New pickup

[Hunt-Inter]

Ranger 3.2/ Amorok 2.0/ Dmax 1.9/ L200 Gen 6/ Navara 2.3/ Hilux 2.4

All will be automatic and mid spec version.

I do circa 25k yearly and will keep it for 2-3 years. I don't use it for towing, so that's not important. Sometimes I will do 1000 mile journeys so needs be comfortable. I also like to go fast when I'm allowed.

Anyone have any real world advice or recommendations.

 

[gundog]

I have been looking to swap my hilux for a newer one but have held back there seems to be a lot of unsold autos out there and also a lot of low mileage autos on second hand market
Not sure which has the best residuals at 3yrs but just been offered very poor trade in value on low mileage hilux so looking to keep
GUNDOG

 

[Orion]

No long term experience of the others, apart from test drives where those tested seemed a bit 'agricultural' but I've had Amaroks for the past six years - current Highline Auto for 4.5 years.

Does everything I want it to do and I find it very comfortable to drive - like a Golf on steroids but better due to the more upright seating position. Long journeys are no hassle and I arrive the freshest I've ever been after 8 or 9 hours in a vehicle - Devon to Glencoe, Hook of Holland to Puttgarden ferry terminal, etc.

Are you buying secondhand? The Amarok 2ltr has now been replaced by the 3ltr V6.

 

[Kalahari]

Will the 2040Kg rule affect your choice?

David.

 

[Hunt-Inter]

No long term experience of the others, apart from test drives where those tested seemed a bit 'agricultural' but I've had Amaroks for the past six years - current Highline Auto for 4.5 years.

Does everything I want it to do and I find it very comfortable to drive - like a Golf on steroids but better due to the more upright seating position. Long journeys are no hassle and I arrive the freshest I've ever been after 8 or 9 hours in a vehicle - Devon to Glencoe, Hook of Holland to Puttgarden ferry terminal, etc.

Are you buying secondhand? The Amarok 2ltr has now been replaced by the 3ltr V6.

Will be a new 77 plate in September. Good news about the VW, that engine is great and loads of power so now you've told me that I am going down there dealers to talk with them Monday.

 

[Hunt-Inter]

Will the 2040Kg rule affect your choice?

David.

What's it about?

 

[Coddy]

Vehicle weight for VAT reclaim and speed limits.

 

[1kevb]

if its over you have slower speed limits !!!

 

[Cut+Squirt]

I'm currently looking as well, love the Ranger 3.2 Wildtrack but going to be too expensive to run.Was in at Mitsibishi last week and although I prefer the look of the Ranger the deals on the five series L200 are unbeatable. The Barbarian is very well appointed but an extra £1400 for a roller shutter is scandalous.

 

[1kevb]

Ive had my new D Max just over a month now and very happy with it. Its the Yukon spec, manual and 43 mpg to date

 

[Markfox]

I sold my 11 reg hilux 3.0 invincible , and I'm looking at replacements also

Im torn between

a new hilux purely because it's a hilux and I kind of know what I'm getting

a volkswagen Amarok high line as they look quite nice but the 2.0 engine concerns me as I feel it might be a bit small

A ford ranger wild track 3.2 auto seems the best spec

I do tow a small ifor Williams 10x5 accasionally but not very far


fuel economy is not a huge concern as long as it's close to 30 mpg

 

[Chanty Wrassler]

Will be a new 77 plate in September.

I've heard it is good to plan ahead, but this takes the biscuit!

 

[John Gryphon]

I have had a full kit Hilux for what seems like forever,I still have it and "ran the mount" a couple of days last week,it is a mount killer too but a fortnight ago I took delivery of a 2017 brand spanking Mitsu Triton.
As I have joined the pension set I wanted comfort over my `lux with its super suspension that was put together to work with heavy loads.
The Triton goes like shiit out of a shanghai,is comfortable as all hell in comparison to the `lux, 5 spd auto is a dream,traction control,rear camera,climate control all sorts of goodies for `ol Johnny lol.

Tomorrow its booked into TJM for bull bar/winch,rear crash/tow bar,a full aftermarket suspension kit and a RR canopy with rear locking hooked into the central locking.It may look like a supermarket trolley for a few years until a few bush trips have it hit up the sides with sticks.

It will go bush,but in gentleman's style lol.

The `lux will do the hard yards.

Why the Triton?

Well the EOFY sale price just made it ridiculous to pay THOUSANDS more in the Hilux/NissanVW /Ford range for the same four door ute..simple!

 

[Orion]

Will be a new 77 plate in September. Good news about the VW, that engine is great and loads of power so now you've told me that I am going down there dealers to talk with them Monday.

The 8 speed ZF auto box is soooo smooth that the only way I can detect it's changing up in normal driving is to look at the rev counter needle. Use the weight limit/speed restriction to your advantage in any price negotiation.

