Thread: New Ute Dilemma

Originally Posted by Bush Basher

Interesting comments, I’m currently working on a large WA mine site and probably 80% of vehicles on site are hilux’s , the remainder are 79 series land cruisers and management get around in prados.
The only vehicles that aren’t Toyota are light trucks that are either Isuzu or Mitsubishi.

Yep, he mostly does cruisers with some other mumble brand thrown in. The issue isn't anything directly with the Ranger or Hilux - it's simply to get them to the level that they are happy the things won't return to sender for warranty work the cost for labour is VERY high. For every Ranger, he can do three mumble brand with full extended range tanks (which the boys on the tools bloody hate so I won't name the brand). Even with Toyota's bulk pricing, they are still doing 2.3 or so mumblers. Also, he reckons the cruisers don't break near as frequently so they are pushing those as the higher price option and can move more out the door as less modification required to get them to standard. He's interesting to talk to, what his outfit does is purely based on business there is no love for a particular brand. He owns a Patrol for his personal ride. He says they have looked at light trucks, but similar to NZ the parts costs are horrific and things like front lower joints die young and often. Ride quality and safety for the small cab designs (frontal impact) are somewhat lacking too.

In NZ mines, I know of several that won't touch Hiluxes at all for their lease vehicles. One is running Rangers, another Isuzu's and one is in the process of switching away from Toyota now. Again, not down to the vehicle - it's the deal they can strike that swings them at the time and part of that is the support that the supplier offers on site.