Sprocker101
Well-Known Member
Anyone have an Amarok? Looking into changing from L200 and wonder how it stands up against a hilux or isuzu for day to day use and stalking.
Cheers
Cheers
VW Amarok anyone have one?
- Thread starter Sprocker101
- Start date
Orion
Well-Known Member
There are a few of us on here. I've had a 2011 6 speed manual gearbox selectable 4x4 model, and since 2013 an 8 speed auto permanent 4x4. Brilliant on and off road - drives like a Golf on steroids - and there was nothing in the pickup sector to compare with it (and I drove a few of the others before buying).
Downside can be not achieving claimed MPG with the later 180 engine, particularly if you have a heavy right foot, and as said the latest V6 doesn't achieve the weight limit for a 'dual purpose vehicle' so the lower goods vehicle speed limits apply (if you get caught!) but I think other manufacturers latest models suffer from the same problem.
Overall a very capable and comfortable pickup, especially the Auto version.
Downside can be not achieving claimed MPG with the later 180 engine, particularly if you have a heavy right foot, and as said the latest V6 doesn't achieve the weight limit for a 'dual purpose vehicle' so the lower goods vehicle speed limits apply (if you get caught!) but I think other manufacturers latest models suffer from the same problem.
Overall a very capable and comfortable pickup, especially the Auto version.
Orion
Well-Known Member
For a big truck with a fair bit of overhang at the rear the Rok does quite well off-road - the electronic gee-gaws in combination with the central variable Torsen diff on the Auto let you concentrate on driving without faffing around with a gearstick and hi-lo variables.
We've had a few off-road adventures and it's surprising how capable the Amarok is in relatively standard trim - tyres as always being the most important factor.
Here's another forum member blazing a trail on a relatively unused Welsh green lane:
View attachment 80929
You'll have to rotate the pic a bit clockwise so the trees are vertical to get an idea of how much of a lean we had on - limiting factor being the offside bank!
On-road comfort is superb. We did a trip from Mid Devon to Glencoe in one hit apart from a very brief comfort stop at Tebay in Cumbria, no fuel taken on, and arrived feeling fresher than I've ever been after a longish journey in any vehicle.
Gratuitous pic of mine before the BFGs went on this winter.
View attachment 80930
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Yes tyres would make the difference mine are still as fitted from new, I was going to get something for the winter as a pal has some old Disco wheels but work took me away from all the winter so I'll try and sort them in the summer it time for next winter.
I don't have the back on mine just a lid and bars.
Druid, I couldn't honestly say but each fill for the same miles is a lot cheaper than the 110 was, I'm quite brisk and have to do the journey so it is what it is, I suppose I should do a check sometime.
I don't have the back on mine just a lid and bars.
Druid, I couldn't honestly say but each fill for the same miles is a lot cheaper than the 110 was, I'm quite brisk and have to do the journey so it is what it is, I suppose I should do a check sometime.
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shakey jake
Well-Known Member
I got an amarok auto as a replacment while my transporter was in for a service really looked forward to driving it but was very dissapointed. It was a 66 plate auto seemed very outdated and cheap to me quite comfortable to drive and pretty nippy but not worth the money. The service manager said try the new one bigger engine and better running gear out of a tuareg but starting at 35 grand seemed a pricy shooting truck
Orion
Well-Known Member
Druid, I've managed 5 countries on a tankfull!
England, Holland, Germany, Denmark & Sweden (had a few ferry trips along the way though
Still managed 35 mpg actual (not pie in the sky onboard 'puter reading) for the journey which was largely on cruise control at about 65 mph where allowed.
180 Auto fully loaded to the max with roof bars on, so not too bad.
Daily running and it's a different story with mid 20s around town but ramping up to 30 mpg+ if on a typical A road run. The earlier 163 engine and manual box would consistently deliver high 30 mpg with my style of driving - I'm never in that much of s hurry however.
Updated interior? There's a difference between understated and 'in yer face' that might not be appreciated in certain quarters!
Sprocker101
Well-Known Member
Interesting stuff. I'm going to have to try one out.
Cheers
Cheers
I do not have one - but you might find this review and embedded video of some use:
http://www.drive.com.au/new-car-rev...do-z71-comparison-review-20170312-guwlgn.html
But given the model spec in Oz are bound to be different to here, it may not truly add that much. While Hilux still apparently outsell Amaroks and Rangers, the Aussie press favours the Ford Ranger based on their assessment criteria. If nothing else might give you food for thought on what to look into before buying....
http://www.drive.com.au/new-car-rev...do-z71-comparison-review-20170312-guwlgn.html
But given the model spec in Oz are bound to be different to here, it may not truly add that much. While Hilux still apparently outsell Amaroks and Rangers, the Aussie press favours the Ford Ranger based on their assessment criteria. If nothing else might give you food for thought on what to look into before buying....
mchughcb
Well-Known Member
My hunting mate bought a manual amarok about the same time as my Suzuki SX4. He's gearbox went just after warranty costing another $5000. He's fuel economy with factory tires was about 8.5l/100km in the country but when he changed tyres it went to 10l/100km. I thought they have plenty of room and clearance, and its handled the offroad hunting quite well. I wouldn't get a manual for city and its a PITA to park.
