Which Ute?

[Harry72]

Bodgy have you looked at the new Mazda bravo's? They pretty slick.

Hi Bodgy,
We've got a Ford Courier dual cab, just a 2WD, 95 model with a 2.6 EFI. Before we got it, we did some market research mainly looking at legroom for a growing family, and the Ford had heaps more to offer! I don't know if that's still the case. It goes pretty well, even tow a small caravan, but fuel consumption is a real issue, and it pings with normal unleaded. In 5th gear at 100kph the engine is doing a touch over 3000rpm, so gearing as a problem...but maybe the small wheels add to it.
Hope this helps.

I've got the madza version(courier is a badge engineered mazda...),tow a small caravan... should tow a rather large caravan. I'd be puttiug in for a check up if its using a lot of fuel, they are known as a good fuel miser! Mine pings on petrol as well under heavy load on gas its ok, but that's Australia's crap ulp for you.
The 3000 rev's at 100kmh is quite normal for a 4cyl, considering they'll rev a 6k all day long without a fuss.(like most jap utes built near indestructible)

[BrisBen]

Seen a couple of blokes get the petrol v6 rodeo and the fuel each week is more than the lease payments !

[Gaza]

got 5.7ltr SS holden ute get 300km to tank around the city, stopped driving it when juice went over 1.25, went to start it the other day and the battery was flat.

looking to buy a 1990 model 4x4 diesel with tray back for work and a hotrod for a toy. works out cheaper than having the SS plus dont need to empty my tools out when i go out.

if it was me keep your car and buy a cheap ute, there is heaps on ebay under 8k that are good.

[E. maculata]

'06 Nissan Navara STiR dal cab, two words for it
"Bloody Brilliant"

three more for you
"Cheap as Chips"

4 words
"buy one right now"

5 words
"proper three tonne towing capacity"

6 words
"Goes like poop off a shovel"

last word
"Great"

[Bodgy]

Thanks guys

It seems one forgets the Holden, no votes for Mitsubishi, Mazda a bit iffy, can't afford a small Gulf State for the F100's thirst, no to the Ford ute.

Praise for the Musso and Nissan.

Never knew the Musso existed in ute form. Will check it out but for $26K sounds too good to be true.

Been eyeing off the Nissan for a while now, just unsure as to Jap diesels.

[Buzzer]

Hi Bodgy,

Just my 2 bob's worth.
I live out in the sticks, and around 60-70% of the utes around here are Toyota's. either Luxers or Cruisers. They have a good reputation (around here at least) for their reliability.
I own a luxer and would buy the same again.

Cheers
Buzzer.

[Auld Bassoon]

PS Did BMW do well at Le Mans with a turbo diesel vehicle?? Anyone know

Actually, it was Audi - and yes they did ok - they won. Again.

[Chris Parks]

I drive diesel Transit vans for a living (Ozzie Post). The new common rail diesels coming out of Europe have to be driven to be believed. You will NEVER buy a Jap diesel after driving one of these. They have unbelievable torque and are very economical to boot. They don't do utes, but a cab chassis with a tray would be a great vehicle....just don't fall over when you price it.

[Andy Mac]

I'd be puttiug in for a check up if its using a lot of fuel, they are known as a good fuel miser!

Hi Harry,
I've just been on a 2000km trip in the Courier, mostly open road driving, with all seats taken, a fair load in the back (including tools & 10 vices), and builders bar/rack with a knock-down timber workbench, and took a log of fuel usage. I had the engine serviced before we went. I have worked out consumption to be around 11.5litres per 100kms, in my reckoning, about 20.5mpg. I'm not overly impressed, as I didn't push it, although there was extra drag from the laod on top.
It equates to a test I did on our old Mitsubishi L300 van, which was a 4x4 and had a 2.6 Astron engine installed...I had no illusions about that old brick!
Regards the revs this ute does, I guess they are geared differently to cars, but our family wagon (a Mitsubishi Magna) only does 1500-ish in fifth gear at 100kph...just over half the rpm of the ute. I reckon the revs are the problem, drop back to 80kph and fuel usage drops dramatically.
Anyway, I'll stop bleating as there's nothing I can do to change it!

