With the amarok due to get an 8 speed auto next year - It wouldn't surprise me to see the 3lt V6 Diesel from the touareg dropped into it.
I do like the amarok
chris
If I was spending my own money, as opposed to the company's, I reckon I'd want to see the current crop of newbies running for a little longer before committing, nothing like a few million km of experience across the fleet.
Amarok is a nice on road (for a ute mind you), but there are disturbing reports from other markets of serious engine issues. Power at 120Kw is adequate but well behind the leaders now - I reckon VW should be looking in their parts bin for a little 3l V6.
BT-50 and Ranger look the goods on paper, if their reliability is better than before I'll have a good look when my Colorado comes up for replacement.
Hilux - stupid tow rating killed it for me, but anyway seems to have fallen behind the others.
Nissan, I'll wait and see, still have mental scars from previous reliability issues.
Colorado / D Max - not exactly cutting edge, but well proven and as Phil and others have said, they do the job. I've got a 2010 LXR manual, added tow bar and cruise control. For me the vinyl floor was a plus point, vacuum and wipe down in about 3 mins flat. Ride - I do about 40K a year of mostly highway work and it's acceptable, rest of family don't mind it either. It tows well, fuel consumption for first 10k was 8.3l/100km, since then has fallen to a fraction under 8l/100km. Doesn't vary much city or 110kmh+ highway. Offroad has been some muddy tracks near Warwick, Fraser, Moreton and Straddie - it isn't a Cruiser but it does what I need it to and hasn't let me down. Cost me 36K GST incl.
For the money I don't think I could get anything that matched tow rating, reliability and fuel consumption - and there's the rub, easy to say price doesn't come into it but for me a ute is a nice to have rather than a necessity and for the price of the new top of the range utes I'd be finding creative ways to get into a plain jane Pajero instead.
With the amarok due to get an 8 speed auto next year - It wouldn't surprise me to see the 3lt V6 Diesel from the touareg dropped into it.
I do like the amarok
chris
Give a man a fish & he will eat for a day !
Teach him how to fish
& he will sit in a boat - & drink beer all day!
TEAM MOJIKO
well the trip up the beach went well car performed to my expectations , did the cooloola state forest track on the way back, the road was pretty rough in parts , holes were pretty deep so ended up bending some bash plates up , mazda.jpg (59.7 KB) download.jpg (89.2 KB) photo.jpg (73.9 KB)
drove them all..
my pick ,azda bt50. drive like a car heaps of power and i was very suprised
ended up buying a Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland TD ..... not a ute but just ticked so many box's atm - goes really well & just has appointments coming out the ying yang
Chris
Give a man a fish & he will eat for a day !
Teach him how to fish
& he will sit in a boat - & drink beer all day!
TEAM MOJIKO
they are great value - how much under 70 did you have to pay?
They are going to be a brilliant 2nd hand cheapie in 3 years time off lease from a mum doing the school run in the city
Going to be interesting to get a review in a couple of months and see what the fuel use is and what aftermarket stuff is avaliable.
The terrifying feature is the air lift suspension. From Subarus to Benz as it ages it gets very expensive and I won't even mention the Range Rover. Maybe technology has finally caught up. Must have a look and see how it works in a Jeep or what else Chrysler have used it in.
Go the Aussie dollar
Fitted with the towpack and front window tinting it was around 78 on the road ....... but this had everything including premium Alpine stereo with DVD ......
This is probably the most highly developed / tested jeep ever ....... they have a lot riding on it. I guess the scary stuff is that there is so much technology in the car (ie Quadralift II air suspension , active cruise control , sensors everywhere ....... but this stuff is developed by Daimler Benz ) ...... no doubt it would be expensive to fix or replace. It's funny , but someone was trying to tell me that this is why they would stick with a Prado ....... but hey , if you spend the $100K on a Kakadu ..... you end up with a lot of similar technology. ....... but less developed.
Me - I wont be keeping this car outside of the warranty period anyway - two & a half years and it will be replaced.
The fuel usage over the last couple of days has been 10.5lt / 100 and that has been just city driving ..... but next weekend it gets a run down to Sydney - so I'm hoping for low 8's which will be about 40-45% lower than the diesel prado which it has replaced.
I guess in the end - it was the 2nd nicest car I drove ( Touareg 1st) ..... looks and goes well / economical / 177kw & 550Nm torque so it will tow very well ......... & as you mentioned with the strong aussie dollar - exceptional value
Chris
Give a man a fish & he will eat for a day !
Teach him how to fish
& he will sit in a boat - & drink beer all day!
TEAM MOJIKO
Just dragging this thread back up for some info - I am currently looking at a few options for my next lease and the Ranger/BT50 are up there. In talking with our fleet manager I was informed that Mazda (not sure on Ford) are having huge problems with clutches on the new BT50 when towing. Apparently they are recommending auto for heavy towing or for extra $$$ you can upgrade to a HD clutch? Has anyone heard similar on this? I have no reason to doubt our man at work but would love some further confirmation if anyone has or knows of issues?
Cheers
greg
Also looking around,
Nissan will have a new shape model out soon, Hilux new shape and motor 2013,VW new options mid 2012, Holden new shape and motor by June as per last weeks paper.
Best is to wait a couple of months and be patient.
just a quick word for any bt50 owners do not buy the new bullbar mine has come loose for the third time.....not happy mazda
As I'm now looking at 4WD 4 door utes again - I'm interested in hearing opinions of the latest crop .
I took an Amarok (8sp auto Highline) for a drive the other day & it certainly ticks a hell of a lot of box's - The next on the list to look at is the Ranger ...... a lot of good feedback
anyhow I'm keen to hear of opinions or more importantly experiences of the current crop .
chris
Give a man a fish & he will eat for a day !
Teach him how to fish
& he will sit in a boat - & drink beer all day!
TEAM MOJIKO
How the jeep going nagg. How many km and the service costs. Know 2 of them that have had no issue to speak of but they haven't done many km and are treated with kit gloves on school runs. They sure tick a lot of boxes for the price at the time but seeing older versions not doing well in the 2nd hand market so not sure if the lease companies will be harder on them next time round. What is the jeep going to bing on the 2nd hand market?
If I was in the market I would be looking for one of these. http://www.ramtrucks.com/en/ecodiesel/ Once we have no more local car makers there is no reason why these shouldn't be available here IMHO
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...t-drive-review
Cheers
Chimo
What could go wrong.......................