What Pickup ?

[Coddy]

Hi Carl.
Is it true that the merc and nav use the same Renault engine?
Would be interesting at service time to see the difference in costs for the same parts in different boxes !!
Regards
Jimmy

The Navarra and the 4 cylinder merc do indeed have the same engine, and it is a Renault (Nissan and Renault are a joint company).
The 6 cylinder Merc version of the Navarra has a Merc engine.
But is £10k+ more expensive than the Navarra, so an expensive engine, dash and grill.

Then factor in the difference in price for a Mercedes hourly rate to fit Renault parts to your rebadged Nissan.

 

[Coddy]

The facelift 2016 onwards 3.2 ford ranger auto is a nice truck

I’ve personally had no issues with mine mechanically or electrically

It drives nice and good off road with BFG A/T’s

It’s a bit thirsty tho averaging 23MPG steady driving and it does seem to drink the Adblue


I think personally for my next truck I’ll go for an Amarok V6 my reason for this is it’s got a V6 engine rather than the i5 in the ranger and an 8sp auto rather than 6sp, it’s got permanent 4x4 as aposed to selectable 2/4 but only if the wheels are already spinning and then you have to deselect 2 wd after your free off the mud etc

A few if the more common Ranger issues.
Heated front windscreen element fails and Ford will only change it, if the failure is in certain areas of the glass.
Water runs down the wiring for the heated front window. The water collects at the multiplug which is on the wrong way round, corrodes the terminal and sets the jeep on fire - nice.
Lots of issues with towbar electrics.
Issues with the end of the crankshaft sensor being rubbed off and putting it into limp home mode.
All fairly common faults, and this comes from one of my mates who is the head mechanic and warrenty assesor of a Ford main dealer.

Just the other month, an owner dropped the keys off to his Ranger. Then said ‘you wont effin need them, its outside and still running’.

 

[Coddy]

No mention of annual milage that users are doing. Also whether or not they are paying for the fuel they use or their employer is paying for it.

Had 2 Amaroks, both 180bhp Autos since start of 2013 just after the Auto version came out.
Done around 110,000 miles in that time.
Only warrenty issues in that time over 2 Amaroks were a software update for a head unit and a new bearing where the propshaft goes into the rear diff.
Both fixed under warrenty, no quibbles.
For MPG 31.0 on average. This is from using a fuel app and not by what the dashboard says.

Used it for stalking, and pulling a 3.6t trailer with mini digger (overloaded though ).

This is why i have on order another one. Coming with the new 255bhp version of the V6.

Amarok more expensive than an equivelent Hilux, Navarra, L200, Ranger. But will also retain its value more.
If the V6 Merc was a Merc and not a rebadged Nissan, then i would have gone for a look, but its not, so i didnt.

 

[@theroedeerguy]

I think it speaks volumes that Toyota and Isuzu are 5 year warranties but Mercedes,Ford and Volkswagen are only 3 years.

 

[James0586]

Dmax or hilux all day long

 

[J&S]

Quote
"
I think it speaks volumes that Toyota and Isuzu are 5 year warranties but Mercedes,Ford and Volkswagen are only 3 years."

Not forgetting Mitsubishi's 5 yr warranty.

I'm currently looking to replace my own 9 yr old L200. Choice has been narrowed down to another l200or a Disco 4 simply because either of them will suit my needs better than the others available at the moment .
Have just replaced the estate's L200 with with a D-Max and it is an improvement in some areas (the important ones for work like a strong clutch and 3.5t tow limit) but lacking in other areas (small touches like no super select 4wd, no heated mirrors, no auto off lights, bleeper going off when the key is in the ignition, windows only active when ignition is on and a few other small things that I took for granted in the older L200). Gearing is a touch high for when I'm lamping but is fine for on road use.

 

[.270]

Mate has this Toyota 70 series 4.2 TD, the Dogs Wotsit

 

[antsa]

Got my first-ever ute this year. It is also my first-ever diesel and first-ever automatic: Isuzu D-Max. 3-litre, 430Nm, 6 speed auto, 3.5 tonne towing capacity. Just love it (except for the annoying beep if you leave the key in the ignition) but then I have no frame of reference.

Cheers

 

[Treedave]

Comfy motorway miles & towing - new ranger
Working, towing off road, big loads in the back - Isuzu D max with the peddlers upgraded suspension

Depending on what you need and if you’re buying new, look at the Isuzu in the extra cab format. 4 doors, enough room in the back for kids on the school run or a pile of riles & bags, dogs etc. All with the bonus of a longer tub for laying stags or hinds, which you may struggle to do with a double cab. All depends what you main use is going to be.

 

[Blackwood Outdoors]

I like the look of the new Rangers, but the couple of people I know with them have traded them in for Toyotas, they had quite a lot of issues.. There supposedly bring out a new ranger with a new engine mid 2019 to replace the old Durotorque engines, smaller and more power..

I was nearly ready to but a Hilux but I'm holding off until 100%, all 68 plate models onwards now have a manual DPF regen button, probably due to issues with DPF's no doubt..

The Isuzu does get good reviews ....still undecided !!

 

[howy308]

I have had Toyota, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Isuzu and I prefer the Nissan and then the Mitsubishi. All of them worked hard.

