Navara/Hilux?

sikastag

Hello.

Just wondering has anyone any experience with Nissan Navara/Toyota Hilux? Are they reliable/trouble free? Whats fuel consumption like? Parts expensive? In the market for this type of jeep, wouldnt be drawing heavy loads or going through extremely rough terrain but would be required to do a small bit of off-road. Are there any other makes/models worth considering? No real experience with this type of machine hence im asking here.

Thanks.

coolmoose

sikastag wrote: »

Hello.

Just wondering has anyone any experience with Nissan Navara/Toyota Hilux? Are they reliable/trouble free? Whats fuel consumption like? Parts expensive? In the market for this type of jeep, wouldnt be drawing heavy loads or going through extremely rough terrain but would be required to do a small bit of off-road. Are there any other makes/models worth considering? No real experience with this type of machine hence im asking here.

Thanks.

Had a 08 Navara Double Cab. Never gave me any trouble. Comfortable to drive, even for long distances. Nice spec list with A/C, heated seats and built in bluetooth handsfree kit in stereo. However the spring-leaf suspension on the rear makes them quite giddy and tail happy in the wet and snow/ice without some weight over the rear wheels (which ultimately resulted in her encounter with a ditch at Christmas). Load bay is not water or dustproof which may also be something you require.

Fuel consumption isn't great, don't expect car MPG figures, from what I can remember I was getting around the 28-30mpg with mixed driving, towing etc.

As regards off road there are far more capable vehicles such as the Landcruiser, Pajero, Defender etc. The 4x4 capabilities of the Navara aren't great as regards clearance, length etc. It's a part-time 4 wheel drive system selected by a knob on the dash. Can only be used on slippery surfaces, has a lockable centre diff.

I now have a 1995 Pajero LWB 2.8TD and I find this to be far more capable off-road with a lockable centre and rear diff, better clearance. Can use the 4WD system in the Pajero on the road also.

Tyre choice is a huge factor in off-road ability and you should bear this in mind. If you're not going to be towing loads or carrying loads regularly I'd reconsider getting a crew-cab...have a look at the Pajero/Ladcruiser etc. Or something like a Hilux Surf might be more to your liking.

HTH

Fishtits

Black & white in my experience.

Navara, rough, crude and fragile (ie expensive to repair).

Hi-Lux, bullet proof but expensive to buy. Take your pick on cost of ownership. I'd go for the Toyota TBH, the Navara is a pretender IMHO..

brembo26

96ish 2.8td lwb pajaro for the win! one of the best jeeps in the world in my opinion!

coolmoose

Fishtits wrote: »

Navara, rough, crude

The D40 or D22? Have to say rough and crude cannot be said about the D40...D22 is rough alright!

Fishtits

coolmoose wrote: »

The D40 or D22? Have to say rough and crude cannot be said about the D40...D22 is rough alright!

I'm not familiar with the model numbers, the last one I owned was an '02, it lasted all of an hour in 4WD before the transfer box packed up. I drove an '06 about 2 years ago and it was very crude. I have a customer with a few '05 versions and they've cost him a fortune at this stage.

Just my experience.

coolmoose

Ya the D22 was the older shape...rough out. Seemingly the 05/06 D40 new shape had a lot of problems, seems as though they got better from 07 onwards.

don't know how well they age though!

sikastag

Thanks lads,

Sorry, been away from internet connection for abi. Thanks for input. Has to be pick-up type machine. The attraction is having a seperate bay from the cab as opposed to commercial-type (van) models.Not too worried about looks etc, reliability would be nice. The offroad antics would be limited to fields and forestry roads. Mainly, if I was to his a soft spot going through gateway it would be nice to know I can get out of it! Would be looking to buy 07/08 onwards in hilux or navara. Anyone ever hear of navaras giving loads of trouble with clutches? Or would that be driver related?

