Thread: New Ute Dilemma

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.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Originally Posted by Dicko

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


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Again, with an unloaded vehicle on standard suspension on smooth highway, yep awesome ride. Load the thing up and take it out the west coast on the back roads and you can't count the number of times you bottom out per KM. You either need aftermarket suspension or a mod of some sort like supplementary airbags, but to be fair this isn't just a Ford complaint. I also do not like the design of the current model ranger, the uplift on the front corners of the bonnet is an arse for downward visibility over the front end on narrow, steep offroad tracks. You probably won't notice until you hop out of a PX series into the new one, but the vis is definitely not as good over the front end.

All the new utes need under body protection and better tyres for more serious off road use. Maybe then a lift then. I kept my old modified 1HD Prado for the bash and scratch jobs. its lifted, hd sprung, 180 l tank, bars and winch...Rides rough unloaded though.

On the new Ford, the ride and handling with light to reasonable loads (like hunting and fishing camps) is good. It maybe different with canopies and heavy tool boxes. I use my head for a living not my hands so thats for others to work out. For trade use you buy a poverty pack and turn it into a work truck which then is not ideal for civi use. Horses for courses...

The v6 180 KW, 600 NM motor and 10 speed box is smoother than a 4/5 cyclinder and quiet, no diesel rattle like in my old Toyota. All round disc brakes are great, should be mandatory on all new utes now.

They are big. The bonnet is a bit harder to see over. Makes the Prado feel like a jeep. Longer wheel base, turning circle is larger but probably similiar to the Lux. However you've got cameras over every wheel and front and back that can help with gutters, holes, rocks, slow 4wd crawling and a camera showing you where your wheels will track when in 4wd at low speeds. In fact the tech is a bit of a mind mess. Electric brake package std etc.

I work in agriculture and you are seeing plenty of them in the bush now, with growers and rural reps, Wrightson types etc.

Would i buy a new ute and smash it up the Rakia R. etc...probably not but for Thar's use, hunting, pulling the trailer like its not there, doing the longer miles, not pulling up sore on arrival, heated seats when sneaking home to town early morning are all pretty nice..

Just go full Philipo and get a Dodge Ram

Originally Posted by Ryan_Songhurst

Just go full Philipo and get a Dodge Ram

The Ram? You sure? That `s a big sucker....Have you watched the last episode of "Yellow Stone"?

no one has talked Isuzu D max whats thoughts on those- my cocky mate loves his once he got the lane departure warning switched off he said that bloody thing was scary he is on his second Dmax

Originally Posted by Barry the hunter

no one has talked Isuzu D max whats thoughts on those- my cocky mate loves his once he got the lane departure warning switched off he said that bloody thing was scary he is on his second Dmax

I have one as a work vehicle and have to turn the lane departure "Grandma grabs the wheel" feature off every time I start it up
Don't forget the AI that is as smart as a retarded child which brakes randomly for things that it thinks look scary, often with no warning

I hate my DMax with a passion and curse it every day but with free diesel on a 2 hour commute I suck it up

Mate of mine has run D Max for years. Until he retired recently he did a lot of DOC contracts and also hunting. He tows a big boat and works them hard but always services on time. A suggestion no matter what you get Thar, consider putting a catch can on the engine to prevent carbon build up in your EGR valve and inlet manifold. Good luck with your decision.

Originally Posted by Black Rabbit

The Ram? You sure? That `s a big sucker....Have you watched the last episode of "Yellow Stone"?

Used to be just the small wiene guys drove them, now every second builder has one or their coming out of the closet. At 120k they make a top end Hilux or Ranger look reasonable.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Originally Posted by Ryan_Songhurst

Just go full Philipo and get a Dodge Ram

Phillipo's has got a whine in it.

Originally Posted by Ryan_Songhurst

Just go full Philipo and get a Dodge Ram

Yuk
F150 is where it's at.

I did like my 2007 D22 Navara, 3.0L version with the ZD30. One of the most capable factory setups I've had offroad, it just couldn't pass anything it was totally gutless.

I have the 04 zd30, they don’t get stuck. As far as gutless, they are a little detuned from factory I think, probably because they come out turbo with no intercooler. There is a heap of mods to do that will up the power, but makes it technically illegal. Mine has no cat converter and is free flow from turbo back, egr is deleted, the butterfly setup that goes with it is re vacuumed to open permanently instead of rev activated, I have a remapped computer for it. It goes a noticeable 15-20 % better than stock. The Aussie blokes intercool, high flow turbo and that seems to get them really cranking. Doesn’t take away from the fact that you have to do al this to a factory vehicle in order to get half decent performance

Originally Posted by Jus

I have the 04 zd30, they don’t get stuck. As far as gutless, they are a little detuned from factory I think, probably because they come out turbo with no intercooler. There is a heap of mods to do that will up the power, but makes it technically illegal. Mine has no cat converter and is free flow from turbo back, egr is deleted, the butterfly setup that goes with it is re vacuumed to open permanently instead of rev activated, I have a remapped computer for it. It goes a noticeable 15-20 % better than stock. The Aussie blokes intercool, high flow turbo and that seems to get them really cranking. Doesn’t take away from the fact that you have to do al this to a factory vehicle in order to get half decent performance

NADS - Nissan Anti-Detonation System... A 7-step process to help prevent your ZD30 from lunching itself!!!