Which Pick-Up?

[engineer21]

Well its time i changed my car! going from an Audi S3 to something practical for house renovations, towing boat etc

so id really like a pick up but struggling with choice vs cash

i dont want run of the mill basic commerical, id be looking towards upper range

so Ford Ranger Wildtrack (newest model)

Toyota Hilux Invincable 2009+

or the Nissan Navara ideally the 3.0ltr

i think the new Ranger is the best looking, of course i know the Hilux is the best! (my father has 2009 model)

i would like the auto model but the price goes through the roof so it might not be affordable

anyone with any thoughts?? prob looking at 20k budget

[engineer21]

oh forgot to say ive discounted the L200 as there was not good leg room for me inside

[Chainguy]

£20k? Dodge Ram with the post 2004 high output Cummins Diesel.

Does everything you want, all the toys, unbreakable and excellent residuals.

[powerstroke]

I've recently bought a hilux it was either
That or a Isuzu DMax friend had 2 nissans
Both were trouble constant problems some
Serious and not something you would want
To pay for out of warranty Like the look of the
Ranger but it has the transit engine ditto with
The other poster on the dodge However I
Had and will get another ford f250 great to
Drive and cheap ish to run (diesel) and low
Deprication the Jap type trucks feel cramped and
Bouncy and use alot of fuel for what they are so the hilux will be a work truck and
I'm going to get another yank as soon as
Finances allow..

[Lefty]

engineer21 said:

oh forgot to say ive discounted the L200 as there was not good leg room for me inside

How tall are you?! I'm 6'4" and manage fine in a L200.

[engineer21]

it was more my width than my height! but just my knee banging on centre console for a pickup comfort was poor compared to the audi!

i dont fancy the american pick up route as much as i love them, i live just a bit to remote for parts etc and i plan on buying a mustang as a 2nd car in a cpl of yrs.

yeah hilux will always be the best i guess but you cant take away from the look of the ranger...whats wrong with the engine??

[engineer21]

it was more my width than my height! but just my knee banging on centre console for a pickup comfort was poor compared to the audi!

i dont fancy the american pick up route as much as i love them, i live just a bit to remote for parts etc and i plan on buying a mustang as a 2nd car in a cpl of yrs.

yeah hilux will always be the best i guess but you cant take away from the look of the ranger...whats wrong with the engine??

[cheddar]

engineer21 said:

it was more my width than my height! but just my knee banging on centre console for a pickup comfort was poor compared to the audi!

i dont fancy the american pick up route as much as i love them, i live just a bit to remote for parts etc and i plan on buying a mustang as a 2nd car in a cpl of yrs.

yeah hilux will always be the best i guess but you cant take away from the look of the ranger...whats wrong with the engine??

The Hilux is the most outdated of the current crop of pick-ups and would be the first one I'd dismiss - old engine tech, poor interior, worst on-road manners and not the best of them off road, their new model can't come soon enough.

The game has moved on, specifically with the new Ford Ranger and VW Amarok.

The Ranger has the numbers - 5 cyl, 3.2 litres, 200bhp, 350lbft torque etc but I tried one and was underwhelmed, a bit too 'Ford' and just not as gutsy as I thought it would be.

I tried all the pick-ups over a two month period and ended up with an Amarok - one year on and I really love it. Looks epic (put it next to a Ranger and tell me it's not better) lovely interior with lots of thoughtful touches, an extraordinary chassis that shines on the road and has so far refused to get stuck off road, a brilliant engine (now with 180bhp/300lbft) and incredible economy - I average nearly 40mpg, how does it do that????

4th gear will pull hard from 40mph all the way to 100 and it sits well under 2000rpm at 70mph in top.

'Classy pick-up truck' is an oxymoron but the Amarok is as close as it gets.

Caveat: The small wheels look pants in the huge wheelarches, I got mine with the 19's and it looks all the better for it.

[diesel piston]

HILUX without a doubt, they`re still the best for good reason, Amaroks have just too many problems, check out the forum
http://www.vwamarokforum.net/find-new/11948/posts
Theres a lad on the Hilux forum (HPOC) who has just dumped his Amarok because of a trail of issues and returned to a Hilux.

[engineer21]

Ive yet to test drive the ranger... i agree that the hilux is def outdated compared to the others, i like the amorak but had discounted due to price, i cant seem to find many available! ill need to look at the links.

[cheddar]

diesel piston said:

HILUX without a doubt, they`re still the best for good reason, Amaroks have just too many problems, check out the forum
http://www.vwamarokforum.net/find-new/11948/posts
Theres a lad on the Hilux forum (HPOC) who has just dumped his Amarok because of a trail of issues and returned to a Hilux.

I'n a year and 20,000 miles I haven't had a single problem with my Amarok and mine was one of the first built.

You can find problems on any vehicle if you check the respective forums.

