D-max vs BT-50.

I look forward to the debate this question will provoke! I'm a Hilux driver myself, but have done long off-road trips with two friends, one in a DMax and the other in a BT50, and both vehicles have performed faultlessly (can't say the same for the drivers, but that's another story).
Cheers
Wildmax

I've got a new BT 50, the updated MY16 model. Previously had a 2013 PX Ranger. Both were/auto. I've read forum comments about the auto transmission but haven't experienced problems personally however I do feel that the BT auto is more refined than the one in the Ranger so perhaps FoMo Co has taken on board previous issues.

V happy with the BT but changed the suspension before rego, experience with the Ranger left me unimpressed with the standard suspension. The Ranger was a PX Wildtrack, BT is an XT cab chassis Freestyle cab with a canopy.

I do a lot of towing of heavy trailers and found the power/torque good but yes, there can be a v small lag when you put your foot down from standstill. Perhaps a pedal kit is the answer if it bugs you.

Just saw this before I read your thread. I don't own a ute.
http://autoexpert.com.au/buying-a-car/best-4wd-ute-review

We looked at those mentioned and ended up with a lc79 cruiser V8, tows heaps and has low down rpm grunt

I went through this in 2012. Back then we wanted the BT50 but the missus and I couldn't get past the looks of them ( and decent bull bars weren't available back then for them). We went with the Dmax auto and it has been faultless and it's been all over Oz. Love it and would get another, although the new MY 16 BT50 appears to have been styled this time.

The Dmax motor is used in their commercial trucks, and has a B10 rating which I think means 90% of their motors won't need a rebuild before 500,000km. Also has the auto gearbox from previous Landcruiser, so the drivetrain is pretty bulletproof.

I went through this exercise a few years ago and it came down to three vehicles. The bt50 rangee and Amarok. For me the Amarok was the best. My son in law and daughter bought a bt50 and love it. I test drove a dmax and it was not the vehicle for me. Car advice recently did a ute comparison. Suggest you check that out.

oops, posted in the wrong spot. : (

Have you considered the MU-X? Same donk as the D-Max; good towing power. Payload of 700kg v closer to 1000 but there are advantages: 25cm shorter, better ride and you avoid the hassle of a canopy.

Declaration: I own one and when I was talking about choice of vehicle on a forum a year ago and thinking about a ute the same challenge was put to me.
So it's done 40k km in a year in some pretty rough and challenging conditions, inc. towing c. 1.3-1.4 tonnes, and it's been reliable and capable.

Just a thought.

Hi Carolyn and Peter.

My son and I bought a mid 2013 BT50 dual cab auto and set it up with rear canopy and RTT. He tows a 2.5t 26' boat and has been to Coral bay a couple of times. It's also been to the bush and the beach on many occasions. We upgraded the suspension with OME kit. Improvement in handling was very noticeable. If you are towing anything I would strongly suggest a suspension upgrade.

It has now done 40,000kms without any problems apart from a couple of annoying dash squeaks and rattles. Engine always sounds like a tractor but vehicle is quiet inside at highway speeds.

We noticed when doing the electrical work for the rear canopy that the underside of the BT50 is very messy in the manner that cabling, fuel lines etc are run and attached. My son and I both have concerns what could get torn off or damaged in bush tracks with poor clearance. The cabling standard under the bonnet is also, in our view, in need of improvement. We spent a lot of time retrying and securing cables.

I also have a 2014 Prado (Son has taken over the BT50 now). When comparing the build quality of both vehicles the Tojo is very clearly in front by a long way.

Depending on where you intend to travel I would factor in the geographical extent of the vehicle service and spares outlets. It's a major reason why I bought the Prado.

Trust this is of use. All the best with your final decision whatever it may be.

John

There's one factor that always interests me when it comes to any particular make and model of vehicle - the number of the current model for sale, secondhand, with low to moderate kms.

When owners are unhappy with a vehicle, you find a lot of them for sale secondhand, fairly new and with low to moderate kms. You'll find a lot of fairly new Amaroks for sale, secondhand.

On the other hand, I'm currently looking for a good conditon, current model D-Max, with low to moderate kms. There are only small numbers available - in yards, or in auctions. To me, that speaks volumes.

