Pickup Truck as daily driver / holiday-mobile

[944fan]

Does anyone have experience of using a pick uup truck as a daily driver? I've currently got an Audi A6 Avant which is very comftable but despite the large boot whenever we go on holiday with the kids and dogs etc. there never seems to be enough space in the boot for all the crap we have to take. I am thinking of getting a pick up truck, Nissan Navara, Ford Range, L200 etc. Seems they come with a good amount of kit and with those bay covers will have a massive boot.

What are they like to drive every day and over long distances? What's the MPG like? I get about 27-33 from the Audi so in that range I would be happy with.

Which is the best out them? Have heard bad things about Navara engines but then have heard the same about the gearbox on my Audi and never had a problem.

[y2blade]

A friend of mine runs his own business and uses his Nissan Navara v6 diesel (twin cab) for everything..site work,shopping,school run...it is better on fuel than I imagined it to be (his one averages just over 30mpg)
the cabin is nice enough with decent sound proofing and everything feels like it is built to last although the ride is as expected... "fidgety" would sum it up but it is a lot better than the L200 he had before it

[R12HCO]

The engine problems on the navara are the older d22 shape (<2005). The newer, d40 (2005>) dont have many problems as such.

My best friend has had two d40's, both adventure spec but one auto, one manual. Absolutley brilliant is all i can say. Very comfy and they dont really drive like a mobile

Ive driven the auto one all over the country, on a manor of different roads and it never felt out of place in any. Its been to the lake district (onto burrow-in-furness, down to essex (southend), and around nottingham on the daily commute and it was brilliant at all of them. Only time it was a pain was trying to park it in southend. Its suprisingly quick for what it is aswell, and can cruise on the motorway at alot more than 70, if you dont care about mpg.

The auto use to do about 29 on the run to work and about 32/33 on the motorway.

I cant comment on the manual one on mpg as i cant remember.

[Donatello]

I'd say the Audi is fine, just save yourself the hassle and buy a roof box? That's what I would do as I imagine the Audi being a nicer place on longer journeys.

[militantmandy]

All I can add to this is that my work recently got in a brand new twin cab Ranger Thunder.....in turquoise. I utterly love it although I can't exactly explain why!

[300bhp/ton]

If you fancy something with similar hauling ability then maybe a Land Rover Defender 110 would be worth a shout. A 5 door CSW will have enough room inside for 5 people in the front 2 rows and still leave a huge cargo area. An area that isn't open or unprotected either.

If you still want more space then roof racks or a small trailer are always options.

[Bluebarge]

Roof box and trailer if you need it. Pick-ups are big, heavy on fuel and not easy to park. They are designed to carry big loads and consequently the handling can be "interesting" if pressing on, on a wet road, when unladen. The rear-seat accomodation is also typically not that comfortable.

[mercfunder]

Stick to the Audi and a roof box, unless you like the sound of your kids whining, the rear seats on double cab pick-ups are one of the most uncomfortable places to sit,ever.

[mrdelmonti]

Bluebarge said:

Roof box and trailer if you need it. Pick-ups are big, heavy on fuel and not easy to park. They are designed to carry big loads and consequently the handling can be "interesting" if pressing on, on a wet road, when unladen. The rear-seat accomodation is also typically not that comfortable.

^^This, I used an L200 for a while, it was fine for comfortable cruise, but hustling down country roads in the wet could be interesting, it was always a little too long for average parking spaces and I got turned away when I tried to do a "tip run" in it.

Despite all that I did enjoy it.

[GreatGranny]

Or get something like an S-Max. They are taller than an estate so you can load the boot if required.
It will handle better than a pick up and will definately be more economical.

Or as above get a roofbox.

[944fan]

Thanks for the replies. The biggest problem is the dog can't be left loose because it is a nutter. It used to go in a travel crate in the boot but that left no room for anything else. It now has to go on the front passenger seat floor with my wife holding it's lead. I need a long and wide load space rather than a tall one so s-max and Landy might not work.

[anonymous-user]

Bluebarge said:

Roof box and trailer if you need it. Pick-ups are big, heavy on fuel and not easy to park. They are designed to carry big loads and consequently the handling can be "interesting" if pressing on, on a wet road, when unladen. The rear-seat accomodation is also typically not that comfortable.

Lightweight , my mom drives a Navara as her daily and never complains.

[Zp]

My current daily work horse is a new shape L200.
I've had it nearly 3 years and so far (touches some timber) nothing has gone amiss.
I average about 29 mpg and that's mostly town driving.
Mine is used for work - nice big back with a tonneau cover with all my crap in it, the kids travel in relative comfort on the school run. The rear seats in the new L200 are much better than the previous model.
What I did find fairly uncomfortable was a trip from Notts to Edinburgh - no 6th gear and for lots of M-way cruising it needs one.
After a few weeks parking and multiple storey carparks become a doddle.
Handling - can't see a problem here.
I live in the countryside and travel damp narrow roads everyday.
Ok, if you go mad around bends it'll twitch but the TC is pretty good.
I've got AT tyres on mine and it copes admirably in the stty winter weather we've had the last couple of years.

It goes fairly well off road but if you plan on doing more extreme stuff then the old shape is better.

[gtdc]

Bluebarge said:

Pick-ups are big, heavy on fuel and not easy to park. They are designed to carry big loads and consequently the handling can be "interesting" if pressing on, on a wet road, when unladen. The rear-seat accomodation is also typically not that comfortable.

I was going to say MTFU but then I realised I am not in the Lounge so instead - perfectly easy to park - only be put off by the size if you are a Baby On Board type.

[toon10]

My mate had an old Megane Coupe shed and a 70's VW bus. His wife made him sell his beloved bus and his run about and he got a 53 plate Mitubishi pickup. He loves it as he teaches diving and can sling his gear in the back without worrying about the trim and space. It's a bit large when parking but he swears by his.

[NHK244V]

I drive an old NON crew cab pickup just so i DON'T have to listen to the kids whine

[Bluebarge]

gtdc said:

I was going to say MTFU but then I realised I am not in the Lounge so instead - perfectly easy to park - only be put off by the size if you are a Baby On Board type.

If it's a daily driver, I'm assuming that his missus is going to drive it. She won't like it for sure.

[chalky123]

Bluebarge said:

If it's a daily driver, I'm assuming that his missus is going to drive it. She won't like it for sure.

My missus has an L200 and she loves it.

[944fan]

Bluebarge said:

If it's a daily driver, I'm assuming that his missus is going to drive it. She won't like it for sure.

My wife wont even drive the Audi because it is too big. She sticks to the Honda Jazz.

[Bluebarge]

944fan said:

Thanks for the replies. The biggest problem is the dog can't be left loose because it is a nutter. It used to go in a travel crate in the boot but that left no room for anything else. It now has to go on the front passenger seat floor with my wife holding it's lead. I need a long and wide load space rather than a tall one so s-max and Landy might not work.

Dog trailer + towbar. Small initial cost, but will maintain their value better than a pick-up.
http://www.lintran.co.uk/products.html