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Calling on pickup owners

Evening all,

I currently have a 2004 Ford Ranger which I bought from a friend 2 years ago. It is now becoming uneconomic to keep running due to regular failures. I'm looking for another car derived pick-up to replace it with the top candidate being the Toyota Hilux. I have a budget of around £12,000 and am looking to replace in the summer. Does anyone have any views positive or negative either way? Particularly on the Hilux. 

Thanks in advance.

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Replies

  • PRO

    I'm tall with a long back, and the Hilux's I looked at had no seat height adjustment and so head was hitting the roof. New/old Ranger much better, as was all L200's

    • This reply was deleted.
      • PRO
        I run a navara now had an l200 before this.
        My dad has run 2 rangers new shape and old.
        New shape much better than old shape.
        Don't know if new shape will be in the 12k bracket yet?
  • PRO

    I went for the new shape ranger - very comfortable and good wading depth (which I do need!). More car like to drive than either the Hilux or L200 series 4. I think you'll get a new shape ranger '12 plate XL or XLT for around £12k though mileage may be a bit thick on the XLT's. Out of the others I looked at, was really impressed with the Isuzu's.

    • This reply was deleted.
      • PRO
        Whatever you buy is going to cost money!!
        Buy new you lose on deprecation. Buy used it costs you in parts labour and downtime.
        I lease new and get rid before they become money pits.
        As Andrew says lease just becomes a business cost minus s percentage if you use for private motoring.
        • This reply was deleted.
          • PRO
            The thing to watch out for on any vehicle up there at 80k plus is the timing belt/chain if they go you've got a top end rebuild to pay for!!
            • This reply was deleted.
              • PRO
                Well worth it.
                Not trying to make you look like you know nothing about it.
                But I've seen in the face of it intelligent people (my sister being one of them a school teacher)
                Letting the belt/chain snap and the engine eat itself!!!
  • PRO

    It's all on usage - low mileage, lots of cold starts, short journeys, hard driving will knacker anything. Compare with higher mileage motorway driving. Best to buy on condition and history. Or lease new for around £200+vat pcm and offset against income.

    • PRO

      http://www.vanarama.co.uk/pickup-truck-leasing.html

      plenty to tempt you

      • PRO
        Yes they are very good I'm on my second truck from them!!
        All done on the phone and you sign the firms online too. You literally sign a form on a tablet or phone. Great service.
        I've got some introduction cards worth £50 to each of us if you went down that route I can post you one!!
  • PRO

    We do finance lease over 4-5yrs. There is a balloon based on your estimated miles, but go under or over, good or bad condition, the difference is that the value of the vehicle may be worth more or less than the balloon.

    Contract hire is much more restrictive and fixed.

    Starting out, I bought older vehicles and had approx £20k tied up in them, which could have been invested in growing the business or in equipment for extra revenue. After a few breakdowns and unplanned expense and downtime, I decided to sell and swap to leasing.

    Yes, there are still problems re maintenance and breakdowns, but the manufacturer warranty covers and generally the dealer or AA provides a loan vehicle.

    Calculating total running costs, it works out better for us.

    For signwriting, we've just done normal stuff, but if you wanted, especially for a pick-up you could go magnetic and keep.

    We also like vanarama.

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