Thread: New Ute Dilemma

@Maxx that's a clever little design feature. Running boards on the front also helps with repeated groin strain from the big step up!

Originally Posted by Barry the hunter

just thinking outside the box here Thar what about the new 5 door Suzuki unless you are towing its 4x4 credentials leave all these others stuck in the mud just a thought

Cool things those. I have done a bit of driving in the 2 door. They're a bit lacking in the testosterone department, but definitely cool little boxes. Cheap too, at least the 2 door was. It would suit Tahrs self proclaimed 'antithesis of a redneck' theme. Just don't try tow a 2 ton trailer

Can't really speak to any of the other latest utes, but I had a PX2 XLT extra cab from new in 2018 to 2023 as a (corporate leased) work vehicle. Field service work from mining to forestry, bog stock suspension and lived it's entire life with me loaded to GVM or close to it. 156000km of all the jandal she could handle and then some... My only complaints were that the headlights were pox, drivers seat could have done with better lumbar support, and when it cracked a leaf spring (I wonder who's fault that was ) that Ford put new spring packs in it with 5 leaves not 6 - the originals were definitely 6 leaf spring packs but they swore black and blue they fitted the correct parts. Apart from that, the 3.2L donk and 6 speed auto was absolutely grouse and had it been a dual cab I wouldn't have hesitated to buy my own field ute despite knowing the hiding it had been given.

Now into one of the new 4cyl 10 speed auto rangers (2023 XL), and I gotta say I like it. Feels like as much grunt as the 3.2, thanks to the trickery of the 10 speed (Mint). Less engine braking? Sorta. Use the auto wisely and you can kind of work around that. We tow a 2.4T service trailer a lot and it only shows any weakness when taking off in a hurry, engine braking with a braked trailer behind you still works well enough for me.


TL,DR: I'd happliy drive a new plain jane XL ranger dual cab if I was given the choice. Gotta shell out a lot more to get any kind of luxuries that I'd be interested in from an up-spec model (heated seats! Could care less about dual zone A/C)

Originally Posted by 6x47

In the Sport model too

V6 option starts in the xlt.



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As i said Tahr,what ever you are happy with.You like new trucks,go buy one.

If $20k is your budget, and the current vehicle is going ok, then I'd be trying to figure out how much maintenance $ you're likely to chew up in the next 3-4 years?
Then have a look at what current 200,000km Fords are going for and work back from there.

If you're bored of the current ride and/or a newer model has some desirable features, then I'd probably swap it out.

Originally Posted by Flyblown

The current Hilux will hold its price head and shoulders above any of the other models.

Diesel will not be going anywhere any time ever due to the huge demand from commercial transportation. Mild hybrids will become the norm but there’s always going to be demand for straight diesels. The current attempts to legislate in favour of electric vehicles aren’t going to work for anyone but urban and suburban dwellers for their commuting vehicles.

The 2.8 1GD-FTV and 2.4 2GD-FTV have outsold the other ute engines by God alone knows what multiple, as it is a very successful cross-platform motor found in everything from utes, SUVs, proper 4WDs and vans. They are found all over the world and have already proven themselves out to crazy mileage. At the end of the day the Toyota premium is there for a reason, the reliability reputation is what it is. Some bright spark will turn up and say oh I had such & such go wrong and I’ll never touch another one and blah blah blah blah blah DPF this, DPF that, and a whole load of other shit that doesn’t change the global reliability reputation one bit. The stats are what they are.

In Australasia you only have to look at the commercial fleets in the big open pit mining operations across the ditch to get a sense of where the trust lies.

If you are looking at the next vehicle being your forever vehicle then buy the Toyota.

It's funny, my cousin is in a light vehicle 2nd tier assembly shop (think cab chassis conversions to minespec) out WA - they don't touch Rangers or Hilux's now even if the customer tries to insist. One of the main issues is electronic headaches trying to add systems on top of the CANBUS enabled utes, effectively the size of conductors in the new looms is not sufficient to supply a lot of the aftermarket parts. Another headache for them is the new vehicle structural components are so light now making up for it with design and higher spec heat treated materials that some mods require major inserts and reinforcing brackets which all add up to jack the conversion price right up...

Originally Posted by No.3

It's funny, my cousin is in a light vehicle 2nd tier assembly shop (think cab chassis conversions to minespec) out WA - they don't touch Rangers or Hilux's now even if the customer tries to insist. One of the main issues is electronic headaches trying to add systems on top of the CANBUS enabled utes, effectively the size of conductors in the new looms is not sufficient to supply a lot of the aftermarket parts. Another headache for them is the new vehicle structural components are so light now making up for it with design and higher spec heat treated materials that some mods require major inserts and reinforcing brackets which all add up to jack the conversion price right up...

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.

In Australia Toyota offer incredible fleet discounts. They try to own that market and their product fits well.

In the civi market and total sales of units, Ranger is beating Hilux and Isuzu is a distant third.

All round disc brakes, ride quality and tech package is way ahead in the ford. Hilux isn’t a bad truck, just an old truck.
Remembering that 95% of blokes use them like Thar, mostly blacktop, a bit of gravel and beach or paddock. Not like a miner does…


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Originally Posted by No.3

It's funny, my cousin is in a light vehicle 2nd tier assembly shop (think cab chassis conversions to minespec) out WA - they don't touch Rangers or Hilux's now even if the customer tries to insist. One of the main issues is electronic headaches trying to add systems on top of the CANBUS enabled utes, effectively the size of conductors in the new looms is not sufficient to supply a lot of the aftermarket parts. Another headache for them is the new vehicle structural components are so light now making up for it with design and higher spec heat treated materials that some mods require major inserts and reinforcing brackets which all add up to jack the conversion price right up...

I see. Not sure that I really understand what you’re trying to say here because all I see on site visits to the WA mines are hundreds of Hilux all modified to mine spec, with ROPS, tool trays, bars, aux power, comms, lighting, the works. I did a site visit at Minecorp in 2019 and it was chockablock full of Gen 8 Hilux being converted.

Care to tell us which company your cousin works at?

Originally Posted by Flyblown

The current Hilux will hold its price head and shoulders above any of the other models.

Diesel will not be going anywhere any time ever due to the huge demand from commercial transportation.

If you are looking at the next vehicle being your forever vehicle then buy the Toyota.

Wise man. Toyota has changed their strategy again after changed the CEO.They are no longer in chasing the market trends and get back to the original track, clean diesel for Western market competition, and hydrogen engine for the future.

Originally Posted by Dicko

In Australia Toyota offer incredible fleet discounts. They try to own that market and their product fits well.

In the civi market and total sales of units, Ranger is beating Hilux and Isuzu is a distant third.

All round disc brakes, ride quality and tech package is way ahead in the ford. Hilux isn’t a bad truck, just an old truck.
Remembering that 95% of blokes use them like Thar, mostly blacktop, a bit of gravel and beach or paddock. Not like a miner does.

Yup, last year was first year the Ranger beat the Hilux for seven years.

And the reason is because the suburban guys are buying them for the bling look. Ford made a big effort to align the look of the Ranger with the big American pick ups and they did a good job because to the average bling oriented driver it looks pretty mean compared to anything else.

Originally Posted by Flyblown

Yup, last year was first year the Ranger beat the Hilux for seven years.

And the reason is because the suburban guys are buying them for the bling look. Ford made a big effort to align the look of the Ranger with the big American pick ups and they did a good job because to the average bling oriented driver it looks pretty mean compared to anything else.

Go for a ride in one. It’s more than looks. But they also look ok.


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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.

Just go full Philipo and get a Dodge Ram