Talk to me about pickup trucks!

[Goochie]

I'm looking at a cheapo workhorse type vehicle and whilst I did start off looking at Astra type vans, I'm now considering an old pickup.

There seem to be 3 options for less than £3k

Mitsubishi L200
Ford Ranger
Toyota Hilux

The Toyota seems to have quite a good reputation, due in part to Clarkson I guess, but this particular L200 looks quite good:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MITSUBISHI-L200-/19039316064...

So what should I be looking for on this type of vehicle? What kind of weight can they carry in the back?

[sday12]

Not again!


Navaras break
L200's are chav.

Hilux is the answer.

HTH

[Goochie]

sday12 said:

Not again!


Navaras break
L200's are chav.

Hilux is the answer.

HTH

Navara and new shape L200 are way above my £3k price point.

[Oxygen2k10]

http://cgi.ebay.com/Holden-HSV-Maloo-2004-no-reser...

[madrob6]

doogz said:

We have a Shogun with a 2.5TD engine. It's slow.

I mean, of course it's slow, but really, it's sloooooooooow

Wouldn't like to drive that one you've linked to be honest, 2.5 NA diesel.

Also, wobble at 60mpg, tracking? Maybe. Possibly also a £170 wheel bearing, happened to our old one, not uncommon. Causes the discs to wear unevenly, they needed changed too.

My Dad has got a Challenger (based on the L200 I believe) with the 2.8TD and that's slow too, the auto box doesn't help matters though.

[HereBeMonsters]

They're the new white van. Always cutting people up and generally driving selfishly.

One the other day tried to run me off the road as I didn't let him in to lane 2 as he came up behind a truck in lane 1. I was actually ahead of him, but saw his indicator in my passenger side window as I went past. He then pulled in behind me, almost taking the rear of my car off and cutting up the Audi who was tailgating. Cue lots of flashing, horn and wker signs.
Gap in L3 opens up so he went around me and literally would have driven into the side of me had I not braked hard. He then tracked me all the way to his junction making threatening gestures, erratically braking and changing lanes trying to impede my progress, and that of the Audi who HE cut up.

So you asked. I talked to you about pickup trucks. Scum. Subhuman scum.

[Goochie]

Slowness isnt too much of a problem.

Being able to pull a decent size (and weight) is important though.

[Goochie]

HereBeMonsters said:

They're the new white van. Always cutting people up and generally driving selfishly.

One the other day tried to run me off the road as I didn't let him in to lane 2 as he came up behind a truck in lane 1. I was actually ahead of him, but saw his indicator in my passenger side window as I went past. He then pulled in behind me, almost taking the rear of my car off and cutting up the Audi who was tailgating. Cue lots of flashing, horn and wker signs.
Gap in L3 opens up so he went around me and literally would have driven into the side of me had I not braked hard. He then tracked me all the way to his junction making threatening gestures, erratically braking and changing lanes trying to impede my progress, and that of the Audi who HE cut up.

So you asked. I talked to you about pickup trucks. Scum. Subhuman scum.

Like Land Rovers, some people NEED to have one and others simply want one because it's "cool". I'm in the first group.

[iggletiggle]

doogz said:

HereBeMonsters said:

They're the new white van. Always cutting people up and generally driving selfishly.

One the other day tried to run me off the road as I didn't let him in to lane 2 as he came up behind a truck in lane 1. I was actually ahead of him, but saw his indicator in my passenger side window as I went past. He then pulled in behind me, almost taking the rear of my car off and cutting up the Audi who was tailgating. Cue lots of flashing, horn and wker signs.
Gap in L3 opens up so he went around me and literally would have driven into the side of me had I not braked hard. He then tracked me all the way to his junction making threatening gestures, erratically braking and changing lanes trying to impede my progress, and that of the Audi who HE cut up.

So you asked. I talked to you about pickup trucks. Scum. Subhuman scum.

I agree. Your one experience you've told us about completely proves that everyone that drives a pick up, is indeed a complete tosser.

And your comment further backs that up..

if you really need a pick up have a serious look at the Ford or the Hilux, its the only way to go.

[HereBeMonsters]

doogz said:

HereBeMonsters said:

They're the new white van. Always cutting people up and generally driving selfishly.

