Getting an UTE - Toyota, Mitsubishi or Holden?

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128 posts

Master Geek
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#2365693 3-Dec-2019 14:35

As per the previous mentioned thread, I went through this exercise 2 years ago. Ended up buying the V6 Amarok, even though I was dead set ready to buy the Wildtrack. At the time the Wildtrack was the only ute to have autonomous braking, lane departure etc, not sure who has it now. I came from a Hilux 3.0 D4D prior and a Courier Ute before that. I virtually drove the Amarok on the way out to sign up for the Wildtrack which I had driven a couple of times.

The drive of the Amarok was so much better than anything else I took out that no amount tech was worth the difference to me. Motor is quiet and a proven workhorse. Handling is superb (for a ute at least :) and for towing it has power to burn. I drive over the Remutakas a couple times a week, quite often towing.

Re servicing, I have found the cost to service to be less than the Hilux, although my Hilux only had 7500km service intervals and the V6 20,000km but even so $500 a pop was normal. Although Toyota dont do an online service calculator, Ford and VW do. A quick check for service costs up to 60000km show the Ranger at $2510 V6 Amarok $2140 and 2l Amarok $1905.

There are indeed some stupid things in the Amarok I dont like. Having to remove the key to stop the accessories (although it stops itself after an hour or so), no light around the ignition at night, bonnet release on the passenger side, stupid stupid stupid cup holders on the floor in the rear (broke mine off in a month putting a roll of pipe in the back) and always on 12v power outlets everywhere. Leg room in the back is not huge if the front seats are right back, but because the Amarok is about 150mm wider than anything else there is plenty of bum room if you have 3 people.

My advice is to drive everything of interest, at least twice, and make sure one of those drives is at least 30 minutes or more.

Dial111

978 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2367714 3-Dec-2019 15:44

Be careful with the 2019 Rangers with Ecoblue engines as they could have dodgy injectors and Ford haven’t got enough stock to replace the shoddy ones. Our company has had 3 Transits with Ecoblue engines this year crap out with one dropping an injector completely which required a whole new crate motor replacement.

Fred99

13684 posts

Uber Geek

#2367755 3-Dec-2019 17:43

Dial111: Be careful with the 2019 Rangers with Ecoblue engines as they could have dodgy injectors and Ford haven’t got enough stock to replace the shoddy ones. Our company has had 3 Transits with Ecoblue engines this year crap out with one dropping an injector completely which required a whole new crate motor replacement.

Here's a link to a story on that:

https://www.caradvice.com.au/803619/ford-stop-sale-ranger-everest-endura-transit-custom/

(Some of the comments are interesting - but "reader comments" to be taken with a grain of salt)

ilovemusic

1439 posts

Uber Geek

#2367799 3-Dec-2019 21:06

the amarok v6 is a fine drive and you can buy a new one from $60k.

https://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/volkswagen/auction-2402255593.htm

best ute to drive though is the ranger raptor, a lot less straightline speed than the amarok, less carrying and towing capacity but superb handling off-road and on road.

it's pricier than the amarok but not burdened with the moral reprehensibility of dieselgate.

Technofreak

6530 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#2367813 3-Dec-2019 21:31

MrAmerica:

My advice is to drive everything of interest, at least twice, and make sure one of those drives is at least 30 minutes or more.

Good advice, twice would be a minimum if you are comparing vehicles. If possible drive it over the sorts of roads and conditions you would normally experience.

Make a list of the things that are important to you.

Will be used a lot for towing?
Will it be use a lot for off road or gravel roads? Maybe you don't need four wheel drive.
Will you be regularly carrying big loads on the deck? What sort of loads/items? How do the deck dimensions work for you?
How many people will you carry? How important is the rear seat area and the appointments in the rear seat, things like air vents, USB power sockets etc.
What toys/features are important? Some are a bit gimicky, others fantastic and others will be personal preference. For example;
1. Do you want/will you use adaptive cruise control? I love cruise control but I don't like adaptive cruise control, other people will have a different view.
2. Lane assist? Once again I don't like/use this. Ditto to above
3. Blind spot alert? Great feature in my opinion.
4. Keyless entry? Very useful IMO
5. Remote start? A bit gimicky
6. Etc, etc

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Technofreak

6530 posts

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#2367815 3-Dec-2019 21:41

ilovemusic:

the amarok v6 is a fine drive and you can buy a new one from $60k.

https://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/volkswagen/auction-2402255593.htm

best ute to drive though is the ranger raptor, a lot less straightline speed than the amarok, less carrying and towing capacity but superb handling off-road and on road.

it's pricier than the amarok but not burdened with the moral reprehensibility of dieselgate.

