thoughts opinions dual cabs

[playwme]

How big are the kids? I tend to steer clear of dual cabs due to the rear legroom. My sister just got a 4wd VW Amarok which fixes that issue. Rear space is big, the whole car is big. It's still very car like to drive but they only come with a 2L twin turbo diesel which isn't slow considering the size of the car but isn't very awe inspiring either. It gets awesome fuel consumption though, computers currently sitting around 9.5 with mostly city driving. Might not be a good choice as a long termer as maintenance bills will probably be pretty high after 100k km.

2wd SR5 V6 Hilux would be my choice if you didn't need the 4by. Couple of mates have them and regularly get 12l p 100 even when towing trailers. Nice torquey motor that doesn't need to be revved, auto gearbox like all Toyotas is strong and smooth.
If you really love the diesel then the BT50 is a cracker of a car and good value. A mate uses tray back ones for his business and I Picked up one with 20k on it and drove it to Sydney for him. Pulled like a freight train in top gear from 40kph all the way to 120 in no time at all. Gotta be careful in the wet though. Had a moment as I changed into 3rd going around a bend in Botany.

[wbute]

I have an 08 diesel hilux 4wd single cab. It does 10l/100k regularly hi-way driving. They are a great engine. The ute itself is a piece of crap though. Too low and the lightest weakest piece of rubbish I have ever owned. If only they would bring back the turbo 6 diesel cruiser and make a dual cab version.

[HK1837]

^^My next door neighbour has a 100 series 6cyl TD auto 'cruiser. It is in really good shape and people are always trying to buy it off him! Unfortunately that engine has gone the same way as the 4.2TD Patrol engine. AFAIK both are still sold in South Africa and the middle East, but don't comply with our emissions laws.

[playwme]

They're bringing out a factory dual cab 70 series Cruiser soon. Still got the "sell your firstborn to change a starter motor" V8 though.

They reckon the 70 series will be phased out in Australia soon cause it doesn't have traction control, therefore can't get a 5 star rating, therefore isn't OHS compliant and apparently business sales make up some huge amount of all 70 series sales.

[rallyvan]

Turbo diesel is the way to go as a V6 will slurp more fuel than a out tune 308 regardless of vehicle brand. I had a V6 99 model Rodeo dual cab for 9 years and it was a great thing bare the fuel economy. My ute earnt it's keep hauling rally cars, service gear and people up and down the east coast all those years and it never gave me any grief. Isuzu builds a tough reliable product whether it be a Gemini, ute or a truck. I'd definitely have a look at the new D Max and see how they stack up against the others. Most people I know that have owned or operated a Isuzu ute reckon they are a good solid trouble free ute.

[L31 Sandman]

Mate, I am on my second 4x4 diesel dual cab rodeo, My current ride is an 07 has the 3.0l common rail engine as is fantastic. I mostly use it for work, but weekends I take the tool box off and it is a ute. With the tool box on which ways 240kg's when empty and I fill with my tools, cable meter boxes etc, everything a sparky would need basically and I get 600km's to a 70L tank. I have 3 kids 11 thru to 15 who fit well in the back. We go from Geelong to Mulwala towing our boat as often as possible, (not that often really). It now has 220,000Km's and has not yet let me down! My Previous one was an 05 and I did 110,000Km's before trading it on current one. it also never let me down.
if you get an 07 or later, you will get elec mirrors and windows, twin air bags, cd player etc. it has 4wd on the fly which is really good.
I love it.
@nd hand ones are well priced too!!

[HK1837]

Turbo diesel is the way to go as a V6 will slurp more fuel than a out tune 308 regardless of vehicle brand. I had a V6 99 model Rodeo dual cab for 9 years and it was a great thing bare the fuel economy. My ute earnt it's keep hauling rally cars, service gear and people up and down the east coast all those years and it never gave me any grief. Isuzu builds a tough reliable product whether it be a Gemini, ute or a truck. I'd definitely have a look at the new D Max and see how they stack up against the others. Most people I know that have owned or operated a Isuzu ute reckon they are a good solid trouble free ute.

V6's Hiluxes don't use fuel at a rate anywhere near a 308, trust me I have had two now: A 2010 and a 2011. The absolute worst I have seen is 14L/100kM towing uphill virtually all the way. 2011 has averaged around 13L/100 over 25,000kM so far.

[playwme]

I'm almost positive 99 Rodeo V6's were designed by an Oil company. I swear you could see the fuel needle moving in those things. Absolute shockers and shouldn't be used as a any sort of benchmark for V6 petrol fuel consumption.

[HK1837]

I'd equate mine to a V6 auto big Commodore, like a VT. Highway it'll hover around 10L/100, city around 14L/100, maybe a tad more if you are too heavy on it. Towing doesn't get that bad at all. This is all on E10 too. This is probably no worse than you'd see on an old HQ-HJ 202 auto Premier.

[1BadVan]

Thanks for all the info I have been trying to digest it all, and have been doing more research. Most of the info I seem to find on the petrol v6 hilux suggest it will go thru a lot of fuel, even though some say it won't I do believe you. I don't know what to make of the fuel consumption. I even went in to get a price and when I asked for petrol variant the young guy got his supervisor over to guestion me about my decision and then said it was a rare beast that I wanted a price on (2wd petrol) sort of made me feel a little uncomfortable about what I was asking for.Turned off of common rail diesels, now actually a little scared of them. All I really want is a vehicle that isn't too bad on fuel, reliable and I can keep for many years. Maybe I am asking too much don't know.

Cheers Dave