Which 4x4 twin cab to buy?

Holden do have a recommended LPG system. Go to their web site. It does reduce rear clearance and the spare wheel has to be relocated to the tray. The Rodeo is, compared to other dual cabs low on power but a number of people in the forum have them and find even towing that it is not a major problem. Having regard for the looks of the Hilux which I believe has ruined its desirability and the bad reviews regarding the flexing of the body on the Navara the Rodeo or Triton appear to be the choice. The sneak photos of the new Triton appear to put it in the love or hate the looks category. It is hard to understand car body designers. Take for example the "slater" looking Falcon. It lost Ford a hugh market share that they are now only just be catching up with after they gave it a face lift. I think Toyota are going to find the same with the Hilux and Mitsubishi will find the same with the "new" Triton. Ho Hum who are we to say. Mind you if I was a car manufacturer I would not ask Journos to comment on new cars. They just suck up. Why not ask you and me what we think before they go to production.

Ok guys my curiosity has been aroused. Where can I see these sneak photo's of the new Triton, please.

August issue of 4X4 Australia magazine page 10. Aug issue is last months and this months is September! I know I am getting on but the editor thinks its wonderful that they come out a month early?????

Thanks for that. I suppose if I'm curious enough I'll have to cough up the dough for a glossy magazine full of really bad advertising and rose coloured journalism. Either that or wait until my next trip to the doctor's. They always seem to have the copy you're looking for . . . if you look hard enough.

And you're right - they do take a macabre delight in trying to make us feel a month older than we really are. Thank goodness they're not annual publications.

Wombat here is a picture of the new 2006 Triton from the back!MPG:3!

..... and from the front!MPG:4!

Thanks Richard & Leonie for your insight into the 4 major twin cabs and you are right about the new Hilux (hasn't got the tough looks of the old model) and thanks Johno for the pics of the new Triton, I have also had some bad feedback about the Navara, so it seems like the Rodeo is looking good.

Regards
John.

Wow! Thanks for the pics Johno. Suddenly the styling of my two year old Triton looks very dated.

So you'll be updating to that thing Paul ?...lol...choke...choke

I really like the look of it from the back Ray - not sure about the front. Unless the new Triton's a lot bigger and much more powerful than the current model our next truck will have a little blue oval badge on it.

Thanks Arthur,
I am looking at buying a new Rodeo, I took a v6 4x4 Rodeo for a test run (from Ralph D'Silva Holden in Melb.) today and found it very responsive and comfortable to drive but am still reasonably confused as to which way to go ...Diesel or Petrol engine.
NOTE: it's hopeless listening to new car salesmen when trying to decide which way to go as they only want the sale, hence I will keep checking out the responses from the real experts...the ones in this forum who actually drive them.

Regards
John

Hi Pat,
Thanks for your info about the Rodeo and especially the info about fuel consumption with the diesel. One of my main concerns were around the price of diesel at the moment and hence my thoughts of going LPG, but with a lot of other people suggesting diesel over the cost of LPG conversion I may have to change my train of thought.
I'm still leaning towards the Rodeo though.

Regards
John

If I had a choice to do it over again, I would go with the diesel!
I used to get upto 9km/l and averaged about 7.5km/l (mainly around the Melbourne suburbs) on my 98 V6, then I converted to gas, as a courier would, and now valve recession is making the car almost undrivable at lower revs(flat-spotting) and it uses at least 1-2km/l more in fuel.
Best fuel consumption I got was 7.5km/l on gas on a gentle run up to Bendigo and back, and 9.1km/l(petrol) for a similar run.
Figure out how many Kms you do in a year, on top of the cost of a gas conversion, add in about $2-3K for head reconditioning, at about 300000km mark. The diesel will come in cheaper, unless you do more than 80000kms/year. It just seems to cost more at every fill.
Of course I don't have a diesel to directly compare, so I can't comment on pricing of diesel injector servicing, etc.
The V6 has been bulletproof, apart from the valve recession! But in all other aspects highly recomended.
With oil prices hitting $70/bbl I reckon petrol-diesel will hit $1.40/l, and gas will get to 60c/l, real soon! (city pricing)

My next chioce in 2 years time is the newer model (RA?) diesel though!
I reckon the best value for money is the Rodeo at the moment.
What budget are you on? New or second hand?

Thanks Smoky,
after reading all the members follow-ups, and also by doing some other research I have pretty much decided on getting a Rodeo twin cab 4x4 TD.
Diesel may be dearer than ULP but it seems the fuel consumption is better, so I guess there will be another 4x4 hitting the dirt soon.

Regards
John