Filled up the fuel tank again today, 4th or 5th tank overall. 80 litres of diesel and 900km on the trip meter!
The Landcruiser is fading fast from the memory as I get more used to the difference in power, size and weight between the two vehicles.
I have noticed there is a slight turbo lag at the point of takeoff after slowing down (but not quite stopping) at an intersection. Its not something too bothersome but maybe it will get better when everything loosens up after a few more k's.
There is a slight / tiny squeaky rattle thing going on in the front left area. It is barely noticeable but something for the warranty guys to look at when the first service eventually comes around.
Friday, February 22, 2013
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Woo! Towbar :)
Fast forward just a bit and the news for today is the Hayman Reese towbar has been fitted! Less than an hours work by "Prestige Towbars" in Hallam Vic and we are ready to go! They even came out onsite to fit it ... cant ask for much more :)
Not a big deal you might think but actually it is. The Amarok was ordered with a towbar (and paid for) but there is an issue at VW's end and factory towbars are not allowed to be sold currently. Apparently this has been since at least November 2012. No one knows quite what the reason is but let me have a guess!
Either
Not a big deal you might think but actually it is. The Amarok was ordered with a towbar (and paid for) but there is an issue at VW's end and factory towbars are not allowed to be sold currently. Apparently this has been since at least November 2012. No one knows quite what the reason is but let me have a guess!
Either
- A compliance issue and the plate is incorrect or not accurate
- Engineering, there may have been issues of the bar coming loose, breaking, cracking etc and it needs to be tested and a solution found
Whatever the problem, it doesnt appear to be "too dangerous" or a recall would have been sent out almost immediately. (fines are high in Australia for un-reported automotive safety issues). Due to the lack of information from VW feel free to speculate :)
And FYI VW, you have handled this whole towbar thing badly!
More info required
After deciding to look around at alternatives to the V8, (forgot to mention it was a petrol) I had pretty much settled on the new Ford Ranger. This was a nice machine with plenty of power and lots of improvements over the previous models.
I particularly liked that the Ranger been designed from the ground up and no components were used from previous models. The reviews looked good and I took one for a drive. Another plus in the Rangers direction was the many electronic features which appealed to my gadget minded persona.
The drive was nice, plenty of room in the front, the rear seating was a bit cramped but not too bad. Overall it was a good vehicle. Upon returning from the test drive, we sat down to negotiate the price.
The next series of events were quite comical. I am not sure if the sales guy had never heard of the internet or he was hoping I hadn't but the price they quoted me for the base model was several thousand more than the price advertised on Ford Australia's website. I departed, explaining that charging more than the advertised price was probably not going to get him a sale.
The search continued ....
I particularly liked that the Ranger been designed from the ground up and no components were used from previous models. The reviews looked good and I took one for a drive. Another plus in the Rangers direction was the many electronic features which appealed to my gadget minded persona.
The drive was nice, plenty of room in the front, the rear seating was a bit cramped but not too bad. Overall it was a good vehicle. Upon returning from the test drive, we sat down to negotiate the price.
The next series of events were quite comical. I am not sure if the sales guy had never heard of the internet or he was hoping I hadn't but the price they quoted me for the base model was several thousand more than the price advertised on Ford Australia's website. I departed, explaining that charging more than the advertised price was probably not going to get him a sale.
The search continued ....
Sunday, February 10, 2013
The trouble with a V8
Two and a half years ago I walked into a car dealer and purchased a 4 year old Landcruiser V8. A machine with more grunt than any civilized traveler would need ... and I loved it !
An awesome machine, it cruised the highway with ease, plenty of power in the dirt and sand was no problem either. Sure and steady on the road, the family drove in comfort anywhere we went. The seats were like lounge chairs and interior room, second only to the Holden Statesman I owned before it.
The cruiser towed the camper like it wasn't there and the constant four wheel drive kept us safe when things got slippery. It was a great family vehicle.
Despite all the good points about this vehicle, it had one BIG downfall. All that power and comfort comes at a cost. A minimum 16L of fuel used per 100kms (upto 25L/1100km's while towing). When 90% of the daily driving was me alone in the car, it became harder to justify the costs of running the big beast.
After a couple of years, I started to investigate alternatives .....
An awesome machine, it cruised the highway with ease, plenty of power in the dirt and sand was no problem either. Sure and steady on the road, the family drove in comfort anywhere we went. The seats were like lounge chairs and interior room, second only to the Holden Statesman I owned before it.
The cruiser towed the camper like it wasn't there and the constant four wheel drive kept us safe when things got slippery. It was a great family vehicle.
Despite all the good points about this vehicle, it had one BIG downfall. All that power and comfort comes at a cost. A minimum 16L of fuel used per 100kms (upto 25L/1100km's while towing). When 90% of the daily driving was me alone in the car, it became harder to justify the costs of running the big beast.
After a couple of years, I started to investigate alternatives .....
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Why?
The Amarok has been purchased and delivered, my first new car! Only recently did I decide to write this blog and document from start to infinity, the thoughts and activities surrounding the new machine. The first few entries will be catching up with the history (hence the probable same dates and times), then adding excitement and drama as it unfolds. Enjoy!
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