[Closed] Pick up truck as opposed to company car

Unless you need a pickup truck why would you want to drive something heavier, less fuel efficient, less refined...

Be careful, which one you choose, it needs to be on the HMRC list to be Tax efficient. Loads of people have got stung by picking the Ranger Raptor, and it's payload is only about 600kg and doesn't qualify. The Wildtrack is OK.

Are you a suburban gangsta?

I’ve got the Ranger Wildtrak 2.0 10 speed auto as my “company car”.
Sure, it’s less refined than a car, but it’s got all the toys, it very comfortable, and will easily let you “make progress”. It will also take you to places where cars can’t get, pull up to 3.5 ton and generally out a smile on your face.
One of the downsides is the lower speed limits on single and dual carriageways.
I’ve got a pull out tray in mine , which you can pull out pretty much it’s entire length to load stuff on . Also saves having to climb in the back to retrieve your wayward shopping . Looses a bit of height in the tub though
MPG is generally in the 28-30’s though on a run I can almost touch 40 when it’s unladen.

Are you a hairdresser?

Unless lugging hay bales or sheep carcasses, I don't see the point.

Pick up trucks - so last century unless you’re a farmer! Why not get something more friendly on the environment, more friendly on other road users, cyclists and pedestrians and also more friendly on your wallet. Unless it’s all tax deductible? In these times? I’m surprised you’ve got the brass neck!!

I don’t see the point.

Tax dodge

wheelsonfire1
Pick up trucks – so last century unless you’re a farmer!...

On the other hand a beaut ute...

https://www.carmagazine.co.uk/car-reviews/holden/hsv-maloo-e3-ute-2011-review/

The Ranger is certainly a better ride than the likes of trucks from Nissan, Toyota and Mitsubishi, which are very choppy without a full load, for obvious reasons, but unless you’re going to be hauling significant loads, frankly, what’s the point? There are enough people on here who clutch their pearls and get a fit of the vapours the moment anyone mentions buying a modest crossover like a Qashqai, Kuga, Sportage or Evoke, or even my little EcoSport, let alone something like a Ranger! Sure, they’re impressive, but honestly, what place does a truck like that have in an urban or semi-urban environment where it’s biggest load is a monthly shop, or the camping kit for a week’s holiday!
We’ve got a few of them at work, and they’re almost as much of a pain to park as a Transit or a Vito or whatever, especially in standard parking bays.
Plus the rear seats don’t seem to have a huge amount of room, and the ‘boot’ is a big open space.

We’ve had/have them all, personally prefer the Amarok.

Great for work/towing/site along with kids/family/bikes/shooting.

Wife has a new Merc, I don’t do massive milage (22k ish pa) and given the choice I’d personally take the pickup every time. My Amarok has the same wheelbase as a lwb Transporter so easy enough to park although has the turning circle of an oil tanker. Usually see 32mpg if driven sensibly or mid 20’s if towing etc. All the bells and whistles etc.

I have a canopy/Bedrug on mine, great for transporting stuff/load space but I can’t leave anything in it as it would disappear. A roll top is more secure but compromises load space.

Ymmv but I’m on my fourth pickup and wouldn’t go back to a car or van. If you’re anywhere near Bolton and serious about a Ranger drop me a PM as we get some great deals from our local dealer that no one else can touch.

Happy ranger owner driver here. 63 plate 80k miles not had a single problem since a software update in the first few months of having it. Don’t have masses of driving to do but swallows up big trips easily. Wouldn’t go back to a van.

Think of the fun you can have in your pick up truck! You could go for the coasting record!!!

Had  4 pick ups now. In order of preference. Navara, Amarok, D Max, Hilux. Different generation/specs, so maybe not entirely fair. Currently in the Navara and it is really refined. A lot of hate on here for them but if they suit your needs then they really are great vehicles.

A lot of hate on here for them

For well founded reasons, up to and including them being more dangerous to pedestrians and cyclists in the unlucky event of a collision.

if they suit your needs then they really are great vehicles.

If.

I’m not against them for people who need the carry capacity or ability off tarmac, but if you don’t need either of those then they make no sense, more so if they’re only ever used in an urban environment.

