Whats the best 07-11 Daily Driven/Touring/Mild Dual cab 4wd?

[83zook]

Hi guys im looking at getting a new or newish Common Rail diesel dual cab 4wd ute, these are my current options. They all have they're pro's & con's, which to me are very different. My intended use is daily driver/tourer/mild offroading.
Basically want to know peoples opinions and experience with the selected vehicles.
Kind Regards Mitch

[sir_142]

D40...

[83zook]

I've worked on quite a few, and the servicing costs are ridiculous.. Plus lower ball joints wear out between 60-120k and have to buy complete lower control arms priced @ about $500ea..
But thats just my opinion
Mitch

[raven ute]

add the VW AMAROK to that list, i just got my work one and it is 10 times better then any of the listed above and i have driven them all, we have hiluxes at work and now we will be changing everyone over to the amarok, great economy, heaps of space, drives liek a car, plenty of power

[83zook]

whats an Amarok roughly cost?
Mitch

[Surfection]

add the VW AMAROK to that list, i just got my work one and it is 10 times better then any of the listed above and i have driven them all, we have hiluxes at work and now we will be changing everyone over to the amarok, great economy, heaps of space, drives liek a car, plenty of power

If he's concerned about servicing costs of the Japanese manufacturers above then I doubt he'd be up for the running costs of a Euro brand.... As of 6 weeks ago VW still hadn't worked out what the servicing above 60,000km was going to cost, working off the running costs of a Transporter it was going to be at least $2500 more to service the Amarok than it was to run a Hilux for the first 4 years, after that when larger componants require replacement the cost will tripple. With the price rollback of the new Hilux it makes the up front cost far more attractive as well.
I would personally rather ran a vehicle that's been proven for years to be reliable and has parts and service backup pretty much anywhere in Australia.

YMMV

Jeremy

[83zook]

yer i totally agree, i was never going to buy an Amarok lol
im hoping not to buy a brand new car, but at the moment second hand cars with minimal accessories are going for the same amount as a brand new one.

[RockyF75]

Isuzu Dmax?

[V.W.Dave]

Any hilux after 2009 are a heap of $#!t. The company i work for just finished a big law suit over 12 Hilux utes. All between 6 months and 2 years old. None of them were over 80,000ks. We cant keep them on the road. One of them had a complete engine put in after only 30,000ks two of them had rebuilt or replaced trans. EVERY single one of them had bad engine/diesel knock after only 30,000ks one of them knocked even when it was hot.
Yes they have a little weight in the back with the tool box's, but none of them were ever kept heavily over weight (they cant be in the mines)
ALL of them were serviced EVERY TIME at the local toyota dealer.
In the end the company was spending more on rentals because out Hiluxs were getting repaired then they were on the lease of the Hiluxs them self.

The Mitsu Tritons are small inside and feel a little under powered but out of the 10 we have only one had ever needed repair and it was only a rear output shaft seal on the transfer case was leaking.

My pick of the utes we use would be hands down the Ford Ranger. Out of the 5 (2 of them are the big wigs utes that never see the mines) none of them had ever needed repairs outside of regular services. They pull like a freight train and tow just about anything. They are good on fuel and they have heaps of room inside.

I have never been in or had anything to do with the Holden.

Because of the B.S. with the Hilux's I am in a rental Musso 4 door ute and I have to say it is the biggest POS I have ever been in. Hugely under powered. With my toolbox on the back I was sitting on 60 then tried to speed up to 100 and it took 4 or 5 seconds to respond to me putting my foot down and then it took FOREVER to speed up to the point I missed to over taking zone.

Over all Hilux's are a big let down and if it wasn't for there reputation from the good old days there wouldn't be any of them on the road.

[chunks]

The new Ranger looks like it is going to shit over everything but time will tell, I'm considering buying one but $55k for the XLT ain't cheap. It looks like it has been designed and built with 4wd touring in mind and on paper the gearing in first sounds nice and low in both the 6 speed auto or manual.

Don't touch a Hilux, in my own personal experience working on them, they are overpriced junk and have heaps of problems with injectors, diffs, wheel bearings, clutches, gearboxes, steering racks...the list goes on. The gearing in the manuals is too tall and the auto is only a lazy 4 speed.

Wouldn't buy a D22 or D40 either, Nissan is off with the fairies as these vehicles aren't well thought out and I don't believe they will last either. For example he YD25 motor in the D22 is has a 4.5 litre sump, but in the D40 it's 7 litres?? I have found the oil gets very quickly contaminated in the D22. The D22 front steering components are also weak as piss and the D40 has zero ground clearance and smashing sumps is a common problem. The gearing isn't that flash either being too tall from my experience and what others have told me.

[montana]

D40...

I've worked on quite a few, and the servicing costs are ridiculous.. Plus lower ball joints wear out between 60-120k and have to buy complete lower control arms priced @ about $500ea..
But thats just my opinion
Mitch

sounds like you can service yourself so you can save heaps doing that,as for having to buy a complete arm, ball joints are less than $70 pr and i got 215,000 out of mine and less than a hour a side to replace.

