hilux or Dmax?
Discussion
New member, couldn't post until now, just wanted to say that I got a new Dmax in October. This was to replace a Defender that I owned for 4 years. This is a work vehicle as I'm a builder, I tow a great deal of the time, I tow a 1.8 tonne digger plus buckets etc on a 3.5 tonne trailer, so all up around 2.8 tonne+.
Defender was a good vehicle bought mainly as it could tow 3.5 tonne, used to buy old Patrols, Shoguns, Discovery etc and run into ground, Defender was first 'proper' work vehicle (it was a commercial). Problem with the Defender was the cold in the winter (I work outside all day so having a heater to drive home, or sit in car at lunch is a nice luxury). It was starting to develop a few oil leaks, never great on customers drive, was blowing fuses on indicators, was worrying about reliability. Mileage was getting fairly high.
Decided to renew Defender, fancied a utility as had a need for rear seats. Looked at one in an independent dealer in Bedford, 5 years old with 25k miles off a farm, already looking a bit tired, surface rust around front bumper, slight oil weeps etc. for sale for £19k. Parked next to it were new Dmaxs', after a test drive opted for an Eiger, got it up for sale for £19650, got a good deal of a back and tow bar all in for £20k.
Was a no brainer really, 5 year warranty and no MOT for 3 yrs.
What I wanted to say was that the Dmax has so far done everything the Defender did and more, it tows much better with far more power, I know from roads that I drive frequently, it deals much better with hills powering up them where I was going down the box in the Defender. Biggest problem is making sure you're not speeding with trailer on! Just towed my digger, and then dumper, on my trailer out of a muddy farmers field where I was building stable base, did it no problem in low box.
Would have liked a Defender but I'm afraid they are out of the reach of a working man now, how can a new one be £30k+? Unfortunately the utility especially has been hijacked by the bolt on boys who like to fit all the toys on to go posing to Tesco in. Prices now are just ridiculous. Dealer where I got Dmax said a lot are being bought to replace Defenders, LR need to make a reasonably priced work vehicle to replace Defender, there cars won't always be trendy, they couldn't give them away 5 years ago, they are going to need the die hards then, I think they risk losing them soon.
Defender was a good vehicle bought mainly as it could tow 3.5 tonne, used to buy old Patrols, Shoguns, Discovery etc and run into ground, Defender was first 'proper' work vehicle (it was a commercial). Problem with the Defender was the cold in the winter (I work outside all day so having a heater to drive home, or sit in car at lunch is a nice luxury). It was starting to develop a few oil leaks, never great on customers drive, was blowing fuses on indicators, was worrying about reliability. Mileage was getting fairly high.
Decided to renew Defender, fancied a utility as had a need for rear seats. Looked at one in an independent dealer in Bedford, 5 years old with 25k miles off a farm, already looking a bit tired, surface rust around front bumper, slight oil weeps etc. for sale for £19k. Parked next to it were new Dmaxs', after a test drive opted for an Eiger, got it up for sale for £19650, got a good deal of a back and tow bar all in for £20k.
Was a no brainer really, 5 year warranty and no MOT for 3 yrs.
What I wanted to say was that the Dmax has so far done everything the Defender did and more, it tows much better with far more power, I know from roads that I drive frequently, it deals much better with hills powering up them where I was going down the box in the Defender. Biggest problem is making sure you're not speeding with trailer on! Just towed my digger, and then dumper, on my trailer out of a muddy farmers field where I was building stable base, did it no problem in low box.
Would have liked a Defender but I'm afraid they are out of the reach of a working man now, how can a new one be £30k+? Unfortunately the utility especially has been hijacked by the bolt on boys who like to fit all the toys on to go posing to Tesco in. Prices now are just ridiculous. Dealer where I got Dmax said a lot are being bought to replace Defenders, LR need to make a reasonably priced work vehicle to replace Defender, there cars won't always be trendy, they couldn't give them away 5 years ago, they are going to need the die hards then, I think they risk losing them soon.
300bhp/ton said:
jason61c said:
I wouldn't want a land rover. Nothing but trouble, body corrosion, engine issues, rubbish on the motorway.
