons in it.

https://preview.redd.it/8cc11g7uj97h1.jpg?width=1920&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=00ec258bcbe4f21a60f4df7b8baff2ecbe05e333

https://preview.redd.it/uctzzbbvj97h1.jpg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ae8b85378420678210ae6677b2ffe9f95bedd7a2

https://preview.redd.it/iyl0jjlvj97h1.jpg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=dbd4ac3d5ace8c57182ffd8c822ba62e19131ee7

Hey Australian teachers,

I’m just reaching out for some advice on how I should approach my Graduate Diploma of Teaching.

I’m based in Perth and have the option to study a Graduate Diploma in Teaching, which takes one year, either at Curtin or ECU. I was wondering whether there is a general preference for either university.

I come from an accounting background, so I’m not sure how much the university matters when it comes to getting a job as a secondary teacher.

I can start at ECU next semester, at the end of July 2026, but it would be part-time, meaning I would finish in 18 months rather than 12 months. Curtin’s next intake is in March 2027.

I was also thinking about possibly working as an Education Assistant while I study. I’m pretty open to advice and would really appreciate hearing what people with experience would recommend.

Happy Friday!

Hey,

Just reaching out if anyone has ever taken 6-12 months off to travel chasing waves? Where did you start, and finish? Score any memorable sessions? Favourite spot? And lastly, any advice would you give me to look into if I wanted to go and do this?

Kind Regards

hey teachers of Australia,

I hope you are all having a good start to your week as you commence term 2.

I’m writing this post in regards to thoughts I have been having about switching to teaching.

I finished my bachelors degree in accounting and finance last year, I have worked and interned in a few different fields related to my degree and now I am working in a financial planning firm. I have been finding the desk work slow, as I sit for 7.5 hours, fairly repetitive and harder to really get motivated. I have always been told I would make a great teacher, however I placed that idea on the side as I choose to study business. I am a pretty active person who loves the outdoors , and surfing and I value human connection , and relation. I thought teaching would be a good hybrid between interaction with class room teaching, and working behind a desk. I would value some input , wisdom, and considerations from fellow teachers yourselves into helping me grow my perspective on this idea of becoming a teacher.

i appreciate it if you read it this far and hope you have a great day! Thanks