Cheers,

[Grahame Collins]

Andy,
I have a Mazda B2600 petrol that has a 110,000 on the clock.On its best day it will do 10L/100 km .Sorry do not know what that is in mpg.That is with a canopy.
This is a 5 speeder.Around town it runs 8L/100km



I can tell you what to avoid at all costs and that is a Tata Telcoline.
I suffered ownership of one of these marvels of Indian engineering from new until 57.000 kms and could not put up with it any longer.It broke down once every 32 days on average.It was a 2.litre turbo diesel and nearly everthing that worked eventually didn't.Example ,the needle fell off the tacho at 200kms, Fan belt idler pulley bolt fell out at 8oo kms.And on it went Lost $12000 on it over three years.

Grahame

[Harry72]

Loaded up and still getting 11.5/100, thats not bad at all...

I know in mine driving to Adelaide it only uses approx 16~17ltrs to do 220km. Coming back is a different story tho, with a pack'o'crapiarta(about 650kg)plus a few bits and pieces(tools n stuff )it sucks nearly half a tank 30ltrs.

Wana know a funny thing, both my last utes were Ford V8's a XHII 5ltr and a BA 5.4ltr using cruise control they only used a tad more than the Mazda... until you hit town that is!

Is the Magna a 6 or 4? Last one I was in(1994)a 4cyl auto was doing around 2800 at 110kmh, and had woeful fuel consumption.
One thing to keep in mind too a service nowdays isnt a check up, just a filter a oil change they generaly only hook a diagnostic machine if you say its got problems... not like the old days.

[Schtoo]

Andy, to give you an idea of what RPM does, we got this Honda 5 cylinder thing here, and it runs at about 2,700rpm or so @ 100km/h. Just a 2 litre thing, front drive and might have Vtec too.

Last trip to Kobe and back to here (500km round trip) and about 2 hours of town driving (Sydney peak hour-esque) and it chewed through just on 50 litres of fuel IIRC.

I was actually quite impressed, since it usually only gets that in the autumn and spring if I drive like an old fart. Winter it sucks more fuel during warm up, summer the AC sucks the juice.

Granted, the average speed to Kobe and back was closer to 130km/h than 80km/h...

I do have to admit, when it's revving it brain out, it does hurt fuel economy.

Might be a VERY good idea to find out if there is another injector or two that comes in when more power is needed and usually above a set rpm point. If you can keep it below that, then you get very good fuel economy.

As an example, an RX-8 is a fuel hog, but I have heard of better than 30MPG keeping the revs right down...

[TassieKiwi]

The Toyota will cost more - but will fetch a high resale price of at least 70 - 75% in 3 yrs, quality second to none. BTW the Kluger 3.3L v6 achieves 12-14l/100, but goes to 15-17 with the 1+tonne campertrailer. Boss pays tho so I don't care

D

[Pulpo]

The Nissan Navara 06 model diesel is a CRD.

And would be my choice if driving around town and with the family.

Competitive price as well

The Holden Rodeo 03 and up models seem decent as well, they seem to be imitating the Navara style.

The Toyota is a true work vehicle, not cheap.

I have a Ford, 4WD, courier, diesel 97 model dual cab, not turbo.

At 40,000 the clutch went, at 70,000 the gear box went;

Not to mention many other smaller problems.

It tows an empty small trailer on the flat really well.

10L/100 is the normal fuel efficiency mix city/country.

4wd, if one back wheel spins no power for the other wheels.

Ford courier would be off my short list.

I also own a cab chassis one tonne Nissan, 87 model, 2wd; cannot kill it.

Good Luck

Pulpo

[maglite]

I Have a BA ute that has done pretty well for me most of the time.
I average between 10 + 11.5 / 100km and i dont baby it.

That being said i too am very impressed with the nissan STR and can often be seen drooling over the one with all the fruit in the local dealership.
The salesman reckons Nissan recommend servicing every 5000k and as i do a lot of kms this is a BIG concern, more than fuel cost to be honest.

I had a look at the Triton the other day, a bloke at work has one, he swears by it.
On the road for 36K makes this look pretty good too, but i might wait to see if the bring out one with an up to date engine.
Check out the link for owner comments.......very interesting reading and a lot of horror stories from Rodeo owners.

Cheers
Steve

http://www.productreview.com.au/index.php