The hilux and dmax do hold money well without so many of the above issues.
Doesn't sound like you have any first hand experience with Land Rovers. Body is an aluminium alloy called Birmabright and doesn't really corrode. He'll there are still 1948 vehicles about with original bodies. Engines are fine. Even more so for Tdi and Td5 units. Both good enough for military use. The hilux and dmax do hold money well without so many of the above issues.
Motorway they are perfectly fine. I honestly don't believe any worse than any other UK market truck and probably better than most. Puma engine ones with the latest interior are as quiet and comfy as a hatchback and will sit at 80mph all day long.
And as for residuals. Well my uncle has a 3 year old Defender. Just been for its first MoT done by he dealer who sold it. They offered him more money for it now that what he paid new for it. Not sure any Jap truck can claim anything remotely similar.
Btw - we've had approx 50 Land Rovers over the years. All have been fine. I currently own 3, my uncle has 5, brother has 1, Mum has 1, both cousins have LR's.
Are being positively sarcastic about the lack of rot?
Ali doesn't rot, unless you put it next to steel, in which case it roots very quickly (galvanic corrosion), I guess you've never reskinned defenders doors?
Bulkhead corner caps? Constantly rot.....
Chassis, two years after buying a new 90 the rear member started to rot.
I had 12 land rover vehicles in a row and rebuilt five of then. I had a range rover classic and an 80 series Landcruiser back to back of the same year. The cruiser had one seized bolt. I didn't find an unseizd bolt on the range rover.
groundworker said:
New member, couldn't post until now, just wanted to say that I got a new Dmax in October. This was to replace a Defender that I owned for 4 years. This is a work vehicle as I'm a builder, I tow a great deal of the time, I tow a 1.8 tonne digger plus buckets etc on a 3.5 tonne trailer, so all up around 2.8 tonne+.
Defender was a good vehicle bought mainly as it could tow 3.5 tonne, used to buy old Patrols, Shoguns, Discovery etc and run into ground, Defender was first 'proper' work vehicle (it was a commercial). Problem with the Defender was the cold in the winter (I work outside all day so having a heater to drive home, or sit in car at lunch is a nice luxury). It was starting to develop a few oil leaks, never great on customers drive, was blowing fuses on indicators, was worrying about reliability. Mileage was getting fairly high.
Decided to renew Defender, fancied a utility as had a need for rear seats. Looked at one in an independent dealer in Bedford, 5 years old with 25k miles off a farm, already looking a bit tired, surface rust around front bumper, slight oil weeps etc. for sale for £19k. Parked next to it were new Dmaxs', after a test drive opted for an Eiger, got it up for sale for £19650, got a good deal of a back and tow bar all in for £20k.
Was a no brainer really, 5 year warranty and no MOT for 3 yrs.
What I wanted to say was that the Dmax has so far done everything the Defender did and more, it tows much better with far more power, I know from roads that I drive frequently, it deals much better with hills powering up them where I was going down the box in the Defender. Biggest problem is making sure you're not speeding with trailer on! Just towed my digger, and then dumper, on my trailer out of a muddy farmers field where I was building stable base, did it no problem in low box.
Would have liked a Defender but I'm afraid they are out of the reach of a working man now, how can a new one be £30k+? Unfortunately the utility especially has been hijacked by the bolt on boys who like to fit all the toys on to go posing to Tesco in. Prices now are just ridiculous. Dealer where I got Dmax said a lot are being bought to replace Defenders, LR need to make a reasonably priced work vehicle to replace Defender, there cars won't always be trendy, they couldn't give them away 5 years ago, they are going to need the die hards then, I think they risk losing them soon.
