Best pickup sub £20k?

helpimcrap

helpimcrap

helpimcrap

Soldato
Joined
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Leicestershire
Hi, as title. Ideally sub £15k.

Obviously Ranger is popular, as is Mitsubishi L200(is it?).

What about the Fiat Fullback? Seen it's a copy of the Mitsubishi and built on same production line?

We're looking at moving to Wales so fields and snow are a real possibility with narrow roads and hills. Needs to have 4WD, have a removable hardtop at back, ideally be 4 door. And look pimp.
 
I had a 2017 Ranger Wildtrak which I kept until 2019 when I moved overseas, they're quite fashionable and hold their value - but like everything else they're a bit overpriced. To be honest though, I thought it was great - I used it for fishing and basically everything, even went off-road in it, and it was great.

My mate also has a 2018 L200 and it's fine, the tailgate is a bit smaller on the L200 though (think it's the smallest of all pickups)

To be honest, I think the Hilux is by far the best, but they're expensive - not sure if you'd get one for under £20k though, but if I was going to buy one now - I'd have another Ranger, or a Hilux.
 
Bare in mind prices may or may not include VAT when looking at pickups and depending on weight might be restricted to van speed limits. You'll also pay tax at light commercial rate around £290/year.

Question really is what you are going to use it for - if mostly road with some off-road I'd lean towards the Fords, Amarok or D23 Navara, if mostly farm use, etc. then L200 and Hilux, etc. are better work horses. If towing the Ford Rangers are one of the better options.

Anything about 4+ years old I'd get the chassis treated before you start using it personally - potentially saves a lot of hassle later. High mileage/older pickups can throw up moderately expensive bills - turbos and suspension stuff, etc. depending how they've been used.

One of the best of the UK pickups to be honest is the D40 Navaras but they are getting old now and there is always the worry of whether affected by the chassis weakness unless inspected and treated.

If you stretch the budget a little a reasonable mileage D23 Navara Tekna or N-Guard might be in reach.

Depending on use something like the VW Touareg might be worth considering or other rugged SUV.
 
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Thanks for the advice all. It will be mainly road, and the hilux is the original pickup so the coolest. Girlfriend wants a pickup to just chuck stuff in. I understand why.
It won't be used for anything other than private use. Because of how narrow the roads are a normal car will get stuck in a heartbeat when you've got to go up embankments or into ditches etc to let a vehicle pass.
 
helpimcrap said:
Thanks for the advice all. It will be mainly road, and the hilux is the original pickup so the coolest. Girlfriend wants a pickup to just chuck stuff in. I understand why.
It won't be used for anything other than private use. Because of how narrow the roads are a normal car will get stuck in a heartbeat when you've got to go up embankments or into ditches etc to let a vehicle pass.
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That'll depend on car and tyres - something like a Tiguan with 4Motion and mild off-road tyres like continental cross contacts will be fine if you need to divert into ditches, etc. a bit.

In that kind of situation whether verges or weather, etc. 99 times out of 100 will be fine with a regular car - but there is no substitute for that 1 in 100 which will happen when you need something more suited.
 
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helpimcrap said:
Thanks for the advice all. It will be mainly road, and the hilux is the original pickup so the coolest. Girlfriend wants a pickup to just chuck stuff in. I understand why.
It won't be used for anything other than private use. Because of how narrow the roads are a normal car will get stuck in a heartbeat when you've got to go up embankments or into ditches etc to let a vehicle pass.
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Where in wales are you moving, lived there for 20 years and nobody had a problem with a normal car!
 
The Fiat is good, as you've said it's just a rebadged L200. A friend has one for his small holding and it's been good for the 5 years he's had it from new, only thing that's broken is the aftermarket stereo that they install in these from the factory but mechanically it's been great. It's still pretty terrible to drive as you'd expect from a pickup and he really misses his old Audi A4 to actually go places but needs must for him as you can't fit a silage bale in the back of an A4 or tow his big Ifor Williams trailer to take the cows to slaughter :(

But if you really want to fit in in rural wales you need a battered Golf of similar with all season/winter tyres. You want the narrowest vehicle you can and something that's fine to stuff into the hedge to get past people without caring about scratches, big wide pickups and the like are a right nuisance unless you actively need one for your farm/business.

