Sunday, Feb 04, 2007 at 10:32
Hello Warren. Don't know about the hilux, haven't lived with one. We bought a new
ST-X 2.5td dual cab manual some 3 months ago after selling privately our GU Patrol. To date we have travelled just over 3000 ks and almost everyone of these has been with the vehicle fully loaded with camping gear.
Verdict? Definitely soft on the rear end with the load. We knew this prior to buying the vehicle and was prepared from the outset that we would either add a leaf to the rear springs or indeed swap them for a different make as
well as fitting the black Polyair bellows. To date we haven't done neither but will initially add the polyairs and see if that satisfies us. We also have a 1.1t van that we intend to tow
so I'm pretty sure that we will probably end up doing both the polyairs and springs.
We will probably swap the standard shockers as
well. It definitely needs a lift at the rear as the departure angle is pretty poor. Mind you it's horses for courses and will probably suit our requirements.
We do a fair bit of 4wding with our club but is mainly touring orientated which suits us.
The vehicle in both my and my wife's opinion more comfortable and refined than our series 3 GU. She hated the Patrol but absolutely loves the Navara.
The vehicle (manual) sits on 2000rpm at 100kph and is very smooth and refined.
In fact I love the clatter of diesels (I'm a truck driver) and this is almost non existant in the Navara. Economy, fully loaded and touring has varied between 8.4l and 8.7l per 100ks. Very happy with that.
We also took out full bumper to bumper 6 year warranty with our vehicle as we intend to do some serious travelling around oz with this vehicle starting this year.
I apologise if the reply is a bit long winded but we absolutely love the vehicle.
We're shopping around for some good off road rubber at the moment and when fitted with our rear
suspension mods should be just about perfect for us.
I highly recommend the vehicle. We chose it after testing the Navara, Hilux, and new Triton.
Hope this helps a little, all the best.
Wayne.
AnswerID:
219609
Follow Up By: Steve M - Monday, Feb 05, 2007 at 19:45
Monday, Feb 05, 2007 at 19:45
I also knew my ST-R single cab had soft spings and got the dealer to cough up for 1/2 the price of a polyair kit for the rear.
Its fantastic now. I wouldnt worry about the extra leaf if fitting them.
Steve M
FollowupID:
480559