Ok its time now.
Laser is going and a decent Ute is coming.
Money's in the bank and am looking at either a Navara or a Hilux from 15-20k
What are your experiences/recommendations with these utes good and bad?
I'd steer clear of the nissan's, but toyota are probobly the most reliable out there at the moment. Another one worth looking at is the ford ranger. It's great in the sand, in the city and still went up the cape well. only had a few clearance problems otherwise went everywhere our cruiser went. we take one to moreton island all the time and have never come close to getting bogged. use lots of fuel on the sand though. BT50 is pretty much the same too.
A T/D Navara has nothing wrong with it... dunno about "steer clear of the Nissans"
either of them will be top vehicles.
Hilux bit better in serious offroad, Navara bit better on road handling.
For just getting down the beach either will be tops: (don't listen to the 4WD enthusiasts they will try and tell you that you need it lifted with mud tyres and maximum wheel articulation etc.)
Had both, loved both, last time I bought one I sat down and did some numerical analysis and the Nissan came out as best value for money, which is what I got. Am in the market again myself too, thinking that it would probably be the same result again, but buying a Toyota wouldn't bring any regret either. There would probably be a slightly higher availability of Toyota parts in remoter parts of Australia, and they would be a touch more reliable, but barely.
I reckon it's going to come down to exactly what's available when I actually go shopping in terms of individual vehicles with packages of what extras. Don't forget to check out the auction houses.
I have an 07 Navara stx- love it. The economy and stuff is really good and it is comfy to drive. Personally I found that for a taller person the nissan was more comfy to drive... not alot of room in the back seats though for the mates.
I owned a mazda ute (ford) 4wd for many years and it ran fine up to approx 250k km's Then there were standard problems - just getting old.
I now own a Hilux (old shape) 4wd that has 100k km's on it. It runs fine, tows a reasonable size boat no problem and goes to Gnar. every year. My hilux is a bit basic inside ie no carpets and a real work ute, but you cannot fault its reliability.
The Hilux goes well on dirt tracks - Gnar, but is a hard on the bum after a few weeks up there.
I know its different price range , however DONT buy a D40 navara which is the really square new shape ones. im a mechanic and we had one come into work its a work car for a plantation manager so it gets used allot , its 2 yrs old and done a fair few ks for its age i forget exactly anyway the Variable vane turbo has died and also the injectors and possibly the injector pump as well. big dollars right there.
As for the older navara's ide say there just as good as a hilux , i have a HiAce with the same Diesel engine as the hilux and its very good.
If you get an older hilux say around 99, 00 make sure it DOESNT have a 5LE engine it.
the 5L's are awesome but that little E on the end means electronic injection timing and they had allot of expensive problems with the IJ pumps.
hope that jibberish helps!
, but you wont go too far wrong with either. Keep and eye on Pickles actions, to gauge what your up for, unless you going brand new
Best to check what type of oil filter it uses too. Most of the Nissans have expensive filters so a service will cost heaps.
The mazda bravo/ford couriers use a Z9 filter that costs about $5. Plus they are cheap, reliable and gutsy cars.
I doubt you could go wrong with either, but I have seen a lot of Hilux with burnt out clutches and / or difs. I used to put it down to crap drivers, but just keep seeing them....
I flogged out the pinion bearing on the rear diff of my hilux once, does that count? $20 to replace.
good point knot board, didnt want to say f*&^#@ diff though, and I have seen a few. And I am not talking 200,000 km, more like 50,000. As I said, I used to put it down to crap drivers, but seen a few with so few km, all work ones and all driven by guys with few cares in the world..
I had a Navara for some 14 years, sold it. Would buy another no worries.
Drive a new Hilux at work, sensational but pricey.
Havent driven a new Navara, but believe they are very good.
Yeah, go the auctions for a better deal (Pickles, Fowles etc), but be careful not get an ex mining company or ex lease or hire one. Most Govt ones are ok, just make sure its a good one, cos you cant test drive em.
Select to expand quote
Either will do the job just fine, some call the Nissan a poor mans Toyota, but you wont go too far wrong with either. Keep and eye on Pickles actions, to gauge what your up for, unless you going brand new
I just bought a navara D40 STX 08 and love it. Nissan is def not a poor mans toyota. my nissan was 50k with loads of trimmings! the toyota was more like 70k! Where does the extra 20k go?
The badge!
The nissan is bigger, more powerful and has these useful rails in the tray to tie stuff down.
The toyota is slightly better offroad.
It was a no brainer for me!
Reli,
Late last year I bought a 2004 duel cab diesel Hilux (4x4).
I looked around heaps before snapping this one up. It had only 83k on the clock and clean as a whistle. I ended up getting it for $20.5k cash from a holden dealer believe it or not.
Have a look at Pickles auctions and also Drive. com, Quakka ect. Im sure you know where to look.
This is my 2nd Lux I have owned now and swear by em. Nice and cheap to run yet still enough power (tyres down) in the sand. Mine is stock 3.0 with no turbo.
You should score some pretty damn nice wheels for 15-20k at the moment, seen as the market for all cars is right down.
Good luck
Had an original Navara, hated having to be towed out of creek crossings by holdens.
In 25 years of working in exploration the best utes have been Landcruiser, then Hilux, then Holden Rodeo( best for not rusting).
Navara and Mitsubishi were rubbish,
so go Hilux
Must admit that i am leaning more toward a Navara.
Have seen a few and think they would suit my purpose better ie 70% on road, 30% beach driving and a bit of towing here and there.
Hilux just seem a bit "rugged" for the family to me?
Indeed, but
a) I don't have a family.
b) I might treat it a bit 'ruggedly'.
Gruezi knows what I'm going to do to it...
IN saying that tho i have my eye on a 3l turbo which is mint bar a bit of chipped paint.
decisions decisions
I had a SR5 dual cab Hilux and at the same time my best mate bought a STX D40 Navara.
In both our opinions the Hilux was much better than the Navara. The Hilux seemed better on the road, had more cabin space and a larger tray. We picked them both up for approx the same price brand new (not sure how you would spend $70k on a Hilux - mine was $45K with all the fruit).
We have both since sold the trucks, for me, my wife just wasn't happy with the size of it getting around carparks etc. I have to say I still miss it though and am sure my next vehicle will be a 4x4 Lux again.
The nice thing about hilux gearboxes is that after 450,000 kms they are nicely worn in and you can save on clutch wear by balancing the revsand just change gears without that inconvenient extra pedal
I didnt like them after they lost the solid front diff though., sometimes old fshioned is good
hi have worked on both as im a machanic toyota with 5l replace head at 100 000 broke 4 valve stems from over reving apart from that broken body mounts 2002 model not to much hard 4wd ing as for narvara d40 just a slite oil leak from turbo
witch nissan says is acceptable and pulls 2 tonne to moonie on a monthly bases
as for the narvara looks 100% better than the toyota as for the ford and madaz
you didnt ask for them as i wouldnt eather as you want a real 4wd good luck and hope u find a beauty HAPPY TIMES