How long do you hold a grudge like this? Plus I'd be willing to bet other manufacturers were pulling similar stunts, they just didn't get caught. VW paid the price at the time, other manufacturers were likely very fortunate.

I understand VW offered owners the opportunity to have this "feature" disabled but it brought with it a performance hit. I don't believe many or any owners took up VW's offer. That probably says how much concern it was to the public.

Just to show the absurdity of the emissions laws, the latest diesels have to meet more stringent emission standard with respect to one parameter (I cannot remember which one) but as a result they now burn more litres/100 km.

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Technofreak

6530 posts

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#2367818 3-Dec-2019 21:57

clevedon:

Only because Aussie Holden isn't building their own cars anymore. the Aussie built Commodore was the biggest selling large car for many years, nobody wants a FWD euro Commodore now.

Actually surprisingly in New Zealand it still is the biggest selling large car. Full year 2018 it was number 15 for cars and SUV's. YTD end of Oct 2019 it is at number 12 for cars and SUV's. Based on YTD figures it is 5% ahead of last year. Australia is another story.

Utes are still far and away the largest selling vehicles.

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Technofreak

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#2367819 3-Dec-2019 22:04

Fred99:

Here's a link to a story on that:

https://www.caradvice.com.au/803619/ford-stop-sale-ranger-everest-endura-transit-custom/

(Some of the comments are interesting - but "reader comments" to be taken with a grain of salt)

Very much so. In fact what one person considered was good service another considered it was poor service. I think some people like to moan. In life sh1t happens. As the L V Martin advert used to go "It's the putting right that counts". Ford hasn't always got it right ALA the dual clutch gear box issues with the Focus's etc but this time they seem to have done the right thing. Good on them.

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dafman

3925 posts

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#2367886 4-Dec-2019 08:28

Technofreak:

ilovemusic:

the amarok v6 is a fine drive and you can buy a new one from $60k.

https://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/volkswagen/auction-2402255593.htm

best ute to drive though is the ranger raptor, a lot less straightline speed than the amarok, less carrying and towing capacity but superb handling off-road and on road.

it's pricier than the amarok but not burdened with the moral reprehensibility of dieselgate.

How long do you hold a grudge like this? Plus I'd be willing to bet other manufacturers were pulling similar stunts, they just didn't get caught. VW paid the price at the time, other manufacturers were likely very fortunate.

I understand VW offered owners the opportunity to have this "feature" disabled but it brought with it a performance hit. I don't believe many or any owners took up VW's offer. That probably says how much concern it was to the public.

Just to show the absurdity of the emissions laws, the latest diesels have to meet more stringent emission standard with respect to one parameter (I cannot remember which one) but as a result they now burn more litres/100 km.

My answer, indefinitely. VW deliberately deceived both its customers and regulators on an unprecedented scale. However, most heinously, VW's deception not only misled, it directly contributed to a significant number of early deaths.

I'm glad some some consumers choose now, and in future, to put their purchase dollars elsewhere.

Technofreak

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#2367931 4-Dec-2019 09:49

dafman:

I'm glad some some consumers choose now, and in future, to put their purchase dollars elsewhere.

The irony of that logic is you're more likely to be supporting someone who may be "gaming" the system.

VW got caught and are more likely to be squeaky clean now whereas a manufacturer who wasn't caught and hasn't been through the pain VW went through is more likely to chance their arm to beat the system.

Your indefinite comment is unreasonable IMO. If you take that line of thinking over time you could probably rule out nearly all manufacturers for one reason or another.

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dafman

3925 posts

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#2367942 4-Dec-2019 10:13

Technofreak:

dafman:

I'm glad some some consumers choose now, and in future, to put their purchase dollars elsewhere.

The irony of that logic is you're more likely to be supporting someone who may be "gaming" the system.

VW got caught and are more likely to be squeaky clean now whereas a manufacturer who wasn't caught and hasn't been through the pain VW went through is more likely to chance their arm to beat the system.

