Thinking of getting a new truck for work.

I like the Nissan Navara, but my boss thinks that the better option is the Ford Ranger.

I have heard good things about the Navara people say that it is a good work horse etc.

Please let me know what you guys think. If you own one or you know people who have one.

Basically do they do what they are supposed to do?

I used to have a Navara........ 06 plate Aventura as a works vehicle.

What you going to use it for?

Has been some reliabilty issues on early navara's, but I think sorted now. Having said that I dont think the ranger is much better in that dept!

Mine was used for work in telecoms, mobile phone masts etc, that tend to be on hillsides etc.

The weight and size (5.5m long!) were its only downfalls. Had AT tyres on it which did make a huge difference. Drove like a car though, handled well on corners unless been silly, would do well over 100 if needed and could do up to 35mpg (with road tyres and light right foot).

Masses of spec compared to the competitors on all grades, especially the Aventura.

Ask a few questions and Ill do my best to answer.

Also consider, L200 and the Hilux if its the 3.0l version.

Steve

It will be used on a 470 acre nature reserve. So the types of jobs that it will do are endless. Carry,tow, move heavy equipment around.

I need to have a crew cab with the extra seats as i have volunteers to move around site as well.

Good tyres are a must i am on clay so the site is very wet.

It wont do very many road miles but when it does it will be towing 16' trailers filled with various materials. Lengths of timber, fence posts, logs. It does need to be a very capable tower in the summer months it will need to pull a 16' trailer with 100 bales on it all day.

You are probably thinking i need a tractor well i have 2 80hp John Deeres. The vechile that it is replacing is a 110 landrover which is over 20 years old and that does all of the above with the greatest of ease, it is just costing a lot of money to keep on the road.

If you are happy with the landy, go for a newer defender

If you are happy with the landy, go for a newer defender

I agree, but a new Defender, when specced up is very expensive, and has less warranty than any new Jap. offering.

A Navara would be my choice.

If you are happy with the landy, go for a newer defender

That may well be another option.

But the bosses think that by buying the Ford Ranger they are saving loads of money. But if they are not any good at there job or they fall apart very easily then it will be a false econamy.

I use a Ford Ranger for work. On the road it's very comfortable, feels a but heavy as you would expect, but it's not a bad ride.

I'm not too impressed with it off road though, and I've driven it in some really rough places. Although I've never been worried that it won't get me where I need to go, I find the leaf springs make the ride really bouncy and, well, a bit like being at sea to be honest. (And I've never got used to that handbrake being where it is under the steering column!)

Someone who I work with owns a Navara. Although I've never driven one, I can recommend it over the Ranger. On roads it's great, and off road the ride is alot better and you don't get the same levels of bouncing about. I know there's been some safety concerns with trucks from a particular year (don't recall which though?) but the one he uses is a 2007 model and it's a really capable, well-built piece of kit. He's never had a bad word to say about it. Oh, and the stereo/aircon's better than the Ranger too

But personally, I'd go for a new Defender every time. :drool:

HTH

Kay.

The landy has a 3 year UNLIMITED Miles warranty does it not against the Nissan 3yr/60k?

Have you considered a Santana? They used to make defenders on licence but now set up on there own, very good apparently.

Nissan servicing is 18k, so thats a good point but dealer service is dire.

A second hand ranger would be a LOT cheaper than anything else as the depreciate awful in their first year (as most fords do).

The Navara is probably too heavy for serious off road work and the overhangs (approach and departure angles) are not too clever either, same could be said for all pick ups mind.

My money would be for a hilux, just for its shear reliabilty record, if your not doing too much road work then the 2.5 (or is it 2.4) would be OK for your use, just keep an eye on the max tow weights, hilux is quite low, Navara about average. Best I beleive is the Isuzu pick up.

You say you will be towing on the road? Well the Navara CANT have a digital tacho fitted, so will be useless, you cant have a gross train weight of over 3.5T (permissable, not actual) unless you have a Tacho (and it has to be digital now) unless your within 35km radius of your base.

