What Pickup truck should I avoid?

[Adam-v2yt0]

Hi all,

Looking in to buying my first pickup truck. My interest in cars has never wandered off to trucks so I know nothing about them, what’s good for what and what to avoid.
Getting rid of my Audi A4 and going for a pickup for tax reasons. I will rarely, if ever, go off road so I just want something comfortable. Got about £15k to spend.
I’ve seen a lot of negatives about the Navara engines and gearboxes. Guess that why you get a low miler for that money. I’m a VAG fan so naturally looking at Amaroks.

Any pickup enthusiasts, please share your suggestions and experiences

Thanks in Advance

[Krikkit]

Could you go for a van instead? In my experience the modern ones (e.g. Transit Custom) are very comfortable, almost car-like.

The pickups I've driven have all had beam/live axle/leaf sprung rear suspension which was agricultural to say the least! I will admit, however, that it's been a while.

[Ninja59]

Google nissan navara chassis breaking never mind gearboxes and engines....

L200 possibly?

[normalbloke]

I wouldn't own any of the latest vehicles once out of warranty, they are a liability. Ranger and Amarok are the best of the new bunch for comfort/toys/car like interior. Older Amarok with the 2 litre diesel ( even in 180 bhp flavour) is a gutless wheeze. Newer ones are a 3.0 V6 which is the engine it always should have been fitted with,however, probably double your budget.

[Willhire89]

I bought a 61 plate Amarok with 40k on it three years back and it has been faultless

Very comfortable for long runs - Perth to Cambridge non stop - and despite the so called wheezy engine it goes perfectly well and tows my race cars effortlessly.

I would have another one without hesitation

[abucd4]

Ninja59 said:

Google nissan navara chassis breaking never mind gearboxes and engines....

L200 possibly?

Absolutely this ^^

That’s why they’re cheap, they keep snapping in half!

I loved my ancient l200 but that’s all the insight I have unfortunately.

[Adam-v2yt0]

Krikkit said:

Could you go for a van instead? In my experience the modern ones (e.g. Transit Custom) are very comfortable, almost car-like.

The pickups I've driven have all had beam/live axle/leaf sprung rear suspension which was agricultural to say the least! I will admit, however, that it's been a while.

I’ve looked at vans and I just don’t really like them. If I needed one I’d get a Transporter Sportline but with my budget, can’t get quite enough van for my money

[Adam-v2yt0]

Ninja59 said:

Google nissan navara chassis breaking never mind gearboxes and engines....

L200 possibly?

I’ve heard they’re good but my god the front end is ugly

[Adam-v2yt0]

normalbloke said:

I wouldn't own any of the latest vehicles once out of warranty, they are a liability. Ranger and Amarok are the best of the new bunch for comfort/toys/car like interior. Older Amarok with the 2 litre diesel ( even in 180 bhp flavour) is a gutless wheeze. Newer ones are a 3.0 V6 which is the engine it always should have been fitted with,however, probably double your budget.

If the Amarok V6 was in my budget, it would be top of the list. Ranger V6s however are in my budget. Might have to take a 2.0 Amarok for a test drive to see what it’s like. I already had concerns over its grunt

[Adam-v2yt0]

DELETED: Comment made by a member who's account has been deleted.

Navara is in my top two looks wise and can get a good spec low miler for my budget. Just a shame about the bad press. Explains the lower price tags though

What exactly did you do to yours? And what’s involved in the chassis treatment?

[Adam-v2yt0]

Willhire89 said:

I bought a 61 plate Amarok with 40k on it three years back and it has been faultless

Very comfortable for long runs - Perth to Cambridge non stop - and despite the so called wheezy engine it goes perfectly well and tows my race cars effortlessly.

I would have another one without hesitation

What spec did you get? I’d be looking at a highline. Ultimate is just out of reach

[Willhire89]

Adam-v2yt0 said:

What spec did you get? I’d be looking at a highline. Ultimate is just out of reach

Highline - I looked and drove the other options (except Ranger as they were too new then) and it was the stand out option

Edit - mine has not been back to VW to be updated- it remains 'cheat' enabled and as designed

Edited by Willhire89 on Friday 18th May 20:14

[Adam-v2yt0]

Adam-v2yt0 said:

It is easy to take the rear off and give it a good coating of underseal.

I went to a Nav specialist for a good seeing to and then remapped it. Scared most cars on the road. I regret selling mine as I doubt I would have lost a penny and it was a hoot. The 2.5ltr is a bit meh....

DELETED: Comment made by a member who's account has been deleted.

[MrAverage]

Can't comment on Amarok's but feel they may be more expensive due to badge.

My personal experience with Isuzu's has been very good and i'd recommend an Isuzu D-max to anybody looking for a truck. our current one is a 63 plate on ~110k miles its only needed front wheel bearings.

very well spec'd truck and we paid well under your budget.

[bearman68]

MrAverage said:

Can't comment on Amarok's but feel they may be more expensive due to badge.

My personal experience with Isuzu's has been very good and i'd recommend an Isuzu D-max to anybody looking for a truck. our current one is a 63 plate on ~110k miles its only needed front wheel bearings.

very well spec'd truck and we paid well under your budget.

I'd be tempted by a trooper as well. Had the very old 3.1 trooper, and it was well named.

[normalbloke]

bearman68 said:

MrAverage said:

Can't comment on Amarok's but feel they may be more expensive due to badge.

My personal experience with Isuzu's has been very good and i'd recommend an Isuzu D-max to anybody looking for a truck. our current one is a 63 plate on ~110k miles its only needed front wheel bearings.

very well spec'd truck and we paid well under your budget.

I'd be tempted by a trooper as well. Had the very old 3.1 trooper, and it was well named.

The old 3.1 Trooper was a good plodder. The 3.0 Trooper that followed was a bit of a disaster.

[MrAverage]

I don't know about troopers but have had a vauxhall brava with the 2.5td and the Isuzu tf with the 3.1td (shared platform) the 3.1 had a fair bit more grunt.

The D-max is 2.5 twin turbo and will very comfortably cruise at 70 and a bit. It's a lot more refined than the older ones and is a much nicer place to be.

[anonymous-user]

I've had my 2010 navara for 4 years.

So far it's needed the air con fixing and a new internal temp sensor.

And it's done about 40000 miles including regular trips from cheshire to Essex.

Don't believe everything you read on the internet (including me) but Im planning on keeping it until either I die or it does