One the other day tried to run me off the road as I didn't let him in to lane 2 as he came up behind a truck in lane 1. I was actually ahead of him, but saw his indicator in my passenger side window as I went past. He then pulled in behind me, almost taking the rear of my car off and cutting up the Audi who was tailgating. Cue lots of flashing, horn and wker signs.
Gap in L3 opens up so he went around me and literally would have driven into the side of me had I not braked hard. He then tracked me all the way to his junction making threatening gestures, erratically braking and changing lanes trying to impede my progress, and that of the Audi who HE cut up.

So you asked. I talked to you about pickup trucks. Scum. Subhuman scum.

I agree. Your one experience you've told us about completely proves that everyone that drives a pick up, is indeed a complete tosser.

It's called an example. There are many others. Such as the one the other day who was in such a hurry to bypass the queue for the petrol pumps he drove in the out way, reversed up to the front of someone who was in the shop paying for their fuel, then refused to move when they came out - meaning 5 or more cars had to reverse up.

Or the one I saw driving around the factory site here at about 40mph, scattering pedestrians left, right and centre.

Want more?

[HereBeMonsters]

doogz said:

HereBeMonsters said:

doogz said:

HereBeMonsters said:

They're the new white van. Always cutting people up and generally driving selfishly.

One the other day tried to run me off the road as I didn't let him in to lane 2 as he came up behind a truck in lane 1. I was actually ahead of him, but saw his indicator in my passenger side window as I went past. He then pulled in behind me, almost taking the rear of my car off and cutting up the Audi who was tailgating. Cue lots of flashing, horn and wker signs.
Gap in L3 opens up so he went around me and literally would have driven into the side of me had I not braked hard. He then tracked me all the way to his junction making threatening gestures, erratically braking and changing lanes trying to impede my progress, and that of the Audi who HE cut up.

So you asked. I talked to you about pickup trucks. Scum. Subhuman scum.

I agree. Your one experience you've told us about completely proves that everyone that drives a pick up, is indeed a complete tosser.

It's called an example. There are many others. Such as the one the other day who was in such a hurry to bypass the queue for the petrol pumps he drove in the out way, reversed up to the front of someone who was in the shop paying for their fuel, then refused to move when they came out - meaning 5 or more cars had to reverse up.

Or the one I saw driving around the factory site here at about 40mph, scattering pedestrians left, right and centre.

Want more?

No you're alright. wkers drive all sorts of cars though, you're picking specifically on the ones that drive pick-ups. Around here, pick-ups are driven by farmers. And they can all drive pretty well, compared to the drivers employed by the local taxi firms.

Well, as I said, round here they're the new white van. So many businesses have twin cab pickups rather than the Transit these days, and they're all driven by the same people.

You are right in that farmers are generally good drivers. Always found them curteous and willing to let me pass when I'm out on a hoon. Visiting my parents in rural Suffolk one managed to warn me of an approaching Police vehicle so I didn't overtake too fast...

[danyeates]

We've had loads of pickups and 4x4's at work as we are in the marine trade. We've had 1x Hilux 1991, 2x Shoguns 1998 and 2000, 1x Ford Ranger 1998, 1x L200 51, 1x Astra van 2001, 1x Mazda BT something or other double king cab pickup 2010.

The Hilux was probably the most unbreakable. It was a 1991 Hilux Surf, lots of electrics inc sunroof and windows and rear tailgate (all worked!!!), air con, massive, pretty powerful and just bullet proof. I drove it into the sea once up to the windows to launch a boat at low tide (in mud), my colelagues managed to fall off the end of a slipway with it and sunk it. It had to be pulled out with the RNLI lifeboat amphibious tractor and it still ran fine. It was way over 100k and had never been serviced but it was a great workhorse. It was also really comfortable and a nice place to be, just really bad on fuel. Unfortunately the Hilux has now been broken and sold as parts as the headcracked and shot oil and water all over the bonnet! Still, it had a good run.

The Shogun isn't as refined, very loud, engine vibrates horribly, the gearbox is on the way out (not surprised though seeing as it's been used as a tow vehicle from day one and it's now on 150,000 miles. It's nowhere near as nice to drive as the Hilux.

The New Mazda BT pickup is really nice and it tows 3,000kg! That's just as much as the new Navara and L200 at a fraction of the price. It's essentially a Ford Ranger with a different badge. We bought ours NEW for £13,00 plus VAT. It's got heated seats, 4x electric windows, air con, CD changer. Not sure what you can pick one of those up for used now.

The Ford Ranger and L200 are used at our other site so I've never driven them. They look a bit small and feeble compared to our Shoguns, Hilux and Mazda to be honest. They seem to have lasted well though and I don't think they've had any major problems.

