gundelero wrote:Aaron 2NR wrote:collected my truck on wednesday. got tired of waiting on the new series....I must say I'm really satisfied with my purchase.....Comparing a hilux and navara is "chalk and cheese"...I sold mine earlier in the year, drive two rangers weekly (low and hight 4x4) the suspension on the ranger is a lot better than a navara but it lacks power (2.5).
The transmission shifts smoothly.....
I'm not out to bash Nissan but having owned one before I'm just comparing both.
what are views on this LightHammer?
The hilux and navara are basically within the same class of light-truck in terms of comfort, performance and capabilities. Similar trim levels, similar performance figures (nissan and toyota have a long history of rivarly, with nissan usually aiming for more power/performance while toyota tries for features and luxury).
THe navara is a little more utilitarian than the Hilux, the interior of the navara is a bit more sparse and simple than the hilux - I believe Nissan was aiming for the tradesman/contractor market while Toyota was aiming for the white collar/weekend warrior and middle-class/family-man type of buyer.
The navara's design clearly points to more utilitarian function: the tray is much bigger, it's not as tall as the hilux (easier to load cargo), the gearing is shorter so more available power for towing trailers, etc. THe hilux has a smooth power-delivery, the interior has a more futuristic look for a younger-appeal and comes with more standard features and toyota has been relatively successful in gaining hold on that market.
I had liked both trucks, I was *this* close to getting a hilux, but changed my mind at the last second for the navara cuz it was a better value for money, IMO. I believed I could get a navara and fully equip it myself (bigger rims, offroad tyres, 3" lift kit, snorkel, ARB bumper w/winch and possibly locking-differentials) and still not yet reach the price of a similarly-equipped base model hilux without any mods.
I'm not a toyota basher and I don't hate toyota - in fact if I could have a toyota I'd definitely buy a Landcruiser and go touring all over australia. However in our local market, I believe our own artificially inflated sense of value for toyotas simply because we think expensive things are ALWAYS better has created an anomaly. Nowhere else in the world would you find such ridiculously set pricing on a hilux, esp in a crowded pickup market.
The average consumer will still see the new hilux as a status symbol in the sense that it's just a big car to drive around (how many ppl on a daily basis do you see just driving their vigo's and blinged navaras around like SUV's and soft-roaders) and to decorate in order to make a social statement of their own inflated ego and justification of their sense of self-worth. This in itself is not a bad thing at all, everyone does it and wanting to show off and flaunt your hard-earned money is a normal and well-accepted social norm.
However I believe paying almost $300K on a working-class type vehicle and then spending $20K more on mostly non-functional decorations it is a huge waste of money. (ever see anyone ever use that roof-rack on tope their vigo or Navara??
You could spend $200K on a house & land downpayment and still have enough to put down for a decent pickup like a used Frontier, used Hilux or Ranger. But, it's the customers money, they are the ones who went to work everyday and earned it themselves and they could spend it however they want, just like how I can spend my own money however I want.
A pickup truck is still a pickup truck and i always make sure to treat mine as such - eg. late for work? Take a shortcut through some canefield tracks! It got muddy? Even BETTER!! show up to work muddy for me is always = Win. No matter how much chrome/plastic/electronics/lights/stickers you put on a pickup truck, I'll always see it as a workhorse first and everything else after. But that's just my own opinion and I have learned to be tolerant of other folks' views. Everyone has their own priorities and I wouldn't discourage anyone if they want to bling-out their pickup, just don't ask me to do so cuz I'll just come and park my muddy van next to yours
I refuse to pay what could equate to a house-mortgage on a damned working-vehicle.
