My mate has a Black SDX dual cab 4×4 Bt and it was a Motor Show spl with leather and BT-50 stitching but the biggest drawback is that he is a big girl and got an auto.

I tow my camper trailer using 5th gear all the time in the BT and I did in the Bravo and never a prob so I don’t know what those other uses are doing to them…..mechanical abuse I guess.

The only difference between the Ranger and the BT is the front end and the fact that Ford uses Mazdas are a testiment to itself that the ute is good and a huge step forward on the one it replaced with two strong motors…

But like it has been said its personal preference and I and my family own a BT-50 4×4, 2008 2, 2006 RX7 and a soon to be replaced Mazda SP23 in 2009.

Mazda BT50 did win the following on its own without the Aldi cousin:

BT-50
2007 Ute of the Year Australian 4WD Monthly
2007 Light Commercial Vehicle Award Delivery Magazine

from a very loyal Mazda owner…..all digs are typed with tongue in cheek…

Wasn’t suggesting the mazda’s were poor quailty, however the gear box problems mentioned are a reailty in both the ford and mazda variants, apparently you just need to ask the boys on the national bream fishing comp that are sponsored and supplied with couriers/rangers. This is were I heard about issues with gear boxes and to avoid towing in fifth gear so the issue doesn;t occur. This aside both the ranger and bt are great cars and motor is a vast improvement. End of the day i have a bt, however as i said my old man has a xlt ranger loaded with all options and aftermarket leather/spotties and it looks quite good, bold and chrome goes a treat, however doesnt quite inspire like a f150 type truck would.

CA – perhaps with such interest from seemingly all genuinly interested readers a test of bt, triton, colorado, navara is called for with ranger and d max incuded if you feel the difference between the sister cars is that great?

We actually don’t like the Rangers (I haven’t driven them but the boys don’t like them), F-250s (high breakdown rate and boat like steering, but great load capacity and comfortable on long distances) and Patrols (always seem gutless when we get them for some reason). They are used for the same purpose as we use speced up hilux SRs (a stupid fleet decision not to get SR5s despite the same final specced up price) and landcruisers (no new landcruiser purchases due to our new airbag requirements) in Australia wihout as much difficulty. Only major problem that has come out has been the clutches on the hiluxes not coping with the weight of gear and toyota won’t cover them, so looks like the short term future is patrols unfortunately…wish they’d hurry up and put airbags in the landcruiser to get the fleet purchasing back.

D-Max is built in the Thai Isuzu factory while the Colorado is built in the Thai GM factory.

Hopefully next year you guys can score the VW Robust which will be a giant killer in all areas.

Merry Xmas CA Guys

I too prefer the looks of the Ranger.
A work truck should look tough. Colorado, Ranger and Navara are the only ones that havent gone “sissy” and curvy.

I had no problems with the gearbox in my previous Bravo 4×4 and it took as around Aus twice in 6yrs and the second time towing a camper trailer…I had no probs in 5th cruising at 100k/ph

My new BT-50 towed a 18ft Caravan Syd-Bris and it didn’t even raise a sweat.

I have owned Mazda’s for over 25yrs rotaries included and never had one cause me trouble even a T4100 turbo which clocked up over 600,000k’s with regular services.