Which Pick Up Truck

[300bhp/ton]

normalbloke said:

The NCAP test results alone were enough to make my mind up.

Don't think the Defender has ever been tested under NCAP. Do you have a link?

[normalbloke]

300bhp/ton said:

normalbloke said:

The NCAP test results alone were enough to make my mind up.

Don't think the Defender has ever been tested under NCAP. Do you have a link?

Exactly.

[INWB]

Snapper7 said:

Thinking of selling the Defender 90 hard top and getting a pickup truck instead for work (Gardening business) and don't know which to go for.....

I understand the L200 engine is not a tough as they used to be....

I have been looking at the Ford Ranger and the Isuzu Dmax but reviews seem really mixed...

Anyone able to give advice from personal experience?

I've just sold my Navarra and when looking around it was the best of the bunch for performance. Downside is that the new version doesn't have the 3ltr Renault engine and has marmite looks. The Hilux, like most of the trucks, is a bit agricultural handling wise (but is filled with kit) but the big downside for me is that it doesn't have 3 full rear seat belts. The Ranger is a nice looking truck but the equipment levels were a bit spartan unless you went for the very top of the range and the tailgate height seemed to be higher than most.

Not sure if you're buying second hand but some good deals on the run out Navs at the moment. Just factor in that the timing chain is a known weakness and should be upgraded esp if you're towing.

It may be worth you calling Billcar 4x4 They are Nissan specialists but also deal with "ISUZU, TOYOTA, FORD, MITSUBISHI" I am sure they will give you buying advice on what they see day in day out. I always went there with the Nissan despite being a couple of hours away as they were so knowledgable

[scrwright]

300bhp/ton said:

Don't think the Defender has ever been tested under NCAP. Do you have a link?

Side pole test on a defender wuold be comical

[300bhp/ton]

normalbloke said:

Exactly.

Exactly what, lots of vehicles aren't NCAP'd.

[300bhp/ton]

Snapper7 said:

Thinking of selling the Defender 90 hard top and getting a pickup truck instead for work (Gardening business) and don't know which to go for.....

I understand the L200 engine is not a tough as they used to be....

I have been looking at the Ford Ranger and the Isuzu Dmax but reviews seem really mixed...

Anyone able to give advice from personal experience?

Don't know if you have sold your 90, but might be worth nothing it's really easy to convert a hard to a pick up most of the time. Might depend on what rear bulk head you have. But might be something to consider as an alternative option.

[normalbloke]

300bhp/ton said:

normalbloke said:

Exactly.

Exactly what, lots of vehicles aren't NCAP'd.

None that I'd consider putting onto a shortlist.
It would have been a PR disaster for LandRover!

[Mammasaid]

Latest NCAP rating for Pick ups.

http://www.euroncap.com/en/ratings-rewards/latest-...

All being well, I'll be ordering a L200 Warrior later this week.

[300bhp/ton]

normalbloke said:

None that I'd consider putting onto a shortlist.

But wouldn't the same be true for Caterham, Morgan and loads of other low volume vehicles?


And lets face it, you profile says you are somewhat telling porkies... considering 3 of the 4 vehicles you list would likely fair no better or worse than a Defender should they have undergone NCAP testing...

[normalbloke]

Bwahahahahahaha.I think you've steeped to a new low if you feel the need to try and trawl my profile and make your assumptions from that. You must be taking my opinion very personally.
Defender and the NCAP, It'd be like putting Rolf Harris through a CRB....

I was going to say Jimmy Saville, but he's dead. Oh hang on, so's the Defender.

[scrwright]

moose test anyone?
http://www.autoblog.nl/archive/2007/06/19/land-rov...

IFS & leaf solid axle that most pickup manufacturers use seems to trump the coils all round defender setup

[skyrover]

Defender is too narrow at only 70 inches wide. (body is actually 66 inches wide)

Most modern SUV's and pickup trucks range from 73 to 77 inches wide with the added stability benefit this brings.

Full sized american SUV's and pickups are around 80 to 82 inches wide which is approx the same as a transit van.

[300bhp/ton]

scrwright said:

moose test anyone?
http://www.autoblog.nl/archive/2007/06/19/land-rov...

IFS & leaf solid axle that most pickup manufacturers use seems to trump the coils all round defender setup

IFS and leaf suspension has no bearing on this. It's pure physics. I also suspect a 110 or 130 Defender would behave differently to a 90.

[GravelBen]

300bhp/ton said:

And most people would say a Range Rover p38a or D2 is a dam site nicer on the road and handles better than any Jap pick up truck.

I don't know what model a p38a or D2 is, but a friends mid/late 90s Range Rover HSE I drove a few hundred miles made a mid-80s Nissan Patrol feel like a sportscar. The interior was comfortable and the V8 burbled along nicely, but it drove like an ocean liner. Vague, wallowy, imprecise, incredibly slow to respond to the controls, crap brakes. I've driven a reasonable number of Jap 4wds and every single one of them handled far better.

[Pennyroyal Tea]

skyrover said:

Defender is too narrow at only 70 inches wide. (body is actually 66 inches wide)

Most modern SUV's and pickup trucks range from 73 to 77 inches wide with the added stability benefit this brings.

Full sized american SUV's and pickups are around 80 to 82 inches wide which is approx the same as a transit van.

Whereas my little runaround is 86.3" wide

[skyrover]

Pennyroyal Tea said:

skyrover said:

Defender is too narrow at only 70 inches wide. (body is actually 66 inches wide)

Most modern SUV's and pickup trucks range from 73 to 77 inches wide with the added stability benefit this brings.

Full sized american SUV's and pickups are around 80 to 82 inches wide which is approx the same as a transit van.

Whereas my little runaround is 86.3" wide

Should ace the moose test then

[Disco3Steve]

So I'm not going to make any comments on towability or luggability but my top spec Isuzu Dmax Utah Auto with all the toys is a great motor - I've come to it from a mighty Discovery 3 so I know what the best ride/offroad/carrying comobo feels like

The 2.5 DDI Engine is bit noisy, it doesn't have the Disco Magic Carpet Ride, the 5 speed auto box needs help to stop changing down too quick and it will never win the traffic light grand prix but it is really well specced (with awesome pioneer sat nav, heated leather seats, reversing camera/sensors, bluetooth / android auto / apple carplay phone integration), has huge towing capacity, a 5 year warranty, and looks great - including canopy a spit over £28K

[Snapper7]

Well the deal is done....

Went for the Isuzu DMax Utah 2.5l.... Very pleased with it.... It was a tight call between the Isuzu and the Hylux 3l... But the Isuzu won through in the end...

The Isuzu offered more for the money in many different ways.... Very pleased with the Isuzu

[blueST]

I was at the CV show at the NEC show last week. The Arctic Trucks special edition DMax looks a bit good. Also had a good look round the new HiLux. Not sure on the exterior looks but I'd say the interior is leagues ahead of anything currently available, really just like a nice modern car. Interestingly, Toyota say there'll only be a 2.4 but there was one badged as 2.8 on the Truckman Tops stand, maybe an Aussie import or something, but maybe it bodes well for a bigger engined HiLux here in the future.