If it was the Nav you went for, you may be better getting the base model with 16" wheels, all the others have 17". If going to off road tyres, only Yoko and BFG's available, and thats in an AT pattern only. You will need M/T's, so would probably have more choice with 16" rims.

Also consider the Mazda pick up, same as a Ford ranger but seems to get better thought of!

Steve

The Navara is probably too heavy for serious off road work and the overhangs (approach and departure angles) are not too clever either, same could be said for all pick ups mind.

Navara and Ranger have about the same wheelbase and approach/departure is therefore about same; although for entering/exiting steep slopes if you have a towbar you'll catch it on everything (I've had problems with Defenders though but the towbar on the Ranger is a pain in the ***). I'm pretty sure the HiLux is a fair bit longer but can't comment further as I've never driven one.

I might be wrong, but the Ranger seems like a heavier vehicle (or I might just be biased because I don't like it much) but they are cheaper to buy 2nd hand.

I,m sure I read somewhere that the Navara had one of the worse Euro Ncap ratings. Might be safer in a Ranger.

they arn't trucks man,get youself a real truck,a scania r620 topline,now there is a real truck;)

We have a hilux.

Its an 06 plate HL 3 3.0td single cab and its indestructable

Pulls well, large load area and its unbeatable off road.

I would go for the toyota anytime.

That is interesting. Some of my work colleagues were told that they could not have the Hilux because it was not a patch on the Ford! :eek:

We were told to go out and spec the vehicle we want and get it ordered. But then the managers in the office got involved and it all became about money.

So 3 ford rangers with single cab have been ordered.

I am trying to hang on to the hope that I will be able to get the truck of my choice. And buy it because it does a job not because it is the cheaper option.

I have driven the older shape Ranger quite a few times recently.

I was actually quite suprised by it.

OK, not so car like to dri#ve as a Navara etc but was OK, even on the twisties.

Has BFG AT's on and does well on the rough stuff.

Navara only has an LSD but the Rangers have a Rear Diff Lock, much more usefull for your use.

Steve

Get a Hilux! best pickup ever made

Isuzu rodeo?

Merc Unimog

As much as I like the look of the Ford Rangers... I would go for the HiLux.

Millions of Freedom fighters/terrorists/rebels the world over can't be wrong

Merc Unimog

As much as I like the look of the Ford Rangers... I would go for the HiLux.

Millions of Freedom fighters/terrorists/rebels the world over can't be wrong

:rofl:

They are pretty much indestructable.

IT has been crashed into twice, one time a forklift and the other time a golf ran into the back off it. Then he ran into an audi RS4 and totalled it but only cracked the bumper on the hilux

Then engine is a peach, Nice smooth power delivery and he gets around 25-30mpg and he doesnt hang around.

The 4x4 system is exellent and touch botton diff locks. He is on road tyres and hasnt got stuck yet, and weve been through some pretty challenging conditions.

The cab is a nice place to be too, it has air con electric windows and sat nav built in. the seats are comfy too.

It handles quite well too for a big tall machine. I think i have now mastered the art of drifting it at speed and it is so much fun

Put it this way, I actually prefer driving the hilux than driving the volvo Xc90 the volvo s40 sport and my 230bhp fabia supercar

our wildlife unit used rangers and the guys always complained that they were crap off road. They also had 110's and Terranos which I think they preferred.

Another vote for a Land Rover deepender

Also the Santana is very good, have a look here.

Nene Overland 4x4, Land Rover Defender 90, 110, 130, Discovery, Freelander, Range Rover Sales, Service, Parts, Hire and Preparation

What about getting the existing 110 refurbished?

Church Farm Landrovers: Land Rover Defender Garage providing specialist Defender 90 & 110 services based in King?s Lynn, Norfolk

What about getting the existing 110 refurbished?

Church Farm Landrovers: Land Rover Defender Garage providing specialist Defender 90 & 110 services based in King?s Lynn, Norfolk

Could have posted that link about 2 weeks ago as i was staying only 5 miles away, Could have gone for a snoop

Could have posted that link about 2 weeks ago as i was staying only 5 miles away, Could have gone for a snoop

House mate used to off road them and prior to moving in owned one that was done up from piratically scrap to like new using recon parts for a very reasonable price.