Non Frontera truck - opinions needed

I'm looking at purchasing either a
Nissan Navara
Mitsubishi L200
Toyota Hi-Lux
Something else????

Must be 2006 onward
Diesel
Twin Cab (so the baby can come too)

Still completely undecided, but I'm looking for both good and bad points on them to help in the choice selection, so does anyone here own, used to own, or drive any of the above.

It's not going to be used for work purposes. We like trucks. We and want 4WD. It needs to be a good tow car for our caravan, and the truck section is mainly for our dogs.
I also want to consider future needs so I can get back into green laning :roll:

so if any thing like winch bumpers and snorkels and lift kits are already available that's a major plus.

I'm only really after first hand knowledge of these vehicles or suggestions of alternatives please. Things like running costs, spec levels to look at, and most importantly actual MPG, and what is the difference between the L200 Animal and Warrior models

Would a Ford Ranger be an option? My dad runs one at the moment, very nice truck.

Good mpg, great towing ( pretty much always has a 3.5t plant trailer on the back )

3.0 TDi

I had his remapped for him for extra towing power and its performance is amazing.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2009-FORD-RANGER-WILDTRAK-TDCI-RED-GREY-/251336425698?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item3a84d180e2

Thats the wildtrak ( top spec ) or you could go Thunder spec

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FORD-RANGER-Pick-Up-Thunder-D-Cab-3-0-TDCi-4WD-Auto-2009-Tax-MOT-FSH-NO-VAT-/251335989591?pt=UK_Commercial_Trucks&hash=item3a84cad957

I know folk who use Rangers as their daily drivers and have been well pleased with them - all have had their trucks for at least 5 years each. Fitting the kiddy seat was a bit tight though.

Isuzu's are well respected too aren't they?

Without asking you to post figures Paul, but would have thought budget is going to be a major factor.
Personally, I've always liked the Toyota Landcruiser Colorado - ticks the boxes for size, diff lockers plus you would be in the 'car' category rather than the 'pick up'. Noticed Alan Kidd from TOR ran one so that must say something.
Downer is you would need to wait for a Monday to buy one as you will have to wait for your 6 numbers to have come in on the preceeding Saturday. :roll:

Alot of people have been recomending the Ford Ranger to me as well as I have been gently browsing pickups. The L200 and Navaras are fine beasts!

Budget is up to £11k hence looking for 2006 onwards. Will probably target something around 2008.
I hadn't noticed the ranger has had a facelift. Must be more observant. We had excluded it as we didn't like the look, but I do like the 2007> facelift
I guess that at the end of the day, the only way to know is to look at dealers an try to test drive as many as possible, but you know how it is. You buy what appears to be the best buy only to find out that new brake pads are £150, tyres are £200, and they have a tendancey to blow head gaskets when they get to 100,000 miles (and yours just happens to have 101,000 on the clock :lol:

)

This is what I'd like to aim for hence I'm drawn to the Hilux

Will defo have a look at the rangers now. I'd kind of excluded the L200 as I'd heard that the were poor off road.
Last thing I want is to be towed out of a hole on a lane by a Fronty :lol:

hilux is the way go had a navara very good but have engine problems same as ford and l200 I have also fit a few engines in l200 as conrod snaped

Personally I'd have a Hilux if budget could stretch and stay away from the L200 as whilst personally I think they look great and internally are well specked and comfortable the reliability of engines are pretty poor.
If your looking for value for money and still have a good looking truck have you considered one of the more recent Isuzu Rodeo's / Dmax ?

Out of interest, what's the situation with legal maxium speed on a pick up?
One of the guys at work recently purchased a VW Transporter T5 with 2nd row seats and windows only to have his pride and joy bonfire p1ssed on because of the 60mph 'van' restriction.

The Hilux is loosing out to the likes of the Renger etc in the reviews. Take a look around the interwebs at reviews of various trucks and work it out from there.

Had an L200 Barbarian for 6 weeks. Towed caravan (twin axle jobbie) at a steady 50 mph was lucky to get 24mph. In fact the fuel consumption on these motors is heriffic.
Bouncy ride for anybody in the back, and thats why I only kept it for six weeks.
On a positive note it performed well offroad, plenty of power much more guts than my mates Hilux, although I must admit the Hilux is a much better built motor and will definately last longer.

As for speed limits the 60mph only applies to dual carriageways see link: https://www.gov.uk/speed-limits
dunno if this helps?

Richard

I would still spend 5 grand on an old Land Cruiser VX 4.2 diesel :wink:

ive no idea on the pros and cons of either truck but if your considering a navara dont forget the pathfinder.. i know the road fund is more for them than for the navara that being the commercial version.... im considering getting 1 of them myself !

Lloyd from the S.E. Picnic days was telling me about the bottom ends dropping out on the older Navara's Gary
Apparently all sorted on the newer shaped ones - sorry but I can't quote you year, only new shape

from experience of my mates trucks (varied from car use to builders abuse)

- L200 Warrior: Great spec, just about adult sized rear seats, solid, look good but now on 3rd engine - all same; lose power, head gasket, over heat, bottom end u/s. Off road = useless as rear too stiff and intercooler rad is sandwiched in the front which clogs up in a dirty puddle

- Navarra: Great spec again, larger rear seats, look better than others, faster (albeit mate has the 178bhp version). OK off road with some better tyres but front bumper a bit low but he has bought a nice s/s bash plate which helps

- Ranger: Lowest spec, rear seats in between the above. Feels less tough and body dents easy, parts are cheaper and underneath is more rugged/simpler. Dont know about serious off road but works ok on farm but would probably suffer from typical pick up lack of weight over the rear

- Hi Lux: widest range of specs so need to view loads to get it right, latest models have ~180bhp option which is nice but really hits mpg. Also widest range of mods for reasonable price but all just feels a little dated

summary:

To use as a car = NAVARRA

To use as a builders truck = RANGER

Somewhere in between = HI LUX

i'd ignore the L200 cos of engine problems, mates mechanic seems to have another one in every month for engine issues....

We had 2 Navara's at work first one was recalled due to clutch problems and we had loads of electrical problems most embarrassing the sensor on the drivers seat went down so when you stopped and got out of it the seat would move forward and the back of it would also lean forward to move the seat back you had to get on your hands and knees and disconnect and reconnect the plug nightmare.
The second one was recalled due to the wheels cracking and also brake problems.
Oh and it was pooh off road it couldn't drive out of our trading estate without using 4 wheel drive in the snow when a ford focus, golf gti and my old P reg Fronty all managed with out turning to 4 wheel drive trickery.

I know 2 guys who have a tree surgeons business and both have Ford Rangers and are on there 2nd one each both with no dramas.

I nearly bought a L200 but was put off by stories of con rods bursting through the engine block.
Only other niggle I can think of with the Nissan is the legroom in the rear is horrid you have to sit with your knees under your chin very uncomfortable on longer trips