 

[Dan Newcombe]

We have always had L200’s mostly based on buying second hand and availability. All ways been very happy with them. Had a 2007, 2010 and now a 2015 and 2016 they have been spot on.

Just driven the 2015 with BFG Muds on from Deeside to Cheltenham and back with no issue and comfortable as anything. Dash said average 33.7mpg but I don’t drive fast.

Ours aren’t hammered and we try to look after them. Mainly for carting dogs about and shooting etc. 4x4 works well and especially up here you can drive full time in 4wd when it’s snowy.

Have had 2 rangers (a 2.2 and a 3.2) explode on estates at 40k just out of warranty and Ford were awful to deal with. Lovely to use when they are running though.

Buying new I would go hilux for the time being as the resale value is so good (who knows if that will last) but Isuzu takes some beating at the moment.

Personally I would drive a few and decide which ones I like and then try to get the bast deal. Toyota have really good offers on with BASC etc. In reality there is very little between the different offerings.

 

[Lever357]

I ran an 07 plate Ranger Super Cab for my business for 7 years, covering 16,000 miles per year and loved it. Changed to an Isuzu Extended cab earlier this year and feel like I've gone back in time - no remote central locking (when was the last time you put a key in a car door!!!!). no electric mirrors, and generally poorly thought out storage space in the cab. It is comfortable though, and economical but like most of the trucks nowadays, very highly geared.

 

[antsa]

I ran an 07 plate Ranger Super Cab for my business for 7 years, covering 16,000 miles per year and loved it. Changed to an Isuzu Extended cab earlier this year and feel like I've gone back in time - no remote central locking (when was the last time you put a key in a car door!!!!). no electric mirrors, and generally poorly thought out storage space in the cab. It is comfortable though, and economical but like most of the trucks nowadays, very highly geared.

My 2017 Isuzu D-Max LS has all the bits and bobs your's was missing.

Cheers

 

[Lever357]

My 2017 Isuzu D-Max LS has all the bits and bobs your's was missing.

Cheers

That's where they went!!!! I spoke to Isuzu about fitting remote central locking and they said you could, as in it is possible, but you wouldn't, due to the cost!! Turns out mine is the base Duty version.

 

[L1A1]

Pickups are just a tool to do a job. There is no "best one", look at them all and find the one that suits what you need the best.
I have had 3 pickups over 16 years, all Ford Rangers, not because I like Ford in particular it was that it came out as the best one for my needs,
when compared like for like with all the others that were available at the time.

 

[1894]

I'm seriously considering a vw transporter. Barely ever go off road, would be good to get the carcass machine out of sight, need better mileage etc.

 

[Heym SR20]

There was I believe an issue with the first V6 Amoraks in that their weight meant they are classed as goods vehicles rather than all purpose thus restricted to 50 mph on A roads and 60 on Motorways. Now I know the A9 has 60 mph average speed cameras, but sitting at 50 mph would be just too painful. Equally long motorway journeys ditto. I am also looking at a pickup.

Have VW dropped the weight a bit so as to qualify as All purpose vehicke and thus allowed to do normal cat type speeds.

 

[Odders]

There was I believe an issue with the first V6 Amoraks in that their weight meant they are classed as goods vehicles rather than all purpose thus restricted to 50 mph on A roads and 60 on Motorways. Now I know the A9 has 60 mph average speed cameras, but sitting at 50 mph would be just too painful. Equally long motorway journeys ditto. I am also looking at a pickup.

Have VW dropped the weight a bit so as to qualify as All purpose vehicke and thus allowed to do normal cat type speeds.

The top of the range 2016 Ford Ranger (Wildtrak?) also falls foul of the weight limit - don't know if they've shaved any off for more recent ones.
I ran a 2006 Wildtrak from new until 2017 & the main issue was crap rust prevention & a rusted out front crossmember at 8 years - Ford not interested despite it being noted from 3 years on.
Been running a 2008 Isuzu Rodeo Denver Max LE for the past 18 months & am intending replacing it with a near new D Max next year. I like that Add blue isn't needed, though I'd really like a petrol version, especially with diesel being 10p a litre more than petrol. Current one does 28mpg local (lots of steep hills) & 29-31 on a run, depending on how well behaved I am.
Only electrical fail's been the reversing camera - need to get it fixed.

 

[gixer1]

I've got a 2016 ranger 3.2 Wildtrak, had it from new and its got 28 k miles on it, great truck with lots of spec and power for towing, the standard tyres were garbage (although most pickups come with garbage tyres) The mentioned water ingress issue is a recall so shouldn't cost anything to fix, the worst thing about a Ranger for me is the local dealer - they are useless (Arnold Clark) when I bought mine I'd driven a few of them and the Ranger was head and shoulders above for power, comfort and spec - the power top trumps has changed now to the VW although they are 10 grand more for the V6 one and the bodywork is made of kit-kat wrappers (father in law ran 2 for his business at one point and they dented at the slightest touch) they also have a few issues if you look on the forums (although they always bring out the worst as people only report the bad stuff!).

The mention of the Ranger's weight limit is correct - by rights you are restricted speed wise however I am not aware that this has been enforced anywhere as most people aren't aware of it anyway!

A friend has a Hilux with about 80k miles and the DPF has been a nightmare and cost a few quid but it is hard used, the 2 ltr is pretty pithless when you jump out of a 3 litre into it.

Regards,

Gixer.