If Not Isuzu..................?

[257Bob]

When I finally come to upgrade way down the track I guess I'd look at another Isuzu first.  But my second choice I guess would be the Ranger.  Navara, Triton and Hilux would be way down the list. 

If you couldn't buy an Isuzu, what would be your next choice? 

[george9]

I guess it would have to be a second hand Isuzu then

[Frankb]

How about a niva lada?

[yvesjv]

Took a navarra on a mad dash once on the Central Arnhem road.
Just over 700Kms to do in 1 day as the wet kicked in and that was insane.
The only mod was a long range tank and every thing else stock.

No Isuzu available, I'd look at the Patrol and the navarra.
Though, don't like the new Patrol look... I think they are now fashionable Toorak tractors.

[AW1]

Why would you not be looking at the new Mazda BT50, which is built by Isuzu but with some different body panels, and shares the chassis and mechanicals with the Dmax.

I would not be touching the 5cyl,3,2lit BT50 built by Ford.

Regards. Athol

[VALKIE]

All depends on your preferences

Want to look tough...the new ranger looks tough, but all that plastic falls off.

The Navara with its tiny engine will struggle a bit.

Triton suffers the ford disease...lots of plastic

And the hilux is so overpriced its not funny...not to mention the DPF isses ongoing

Stick to the Isuzu  or get a land rover

[sdouglas]

Think I’d be happy to rebuild the important bits along the way.

[animalpest]

Athol,
What's wrong with the Ford 3.2?
Do they have common issues?

If  I couldn't buy a new Isuzu I would hang onto the ones I have.

[DannyG]

Why would you not be looking at the new Mazda BT50, which is built by Isuzu but with some different body panels, and shares the chassis and mechanicals with the Dmax.

I would not be touching the 5cyl,3,2lit BT50 built by Ford.

Regards. Athol

100% agree with that statement. Every person I know who has one has had the engine replaced.

[AW1]

Animalpest

There are a number of issues with the 5 cylinder Ford and its variant, the BT50

One major issue is with the engine lubrication system, should you take just a little too long when changing the oil then the oil drains out of the pump, and you can easily destroy the engine trying to get oil pressure. They are the only engine, that I am aware of, that has a computer controlled variable flow engine oil pump (rather than a pressure limited pump) that is done for the sole purpose of reducing engine pumping loads, and therefore reducing fuel consumption.

Should you experience this then the correct way to gain oil pressure is to tow the vehicle to your nearest Ford/Mazda dealer so that they can access the dealer only available in line system to enable the on board computer to be reprogrammed.  I have heard that you may be able to gain oil pressure by doubling the oil fill and leaving the vehicle stand overnight, then draining the excess oil before starting the engine and hopefully having normal operation (before the engine is destroyed).

These vehicles also do not have ANY direct drive gear in their auto transmissions (ie there is no 1 to 1 gear, every gear is either a step down or overdrive). This must have an adverse effect on transmission wear, especially when towing in situations where you would normally use 4th gear (generally the direct drive gear).

Those  issues, together with numerous reports of engine failures, would be ebough for me to steer well clear of these vehicles.

Regards
Athol

[WAI4WD]

When I finally come to upgrade way down the track I guess I'd look at another Isuzu first.  But my second choice I guess would be the Ranger.

If I were starting my project in 12 months time, then I would have purchased the new V6 TDI Ranger providing they weren't using the silly 10 speed box. If they're using the 10 speed, then I would still be buying a Dmax.

[mewgaf]

If I wanted to tow something how about an isuzu nps?
Unimog anybody?

[257Bob]

Why would you not be looking at the new Mazda BT50, which is built by Isuzu but with some different body panels, and shares the chassis and mechanicals with the Dmax.

I would not be touching the 5cyl,3,2lit BT50 built by Ford.

Regards. Athol

100% agree with that statement. Every person I know who has one has had the engine replaced.

Just the Mazdas?  Or Rangers too?

[AW1]

Both

[yvesjv]

The nephew (via the fun minister) collects old military vehicles.
He actually hoards them.
Among the many that are rusting away on his old mans farm in Vic, there is what he claims the very last Australian military vehicle that left the Vietnam war.
If he rebuilt it, I would but it from him and that wold be my last vehicle.
I see the odd military vehicle being driven around Darwin by people who bought/refurbished them and I salivate 

They look like landrovers but I cannot be sure.