 

[timbrayford]

Whatever you decide to get if you are a member of BASC you might be able to get a significant discount off the list price. If not ask anyway!

 

[gixer1]

I went through this very dilemma about a year ago now, drove most of them and ended up between the VW and the Ranger (the Hilux was ruled out due to engine choice as it was getting a bit wimpy by comparison to the others) The Izuzu was ruled out due to getting a bit agricultural when driven back to back with the others, the L200 in all honesty I didn't look into that much as the previous ones I've driven or been around have been junk after a short length of time.

My father in law has Amaroks and he was telling me how tinny they were and right enough they seem to get dimples very easily in the panels.

The online articles at the time rated the ford as the top of the tree and the 3.2 TD was putting out the most power (200hp) at the time and the fact they are made in South Africa is apparently a good point.

I am by no means a Ford fan so was a little reluctant as quite frankly they can feel cheap when compared to the German vehicles and even Japanese but I have to say I was pleasantly surprised, I went for the Wildtrak in 3.2 manual brand new and it seems like a really good pickup so far. I have just gone past 12,000 miles and have not had an issue yet.

The good points are - The engine pulls like a train and is very low revving.
The 5 Cyl Duratorque is quite a nice sounding engine and the servicing is every 20k miles (I am paranoid so may give it oil and filter sooner)
The kit is fantastic compared to the other pickups (especially the VW) and the Sync system especially is good.
The tie down points are way better than the others in the back and they are adjustable which is handy.
It is no thirstier than the other pickups I've driven considering the bigger more powerful motor.
The room in the rear seats is excellent and the storage behind and under the seats is great.

The bad points -

The throttle response can be a little notchy when travelling at 50 and coming on and off the throttle maintaining speed (although cruise control would overcome this on long journeys)
The difflock is an optional extra that I didn't realize and so I don't have it although I haven't been stuck yet.
The road bais tyres on the car from the factory are awful (continental contitrac's) I cannot wait to change these for something better!
The truck can be a handful in the wet in corners as it will start to drift and spin the back wheels although again I think this is due to the tyres and its no worse than the L200's I have driven.
The underbody protection on the metal is a little lacking - I ordered underbody protection and had to find the part number for my local dealership as they were clueless about it - it turned up a month or so after I got the car and by that point I had done the underside in Dinitrol and when I saw what the plates were for the money I opted to tell them to keep them as it wasn't worth it, just buy Dinitrol and do it yourself - a few hours work every few years should keep it pretty clean.


So overall I am still very happy I went with the Ford so far, there doesn't seem to be that many horror stories online about them either, the big question will be what its like in 4-5 years as that is my concerns knowing past ford models although they seem to put a lot into a pick up design. the Amarok's new V6 motor sounds good but I wonder if the costs will go even further up on what was already expensive for general service parts for it in comparison to others, I also wonder if anything over 200hp is going to be much benefit in a pick up. (I just moved back from the USA and over there I had a 400hp 5.7 hemi dodge ram and as much fun as it can be - in the wet it's lethal!

Feel free to drop me any questions you may have as I did a fair bit of research before buying.

Regards,

Gixer

Edit to add - the Ford was one of the most expensive on the face of it but if you try to spec an Amarok to the same you will find the VW more expensive in the long run.

 

[B&W FOX]

Is this your Triton ?

 

[SurreyArmoury]

I've got an L200 that looks pretty much as the above picture.

had it from new built for an overland trip into russia and beyond

in it's class it's the cheapest for road fund at £175.00.... produces around upper 30's on mpg. But you can make it be less than that... if your naughty or in a hurry... it's been really good had water up to the windscreen a few times (not too keen on that) it's done 150K miles now and still does 1000 miles in day journeys too and from southern spain.

I would buy another one, the only faults have been a washer failed near the oil pressure sensor that go fixed under warranty. the vehicle went into protection mode and still made the 600miles back to my house.

I've frozen the fuel filter few times on trips, due to bad fills and being out when it's proper cold.... the fault is sensaion of fuel starvation at more than 50mph. The fix is simple at the roadside fuel primer pump cover off, clean all the cr4p out new filter in assemble jobs a carrot carry on.... but it's cold work....! at minus 20 degrees C.

 

[PDP123]

Hi got the new amarok 2 months ago V6 drives well comfy fast when you want to be. good on fuel.
This is the third amarok in 5 years cant fault them doing 20k plus a year.
You need to test drive the V6 amarok it flys.
This just my opion.

 

[countrryboy]

But is the wildcat and i think the top end amorok not at the reduced speed limit due to wieght?
Must admit i wouldn't buy a pick up over that wieght limit with the speed restriction
So only 50 on a normal road and 60 on Mway, i realise its a law not likely to be enforced but strictly speaking still the law,
Possibly if traffic cams get more advanced they may be able to sort out speed limits by number plates, for hgv's etc but also ur pick up culd be in the slower bracket