Source - Live in rural Wales
 
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a1ex2001 said:
Where in wales are you moving, lived there for 20 years and nobody had a problem with a normal car!
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Near the Brecon Beacons. I think you'd be fine in a car but the girlfriend wants one. If it puts her at ease. We'll be in the sticks, not near a town.
Also we regularly pick stuff up that we have to ask people to deliver in pickups and if we're in the sticks it'll help.
It also gives me leverage to get what I want. Lol
 
sovietspybob said:
The Fiat is good, as you've said it's just a rebadged L200. A friend has one for his small holding and it's been good for the 5 years he's had it from new, only thing that's broken is the aftermarket stereo that they install in these from the factory but mechanically it's been great. It's still pretty terrible to drive as you'd expect from a pickup and he really misses his old Audi A4 to actually go places but needs must for him as you can't fit a silage bale in the back of an A4 or tow his big Ifor Williams trailer to take the cows to slaughter :(

But if you really want to fit in in rural wales you need a battered Golf of similar with all season/winter tyres. You want the narrowest vehicle you can and something that's fine to stuff into the hedge to get past people without caring about scratches, big wide pickups and the like are a right nuisance unless you actively need one for your farm/business.

Source - Live in rural Wales
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We're keeping her 14 plate Fiesta as a run around. My A3 is going. Great car but a diesel that wouldn't get warm because of distance. I agree about the width, it's something I've pointed out and will bear in mind. Tbh the original hilux I'd have lol.
 
sovietspybob said:
But if you really want to fit in in rural wales you need a battered Golf of similar with all season/winter tyres. You want the narrowest vehicle you can and something that's fine to stuff into the hedge to get past people without caring about scratches, big wide pickups and the like are a right nuisance unless you actively need one for your farm/business.

Source - Live in rural Wales
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What I find weird is the perspective and difference between vehicles, some of which aren't actually that much difference dimensions wise. I'm quite happy squeezing my Navara down all kinds of places I feel very leery in an Amarok which just feels far wider though it is only marginally so.

Pickups generally are a pain overall in some ways - the lack of an actual boot despite the big load bay is actually more annoying than it seems and it is so much easier to deal with traffic and parking in a smaller car - but at the end of the day I'm much happier in a pickup for some reason.
 
helpimcrap said:
Near the Brecon Beacons. I think you'd be fine in a car but the girlfriend wants one. If it puts her at ease. We'll be in the sticks, not near a town.
Also we regularly pick stuff up that we have to ask people to deliver in pickups and if we're in the sticks it'll help.
It also gives me leverage to get what I want. Lol
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My old neck of the woods, you need a massive pickup truck like you need an extra hole in your head, I’d certainly make the move before you buy anything!
 
a1ex2001 said:
My old neck of the woods, you need a massive pickup truck like you need an extra hole in your head, I’d certainly make the move before you buy anything!
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Many modern cars aren't that far off mid-size pickups :( many of the latest SUVs are 4-8cm wider than my Navara albeit shorter which does count when you are trying to squeeze past stuff.
 
Rroff said:
Many modern cars aren't that far off mid-size pickups :( many of the latest SUVs are 4-8cm wider than my Navara albeit shorter which does count when you are trying to squeeze past stuff.
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Totally agree modern cars have become ridiculously bloated! I’m still hoping the advent of electric cars will bring a Road tax replacement that makes small, light, efficient cars super cheap to run compared to pointlessly massive great big things!
 
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a1ex2001 said:
Totally agree modern cars have become ridiculously bloated! I’m still hoping the advent of electric cars will bring a Road tax replacement that makes small, light, efficient cars super cheap to run compared to pointlessly massive great big things!
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Won't lie though the first time I met a large vehicle the other way in my pickup on a single track lane it did have me considering my choices LOL - I also managed to damage the forward lower air spoiler squeezing past someone (going up against the bank rather than risk scraping them) when there was literally no other option aside from someone back up a good mile or so around corners :(

Fortunately only cost me £30 to replace.
 
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I hear you about the size of modern cars, many don't fit in the road side parking bays. Traffic wardens can't give them tickets because a car should fit but doesn't....
 
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