[Snoop Bagg]

The L200 is the biggest pile of st ever, and my dad had the L200 Double Cab and Warrior and both were utter pants. The back end bounces everywhere unless you have precisely 1MT of weight, and after 45mins your guaranteed a bad back!

[300bhp/ton]

Goochie said:

I'm looking at a cheapo workhorse type vehicle and whilst I did start off looking at Astra type vans, I'm now considering an old pickup.

There seem to be 3 options for less than £3k

Mitsubishi L200
Ford Ranger
Toyota Hilux

The Toyota seems to have quite a good reputation, due in part to Clarkson I guess, but this particular L200 looks quite good:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MITSUBISHI-L200-/19039316064...

So what should I be looking for on this type of vehicle? What kind of weight can they carry in the back?

What do you want to do with it exactly?

If you aren't doing huge distances it might be worth looking at something like a Series Land Rover. A bit more rustic, but easy and cost effective to run and maintain and will also retain value well too.

[danyeates]

Snoop Bagg said:

The L200 is the biggest pile of st ever, and my dad had the L200 Double Cab and Warrior and both were utter pants. The back end bounces everywhere unless you have precisely 1MT of weight, and after 45mins your guaranteed a bad back!

This is the downside to pick ups. I hardly ever drive them without a trailer but when you do the ride is awful. You really need loads of weight in the back to make it handle or even hold the road at all! The back wheels are always wheel spinning or locking up when empty in the Mazda, Ranger and L200.

[lewes]

Are you going for 4x4 or 4x2 ??

Weve got a 05 Ranger 4x2 Supercab, the best of both worlds in that a good sized cab and good sized buck. The ranger isnt a bad motor but we dont use it for work purposes just doing a house up for the past couple of years so I cant comment on its durability.

We came from an old Nissan D21 and that was a good workhorse and I was told the new Navara (D22) Nissan's arent as good so we went for a Ranger.

The Ranger is basically a Mazda B2500 just badged as a Ford

[aka_kerrly]

i would not recommend the L200 or shogun based vehicles... we have 2 shoguns at work tdi 55 an 56 plate both with circa 150k on them. 1 has had nearly 7K spent on it after the engine failed at 60k and Mitsubishi wouldnt cover it, the other has the most ridiculously jumpy auto box that can never pick a gear and stick with it - apparently its not a fault though?. Engines are noisy, unrefined and not all that fuel effiecent. That said, they arent massively expensive to service. Interiors havent worn all the electrics including a pretty good stereo still work but the leather is not very good quality, kind of perforated effect so can be hard to clean. The seats adjust in all angles but never high enough with some tilt.

A neighbour of mine also had a L200 around 54 plate a couple of years ago and that suffered turbo failure followed by complete engine failure - were the two linked - we never know, either way my neighbour stumped up £3-4k toward repairs an Mitshubishi gave a contribution toward the labour costs.

For me it has to be a hilux, i know a few farmers who have been running hiluxs since the 80s and sware by them. Surprised no one has mentioned Top Gears trying to destroy a hilux....

dave

[anonymous-user]

I have never owned any of these cars myself, this is just what I have heard through friends and people in the know.

L200s are ste and should not be touched.
Hiluxs have pretty much bullet proof.
The newer navaras are good but the older ones have some relability issues.

One thing you need to think about is your tools wont be any where near as safe in a pick up, even with a rear roof, as they would be in a van.

My mum's partner was looking into pick ups, but decided he is much better off with this hard top defender as you have the extra security. They're also far superior offroad. But for £3k you may struggle to find a 'good' defender.

[Zip106]

I've had 2 L200 DC Animals since 2006.
I don't drive like wker in it.
No. I've got a BMW and Porsche to do that in.

Anyway, for me it was the best of a bad lot - I need at least 4 seats and somewhere to keep my work gear seperate so vans were out.

OP, if you don't really need one then don't bother - they are all as agricultural as each other and a bit crap to be honest, although my last L200 did do a lot of heavy off roading and coped ok ( but not as good as the old shape that's in your price bracket)
Just beaware that there are a few problems with head gaskets and EGR coolers. However, I've always been told by numerous Mitsi techies that the older the L200 the better.

Try www.L200.org for loads of info.

[Jam Spavlin]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VERY-CLEAN-FORD-P100-PICK-UP...

Make a Cosworth P100!

Edited by Jam Spavlin on Wednesday 5th May 15:41