[83zook]

D40...

I've worked on quite a few, and the servicing costs are ridiculous.. Plus lower ball joints wear out between 60-120k and have to buy complete lower control arms priced @ about $500ea..
But thats just my opinion
Mitch

sounds like you can service yourself so you can save heaps doing that,as for having to buy a complete arm, ball joints are less than $70 pr and i got 215,000 out of mine and less than a hour a side to replace.

Do they do aftermarket balljoints now? or genuine only still? because through the local dealer they said they are complete arms only?
Mitch

[chunks]

Aftermarket is available http://www.roadsafe.com.au/downloads/RA ... BJ4982.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[SCANAS]

Jeremy no doubt VW will jump on board with capped priced servicing soon on Amarok. Price roll back on new Hilux? You mean let's put a new grill on it and drop the price because we don't have anything else to offer atm...

I agree that major parts are expensive but so are Hilux bits. Anything common rail costs plenty.

Until the actual New Hilux gets here Amarok and Ranger will do well. No other car does what Amarok can do, if only it was Auto (sobs)

If you haven't guessed we sell Amarok? Want one let me know!

Base (work mate style) 4wd Amarok is $47k rrp on road
Trendline (SR style) a touch over $50k
Highline $57
Ultimate (SR5 style) $63

Master Builders, ABN, and corporate pricing applies as well. Shoot me a PM!

[chunks]

I really want to see an Amarok after some hard work and a few kms on it, I will be interested to see how they hang together and what their lifespan is. I know their is nothing wrong with the VW turbo diesel motors I have seen Transporters with over 500k on them.

[evanstaniland]

my mate has a Colarado with a 3" lift he gives it a absolute caining and it looks nice, black dual cab with black GU alloys MTZs

out of the list that would be my choice!

i like the D40 but they have a horrid rep for doing clutches and there dual mass flywheel is a MUST replace when a clutch goes. there are solid flywheels that you can get aftermarket but that will play with warranty like everything

Evan

[83zook]

yer Ev i really like the look of daves ute, but you neglected to mention that he replaced the clutch after 40,000kms lol but stackys DMAX is not far behind also.
I personally really like colroado's, but trying to find a genuine secondhand one with basic accessories with less than 100k for under 30k is hard to come by.
Mitch

[SCANAS]

Chunks I think all modern vehicles have very similar life spans (in anyone market like 4x4 turbo diesel d/cab in a price range) as they are all built to a strict cost basis and a lot of knowledge is shared between manufacturers these days to save costs ie ranger/bt50 colorado/dmax the d40 is actually built by mitsubishi in their plant in thailand! So they all share resources these days to keep R&D down.

I think long term the Amarok will be a good car, the motor is a transporter motor, the chassis is a ladder chassis with more crossmembers than any other dual cab on the market so can't really go wrong there, all the systems and electrics are out of other VW vehicles, the suspension geometery is awesome there is no question about handling etc. The only thing that is "new" in an amarok is the body, transfer case and front diff set-up. As an all round package they are the best on offer at the moment.

My only doubt about Amarok will be the Auto when it comes next year If it's a DSG it will need some serious beefing up.

[Surfection]

The only thing that is "new" in an amarok is the body, transfer case and front diff set-up. As an all round package they are the best on offer at the moment.

That motor has only been in the Transporter since March 2010, not exactly a long term proven performer in a commercial application.

I 'ALMOST' shared your passion for the Amarok SCANAS before it came out, had serious thoughts about buying one until I drove it... Shitty clutch and gear change, narrow torque curve etc put me off.

When the DSG comes out I tend to agree that for certain uses they will be very hard to beat, family dual cab ute, light use as a tradesman's tool etc but not offroad and not heavy tradie use, loaded to the hilt towing a trailer all day every day.... That's when I think you'll start to see the issues.

Again, YMMV

[SCANAS]

Yeah I agree about DSG being a worry I hope they get it right but I won't be looking after them then and in the meantime yes the clutch is not great but line ball with most manufacturers.

I did 5 years with toyota and I love Landcruiser and landcruiser prado but the hilux is not in the same league as cruiser anymore.

[GBC]

My uncle picked up the 'all new' ranger today. Looks to be a good thing in the current market.

[KiwiBacon]

If he's concerned about servicing costs of the Japanese manufacturers above then I doubt he'd be up for the running costs of a Euro brand....

Servicing intervals of the average euro car is double even more than the average japanese car. I don't know if this fits with the amarok but comparing hiace to transporter vans is quite enlightening.

[chunks]

Hiace service is every 10k, Transporter is every 15k. Hiace uses a normal mineral 15w-40 oil ($8-$10 litre), Transporter requires a full synthetic 5w-30 C3 oil (~$20 litre).

[KiwiBacon]

Hiace service is every 10k, Transporter is every 15k. Hiace uses a normal mineral 15w-40 oil ($8-$10 litre), Transporter requires a full synthetic 5w-30 C3 oil (~$20 litre).

