VW Amorak, owners opinions?

VW Amorak, owners opinions?

Author
Discussion

bern

Original Poster:

1,262 posts

219 months

Sunday 26th October 2014
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I've got a 2 day test drive in one next week. 180bhp 8 speed auto. It's a limited edition although I would be getting a highline.

I've got to decide if one is viable as a company car doing 25k miles a year? I know it will be great for everything else I do camping, mountain biking, allotmenting but will that be enough to offset the presumed compromises of its main use?

Any thoughts appreciated.

ging84

8,825 posts

145 months

Sunday 26th October 2014
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they look ok
i am generally a hater of vws

Fleckers

2,851 posts

200 months

Sunday 26th October 2014
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get a navara 3.0 outlaw


HertsBiker

6,300 posts

270 months

Sunday 26th October 2014
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bern said:
I've got a 2 day test drive in one next week. 180bhp 8 speed auto. It's a limited edition although I would be getting a highline.

I've got to decide if one is viable as a company car doing 25k miles a year? I know it will be great for everything else I do camping, mountain biking, allotmenting but will that be enough to offset the presumed compromises of its main use?

Any thoughts appreciated.
Sounds good.,if you like it don't worry about our opinion.

cheddar

4,637 posts

173 months

Sunday 26th October 2014
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Had mine over 2 years - drives like a car, grippy, not too rolly, rides a bit hard but mines on 19's with high pressures, feels uncompromised and classy inside, great place to be. I get 30mpg overall and had no reliability issues.

The 8 speed auto is said to be a great 'box and all the early model niggles - poor headlights, noisy engine, squeaks and rattles - were sorted by late 2012.

Because of the huge arches they look silly on small wheels, even 18's look like castors, factory 19's with the 255/55's look best if you can stretch to them but they will compromise the ride slightly and you'll have limited choice if you want more rugged rubber fitted (Hankook's RF10 come in that size, they're good and the best value to save you searching).

Caveat:
They're big, very big, choose your parking spaces carefully.

Any other info needed just ask.


bern

Original Poster:

1,262 posts

219 months

Sunday 26th October 2014
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Cheers mate.

I think size may be one of the issues!

Krikkit

26,500 posts

180 months

Sunday 26th October 2014
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Very, very thirsty aren't they?

Snollygoster

1,538 posts

138 months

Sunday 26th October 2014
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Had one for a month when I worked at VW. Overall very impressed. The only thing for me I didn't too like due to using it as a car substitute was not having a boot as it was just a pickup without a hard top back.

Disagree with parking it and it's size. When I first took it out I thought it was huge. After a day or so it's fine. No bigger than some big saloons like a 7 Series/A7. Nice and ease to see out of so parking was fine; fits in any standard car parking spot. Plus most people won't park next to it either.

Assuming you want the low company car tax on this. Fuel consumption isn't great, so would highly recommend you can take free fuel if you have the option.

Overall very impressed, could quite happily use one day to day. Highline spec is okay, just make sure to add the multi functional steering wheel as a minimum otherwise it makes the whole system quite hard to use on the RNS315 system. New xenon's look good too.

bern

Original Poster:

1,262 posts

219 months

Sunday 26th October 2014
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Yeah I have a fuel card!

Wondered about the Multi function steering wheel, phone connectivity is important.

2manycars

2,735 posts

177 months

Sunday 26th October 2014
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Was looking for one myself for camping, mountain biking, snowboarding, etc etc.

Realised that the load space wouldn't be big enough, instead i've order a new Transporter DSG 4motion from Swiss Vans (amazing guys btw).

Still an awesome pick up though.

Do have a look at the Transporter if you want to go camping and do general activities, it might be more suitable.

Aeroresh

1,429 posts

231 months

Monday 27th October 2014
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Too slow imo...at least the Navara despite being a bit old now has got some poke.

Main thing if youre comparing to a car is the size of the thing.....car park bays are never wide enough and you can pretty much forget parallel parking spaces unless theres room for two cars.

Id thought the amarok would be more popular but a quick search on autotrader shows only a few. Where are they all?

spats

838 posts

154 months

Monday 27th October 2014
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I drove them when the first came out. Got to blast round ProDrives test track and skid pan, plus got some decent off roading done and I was impressed with them. Way better than Izuzu, Ford, Mitsy, etc. The Navara is a good option but I found the VW a better drive, if a touch slower.

But then I drove the remapped t5 which has the same engine as the Amorok, that would make a very nice addition!

bern

Original Poster:

1,262 posts

219 months

Monday 27th October 2014
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2 day test drive booked for Monday / Tuesday next week. Then I'm test driving a Merc 220CDI AMG premium spec estate on Wednesday! That should put the "can I live with a pick-up" theory to the test!