What’s the likelihood of increased fuel use wiping out a big chunk of any tax saving?

Huge marketing research budgets have decided that these things need words like Barbarian, Warrior, Blade or Raptor slapped down the side of them in big letters. Doesn’t that tell you something about the target audience?

^this

It might spell barbarian but it reads walloper.

Round here, I can generally tell how much of a knob the driver is by how clean it is. It's the spotless ones you have to watch out for.

I had a Hilux for a few days at work before it was given to a different driver. Would have loved to keep it over my poverty spec van.

But, from someone who has driven LWB and Luton vans for both work and play for 17 years, it was a massive beast to drive in town. Bollards and little kids get lost below the bonnet, below par turning circle, huge bonnet (presumably they are have a long bonnet as the engine is above the 4x4 system and raised for ground clearance).

And I don't think this was the long version as the rear seats were comically small with literally no legroom, and the tray was super short in the back.

@johshvegas 😀

The primary issue that puts me off pick ups is the total absence of any security when carrying bikes. The load bed is too short so you end up with a tailgate pad that advertises the fact you have expensive, easily stealable toys even when not carrying them.

It might spell barbarian but it reads walloper.

And this is the secondary issue. Round here, if it’s not a young buck with an overinflated sense of self importance it’s an under age itinerant traveller looking to steal your stuff.

Cheaper than a transit Custom to buy. Nicer to drive.
Comparing std Limited spec on both, vans are silly prices at the moment.

@doomanic, they are all in white transit customs around here.

Pointless things. Massive, shit load bay, shit fuel efficiency, shit safety to others.

Mk1 VW caddy pick up is the exception. 😃

Wow, lots of hate and sanctimonious hand wringing on here (as per...). I wonder how many people dismiss pick ups for being too big and polluting yet drive round in converted vans and have their woodburners at home - this is STW after all (I'm guilty on both counts... 🤷🏻‍♂️).

I used to really want a pick up, but after driving a few LWB Hi-Lux with work I changed my mind as they were incredibly agricultural - I suspect newer pick ups won't be. Just test drive one and if you like it and the numbers stack up, make your decision based on that.

Sorry, I’ve not seen any ‘won’t anyone think of the children’ hand wringing, just lots of people pointing out that it’s a crap idea.

DOI: don’t drive a van, or an SUV for that matter.

I've always loved the looks of pick up trucks and landrover till I started to drive them for work 20 odd years ago. Great tools for a job, carrying kit and towing across fields, driving through floodwater, but I will be ****ed if I'd want to own one as a personal vehicle.

Pointless things. Massive, shit load bay, shit fuel efficiency, shit safety to others.

Mk1 VW caddy pick up is the exception. 😃

Yeah, because they're tiny, with a shit load bay, shit fuel efficiency and shit safety to the occupants. 😀

@TheDTs they always used to be, but pick ups seem to be making a push to be the pikey purveyance du jour round here.

Round here, I can generally tell how much of a knob the driver is by how clean it is

Yeah thanks, mine is cleaned quite often , you know, it’s always good to look after your kit .

For well founded reasons, up to and including them being more dangerous to pedestrians and cyclists in the unlucky event of a collision.

Mmmm , not going to make a vehicle choice based upon something that is a one in a million occurrence. Managed not to hit either in the last 30 years by being a safe and courteous driver. Doesn’t matter what you drive if you are a shit driver. The higher driving position , combined with various sensors, cameras , auto braking , collision detection etc make it, in my mind a better position to avoid these things in the first place. These things have come on a bit since the Top Gear Hilux you know 😏

The higher driving position , combined with various sensors, cameras , auto braking , collision detection

It's not as if you can only get those things in a pick up

I regularly drive a 2017 ranger pick towing a 1000 litre fuel tank of red diesel around the UK. I would rather have a Morris marina than a pick up.
We have a new one coming next month and hopefully it drives better than the current one.

It’s not as if you can only get those things in a pick up

You are correct of course, although you can also get a ton of steel, ton of chippings etc in there too.