Cheers, Ron.

If you are looking at a tray back, another thing to take into consideration is the position of the towball. On my D-Max it is near the end of the chassis and with a standard 1900 mm tray the ball is a fair way under the tray resulting in tight clearance between the corners of the tray and the van stone shield when on a tight turning lock. If I had realized this I would have opted for a shorter tray.

Carolyn & Peter L

This info may be of some assistance.
We have a 2010 Holden Colorado 3.0 Ltr 4 door 5 speed manual ( in other words the Isuzu D max in Holden clothing) which has now done 217,000 Klms travelling around Aus pulling a caravan with an ATM of 2556kg. The vehicle has a 3" exhaust and a K & N air filter other wise was stock standard we usually carry approx 600kg( which includes a Waeco 50tr fridge) in the tub before tow ball weight is added, a recent trip over a weigh bridge resulted in a GCM of 5250kg.
Also we have traveled across the Simpson Desert the Gibb river and Kalumburu roads.This vehicle has not been babied I treat it like a truck don't rev it through the gears but make it pull and pull it does.
During the past 5 years I have serviced the vehicle every ten thousand ks myself, had gear box transfer case diffs brake and clutch fluids drained and replaced yearly. The battery died after three and a half years (whilst in Darwin NT) and at 170,000 I had new injectors fitted in Townsville QLD, a new starter motor was fitted last august (due to water ingestion whilst in NT during the wet, fording rivers) rear springs and new shocks all round were fitted in December. I have just booked it in for a new clutch as the present one has very limited life left and we are still on the move (Consequent of larger sized tyres which overstressed the clutch with such heavy loading and when reversing a large caravan into tight places).
This is my third association with an Isuzu ute all of which have been worked hard, none of them have used or burnt oil or even had a wheel alignment they seem to revel in hard work but are maybe a bit agricultural in comparison to the opposition in terms of creature comforts.

hope this helps

Grant

Carolyn & Peter L

Sorry I forgot to add "Fuel consumption" when the ute is empty I get 8.8Ltr/100klm regularly and a best of 8.4ltr/100klm.
Loaded with van on is a different matter but still very good I think, at around 15tr/100lm with a best of14.2ltr/100lm
With a head wind or even a quartering head wind fuel consumption can climb to 16ltr/100klm and across the Barkley Tableland with a head wind and suspect injectors 17ltr/100klm.
Without the van on I use cruise control regularly at speed limit according to my GPS (the speedo is out 5klm/hr) with the van in tow I sit on 90 to 95klm/hr and higher at times using 5th gear above 1600rpm .

Grant

The D/Max and the Colorado are made in 2 sheds side by side in Malaysia, same parts different badge.

A trusted friend of mine who is a expert mechanic and Ford fanatic said he would not touch a BT 50 or a ford Ranger.

In that range you can not and should not go past the Hilux.

I have a 2011 Colorado and it has 67,000 kms on it, it is a Pearl Black LXR with $18,000 worth of ARB kit on it. I have owned it from new and at the minute I can't get $20,000 for it.

Take all that for what you will, but just my 2 bobs worth.

I am about to order a brand new 200 series cut into a twin cab with all the extra's, if you want the best this is how it can be done, however it is between $110,000 to $125,000

If you order it new from the dealer or the conversion mob you don't pay luxury tax , there is however a substantial wait though.

Good discussion everyone.
I especially like the members giving their hopefully unbiased accounts of their extra high mileage vehicles (250K +) because this is what many of us will be doing.

I have a Hilux myself; currently at 140K.
I bought it because it was (probably) the most comfortable of the utes and has good cup holders (that's the wife talking); and I agreed given Toyotas supposedly 'unbreakable' reputation. I did have a D-Max in mind.
Very disappointed when I had to replace injectors at 100K. That was $3000 plus labour. Plus a starter motor.
Mate of mine had a Prado and had to replace his injectors also. Then his motor blew up while on tour a year later.
Toyota have now changed the motor. Be interesting to hear how that goes in the higher mileage vehicles.

I'll replace the Hilux one day - thats why I enjoy these discussions.