Coddy
Well-Known Member
Im on my 2nd one.
Had a 2013 Highline 8 speed auto and now got a 2015 Ultimate 8 speed auto. Definitely go for the Auto if possible. Not heard of anyone going from Auto to a manual, but plenty of going from a manual to an auto.
Have to say, compared to others, on road it is far superiour.
Offroad, just as good as others. Lack of no low range box doesn't hinder it as 1st gear is low.
8th gear is quite long, for towing, but a remap or a tuning box improves the torque and it will pull a load in 8th gear. (Pulled a 2.8 ton mini dig and trailer with all up weight of 3.7 ton - although capacity is 3.2 ton for the auto)
They do seem to suffer a bit less in the problems department compared to some others (Ford Ranger). One issue on older 2011 ones was breaking timing belts due to a cover issue.
For MPG, over 50 tanks or so, on both i have had 31.0 mpg (forget what the dash says).
Towing a tipper trailer with an Argo on it, it will drop to 25.0 but that is sitting comfortably above the legal towing speed with a trailer.
They are getting a bit pricey now though, and i am not sure if i would go for another, due to this fact.
Had a 2013 Highline 8 speed auto and now got a 2015 Ultimate 8 speed auto. Definitely go for the Auto if possible. Not heard of anyone going from Auto to a manual, but plenty of going from a manual to an auto.
Have to say, compared to others, on road it is far superiour.
Offroad, just as good as others. Lack of no low range box doesn't hinder it as 1st gear is low.
8th gear is quite long, for towing, but a remap or a tuning box improves the torque and it will pull a load in 8th gear. (Pulled a 2.8 ton mini dig and trailer with all up weight of 3.7 ton - although capacity is 3.2 ton for the auto)
They do seem to suffer a bit less in the problems department compared to some others (Ford Ranger). One issue on older 2011 ones was breaking timing belts due to a cover issue.
For MPG, over 50 tanks or so, on both i have had 31.0 mpg (forget what the dash says).
Towing a tipper trailer with an Argo on it, it will drop to 25.0 but that is sitting comfortably above the legal towing speed with a trailer.
They are getting a bit pricey now though, and i am not sure if i would go for another, due to this fact.
John Gryphon
Well-Known Member
Why own one then?
John Gryphon
Well-Known Member
All in its hard to top the Hi-lux.
Orion
Well-Known Member
Pretty easy actually. There was no contest for my requirements when I test drove most of the then-available pickups.
243 fallow
Well-Known Member
That's some going,I used to be a international truck driver, how big is the fuel tank ?Druid, I've managed 5 countries on a tankfull!
England, Holland, Germany, Denmark & Sweden (had a few ferry trips along the way though).
Still managed 35 mpg actual (not pie in the sky onboard 'puter reading) for the journey which was largely on cruise control at about 65 mph where allowed.
180 Auto fully loaded to the max with roof bars on, so not too bad.
Daily running and it's a different story with mid 20s around town but ramping up to 30 mpg+ if on a typical A road run. The earlier 163 engine and manual box would consistently deliver high 30 mpg with my style of driving - I'm never in that much of s hurry however.
Updated interior? There's a difference between understated and 'in yer face' that might not be appreciated in certain quarters!
Orion
Well-Known Member
Going by the VW spec sheet it's apparently 'about' 80 litres.
That journey looks impressive on paper but I'd brimmed the tank at Morrisons just next to the ferry port in Harwich, so the driving element was really; from Hook of Holland to Puttgarden on the Baltic coast of Germany (670km); a short 45 minute ferry across to Rodby, Denmark; then on the road with a stopover at Faxe Ladeplads on the west coast before heading on up to Helsingor (230km); then jumping on the 20 minute ferry over to Helsingborg, Sweden. As I said earlier, overall consumption was 35 mpg, so we made it with a bit to spare and just went on to reserve as we left the ferry terminus.
Coming back we took the DFDS commercial ro-ro from Gothenburg to Immingham - it's not a well publicised route for private travellers but if you persist it is bookable, and with only 12 cabins available (only 7 were occupied on ours) the 26 hour crossing is bliss compared to the Harwich/Hook hellboat.
Since fitting some BFGs the fuel economy has dropped off a bit but I've yet to measure it.
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243 fallow
Well-Known Member
It's a bit shorter from the hook , I think the hook to putgarten is around 850ks and it's all good roads. How do you work your mpg out ? Do you just brim to brim as I can't ever get mine right
