Need help with which Pickup truck to buy
 

Right guys we are looking to buy a new Pickup truck but cannot think of anything better nor can we decide between our final two choices.

Initially I had thought there were plenty of pickup trucks made by various companies but the only ones that are good are Japanese which isnt an issue but just odd.

The 3 decent ones we looked at were the Nissan Navara, Toyota Hilux (aswell as the Intimidator) and the Mitsubishi L200 Warrior.

Obviously we give the Navara a big boot but cannot decide between the Hilux and L200.

The L200 was voted Pickup truck of the year 2007 but Hilux has a legendry track record of how good it is.

Money is not too much of an issue but if you guys can help me decide on which one we should go for or even if you have an alternative suggestion please post ;)

cheers

You dismissed the best pickup on the market i.e. the Navara:wonder: :cuckoo:

I had a D40 Outlaw and ran it for 20k miles, used it alot on beaches and was the only vehice I was sorry to see go.
Truly superb vehicle on road/off road and a really gutsy engine.

Really wasn't impressed with the Warrior and all that plastic chrome trim makes it look like a hairdressers truck!!

The Hilux is a good work horse but unrefined compared to the other two. A local quarry where I do work sometimes runs them and they are hammered severly but stand up to the abuse well.

Yeh ive always come across knowing the Hilux to be one tough cookie.

I have little knowledge on Pickup Trucks and have come across various people with pickups saying Navara is no good. Never really went into detial as to why. I mean personally I like the look of them and love the TV ad ;)

But what caught my attention with the other two was 1. The Hilux has a track record or reliability and robustness whereas the L200 has won Pickup of the year 2007 as well as the fact I love the look on them.

Hence the reaon im so confused with the whole idea

id go for Hilux or Navara.

i drive all types of pick ups daily for work.
id go for the navara personaly.

test drive them both see what you like.

Yeh I think thats what I am going to have to do. Btw do you not like the L200?

I always thought the Hilux was the best, the only thing that let it down was the underpowered engine. For some reason they didn't import the version with the more powerful diesel which meant the Nissan won the review. I think that may be different now, but you can get the more powerful variant through importers anyway.

Yeah was going to say Kiwi that my old man bought the Hilux Vigo in Pakistan a few months ago but dont know how it is compared to the L200 and Navara.

I still have not come across anyone saying they prefer the l200. Is that supposed to be telling me something? It was also voted pickup of the year 2007.

I've got a new Animal, well had it a year now.
I tried all the pick-ups - the Navara's rear seats are too up-right for the kids and it just felt too big on our roads.
The Hilux was so sloowww but that was the old model, and the interior was archaic.
The Isuzu again was woefully underpowered and agricultural ( even with a power upgrade).
The Ford Ranger....just don't......
So I plumped for the Animal. I know the chrome is a bit naff but I use mine for proper off roading and green laning, for work also, and can honestly say it is superb.Comfy, high level of standard kit, loads of room for 5 adults if needed and pretty fast - 0-62 timed at a little over 10 secs, which you wouldn't want to do often...;)
I get 30 - 35 mpg around town and have had 45 mpg on a motorway run, unless I've got my AT tyres on and then 25 is about average.
I know a few guys with the Nav and it really is nowhere near as good off road as the length gives it a disadvantage, but I must admit, they do look good. ( apart from those roof bars)

The Warrior probably is the best model but you pay extra for the power upgrade (138 bhp standard to 163 upgraded), leather and 10 disc cd.(plus the dodgy chrome :) )

Still, try them all 'cos one size doesn't fit all! :thumb:

Forgot to say, if you fancy any of those 'back end out' moments the L200 is the one!
Without the kids in and an empty rear bed, of course! :D

Zip ............. every specialist 4x4 centre I went to said that if I bought the L200 they would see me again, and again and again with minor breakdowns and issues. They all recommended the D40 Navara and said that they had found them uber reliable and I wouldn't be back complaing about reliability.
How reliable how you found the L200 in the real world of of actually using one?

I agree the rear seats in the Navara are quite upright, our dogs never complained though!!:lol1:

Why did Mitsubishi put all that bloody chrome crap on the L200?? :freak3:

Must say I'd seriously look at getting another Navara in the future, me and the missus really did rate it.

Correct me if I am wrong but does'nt the warrior use a really old engine design?

No probs except a turbo hose coming loose. 2 minute fix.
To be honest, I had more probs with the lock on the rear top not working, but that's fine now.

Tobisausage....The engines on all the new L200's are brand new DiD's, not re-worked old engines, hence 20% better economy, 12 month servicing and loads faster :thumb:

There were a few head gaskets that were blowing/ crackin heads on the old engines but they seem to be confined to 03 / 53 reg. vehicles.

The Navs have had major problems with the rear axles being torqued wrongly and have (as I understand it) had long waits to get new ones fitted.

As for the chrome...dunno why they did it, but it can come off easily. And as I use mine FOR WHAT IT WAS BUILT FOR ( :) ) it's usually crapped up and you can't see the chrome much anyway, but the only chrome on the Warrior is the mirrors.

And of course, I think the L200 is the only Euro 4 engine and therefore has a road tax of £115 pa :thumb: :thumb:

But as I said before, it's not to everyones taste but it does me fine...!

Forgot to say that Planet 4x4 did a good group test of pick-ups last month.
I'm afraid the L200 won, just, but that seemed to be more because of the LSD and traction control being so good in off road situations.
The others don't have these.

Hey thanks for the replies guys

Just a few things lol

First the pickup I buy is not going to be for real off road use ;)

I was initially going to buy a little corsa van for my pharmacy only to be told that a pickup can also be classed as a delivery car so thought why not ;)

Likewise I find the L200 more attractive so far. The other thing is, if the Navara is better than the L200 how comes the L200 won the pcikup of the year?

