Toyota HiLux Problems

Unless you need a vehicle capable of driving over rough or slippery ground, I would buy a 2WD diesel ute. It will be more economical than a 4WD and will tow your trailer without problems. Your budget will get you an upmarket ute. Look at the Toyota Hilux or new Mitsubishi Triton. Also, there are good deals available on the Mazda Bravo and Ford Courier for much less. For little more than $20,000 you'll get a 2WD diesel with a tray and toolbox.

Like you, I read about these systems and the claims their designers make for them, but my experience is that they rarely, if ever, work out in real life. If they really did work, why aren't they taken up by carmakers? The fact that they aren't seems to answer your question.

IF IT'S coming in when the engine is under load it sounds like a diesel problem. It might be worth having the engine checked to make sure all is well under the bonnet, and check for displaced seals in the firewall that might be allowing the fumes to enter the cabin.

The trade holds the Hilux up as the best of those you've mentioned. The Toyota turbo diesel is easily the best, but the downside is that you'll have to pay up to $3000 more to get behind the wheel of a Hilux. The others are OK, and all rated equally, but there are plenty of reports from the trade about problems with the Nissan turbo diesel so I'd recommend caution. If you were to consider a Navara, make sure it has an extended warranty for peace of mind.

HAVE you thought about repairing the chassis? Cracking is not necessarily the end of the world. I'd check with a chassis specialist who can inspect the cracking and determine if it's worth repairing. If you are intent on fitting the body to another vehicle it comes down to the weight of the camper body. Think about the weight when it's fully laden with all the gear you plan to take with you. The vehicles you're thinking of are nominally one-tonne utes, so they should do the job providing your camper is one tonne or less when full of gear.

IF HIS priorities are reliability and costs, I would recommend a Toyota Hilux, either a diesel or a four-cylinder petrol. But I'm guessing he wants a little more zip. If he wants a Holden or Falcon ute, then the six-cylinder models are the way to go. They are equally reliable, but the Holden will be a little cheaper to run. Lowering the suspension would cost $500 to $1000, depending on what he wants done.

WE CALLED in the might of Toyota head office, which in turn went to the company's head office in Japan, and even then we couldn't help. It seems the company no longer stocks the window, although it did offer to make one for you. Unfortunately, it couldn't tell us how long it would take or how much it would cost. I'm thinking it's not a solution so I would suggest you keep trying wreckers, particularly ones who specialise in Toyotas, or try an automotive glass specialist like Windscreens O'Brien which might be able to make one for you.

The 3.5-litre Rodeo uses more fuel. I recommend the Toyota. Consider a diesel if you are concerned about fuel economy.

The manual will give you about 10 per cent better fuel consumption than the auto. I would expect you would get about 9 litres/100km on the highway without a caravan, but that would probably increase to 14-15 litres/100km when the caravan is on the back. The Hilux and Navara have similar fuel consumption. But I have concerns about the reliability of Nissan's 3.0-litre turbo-diesel engine so can't recommend the Navara.