For a while there, was not sure if I would ever get anywhere…doesn’t help when you have been bit by a 3ltr 2001 Patrol doing its guts at 147,000km.

What I can say though is the Hilux bet all hands down!!! (FOR ME OFCOURSE)

I drove the BT50, Ranger, DMAX, Colorado and Triton…was impressed by each for different reasons…but…everytime I climbed back into the Hilux, I just knew this had to be it…I now have the local ARB ready to add a couple of extras to help me in the bush and as more monies become available, more extras to be added.

I CAN’T WAIT!!!

It is absolute rubbish- and you would never know unless you never put your Toyota blinkers aside and try anything else. While base models of other cars in our fleet manage to get minor luxuries like remote central locking and power windows, the Hilux doesn’t even have intermittent wipers. Toyota want you to pay extra for this simple safety feature. While other cars in the fleet are slow and recalcitrant (except for the Mazda), the Hilux four cylinder manages to be slow and thirsty. Oh, but Toyota’s are bullet proof and reliable, I hear you say? Honestly, tell me how many new cards do you see broken down now days?

It goes on. The interior is cheap and nasty. The initially aesthetically pleasing looks are quickly disbanded with a closer inspection and a quick prod. It’s truly insulting that those horrible materials will outlast you, myself, our children and everyone you love dearly. Someday they will all be gone, while this crap interior will sit in a landfill refusing to decay, or maybe get recycled into another crap interior like the equally horrible dashboard of a car that is just as contemptuous to it’s loyal paying customers – the Toyota Yaris.

It has the turning circle of a battleship- and this is the base model with lowly small wheel sizes. The front bench seat is fixed. The gearshift is lousy. The motor (4 cyl) sound wheezy and like a canned fart at the very best. The cabin is so much bigger than the superseded models yet somehow feels more cramped for tall people. Is paying more for a Toyota truly regained with supposed increased reliability and resale value?

When you consider all of this, the famous quote “No one got fired for buying IBM” comes to mind.

Yeah, I am not comparing apples with apples because I slagging off a workmate against an SR5. Remember, though, that a fundamentally bad car still translates to a fundamentally bad car further up the models.

Toyota built their impressive empire for being boring but with outstanding reliability, value for money, quality and engineering that forced the rest of the world to sit up, take notice and lift their game. It seems they are trading on this reputation without really offering any of that today.

I can get the DMax for $10K less.

As for objectional? Ive sold Nissans, Mitsubishis, Toyota, Kia, and Hyundai. I’m also a qualified mechanic and dealt with all of the above. Believe me Toyotas give the least amount of grief :) If I didnt feel they where the best Id go sell something else ;)

Toyota Hardly bombard us with the “Toyota Way”, its as you say corporate rubbish, and has nothing ot do with selling the cars, I also never said it was best in class, that comes down to a customers wants and needs and whats going to fulfill them, But Ill offer the same courtesy to you, come in and ill show you over a hilux, and if after that you still think there overpriced POS then ill take my hat off too you sir.

Tyson you are kidding yourself if you believe The Hilux is best in class. But as J & H say’s, your income is dependant on you believing that so there goes your objectivity. Toyota will also bombard you with The Toyota Way, and other corporate rubbish until you really do belive it. Credit to you though for owning up to being a lowly car salesman, ranked in the bottom 3% of all occupations.

Take a look at the other vehicles closer caradvice.com

You will see that the Triton has the least plastics by far

So Jeckyl and Hide, if you would like to come in, Id be happy to show you over a vehicle of your choice show you what Toyota has to offer, and physically show you the quality engineered into the car. Believe me its better than half the stuff you read about on the internet :)

On a feature note Toyotas have always been off the pace, but what they lack in gadgets and gizzmos, they make up for in a very well built boring car ;) its why there the only manufacturer in the world to not be in debt, they own everything out right :)

(some just depreciate at a better rate than others due to supply and demand, hence why it does matter what badge is on it! and to add to that the Toyota is better at what it does, lasts longer, and is better built)

JEYKL & HYDE Says:
November 27th, 2008 at 10:36 am
tyson,

anybody buying any dual cab pickup with a 6 cyl petrol needs their head read.and buy the way,pretty much all cars work their way to nil value,don’t matter what badge is on it…

just go on believing what you want to believe.you can get a colorado on road for a touch over 37 grand,onroad.that’s not innuendo or hearsay.good try with the cheaper toyota thing though…now i’ll go back to crying in my cornflakes,and you go back to fantasyland…

You will be crying in your cornflakes when you go to trade in your colorado a few extra thousand spent to start with on a hilux will save you many more when it comes time to sell ;)

TRD also has an Australian arm

true that TRD is not a performance name unique to Australia, but the models it delivers here are