Eric Cartman

sikastag wrote: »

Thanks lads,

Sorry, been away from internet connection for abi. Thanks for input. Has to be pick-up type machine. The attraction is having a seperate bay from the cab as opposed to commercial-type (van) models.Not too worried about looks etc, reliability would be nice. The offroad antics would be limited to fields and forestry roads. Mainly, if I was to his a soft spot going through gateway it would be nice to know I can get out of it! Would be looking to buy 07/08 onwards in hilux or navara. Anyone ever hear of navaras giving loads of trouble with clutches? Or would that be driver related?

have a mate with a d40 07 navara crewcab manual , hes put 2 clutches into it since new, only used as a road car, never off road, no towbar and rarely heavy loads , the first replacment was a recall to do with changing the flywheel from dual mass to solid i think. The automatic navaras dont seem to give the same trouble as the manual ones but they seem to eat clutches

sikastag

Thanks Cartman,

Was chatting to a fella before with 07 model navara, reckoned he had four clutches put in to date plus a back axle??? Reckoned it only got light work but thats a bit above wear and tear no?

746watts

hilux is your only man. And Toyota are excellent at sorting any issues for free too. Can't say that about any other manufactuer

navaras are easy to steal too (apparently) and the clutches go.

sikastag

Right it appears from talking to more people since that the navaras are not without their problems, and john hilux seems to be more reliable however, i do stand to be corrected! Als another possibility is a Ford Ranger Crew cab. anyone have experience with this machine? again would be opting for 07/08 model.

Eric Cartman

sikastag wrote: »

Right it appears from talking to more people since that the navaras are not without their problems, and john hilux seems to be more reliable however, i do stand to be corrected! Als another possibility is a Ford Ranger Crew cab. anyone have experience with this machine? again would be opting for 07/08 model.

have you considered a new model d-max , if you can get your hands on an old isuzu trooper running or not you can get 7500 euro off a new d-max , makes a new d-max the same price as an 08 hilux. i drove one there last week and have decided thats where my money is going, i found the seats and rear space in the crewcab far more comfortable than the navara , its handling is in the same leauge as the hilux and you can get some nice extras for nothing, cruise control as standard and the automatic box is quite smooth (cant vouch for the manual) , engine was nice and quiet and uses less diesel than the hilux 3 litre apparantly

elius

Lads do the Hilux still not have rear leaf springs.
Handle eh death traps from what i can remember driving a 03 model. :rolleyes:

sikastag

Interesting about d-max. Worth looking into. Thanks Cartman. Will consider any model/make really, just looking for crewcab with a fair degree of reliability that wont leave me sitting im a muddy gap. Id say 85% road use being realistic.

colm_mcm

elius wrote: »

Lads do the Hilux still not have rear leaf springs.
Handle eh death traps from what i can remember driving a 03 model. :rolleyes:

Still leaf springs, the 3.0 models have 170hp as compred to the old ones 89hp

Slidey

I cannot think of any crewcab out there in Ireland that is not on leaf springs.

Anyone prove me wrong?

Eric Cartman

only crewcabs without leafs are those converted landcruiser amazons

Vegeta

Slidey wrote: »

I cannot think of any crewcab out there in Ireland that is not on leaf springs.

Anyone prove me wrong?

Unless someone has done a conversion I cant think of any standard ones that are on rear coils anyway

Fishtits

Slidey wrote: »

I cannot think of any crewcab out there in Ireland that is not on leaf springs.

Anyone prove me wrong?

Defender?

Slidey

Fishtits wrote: »

Defender?

Proven wrong

Fishtits

Slidey wrote: »

Proven wrong

I shall post arrangements so that you can hand over your first born etc.

colm_mcm

Kia Sedona

scraping bottom of the barrel there

youknowwho

What was the final outcome re the pickups??

Considering investing in one at the moment and finding it difficult to get a like for like comparison. Has to be a pickup with crew cab for the tax benefits.

Any thoughts?

Eric Cartman

I dont know what the OP did, but I since bought an isuzu d-max in september 2010 , have 48000 up on it now and couldnt be happier, cheaper to service than my old sorento , does 28mpg easy enough, stayed put together, only issue I had was with a window regulator done under warranty.