Btw Ihave seen a few Navaras on the road recently and I am warming to them.

Regarding chrome on the Warrior, it reminds of the new Saabs. I thought my neighbour was off his head and got the chrome put on himself only to be told it is how he bought the car from dealers.

am not a fan of the L200. i didnt like for me it doesnt have a solid feel about it.

Btw, in 2003 I paid a visit to Pakistan. I had seen a brand new Hilux, cant remember what it was but it had a fridge thing on the back. Like outside just behind the cabin. Do the Navara, L200 and also the UK Hilux have these too?

I had this done on mine as it was a major recall. I sat in the dealers while it was done and took about 10 minutes! I sold mine last August and thought only the early models were effected, surely they've sorted this long ago?

The Navara's have long service intervals and mine did'nt use a drop between new and the 1st service.

As with buying all cars take a days test drive in each and see which suits you and ticks your boxes. As long as you are happy with your choice nowt else matters.

This has been happening on the new Navara.
I know of 2 people who lost their truck for a month while it was sorted, wether there was another problem at the same time I'm not sure.

Regarding the small fridge thing guys ;) can someone give me any more info

cheers

Ah okies, my GF wants either a Navara, Warrior or a Mondeo 150 diesel estate and someone said and I quote 'The warrior engines are neolithic'. When did the new engines come into effect?

The new engines came in with the new shape truck- Feb/March 2006 (07 MY).
(front intercooler as opposed to top one).

Can't help re the fridge thing, though......

im pretty sure the new mitsis are a new body on old truck navara s are the way to go there was a problem with the rear axle but apart from that good mpg good service intervals and looks the job to

The new L200 is a completely new vehicle.
It's a different size for starters, it has electronic stability and traction control to control the power and braking to individual wheels, if you over cook it a bit!, ( none of the other pick ups on the market have this, and it works brilliantly!) and can be used in 4wd mode on tarmac( unlike the old one) and can be put into 4wd at upto 62 mph.
The whole gearbox/transferbox and drivetrain is new
The old torsion bar front suspension is replaced with double wishbones and coiled springs
It has a smaller turning circle and the cab is even bigger ( load bed a bit smaller because of this) than the old one.
The ladder frame chassis is 50% more rigid torsionaly and 70% more longitudinaly than the old one. :thumb:

I could go on but I've got to go to the Rugby.....;)

So yeah, just a new body, then......
Totally, totally different.

;) Navara won for me tested them all
Hilux good power bad seats and awfull driving position,poor spec for price.
L200 a joke..would break it in a month,weady by comparison
ranger good for money but tbh not in seem league
Toyed with Range rover but that would not work like the navara for me.

Navara wins hands down..had an old shape loved it bot now got a latest model aventura
It just takes everything i throw at it and everone who has travelled in it or seen the work we have it do is impressed.
Quality truck
Strecth the budget to an aventura its worth it.
Mine looking good with a few mods...

Go drive them all sure you will find the one that works for you.
;)

Dman didnt expect that much of a "bad" reception for the L200. I was expecting it to be the "peoples choice". Mind you the Navara does look very good, gonna be looking at arranging some test drives. See how they all are

l200 =
worse build quality and less thought to what uses it would have.
worse economy,lesser towing ability,lesser spec,poorer residules,worse looks,smaller load area,less power.smaller interior,smaller and less storage in cab,
Hated blue stitching on steering wheel would look grubby in weeks,fake metalic paint finish on door pulss was chipped on demo car..not a good sign..light coloured kick panles and kick panels..hardly ideal..and to add at side of navara not half the drive.

hilux.=
.bad spec..no bluetooth..singel cd..no heated seats..no climate..no sunroof..no cruise..bad visibilty on reversing..hated seats and lack of adjustment
on the plus great engine on par or better than nissan and load area good.

I suppose it depends on your needs, really.
For me the Navs are crap off road compared to the L200 and that won me over, I actually USE mine off road, and I don't need a massive loadbed. :thumb:
All the Navs around here are driven by suits......

jasemac - worse economy? how's that then? They both have a combined of 34mpg.
less towing ability? They both can tow 2700kgs braked or 750 kgs unbraked.
Lesser spec? go for the Diamond or Elegance and you'll get the same.
smaller interior,yeah right! I've had 5 6' 4" rugby players going from Notts. to Twickenham in mine in comfort - plenty of room!
less storage inside? - well, I'll give you that one!

To me the Navara's are a truck the likes of Kahn will modify and they are all being 'blinged' up to the eyeballs now.......:cuckoo:
Navs are really a posers 'street' truck for people who wouldn't dare get it dirty for losing their 'street cred'.......:D:

In fact if anyone fancies bringing a Navara to Kirton off road centre, I'll be there on the next 'play day' - 27th May. ( best change those crome 22's first, though :D: )

The Navarras are nice looking but they do seem to have become a trendy lifestyle vehicle.

The L200 just looks terrible though, I love the old model but this one looks stupid IMO.

The Toyota is still the choice I'd make, but it would have to be one imported from Thailand, not the South African ones that are the official imports.

in the reveiws i read the navara was better off road?

Also regards towing i mean i drove with them both back to back..trailer on loaded..navara won hands down.
Regards economy I tested both and did the same journeys
the navara was better..and better when towing


All imho but based on real experience also..
And again the Navara deffo had room room inside.

Each to there won but l200 was not for me
Like i say to the origianl poster go try them all make you own mind up,just posted my veiw thats all not saying i am right but i based my decision on lots of testing;)

Hence the reason I really do appreciate the input from all your guys ;)