As for the Hilux 'still being the best' they're not, far from it.
They often come last in pick-up group tests and never first. The design is 9 years old and only had a minor facelift in that time to offset dramatically plummeting sales when the new Ranger started chewing into Toyota's profits.

There's not a single area where the Hilux bests the Ranger or Amarok, be it on road manners, comfort, speed, NVH, off road capability, power, torque, economy, wading depth, ramp over angles, sophistication or quality of ownership.

OP, if you can't find a VW Amarok within budget then a Ranger is head and shoulders above the rest of the pack.

[powerstroke]

cheddar said:

diesel piston said:

HILUX without a doubt, they`re still the best for good reason, Amaroks have just too many problems, check out the forum
http://www.vwamarokforum.net/find-new/11948/posts
Theres a lad on the Hilux forum (HPOC) who has just dumped his Amarok because of a trail of issues and returned to a Hilux.

I'n a year and 20,000 miles I haven't had a single problem with my Amarok and mine was one of the first built.

You can find problems on any vehicle if you check the respective forums.

As for the Hilux 'still being the best' they're not, far from it.
They often come last in pick-up group tests and never first. The design is 9 years old and only had a minor facelift in that time to offset dramatically plummeting sales when the new Ranger started chewing into Toyota's profits.

There's not a single area where the Hilux bests the Ranger or Amarok, be it on road manners, comfort, speed, NVH, off road capability, power, torque, economy, wading depth, ramp over angles, sophistication or quality of ownership.

OP, if you can't find a VW Amarok within budget then a Ranger is head
and shoulders above the rest of the pack.

Sadly the amarok isn't really like proper pick up
I see them and they look like a estate car and only is only avalible it a double cab with a tiny bed
And VW have some decent engines but they only put a golf engine in it Looks like just a tax dodging
Tarts car to me not a work horse for people who need a 4x4 ..

[cheddar]

powerstroke said:

Sadly the amarok isn't really like proper pick up
I see them and they look like a estate car and only is only avalible it a double cab with a tiny bed
And VW have some decent engines but they only put a golf engine in it Looks like just a tax dodging
Tarts car to me not a work horse for people who need a 4x4 ..

Really powerstroke?

Can you qualify that?

I'm not a badge follower, I buy what's best and if that was the Hilux I'd be there boots and all but far from being a contender it was, in my experience, and just about every group test, the worst of the lot.

I agree it's a shame the UK doesn't get a single cab, it's available in just about every other market but for clarity....

The double cab VW has the widest, deepest load bed of any pick up.

You're a little confused, it doesn't run a Golf Engine, it's a twin turbo 2 litre with more power, torque and way better economy than the ageing Hilux motor that uses a 50% bigger capacity engine to deliver less of everything, probably a legacy of the Toyota engine remaining the same for 9 years - generally proven old lump though, despite some reliability issues

The VW tows more than the Hilux (2800kg vs 2500kg) has a much bigger payload (1145 vs 835kg) and greater off road ability with a raft of modern systems to aid the driver.

It could do with a little more ground clearance but a decent set of high riding off road rubber would sort that and you'd have to be crossing mountains to really get it stuck anyway - how often do we do that?

I'm itching for VW to fit the V6 TDI with 240bhp and 415lb/ft torque to the Amarok and make it the absolute ultimate pick up.

Don't take my word for the comparison, google's full of pick-up tests and they all make pretty much the same compelling conclusions:

"The Hilux might top the sales charts, but the ageing warrior finishes a clear last in this company. We'd be happy to recommend the Volkswagen, Ford, Holden and Mazda, which all demonstrate how far crew cab utes have come."

And:

"The HiLux feels dated next to the Amarok, and we're not sure the updated HiLux due soon will address that. Volkswagen has entered the most heavily competitive end of the market with a vehicle that looks better, feels better, drives better, is bigger inside and out, and can tow much more than the HiLux. The king is dead."

And:

"Toyota could put their badge on a cheap Chinese pick up truck and punters would still buy them"


ETA: Sounded a bit defensive, didn't mean to, just pointing out some factual stuff, enjoy your truck powerstroke

Edited by cheddar on Friday 6th September 00:41

[diesel piston]

Theres a new AMAROK on the forum that some poor owner has found is going to be `wrote off` after a 40 mph bump with a CORSA, needless to say even the owner is questioning the integral strength of the AMAROK.
HILUX old design = Tried and proven !

[powerstroke]

cheddar said:

powerstroke said:

Sadly the amarok isn't really like proper pick up
I see them and they look like a estate car and only is only avalible it a double cab with a tiny bed
And VW have some decent engines but they only put a golf engine in it Looks like just a tax dodging
Tarts car to me not a work horse for people who need a 4x4 ..

Really powerstroke?

Can you qualify that?

I'm not a badge follower, I buy what's best and if that was the Hilux I'd be there boots and all but far from being a contender it was, in my experience, and just about every group test, the worst of the lot.

