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  1. #1
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    Default What to buy - a Ute or a Van? Which brand?

    Time for a new (to me) vehicle purchase - something perhaps 4-8 years old. I'm torn between a Ute and a Van, as they both have usefulness to me. I think I'm leaning to a van (not a small one, a proper size) for all round usefulness and things not getting wet in the back. My logic is that a van with a trailer can do everything a ute can do, and can also be used for camping.

    Diesel or Petrol? I lean towards diesel for grunt, as I'm not particularly interested in speed off the mark. As I understand it, diesel is more economical as well?

    As far as brands go.....well I've never owned either type of vehicle, but research so far suggests:
    UTES:
    I think an Extra-cab would be best. I wouldn't want to lose too much tray room to a dual cab, and so will have to be able to turn off the passenger air-bag for baby carrying (soon). Probably need a canopy option too.
    Toyota Hilux, tried and true
    VW Amarok get a good read up (but only dual cab)
    Ford Ranger, but are they thirsty?
    Holden Colarado?
    Nissan Navara?
    Mazda Bravo doesn't seem to have much of a rep?


    VANS
    Hyundai iLoad seems to be popular
    VW Transporter?
    Toyota Hiace?
    Mercedes Vito?
    LDV G10 (a new Chinese player getting good write ups)


    Opinions welcomed on all fronts!
    Regards, FenceFurniture

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  3. #2
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    Don't know much about Vans, but i do know the Navara space cab comes (at least some do) with a suicide door for the rear seats, so will help get the little one in and out of the back... Utes hold there resale very well though, especially a diesel... I wanted one and did a lot of shopping around but they were cost prohibitive at the time (and still are).

    The older rangers seem quite narrow and tall... I didn't like them because of that fact (just seem very top heavy). At the time in that age bracket I was looking at Hilux and Navara. Isuzu Dmax's are good too but hard to come by 2nd hand. Mitsubishi Triton and the Mazda BT50s aren't half bad from what i've read.

    One thing to be careful of with the hilux (if it bothers you) is the older base models, Workmate, don't really have many options, they're quite basic. Most of that age don't come with power windows for example. So if you want some basic creature comforts in the car just make sure you take note of that sort of thing in an older ute.

    If you're going to use it for camping trips, i'd go a ute with 4x4 if possible. Never know where you'll get bogged even if you don't intend on off roading (took a mirage camping once.... it bucketed down rain so the little grassy knoll i'd parked on became rather problematic to navigate out of).

    Just my 2 cents worth.

  4. #3
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    I don't know much about vans or utes or their specs, but I currently have a BF Falcon styleside Ute with ladder racks. When I need to pick up timber, I have to plan it for a day that I am quite confident that it won't be raining. If a good timber auction comes up on a day that it is raining, I simply miss out due to weather. Same with delivering finished jobs, I have to schedule the delivery based on my own schedule, my clients schedule and the damn weather! Then when I load the item into the back, I can't just throw some blankets on it and tie it down, I need to protect it all from the wind carrying all the crap which gets flicked up off the road, puddles, the guy in front of me using their windscreen washer etc.

    The tie down points on a styleside ute are basically non-existent. I have four points at the top of the styleside (where the ladder racks connect to the body), but nothing at the bottom on the tray deck so tieing down low loads just doesn't happen. The ladder rack connection to the UTE body is terrible. Once I load up the racks with 300kg worth of blackwood and drive home at 110/kmh you can feel the entire load shunting backwards as the wind hits it, so there is the constant fear I am going to lose my load.If I did lose the load, by the time I get it cleaned up, atleast one cop will have driven by and stopped to give me a ticket.

    Short story, the next vehicle is going to be a van with strong roof racks for 6 meter lengths.

  5. #4
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    LWB Diesel Van with enough room for a 8 x 4 sheet.

    You can leave your tools in there, i find it safer than a ute, never have to worry about some clown stealing stuff out while on site or getting lunch.

    I use to use Utes all the time when cabinetmaking, then i started working for a shopfitting mob and they only had vans, i'd never go back to a ute after having vans.

    The only thing about Utes is that you can use them as a dual purpose vehicle, where a van with kids is just a work vehicle.

    Ive got a VW Transporter T6 midroof, heaps of power, i find it better than my 2007 SR6 dual cab ute (it wasn't a work vehicle)

    But with a little one on the way, a dual cab ute with the little one in the back would be better, as I'm not sure if you can turn of airbags now in the front seats.