VW are claiming oil change intervals up to 40,000km for the transporter. 15k would be extreme service which is probably 5,000km on the hiace. The 2012 hilux is claiming a 15,000km service interval up from 7,500km. Which is 20 years late, even my 1986 Isuzu diesel has 16,000km oil change intervals.

The oil doesn't have to be $20/litre if you don't want it to be. http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/car-par ... 010213.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[chunks]

Maybe it's different in NZ, but the current Hilux has 10k intervals now. Some of the VWs have the "Longlife" service intervals which are 30k but I haven't seen any 40k intervals personally.

[V.W.Dave]

I think long term the Amarok will be a good car, the motor is a transporter motor, the chassis is a ladder chassis with more crossmembers than any other dual cab on the market so can't really go wrong there, all the systems and electrics are out of other VW vehicles, the suspension geometery is awesome there is no question about handling etc. The only thing that is "new" in an amarok is the body, transfer case and front diff set-up. As an all round package they are the best on offer at the moment.
My only doubt about Amarok will be the Auto when it comes next year If it's a DSG it will need some serious beefing up.

Scanas What dealership are your at. I use too work for head office in Botany. As the Technical trainer, I worked with Kieran G. and also helped develop the apprentice
training they now offer. (if you ask any of your tech's that went to the Passat CC/Golf 6 classes I was the facilitator)

Let me add to and tweak some of your above statement.
The engine that is used in the Amarok was first developed (the block) in the Pumpa Duece TDI that was the first of the "green" engines from memory I think they first hit the American market in 2005. It was short lived because of the new carbon laws in California. In early 2007 all engines new cars had to have (the worst thing to have every happen to TDI engines) a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) Thie was the introduction of the Common rail.
Anyway long story short the engine in the Amarok. That engine (the bases of it) has been in use since 2005. The same block and engine management system is used in the Passat, Tiguan, Jetta and golf.
The Tiguan is a Passat in a different body. The Amarok is much the same only that they mixed the tiguan and the toureg to get it.
The Amarok has been the support truck for the Toureg in the Dakah and many other off road rally's for 3 years now.
VW was very very particular and wanted to make sure they didn't have the problems they did with the toureg release.
To add to its good looks it is German and made to Euro safety standards. After being privy to some very classified crash statistics and results I would rather be in ANY VW built after 2000 in a accident doing 100ks hr over ANY Japaneses car or truck traveling over 80ks.

I really want to see an Amarok after some hard work and a few kms on it, I will be interested to see how they hang together and what their lifespan is. I know their is nothing wrong with the VW turbo diesel motors I have seen Transporters with over 500k on them.

All that said VW are not built for the Australian climate. They are a high maintenance brand in general. If you keep at it and look after it they will last you a long time and keep you and your family much safer on the road.

As die hard VW as I am I would NEVER own any new VW longer then 4 years. If I was to get a second hand one it would have to be cheap and I would have to know its FULL history as they are easy to neglect and if you don't know how to fix them (MOST vw technicians are a joke let alone the after market places) it will only cost you more.

I would be happy to go out and get a Amarok and drive the piss out of it but I would sell it before it got to 50000ks

Here are a few reviews

The Ranger would still be my pick if it was a car I was getting to keep.



Here are a few reviews of the Amerok
http://www.privatefleet.com.au/volkswag ... ok-review/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.caradvice.com.au/105919/volk ... ok-review/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[evanstaniland]

yer Ev i really like the look of daves ute, but you neglected to mention that he replaced the clutch after 40,000kms lol but stackys DMAX is not far behind also.
I personally really like colroado's, but trying to find a genuine secondhand one with basic accessories with less than 100k for under 30k is hard to come by.
Mitch

yea but dave also drives it like its stolen, and canes the piss out of it all the time, most people wouldnt

evan

[johnsy86]

ive been looking at the "all new" ford ranger id have to say this would be my pick over anything else mentioned above

[SCANAS]

I Agree Dave that they can get expensive to look after out of warranty but so do all cars, a hilux is just as complicated and the build quaility and reliability would be near on the same, due to the bad economic climates and cost cutting. Being with VW you've heard all the horros stories of about VW's I worked with lots of brands and they all have horror stories

[chunks]

All that said VW are not built for the Australian climate. They are a high maintenance brand in general. If you keep at it and look after it they will last you a long time and keep you and your family much safer on the road.

As die hard VW as I am I would NEVER own any new VW longer then 4 years. If I was to get a second hand one it would have to be cheap and I would have to know its FULL history as they are easy to neglect and if you don't know how to fix them (MOST vw technicians are a joke let alone the after market places) it will only cost you more.

I would be happy to go out and get a Amarok and drive the piss out of it but I would sell it before it got to 50000ks

Here are a few reviews

The Ranger would still be my pick if it was a car I was getting to keep.



Here are a few reviews of the Amerok
http://www.privatefleet.com.au/volkswag ... ok-review/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.caradvice.com.au/105919/volk ... ok-review/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Interesting. Customers often ask me about buying VWs, I always say they are nice to drive but I would only have one if you are turning them over regularly. Guess I'm not alone in my thinking.