Just trying to point out that some pickups are not the “massive dangerous chunks of metal” some people think they are

I have a pick up I use for towing and as a second car in the house

I agree with everything above.

Infact those saying they are now more refined.....that's a step backwards for a pick up . Utilitarian and easy to fix would be far better than a show pony tax wagon -most of which have cart springs out back and drive like they do

If I didn't need something that can tow the trailer I'd have a c1 or similar rather than a pick up.....

I’d be tempted to go the other way -take a normal company car for high mileage use with efficiency and comfort and keep a cheap and cheerful utility vehicle privately for weekend/holiday use when you’ll really benefit from it. Means two vehicles but if you can demonstrate that you’re not using the company vehicle privately you may be able to avoid any benefit in kind taxation as well..

Interesting comments as predicted and almost a marmite thread.

My last company car (A4 2.Tdi) was costing me £350 extra tax per month, couldn't tow a horse box (although no imperitive requirement) was shit in the snow and didn't carry much goods.

I don't care about environmental issues, a 2.0 diesel truck probably has less impact on the planet than a hybrid out together from all 4 corners of the globe and employing children to dig for raw materials for the batteries.

I don’t care about environmental issues

A barbarian might suit you quite nicely then.

EU Rangers are assembled in South Africa with parts coming from all over the world and don’t expect the Ranger to be any better in the snow than the Audi unless you switch the tyres.

If you want one get one, but don’t expect everyone to agree with the choice.

was shit in the snow

Winter tyres are your friend. Never had an issue getting about in a diesel Avensis; main problem was the other cars that were stuck.

I don’t care about environmental issues

Ok, so what about the agricultural suspension, the supertanker-esque turning circle, the fact that it’ll be about the same size as an LWB van and thus a PITA to park, the lack of load bed security and (due to size, weight and air resistance) the thirst like a furloughed single man in lockdown, which will probably eat any tax saving?

As @db says, if you want one, fill your boots.

@db I can assure you that it will be quite a bit better in the snow than a standard A4.

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geordiemick00
Free Member

I don’t care about environmental issues, a 2.0 diesel truck probably has less impact on the planet than a hybrid out together from all 4 corners of the globe and employing children to dig for raw materials for the batteries.

Ignorant and selfish in one neat package - how efficient of you.

Perhaps you should do some reading around hybrids and batteries rather than ignorantly spouting “probably has less impact”.

Also do you chose to forgo batteries in other aspects of your life? Phone? Laptop? Jump Starter? Bike lights? Ebike? Or is it just a convenient excuse to make your life easier and cheaper?

And to the chap up there who said “I don’t do much mileage - 22k PA”. You REALLY do. You do 10* my annual mileage.

Truckla?

My pick up does maybe 2.2k on a busy year.... Most of them towing a trailer.

If I did 22k in a year a pickup would be the last thing I'd be thinking about doing it in

ive been running various double cab pickups as company car for years.the gear I use and the sites I visit mean that I killed all my posh audi bmw merc estates.

good bits, you can fit over a 1000kg of stuff in one and tow 3500kg. modern pickups are fairly comfortable and well equiped, company tax is cheap, particualry if you have a fully expensed vehicle.good visabilty for driving, cam happily drive for 10-12hours get out and go straight onto a site job without feeling too knackered or like my lower back has imploded.

bad bits, too big for inner city driving, too tall for some multistory carparks, fuel economy isnt great, although to be fair the its as good asthe vw and ford vans in our fleet, ride can still be a bit bouncy when unladen.

usually do 40-50k miles a year in mine. would love something less planet killing but you cant have anything other than a diesel vehicle on a lot of my client site as otherwise they have a tendency to go bang like buncefield.

treat like a tool for a job, yes its a compromise, but if it works for what you need then go for it.

If you do get one. Make sure you pay extra for the B16 xxx , or BO55 xxx personalised number plates (where xxx is your name or initials) so that everyone knows that you are either big or The Boss.

Helps to assert extra dominance in case the large Barbarian, Warrior, Defender, Animal, Raptor or Ranger text on the side isn't effective enough.