Well I have had my ute (2014 MkII) for 6 months now and done 40K on some of the best roads in NSW, so I thought I would give a bit of a review on its performance as a work horse.
The main reason for buying this ute was
1 - Barra Longevity - I just sold a Triton MQ with 140k on it as it scared the crap out of me with possible motor problems and the price tag for replacement.
2 - Power - Down here we don't have a great deal of overtaking lanes so overtaking is the name of the game. All the farmers and tourist just potter along and when they do get to an overtaking lane its on for young and old. So to have something that cracks from 70kph to 150kph in no time is imperative. The only car that came close was a worked 850R Volvo I had as my service crate 15yrs ago which really was a weapon. Loved putting those SS's to shame with a volvo with ladders on top.
3 - Handling - Something that is predictable and you know what its going to do in all situation as well as the wet.
4 - Comfort - Sit back - listen to the favourite music on a 4 hr drive to a job and don't fell as though your crippled with arthritis when you get out.
The cars review after the 6 Months:
Extra Load
So the Car at present has about 500Kg on the back with the canopy (tray/aluminium with lots of wind drag), tools and ladders (lots of humming). The car handles the extra load fairly well although beefing up the bloody poor rear suspension for a Ute is mandatory. Extra spring and air bags sorted that.
Had to also change the rims to 17" with tyres to match, the original rims just kept blowing tyres.
Petrol
I like to drive a car and with the mountain passes, lots of good very quick flowing roads the ute gobbles up the K's. I have tried all the different petrols on a weeks basis and the best bang for buck is 95. E10 will give me 14.7 L/100K, 95 - 13.4 L/100K, 98 - 13.1 L/100K. E10 certainly cuts the power by about 10% at least from my experience, although I have noticed the any pinging as others do.
Handling
When you are pushing it the Traction Control needs to be turned off (not recommended if you don't know what your doing), it takes the predictability out of the car when braking. This brings me to another point - the brakes. Who in hell's name put these brakes on a car like this. My BF service car's brakes are way better than this. Anyway this will be my next improvement.
Apart from that, the car handles well and once you get use to the what the power does to the chasis not many cars can keep up to you.
One thing that did take me by surprise was the whip motion when going from full thottle to braking and turning at the same time as the body movement/roll can get you into trouble.
Sliding in the wet is predictable - Not like the previous Triton MQ.
Car operation
Bluetooth has a hissy once and a while and you need to delete and reconnect your phone.
Manual Gearbox is very tight and you have to be on your game when changing quickly. For a service vehicle I like a manual verses an auto due to weight.
General Maintenance is fairly easy, except I have had a heater core leak the last few days and not looking forward to pulling that out.
Good storage behind the seat for those expensive test tools and computers.
Cabin is noisy. No two ways about it. From 110 - 160 you have to turn the radio up and people find it hard to hear you on your phone.
Two many buttons on the console - BF is easy, you can remember where the buttons and dials are without looking - Good luck with a FG.
Best part is the progressive power and ease at which it comes on. From 90kph onwards, 4th does a grand job of smooth overtaking/accelerating.
6th is good for cruising and at just over 2000rpm (bit over the limit) gets most gentle hills under its belt but 5th is really better and give decent acceleration.
Overall I find the ute probably the best car for what I do and gives that driver in you some release to embarrass some of those BMW would be's. All thumbs up.
