The Toyota proved to be to Reliable!

**V8Ian** · 9th February 2019, 11:00 PM

Originally Posted by jonesfam

10 years ago (before my time) the Roadhouse bought a 2009 2X4 Toyota Dual Cab Hi-Lux ute as a work horse. Over the years it has mainly done Dump runs, staff pick-ups & drop offs, the odd run to Burketown & collecting stuff from the airport & Post Office.
To the best of my knowledge it has had 4 services in 10 years & has only racked up 50000 km. It is often over loaded with sand, gravel, rubbish & other crap, has been driven through some serious water & sits out in the weather it entire life.

Over time it has suffered many dints, scratches & minor breakages, the A/C packed up a couple of years ago, all except 1 light is cracked, the vinal floor is all ripped, the seats are in very poor condition & the roof lining is held up some sort of glue we smeared it with last time it fell down.
We do look after it though, I'm sure the oil gets checked annually, the tyres have been replaced once, we couldn't open the bonnet for a good while but we did eventually bust the lock so we could check there was a motor in there & I personally checked the air in the tyres once.
So, I was looking at this poor abused thing the other day thinking I should send it to Mt Isa & get all it's ills fixed up & it bought up to something resembling a suitable work ute which might meet Health & Safety standards. I phoned a couple of places around Mt Isa to do the work & they both estimated over $6 grand? What the? It's a bog standard Toyota ute.
I thought that's more than the thing is worth, so I phoned the Boss & told him the ute needed some major work & the cost was more than the depreciated value of the car, do I bother?
He said replace it. What can I buy I asked innocently? Not a Land Rover was the reply, Bugger I said.
Anyway, once the roads open the Roadhouse will have a shiny white Triton GLS Duel cab 4X4 with a slush box, bulbar, side steps & a few bits & bobs.
Wonder what that will be like?
I have done up a Policy & Procedure including a maintaince schedule & check list for the new ute because I somehow doubt it will put up with the abuse the Hi-Lux did. BTW when I was arranging all this I discovered the Hi-Lux hadn't been registered for 18 months because I had somehow missed the bill.
One of my staff is buying the old ute once the new one arrives. He reckons its a good car.

A new Triton? Probably be OK but will it beat the Hi-Lux because the do just keep on going?

Jonesfam

So it's passed a short term test, but you're not confident enough to test its long term durability!
A Land Rover would be barely run in at that age/mileage!

Cop that Paul.

**numpty** · 10th February 2019, 07:47 AM

I know it's not a work ute, but looks like I should have got rid of my 2003 Mazda 323 which I've had since new and has done 289000 K's. It must be stuffed!

**rar110** · 10th February 2019, 08:29 AM

Repairs would have been cheaper than 1st year of depreciation on the new vehicle.

**cripesamighty** · 10th February 2019, 10:35 AM

One of my mates used to own a 1990’s Nissan Pulsar that has been passed through the family as a ‘starter car’ and won’t seem to die either. It’s nickname is ‘the roach’ as it has survived multiple P-plate drivers and years of neglect and abuse.

On a serious note though, since your old Hilux has only 50k on the clock after all these years, is a diesel a good choice? Just thinking about potential DPF issues if you do too many short runs in it, and how far you have to go to get the thing looked at if it goes bang.

**goingbush** · 10th February 2019, 12:21 PM

When I met my wife in 1990 she had a 1980 Hilux , R18 petrol motor that she bought new & had done 350,000 prior to the speedo stopped working, been around Australia towing a Jayco camper, bog standard & still with emissions air pump on the engine . It had a service every few years.

I fixed some dints, resprayed it & put a 5 speed box , new brakes in it & drove it for another 15 years before selling it for $1800 . Probably done well over 500k , never had a single mechanical; issue , I put a new clutch when fitting the 5 speed but it was still fine. Never replaced a wheel bearing , Uni Joint , nothing .

Anyone that says Toyotas are unreliable are talking out their arse, Sure I've had issues with 80 and 100 series but not a drop in the ocean like Ive had with LandRovers or Iveco. Live Axle Hiluxes are bloody legendary .

**weeds** · 10th February 2019, 12:30 PM

Originally Posted by goingbush

When I met my wife in 1990 she had a 1980 Hilux , R18 petrol motor that she bought new & had done 350,000 prior to the speedo stopped working, been around Australia towing a Jayco camper, bog standard & still with emissions air pump on the engine . It had a service every few years.

I fixed some dints, resprayed it & put a 5 speed box , new brakes in it & drove it for another 15 years before selling it for $1800 . Probably done well over 500k , never had a single mechanical; issue , I put a new clutch when fitting the 5 speed but it was still fine. Never replaced a wheel bearing , Uni Joint , nothing .

Anyone that says Toyotas are unreliable are talking out their arse, Sure I've had issues with 80 and 100 series but not a drop in the ocean like Ive had with LandRovers or Iveco. Live Axle Hiluxes are bloody legendary .

Er yep similar experience.....my daughter currently has a 1995 petrol hi-lux 4x2 Ute, it just seems to keep on going...actually she probably hasn’t thought about servicing it than alone actually get it serviced. Meanwhile the family defer has had two unplanned visits to the mechanic.

**V8Ian** · 10th February 2019, 12:34 PM

Originally Posted by goingbush

When I met my wife in 1990 she had a 1980 Hilux , R18 petrol motor that she bought new & had done 350,000 prior to the speedo stopped working, been around Australia towing a Jayco camper, bog standard & still with emissions air pump on the engine . It had a service every few years.

I fixed some dints, resprayed it & put a 5 speed box , new brakes in it & drove it for another 15 years before selling it for $1800 . Probably done well over 500k , never had a single mechanical; issue , I put a new clutch when fitting the 5 speed but it was still fine. Never replaced a wheel bearing , Uni Joint , nothing .

Anyone that says Toyotas are unreliable are talking out their arse, Sure I've had issues with 80 and 100 series but not a drop in the ocean like Ive had with LandRovers or Iveco. Live Axle Hiluxes are bloody legendary .

So were those 18R motors, in their various guises.

**Zeros** · 10th February 2019, 12:41 PM

Early Hilux are tough as nails, but appalling to drive IME. If I needed a small farm ute I’d buy one for sure. In fact I’d take that one off your hands at 50,000km LOL.

As a touring vehicle? not so much.

**scarry** · 10th February 2019, 12:52 PM

Originally Posted by Zeros

Early Hilux are tough as nails, but appalling to drive IME. If I needed a small farm ute I’d buy one for sure. In fact I’d take that one off your hands at 50,000km LOL.

As a touring vehicle? not so much.

But they do have another range of models if you need a vehicle for that purpose....

**Zeros** · 10th February 2019, 01:30 PM

Originally Posted by scarry

But they do have another range of models if you need a vehicle for that purpose....

Indeed. And that is all that Land Rover are currently offering.

- RR, RRS, D5, Velar, all compete with 200 series.
- DS & Evoque compete with Kluger.
No Land Rover currently competes with 70 series or Hilux or RAV or Corolla or any other Toyota.

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