Thread: New truck.

Looking for a new wagon double cab diesel anything to avoid ? Looking at all options at the moment preferably auto but not a deal breaker.

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The Dog and Lemon guide sell pdf reviews of vehicles. 3 for $10, 8 for $ 20, 15 for $30.

These are not the usual tame-reporter-doing-paid-review type deals. They are usually a brisk slapping followed by a bucket of icewater to the face.

They give a free review of the Landrover Freelander so's you get an idea of what to expect.

Their verdict on the engines: " Designed by Satan and assembled by monkeys"

From memory they don't recommend buying a Nissan Navarra, now that Nissan is owned by Renault.

Stay away fron the Holden Colorado, they had an issue in the factory and something like 2500 engines did NOT get there final hone.... the result is they chew through oil and Holden denies the issue. I have a good friend who is on his 3rd engine and another mate who is on his second.The big problem is Holden don't know the VIN numbers of the cars that didn't get it so it's a real lottery.

Originally Posted by Max Headroom

The Dog and Lemon guide sell pdf reviews of vehicles. 3 for $10, 8 for $ 20, 15 for $30.

These are not the usual tame-reporter-doing-paid-review type deals. They are usually a brisk slapping followed by a bucket of icewater to the face.

They give a free review of the Landrover Freelander so's you get an idea of what to expect.

Their verdict on the engines: " Designed by Satan and assembled by monkeys"

From memory they don't recommend buying a Nissan Navarra, now that Nissan is owned by Renault.

I compared some of his stuff to real world reports, and some vehicles i had owned , I found it to be biased emotional garbage IMHO and I wouldnt read it again if I was paid to.

VW Amarok has been 4x4 of the year for a couple of years. Wheels magazine compared the common brands (Holden, Isuzu, Ford, Nissan, etc). Their pick was Amarok.
Greg Duley uses one on his TV show.
Don't have a need for a 4x4 dual cab truck, but that'd be my pick if I was REALLY looking.
Standing by for incoming fan boy angst

@Cartman, how long do you want to keep the vehicle? You should consider that, and how strong certain brands are second hand, for resale or trade in.

Also, are you city, town or rural? Proximity to your service centre is also a consideration as some of the current crop of 4x4 utes are making a lot of trips back to the dealer.

I've driven most of the current crop as either lease, hire or other contractors' vehicles, carrying heavy loads, on rough back country roads and station tracks. You really really need to drive the vehicles in the kind of conditions they were designed to be operated in to appreciate the difference. A test drive in the suburbs is meaningless. But also, usually, all you can manage.

If you're going to be mostly using it as a normal car, then it doesn't really make a huge amount of difference which one you get. If you're interested in bling and flash looks, then that might make up your mind for you. But if you're actually going to work it properly, laden, off the beaten track, then the list of options I would recommend is very short. I wouldn't touch a Ranger, a D-Max, a Triton, a Navara, a Colorado or an Amarok. Why? Because those that I have driven, and those operated by others whose opinion I trust, just don't cut it.

There's only one genuine contender for a proper work ute, and that's Hilux, obviously. We run four of the current model, all bought new November '16, base model double cab 2.8L 4WD. Of the four, the highest mileage so far is just over 90,000km, the lowest is about 65,000km I think. So overall that's about 350,000km ish and these vehicles get worked very very hard, totally abused and disrespected, and they're towing a bike or very heavy feed trailer most of the time too. You know how many times there vehicles have been into the dealer with problems?

Not once. Well, maybe a couple of times, to fix problems inflicted by the operator driving them into things... but no reliability problems whatsoever.

Originally Posted by WallyR

VW Amarok has been 4x4 of the year for a couple of years. Wheels magazine compared the common brands (Holden, Isuzu, Ford, Nissan, etc). Their pick was Amarok.
Greg Duley uses one on his TV show.
Don't have a need for a 4x4 dual cab truck, but that'd be my pick if I was REALLY looking.

Had one for 5years and know a few other owners
positives - tonnes of space, the most comfortable ute and handles well.
negatives - standard european issues, doesn't like towing trailers, if you have the manual make sure you get the gear right or it will stall.
Thoughts - didn't think it was that great offroad, and is definitely a vehicle you want with a factory warranty, but very nice for long trips and comfortably fits 4 guys and ALL the gear for a few days away.

I replaced it with a Dmax, won't be going back to any VW vehicle.

Originally Posted by North guy

Stay away fron the Holden Colorado, they had an issue in the factory and something like 2500 engines did NOT get there final hone.... the result is they chew through oil and Holden denies the issue. I have a good friend who is on his 3rd engine and another mate who is on his second.The big problem is Holden don't know the VIN numbers of the cars that didn't get it so it's a real lottery.

i just traded mine that had the oil issue for the new one. so if you see a jey218 i wouldn't recommend

in saying that to me the holden was a great allround truck not the best but for the price and power they hard to beat.

I know the trighton is having a clearance and david jones in wanganui is doing some shape prices on them currently 2wd for $30k +orc

Clive Matthew Wilson (writer of the Dog n Lemon guide) is off his fucking rocker. Gets around in an absolutely fucked old Morrie van, so much poo holding it together, while dressed up in an army surplus one-piece flight suit, fur lapels and all.

Originally Posted by 199p

i just traded mine that had the oil issue for the new one. so if you see a jey218 i wouldn't recommend

in saying that to me the holden was a great allround truck not the best but for the price and power they hard to beat.

I know the trighton is having a clearance and david jones in wanganui is doing some shape prices on them currently 2wd for $30k +orc

Same, using oil... Oh we will monitor it... Nah I'm over your service in general. Ebberts Tauranga. Brought a ranger, way better.

they ALL have issues (except Toyota's apparently but their dealers don't really talk to common people.)
Buy something with a factory warranty and trade it when its due to expire

I thought the hilux had injector issues? Or was that the last model with 3ltr diesel. As for some other comments I live on farm it will be used on farm a fair bit and open road travel. Would also like the options of driving up the braided rivers after a tahr one day. I did like the tritons as they seemed pretty good value. I was not really that keen in the amarok as I've heard the engines are highly strung and don't take abuse to well. Also like the ranger cause they look beastly and pull like a school boy at least on road.
Cheers for the replies I'm still fairly undecided ha also I'm not buying new have a 30k limit so title may have been misleading.

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Originally Posted by 199p

i just traded mine that had the oil issue for the new one. so if you see a jey218 i wouldn't recommend

in saying that to me the holden was a great allround truck not the best but for the price and power they hard to beat.

I know the trighton is having a clearance and david jones in wanganui is doing some shape prices on them currently 2wd for $30k +orc

Yes and most places also, a 4WD Triton manual works out to $35650 on road.
Resale wouldn’t be a patch on a Hilux although the Triton have come up a long way and I think are good value now.


For a lot less than a new Triton i bought the Hilux.

I had a 30k limit too. Would have liked something flasher but couldn't spare the coin.
Ended up getting a Foton. Had done 10000 kms and still got the balance of the factory warranty. Done 15000 kms so far and no issues.