Your indefinite comment is unreasonable IMO. If you take that line of thinking over time you could probably rule out nearly all manufacturers for one reason or another.

Post dieselgate, all manufacturers have been under detailed scrutiny and absolutely nothing has come to light that any other manufacturer was installing emission deception devices.

So in absence of any evidence to the contrary, there's no irony at all to the logic.

As for 'ruling out manufacturers for one reason or another', deliberately contributing to the early deaths of thousands of people is one reason well above all else (IMHO).

MrAmerica

128 posts

Master Geek
Inactive user

#2368135 4-Dec-2019 14:21

ilovemusic:
the amarok v6 is a fine drive and you can buy a new one from $60k.

https://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/volkswagen/auction-2402255593.htm

best ute to drive though is the ranger raptor, a lot less straightline speed than the amarok, less carrying and towing capacity but superb handling off-road and on road.

it's pricier than the amarok but not burdened with the moral reprehensibility of dieselgate.

Raptors weren't around when I bought, but don't think I would have bought one mainly due to price, the Amarok was pushing my price limit! I assume its also outside the OP's price range.

I got sent a video or link a month or so ago but I cant find it now, but it was simple comparison with a bunch of Utes, Amarok, Raptor and F150 included. Straight line acceleration and stopping. Raptor didn't stop so well either which may be due to its suspension setup, or possibly weight.

Pretty sure also when I bought the Amarok, it met NZ emission standards.

sud0

282 posts

Ultimate Geek

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Lifetime subscriber

#2368666 5-Dec-2019 10:34

Technofreak:

Good advice, twice would be a minimum if you are comparing vehicles. If possible drive it over the sorts of roads and conditions you would normally experience.

Make a list of the things that are important to you.

Will be used a lot for towing?
Will it be use a lot for off road or gravel roads? Maybe you don't need four wheel drive.
Will you be regularly carrying big loads on the deck? What sort of loads/items? How do the deck dimensions work for you?
How many people will you carry? How important is the rear seat area and the appointments in the rear seat, things like air vents, USB power sockets etc.
What toys/features are important? Some are a bit gimicky, others fantastic and others will be personal preference. For example;

Do you want/will you use adaptive cruise control? I love cruise control but I don't like adaptive cruise control, other people will have a different view.
Lane assist? Once again I don't like/use this. Ditto to above
Blind spot alert? Great feature in my opinion.
Keyless entry? Very useful IMO
Remote start? A bit gimicky
Etc, etc

Will be used a lot for towing? Not a lot, but usually a Jet Ski or something like that. Not hard core.
Will it be use a lot for off road or gravel roads? Maybe you don't need four wheel drive. Not everyday, but yeah - I don't want to have to install snow chains anymore ;)
Will you be regularly carrying big loads on the deck? What sort of loads/items? How do the deck dimensions work for you? Dirty bikes or ATV at the most.
How many people will you carry? How important is the rear seat area and the appointments in the rear seat, things like air vents, USB power sockets etc. Usually 2 but will get more at least 3 times per year. Air vents in the back are important, as well as USB ports.
What toys/features are important? Some are a bit gimicky, others fantastic and others will be personal preference. For example;
1. Do you want/will you use adaptive cruise control? I love cruise control but I don't like adaptive cruise control, other people will have a different view. It'd be great if it comes with it
2. Lane assist? Once again I don't like/use this. Ditto to above Don't need this one
3. Blind spot alert? Great feature in my opinion. yes!
4. Keyless entry? Very useful IMO why not?
5. Remote start? A bit gimicky don't need this
6. Etc, etc

Lucas

lpossamai.me

BlinkyBill

1443 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#2368709 5-Dec-2019 11:44

Ford is doing a deal on the 2WD XLT at the moment - $42k.

sud0

282 posts

Ultimate Geek

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#2449814 30-Mar-2020 00:07

Okay... so... a couple of months later... i'm here to give you guys an update 😀

But first.. I hope you're all safe and well!

So, I ended up getting a 2020 Triton VRX (thank God I didn't go for an holden aye? 😋 )! Pretty good deal (+$5K off) and it is an awesome truck! Very confortable, 4x4 when I need it, very tech... im lovin' it!

Lucas

lpossamai.me

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