  6. #5
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    I should point out, these Euro vans are pricey on services and repairs, id be buying a Japanese van if second hand or no warranty.

  7. #6
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    I had the distinct pleasure of using a friends Mercedes Vito. I moved an ASTOUNDING amount in each load from Sydney to Canberra, three times.

    The volumes we put into it were beyond belief. I'm 6'3" and walked around inside with plenty of room above my head. The sliding side doors were very solid.

    The performance was great. It wouldn't win any drag races, but it had absolutely no problem cruising the whole way at 110 and was not sluggish in the Sydney traffic. Fuel economy was excellent.

    At the end of the last trip I'd noticed a bit of water use... Bad gasket (did 180k) so as a favour swapped out the water pump. It was a cinch of a job and working on it was easy. I saw no problems while noodling with doing any of the other under bonnet jobs... Certainly anyone with half a brain can do a service every 10k.

    i was recently thinking of buying one myself. Plenty here for $15k in good condition.

  8. #7
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    Hi F F

    I have driven HiAce LWB diesal vans for the last 35 years and cannot fault them. Have had the latest one, a 2002 model since 2005 and have just passed 300k klm. Never any trouble and still going like a charm.

    Shut the doors and nothing can bounce out and stays dry.

    Cheers, Fred

  9. #8
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    Thanks chaps. Just to clarify - the little one on the way is a grand child, so only need to allow for "every now and then" on that score. I checked with the RTA today, and baby capsules etc are ok in the front seats as long as the passenger air bag cn be turned off (not sure how common that feature is though)

    Good point about Euro servicing costs.

    Kuffy - I hear your pain, and they are all the considerations I have gone through, particularly wet weather.

    WP - I'm yet to research the Vito properly, but certainly will.
    Regards, FenceFurniture

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  10. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by Dareen View Post
    Hi F F

    I have driven HiAce LWB diesal vans for the last 35 years and cannot fault them. Have had the latest one, a 2002 model since 2005 and have just passed 300k klm. Never any trouble and still going like a charm.

    Shut the doors and nothing can bounce out and stays dry.

    Cheers, Fred
    Thanks Fred. That brings up something I forgot to mention/ask - as I understand it, a diesel engine with 2-300k on the clock is still reasonably ok? Petrol engines over 200k should be avoided (partner's current Corolla has 305k and it's starting to really show).
    Regards, FenceFurniture

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  11. #10
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    A diesel generally costs more to buy and servicing costs are also higher, the savings are generally to be had when you do alot of driving

    Don't recall the specific details km required to a diesel to beat a petrol engine but its alot higher than your average person's km's

  12. #11
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    Crikey the LDV G10 gets good write ups:
    2017 LDV G10 diesel new car review

    Current new price for a manual Diesel with rear barn doors is $29,600 driveaway. That's cheap!
    Regards, FenceFurniture

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  13. #12
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    Mistake! It was a Mercedes Sprinter LWB.

  14. #13
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    Diesel HiAce 2008 Van Owner here.

    A custom Roof rack with 4 cross members can carry 6.6m long goods, 6m long PVC ducting is a doddle
    4 x 8 ft sheets standing up on the long edge inside the van.
    3 m long goods can be carried diagonally inside the back of the van.
    There is a doorway in the cargo barrier so for light weight long goods I can go to 3.6m long inside the van.
    I added all rails half way up the walls on either side and at the tops of the walls so I can tie things down and there are 6 tie/anchor points on the floor.
    A plywood floor was installed so that it is completely flat (easier to roll stuff in/out) and stuff can't fall down into the side the side entrance step well.

    pIMG_1939.jpg

  15. #14
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    Thats an impressive amount of lumber you got there Bob, what ya building?

  16. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by tonzeyd View Post
    A diesel generally costs more to buy and servicing costs are also higher, the savings are generally to be had when you do alot of driving

    Don't recall the specific details km required to a diesel to beat a petrol engine but its alot higher than your average person's km's
    Dealers might try charging more but when SWMBO had a petrol Forester our mechanic was charging us very close to the same for servicing both vehicles. Now SWMBO has a diesel Subaru and have not noticed any significant increased servicing price increases compared to the petrol version.

    Is it the Fiat Ducato that goes 45k or 48k between oil changes?

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