2manycars

2,735 posts

177 months

Monday 27th October 2014
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bern said:
2 day test drive booked for Monday / Tuesday next week. Then I'm test driving a Merc 220CDI AMG premium spec estate on Wednesday! That should put the "can I live with a pick-up" theory to the test!
Funnily enough that's what i've just got rid of, a '62 plate c220 AMG sport estate. Great car, easy to live with, quite nippy and it handles pretty well for it's size.

Saying that, you'll be hard pushed to get 5 adults in it. The back is quite small.

However the boot is great, and the power close option is a must.

You won't be disappointed.

And if you are thinking of carrying bikes then PM me as i've got a brand new Thule bike carrier set (4 x bikes) that i never got round to fitting.

halo34

2,428 posts

198 months

Tuesday 28th October 2014
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I have been driving one for about 6 months now and around 14k covered so far.

It replaced an Navara which lasted 8 months before we got rid due to ongoing issues Nissan just couldn't fix.

The Navara is more grunty but to be honest the Amarok is a much nicer place to be and handles really well for its size (relatively).

33 MPG overall - covers distances nicely with a high up seating position giving you great views.

It is absolutely brilliant for general purpose activities like bundling the kids in and heading out biking etc.

The only small let down to be honest is a lack of traditional boot space if the cabin is full.

Size doesn't really bother you after a week or two either. However I did go for a hard cover on the back, which means its easy to see out of the back window. Mine also has front/rear parking sensors, so apart from one minor moment with my towbar been ok so far in terms of parking.

Very easy to live with and is a bit like a swiss army knife, replacing it would be a challenge.

bern

Original Poster:

1,262 posts

219 months

Tuesday 4th November 2014
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Just spent 2 days in a dark label limited edition auto. Really enjoyed it, great on the motorway, good ride, and fast enough. Only downside was it was quite rough sounding when accelerating but very quiet when at a constant speed.

However when I took it back today I got a business lease quote. For a highline with nav, phone prep, load liner and hardtop, 28k per year, over 3 years they wanted £575 a month! For reference a 320d msport auto estate with nav and privacy glass same mileage and term it's £466. Don't think I will be able to make my MD swallow that!

Snollygoster

1,538 posts

138 months

Tuesday 4th November 2014
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bern said:
Just spent 2 days in a dark label limited edition auto. Really enjoyed it, great on the motorway, good ride, and fast enough. Only downside was it was quite rough sounding when accelerating but very quiet when at a constant speed.

However when I took it back today I got a business lease quote. For a highline with nav, phone prep, load liner and hardtop, 28k per year, over 3 years they wanted £575 a month! For reference a 320d msport auto estate with nav and privacy glass same mileage and term it's £466. Don't think I will be able to make my MD swallow that!
Might be worth a second quote. Some dealers will vary in price mainly due to the hardtop. I know we used to offer Truckman ones which were a better fit than VW ones and a fair bit cheaper too.

Also, if you do go down the BMW route, the 520d M Sport Touring might be cheaper as residuals will be better for that mileage.

Edit: Love how this has been moved to offroad rolleyes


Edited by Snollygoster on Tuesday 4th November 22:51

mcjimny

93 posts

158 months

Wednesday 5th November 2014
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£575 isn't too bad, I'm paying about £100 less for 15k including service pack on a barbarian.

Provided it will carry 1tonne your gaffer can claim the VAT back, that's what appealed to my director. I really like both the Amorak and new ranger but the barbarian stacks up as better value spec for spec and I've always had a thing for the l200 Only thing I'd change would be to get the auto next time as the 5 speed manual(no 6 speed in today's market!) can be a bit noisy at motorway speeds if you're <ahem> hovering around the speed limit.

In terms of lifestyle stuff, I mountain bike and can only get a bike in laying down without taking a wheel out. I've got a pickup pad to carry them over the tailgate. You look a bit of a tool IMHO rocking up with a big ass truck to still rebuild your bike before riding! The Amorak has a smaller bed. I have to park in a small market town regularly and the size isn't very often an issue. The reversing camera makes a big difference.

I like the new top spec vw vans too, it would be a tough choice at the end of the lease to stay in a pickup or not. If I'm biking more regularly it may make a difference, at the minute it's once a week or so and I lock them to the truck.

diesel piston

287 posts

213 months

Wednesday 5th November 2014
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Overall everything considered the Hilux is still the best of the bunch and the new model is due soon.

cheddar

4,637 posts

173 months

Thursday 6th November 2014
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diesel piston said:
Overall everything considered the Hilux is still easily the best least refined, worst handling, slowest, has the poorest interior, is the most outdated of the bunch and the new model can't come soon enough.
Fixed.

With the gretest of respect dp, have you been living in a cave?

And to mcjimmy - the Amarok load bed is bigger than the L200's.