A Defender was originally my preferred (in price range) replacement for my about-to-go-bang Discovery 3 - and I got diverted by the DMAX too - whilst it'll never be worked like yours will be nor is it a comfort match for a new Discovery, saving 20 grand and gaining 2 extra years warranty does make up for it. I've had it nearly four weeks now and am loving it and so glad I didn't go for the Defender 110 route I was planning - I am seeing the Defender-to-DMAX story elsewhere, LR are really missing a trickDefender was a good vehicle bought mainly as it could tow 3.5 tonne, used to buy old Patrols, Shoguns, Discovery etc and run into ground, Defender was first 'proper' work vehicle (it was a commercial). Problem with the Defender was the cold in the winter (I work outside all day so having a heater to drive home, or sit in car at lunch is a nice luxury). It was starting to develop a few oil leaks, never great on customers drive, was blowing fuses on indicators, was worrying about reliability. Mileage was getting fairly high.
Decided to renew Defender, fancied a utility as had a need for rear seats. Looked at one in an independent dealer in Bedford, 5 years old with 25k miles off a farm, already looking a bit tired, surface rust around front bumper, slight oil weeps etc. for sale for £19k. Parked next to it were new Dmaxs', after a test drive opted for an Eiger, got it up for sale for £19650, got a good deal of a back and tow bar all in for £20k.
Was a no brainer really, 5 year warranty and no MOT for 3 yrs.
What I wanted to say was that the Dmax has so far done everything the Defender did and more, it tows much better with far more power, I know from roads that I drive frequently, it deals much better with hills powering up them where I was going down the box in the Defender. Biggest problem is making sure you're not speeding with trailer on! Just towed my digger, and then dumper, on my trailer out of a muddy farmers field where I was building stable base, did it no problem in low box.
Would have liked a Defender but I'm afraid they are out of the reach of a working man now, how can a new one be £30k+? Unfortunately the utility especially has been hijacked by the bolt on boys who like to fit all the toys on to go posing to Tesco in. Prices now are just ridiculous. Dealer where I got Dmax said a lot are being bought to replace Defenders, LR need to make a reasonably priced work vehicle to replace Defender, there cars won't always be trendy, they couldn't give them away 5 years ago, they are going to need the die hards then, I think they risk losing them soon.
skyrover said:
Land Rover are too arrogant these day's unfortunately.
They have abandoned their original audience for the Chelsea market and now indicate the new defender will not be a work oriented vehicle at all.
A great shame IMO
Absolutely, I look at LR products in similar vein to the latest fashion accessories, unfortunately many vehicles have gone this way. Driven by 20 something year old girls with inflated lips talking on their iPhone 6s.They have abandoned their original audience for the Chelsea market and now indicate the new defender will not be a work oriented vehicle at all.
A great shame IMO
Back to topic I'm losing my hilux next month due to the downturn and it's leased. I've had it since nwe in 2012. I've thoroughly enjoyed it, it's been driven hard over fields and Well sites and never let me down. Now has 88k klms. Not one problem. My driving would put most teenagers to shame. A testament to the truck.
A bit of luck may come my way a company purchased landcruiser is going to be available and ear marked for me.... much better vehicle all round. The split cabin load area is rubbish for anything longer than around 4.5 ft
skyrover said:
Land Rover are too arrogant these day's unfortunately.
They have abandoned their original audience for the Chelsea market and now indicate the new defender will not be a work oriented vehicle at all.
A great shame IMO
They have abandoned their original audience for the Chelsea market and now indicate the new defender will not be a work oriented vehicle at all.
A great shame IMO
They have gone full circle , rover were a luxury car maker before and after the second world war,
making 4x4s was a stop gap! a poor copy of a jeep became the defender a also ran 4x4 on world markets,
if they can sell luxury soft roaders that's fine good for the economy
no one sensible who needs a working 4x4 will miss the defender esp members of the armed forces who will be
very pleased ,
adz9 said:
powerstroke said:
My hilux doesn't have a mpg thingy , but about 70 liters gets me 500 miles if you want to do some maths..
About 32mpg. Thats pretty good! The official figures on the new Navara are 44.1mpg. I'm really unsure weather to go for a Navara or the Dmax.The new hilux is out in the uk around may, been avalible in Oz since Christmas group tests put it ahead of all the others!
not surprising to me as I'm happy with the way the old one goes i do a fair bit of motorway and visit farms and other off road sites so it does a mix of conditions , I've also had rangers, L200 and the old shape isuzu in the past ...all very average IMHO
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