VW Amarok

[Bill]

I do like the look of the new VW.
but when I' am ready to upgrade I think the new 550 Navara STX will be the ute that replaces my current Navara.
http://www.nissan.com.au/webpages/models/Navara_STX_550.html
Maybe in a year or two when they get all the bugs worked out...
Bill and Morag

[Fivid]

Is there a ute on the market (excluding Falcon and Crummydore) with rear disc brakes?

I have one of each, a ford FG which I am paid to drive and a Holden VY which I love to drive.  Both have rear disks

[toeball]

Cool, looks competitive.

I'm liking the new Ranger, hubba hubba.

Bastard, you made me google that now I'm in love.......bastard

[StevenM]

The new Ranger looks like a cracker.

Heard on the grape vine that Suzuki are looking at the ute / dual cab market as well.

[morgue]

So what happened to thiswww.motorpoint.com.au/subarubajaturbo.asp, if was coming to Australia in a turbo diesel version...well I would be putting the folding stuff down tommorrow.

[deepop]

We had an '05 Golf 1.9 single turbo diesel and I thought it was a fantastic car.   Build quality was exceptional (compared to Aussie built) and it was a very solid, secure car to drive with heaps of power.

I like the Amarok and if I was in the market for a d/cab I'd be seriously considering this one.

Look what everyone said about the Nissan 3lt.   I KNOW, I KNOW - once they'd fixed the earlier model 'grenade' engines they are now a solid performer with a good record and longevity.   This 2lt motor in the Amarok has a good proven track record and would probably be alright - I 'd be more worried that the electrics are sealed well enough to survive 4WDing here and then water crossings as well - only time will tell.

[rescue1]

The new Ranger looks like a cracker.

Heard on the grape vine that Suzuki are looking at the ute / dual cab market as well.

Just remember the Ranger failed the NSW Police stability test

[dazzler]

Just remember the Ranger failed the NSW Police stability test

Whats the test involve/for?  (stability where I mean)

[MDS69]

Whats the test involve/for?  (stability where I mean)

I am guessing the stability test involves going round corners at decent speeds without tipping over or driving down a straight piece of road and turning the steering wheel left and right a few times to see if you can induce a rollover.

I think there is a video getting around online somewhere showing the Hilux? failing some European stability test.

[dazzler]

Interesting.... Anything will fall over once the centre of gravity point falls outside of the wheel track.  Wonder what would make the ranger different to any of the others?

[toeball]

How does bigger tyres and a lift go, they prob fall over as you enter the driveway

[MDS69]

Interesting.... Anything will fall over once the centre of gravity point falls outside of the wheel track.  Wonder what would make the ranger different to any of the others?

Pure speculation but maybe after they bolt on the caged body where they lock up the naughty boys and girls it becomes too much......

[rescue1]

Whats the test involve/for?  (stability where I mean)

The "test" involves using the Ranger for a pursuit (something that this type of vehicle is generally not certified for), when going round one corner at a speed the most would deem unsuitable in s straight line, the ranger, like the Rodeos used previously decided that the laws of physics were more powerful that the laws of NSW and placed the Ranger in a position that terminated the pursuit (inverted).

One should also not that a number of councils use this vehicle for their Community Law Enforcement officers. One of our local guys tells me it saves on signwriting....

[dazzler]

Ahh now that makes sense.

No commercial vehicle should be urgent duty driving so why even bother with the test in the first place

[Pete the Pirate]

There's a couple of various models...Nissan, Toyota, Izusu.

Really??? Which Nissan, Toyota or Izusu comes with rear disc brakes?

[rescue1]

Ahh now that makes sense.

No commercial vehicle should be urgent duty driving so why even bother with the test in the first place

There was no actually test save that of some poor fool pushing the vehicle beyond its limits (and the drivers) the paperwork such brilliance creates is reward enough

[dazzler]

There was no actually test save that of some poor fool pushing the vehicle beyond its limits (and the drivers) the paperwork such brilliance creates is reward enough

A similar thing happened about 12 yrs ago when volvo lent a new twin turbo estate wagon all decked out as a pursuit car.  First chase it turned out the brakes could only manage 2 big applications before fade........wall 1, volvo 0.