I agree it's a shame the UK doesn't get a single cab, it's available in just about every other market but for clarity....

The double cab VW has the widest, deepest load bed of any pick up.

You're a little confused, it doesn't run a Golf Engine, it's a twin turbo 2 litre with more power, torque and way better economy than the ageing Hilux motor that uses a 50% bigger capacity engine to deliver less of everything, probably a legacy of the Toyota engine remaining the same for 9 years - generally proven old lump though, despite some reliability issues

The VW tows more than the Hilux (2800kg vs 2500kg) has a much bigger payload (1145 vs 835kg) and greater off road ability with a raft of modern systems to aid the driver.

It could do with a little more ground clearance but a decent set of high riding off road rubber would sort that and you'd have to be crossing mountains to really get it stuck anyway - how often do we do that?

I'm itching for VW to fit the V6 TDI with 240bhp and 415lb/ft torque to the Amarok and make it the absolute ultimate pick up.

Don't take my word for the comparison, google's full of pick-up tests and they all make pretty much the same compelling conclusions:

"The Hilux might top the sales charts, but the ageing warrior finishes a clear last in this company. We'd be happy to recommend the Volkswagen, Ford, Holden and Mazda, which all demonstrate how far crew cab utes have come."

And:

"The HiLux feels dated next to the Amarok, and we're not sure the updated HiLux due soon will address that. Volkswagen has entered the most heavily competitive end of the market with a vehicle that looks better, feels better, drives better, is bigger inside and out, and can tow much more than the HiLux. The king is dead."

And:

"Toyota could put their badge on a cheap Chinese pick up truck and punters would still buy them"


ETA: Sounded a bit defensive, didn't mean to, just pointing out some factual stuff, enjoy your truck powerstroke

Edited by cheddar on Friday 6th September 00:41

Sadly the hilux has gone in the wrong direction since the last of the
Solid axle models and now has alsorts of BS like carpets and abs
Quite envious of my friends new land rover with its rubber mats and no abs
Thing is its still modifiable for a good off road potential without spending a fortune
I guess it's fair to say I bought it for the same reasons people buy the defenders,
If a road test says its "car like "or has traction control or wheels bigger than 16 "it shouts soft roader and
Turns me right off !!! Toyotas are for people who need a 4x4..... just see how many
Are in use in the most remote and hostile environments worldwide I would
Have no worrys taking my as is out of the showroom hilux green laning or in to the Sahara desert ....

[Monocock]

In the past 14 years I have had a Navara, a Defender, 3 Hiluxes and I now have an Amarok. I do 25,000 miles a year and I farm, meaning I do a fair bit of towing, off-road and tend to give my vehicles a lot of grief.

The Amarok is without a doubt leaps and bounds better than anything else I've ever had. Build quality is incredible, the bi-turbo has more torque than all the others, and I'm still getting 40mpg!!

I've not had a single mechanical issue in 39,000 miles. I did have an accident last year and I wrote off a Mondeo when I drove into the back of it. The Amarok needed a new number plate and some cosmetic bumper repairs.

Many pick-up owners don't like the Amarok because it wins all the comparison reviews. It also is out of many people's price range, which seems to make others criticise it, but I'm not sure why. If its too expensive for some people, that's nothing to be annoyed about.

I'm going to order another one soon. It is streaks ahead of the competition.

[GravelBen]

Family friend with an Amarok got it stuck in a riverbed, cross-axled on a sandbar he reckoned his previous Hilux would have walked over easily - presumably the electronics don't make up for having less articulation in that situation. He likes it on the road though.

[cheddar]

GravelBen said:

Family friend with an Amarok got it stuck in a riverbed, cross-axled on a sandbar he reckoned his previous Hilux would have walked over easily - presumably the electronics don't make up for having less articulation in that situation. He likes it on the road though.

True, for serious rough stuff it could do with more clearance, especially at the rear diff.

[powerstroke]

Would the V Dub pass the Barry Crump test???

[jerryscan]

I've been going through a similar process to select a suitable 4x4 pickup.
The VW Amarok was a non-starter for me due to the double cab being the only option, it makes the bed too short to carry my motorbikes. The price, over my budget, and the towing weight.
The Toyota had an outside chance, if I could have got a decent deal. However at the 2 Toyota dealers I visited I couldn't actually get anybody to speak to me. Plus it doesn't have the towing weight I really needed.
So it came down to the Ranger and the D Max. Both tow 3500 Kg, both within budget (base models). Both available in extended cab version.
I drove both and to be honest they are both so similar that it would be something else that would be the deciding factor, in the end the 5 year, 125000 mile warranty and the 400 Nm of torque, plus a/c as standard clinched it for me. Plus I found a dealer who wanted to sell me a truck, gave me a good deal and had stock.
So I have ordered an extended cab D Max 2.2 with tow bar and load bed liner. Happy days.
Will let you know how it goes if anybody is interested.