Thread: Daft Question, why 130 Defender (used) over Mahindra pick up new?

Send an email to modern motors in Dungog,they sell both so could give you the best advice. Pat

Good points, new car smells good. May be better on fuel. But really, what are you carrying, how does the M cope with your requirements, also where else would you take the vehicle. Now having said that I have watched a few new cars do quite well off road, some damage especially to the rears, includes Hilux just for note. Sticking to highway and local roads then if the car can cope, why not?

Lovely new cars look good for corporate image, should you require that. 130 just does all that is required. Have a dealer close for the M? for repairs et cetera? Do yo self service? Filters et cetera from mtu detroit are cheap and you can get oils there as well for the 130.

The M may be better running up the range, unloaded.

Hard choice as this is business related not the heart.

Regards,
Peter W

Originally Posted by TwoUp

Good points, new car smells good.

You've obviously never smelt the inside of a new Mahindra! Smells like whatever curry the workers had for lunch... (not even joking).

Bang for buck they are not a bad vehicle at all, far superior to those POS Great Walls, and the little diesel is quite punchy. I used to drive them a bit as one of dad's good mates was the regional sales manager.

Loosen off the rear shackle plates though... they're bouncy as hell otherwise.

If I was buying a work ute I'd without a shadow of a doubt get a 1HD-FTE Land Crusher, we have one on the farm and its the best thing out (makes a 2.2 Puma look like a toy).

[QUOTE=cafe latte;2411071]I need a work truck /QUOTE]
Why you look at 4x4?
You probably dont need 4x4 as a work truck. 4x4 = $$$$ x $$$$

Amarok is good value.

Seriously tried to buy a new dual cab 4x4 Mahindra beginning of last year. Very roomy cab, trick rear diff (like a Detroit locker) and looks are way improved when the bumper is replaced with a bullbar. Only real drawback was that my wife could not floor the clutch even with seat fully forward.
Unfortunately the price went from the advertised $27,990 (on road, tray, bullbar, tow pack) to close to $35,000 when I returned with the cheque book a month later.
Short story is the "sales"person was neither willing/interested/able to explain this, and lost the sale.
Of note:
While brochures show a snorkel, they were not a known option at the dealership.
The list of aftermarket accessories is virtually non existent.
If you are unhappy with a dealer in Vic, no good going to another as they are all owned by the same crowd.


Actually stopped a Mahindra at Bunnings last week, first time I have got to talk to an owner. It had 100,000 kms when he got it two years ago and he has been very happy with it since.


When the Defender as we know it finishes up, the Mahindra maybe the closest thing available.
Think that I would have been very happy with , even though the kids still shudder whenever I point one out....
Rich

Foton.
Cummins POWAHHHH!
And sub 30K

I've worked at the Mahindra factory in India, and in all fairness, they are quite a good car, well, the SUV anyway. For their roads over there, the suspension is probably ideally set up,,,, nice and soft and soak up the bumps, but over here, I'm sure you'd want to look at an aftermarket option, (unless they change it to suit where (country) its being delivered to.
The vehicle we drove around in most was the Scorpian SUV, both over there and here at our workshop. Overall, a very capable little car, and I would think the ute would be very similar.

Good luck in your choice Chris.

Originally Posted by TwoUp

Good points, new car smells good. May be better on fuel. But really, what are you carrying, how does the M cope with your requirements, also where else would you take the vehicle. Now having said that I have watched a few new cars do quite well off road, some damage especially to the rears, includes Hilux just for note. Sticking to highway and local roads then if the car can cope, why not?

Lovely new cars look good for corporate image, should you require that. 130 just does all that is required. Have a dealer close for the M? for repairs et cetera? Do yo self service? Filters et cetera from mtu detroit are cheap and you can get oils there as well for the 130.

The M may be better running up the range, unloaded.

Hard choice as this is business related not the heart.

Regards,
Peter W

OK what I can understand from the research I have done so far.. Cost of good used 130 about 20k and the cost of a new Mahindra similar even the 4x4 dual cab if you shop around you can get for 23,990.
The Mahindra is rated to carry over a tonne like the 130, but the rear suspension on the Mahindra has huge springs as apparently over loading in India is common so the Mahindra is built to actually carry more. Off road I am told stock standard is a little stiff in the rear due to these springs and many buy after market ones to soften things up. The Mahindra has auto locking diffs (ie diff lock) so off road apart being a bit stiff it is apparently quite capable. With the Mahindra depreciation will be huge, not a problem I suppose if you keep it for a while. The power of the Mahindra and the 130 are the same, but the 130 has more torque. The Mahindra only has 2.5 tonne towing capacity too.
From what I have read the Mahindra has a really tough engine, transfer and gearbox, some of the older ones had gearbox issues, but apparently the new ones are fine. The trim inside on the Mahindra is a bit rubbish but it was not good on the older Defenders either. So unless I am missing something (the reason I posted as someone might know something I dont) both apart the towing capacity are similar. The 130 might be a touch higher with a better approach angle maybe, but for the amount and type of off roading I would do in either it wont make much difference. Value for money the Mahindra wins as a 15 year old Defender will need work for sure on top of the purchase price.
The biggest negative point for the Mahindra as far as I can see is when it is 15 years old it is likely to be worth nothing unlike the Defender. Also if I sell it after only a few years I would loose heaps on the Mahindra.
The only other thing in favor of the Defender is I love them, I love my Puma, I just like the feel of a Defender quirky as they are, but my head is telling me I really should consider this odd and quite capable Indian 4x4 too.
Chris