No more volvos 

[4wd26]

http://www.teknikensvarld.se/tvtv/071031-toyota-hilux/index.xml
Hilux roll test- a few years old now, controlled conditions.

New Euro NCAP Crash Test Volkswagen Amarok 2011
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVPR9dPPwkc
hope that works as I have you tube blocks at work

[cancan]

youtube worked.
Interesting with the first test being head on that the car slid to the side where it would then be effected by the second test where it is hit on the side.

[briann532]

I drive a ford ranger for work.

It has a trade service body on the back and I would never admit it, but I was told by a man who was buying a dog, that it is probably way overloaded.

3 ladders on the roof racks, torpedo tubes and a paraphanalia of trade gear in the back.

I have never ever even come close to rolling.
I'm no turtle on the road, but I do try to stick to the limits and drive to the conditions.

To load a couple of turkeys in a cage in the back then drive it like a pursuit cruiser, probably isn't the right way to treat a commercial ute with leaf springs................
Just my opinion.

By the way, I'm certainly no ford fan, (I love my patrol) but for economy, reliability and a good trade ute, I'm yet to drive anything better than the ranger. Over the years I've tried a lot of different rigs.

Cheers
Brian

[Patr80l]

FYI

http://www.carsguide.com.au/site/news-and-reviews/car-reviews-road-tests/vw_amarok_ute_first_drive?

[toeball]

I took one for a test drive today, not in love yet, I'll be taking a Triton for a run and patiently wait to test thrash a new ranger too.

It had a quality feel plenty of power, I'm used to the turbo lag of my transporter it zings once its wound up but the extra turbo on the Ute made it feel linear in the power delivery it didn't feel as fast but probably was.

I'm hoping I like the Triton $37000 the savings buy a lot of extra bits, the VW starts at $53000!!!

[lostindust]

Drove our new amarok home tonight...more once we actually drive it in daylight!

[morgue]

Really??? Which Nissan, Toyota or Izusu comes with rear disc brakes?

Ummmm...Troopie & ute 70 series , Kluger, Rav's, Lancruiser ute and wagon....Nissan Patrol ute and wagon, Xtrail and Pathfinder...but I digress, the Amarok looks the goods, so it will be a matter of time before it makes a name for itself.

[Bird]

8 speed auto... VERY nice.

VW Amarok to get 8-spd auto
Matt Campbell
September 15, 2011 - 8:12

Self-shifting derivative of German brand's ute sets a new benchmark for commercial vehicles.

Volkswagen has finally confirmed the automatic transmission it desperately needs for its Amarok ute – and it will have eight ratios.

Volkswagen snuck in the surprise announcement at the 2011 Frankfurt motor show, confirming the ground-breaking transmission.

Unlike most other self-shifting transmissions in the VW lineup, the Amarok's is a conventional torque converter unit (rather than dual-clutch system often used on sportier cars), and is identical to that used in the recently released Touareg SUV.

The eight-speed auto-equipped vehicle on show was fitted with a new 132kW version of the 2.0-litre twin-turbo diesel engine and featured stop/start and a claimed consumption of 7.6L/100km (manual models are rated at 7.9L). It also boosts torque from 400Nm to 420Nm, and the towing capacity rises to 3.2 tonnes.

While the automatic transmission is due in 2012, Volkswagen's head of development, Dr Ulrich Hackenberg, is looking even further ahead for the Amarok.

Asked whether a Amarok-based SUV would be considered, Hackenberg suggested it was a strong possibility, but indicated that supply constraints would potentially hold it back – at least in the short term.

"We call that an RUV – a robust utility vehicle – and it makes a lot of sense in some countries, but what you need is volume. And the factory is at full capacity, but we are just transferring production also to Germany ... next year," he says.

Hackenberg also said there may be a larger seven-seat SUV to sit above the Touareg, but admits nothing is confirmed as yet.

"We have a seven-seat SUV which is based on Touareg – the Audi Q7," Hackenberg says.

"Volkswagen actually is not looking for a seven-seater, but there are some markets, for example the US and China, which could make sense to have a bigger SUV which is different, so we are analysing this market," he says.