Tradie Looking at First Ute

Labuch47 on 10/02/2018 - 19:29

Been in the trade 10 years almost but only looking at a first ute now.
Tax writeoffs and out of work hours functionality are what have finally swayed me to buy one.

Wanted a Amarok for the longest time, but was waiting for the v6. Test drove and even though it has the best autotran in the world I still hated it.So it must be manual.

Due to look and performance have narrowed it down to a practical (for work) and current life status.
either a VE or some FGs.

Thinking I want an 8 because Ive never owned a muscle car, and would like a toy before settling on a slower(efficient) dualcab in a few years when I MIGHT have kids. ford v6turb is appealing but doesn't seem to be many around especially in SA.
Holden sv6 is obviously the most fuel efficient but most boring and interior isn't as good as an SS.

Fuel isn't a huge issue as Ive never had a car that averages over 10L/100km so Ill put up with it for a max of 5 years.
hoping to do 5-10k a year with close to 100% work use.
Im a bit of a greenie, but as a commercial worker we carpool often and hoping the wifes next car is an EV.

Really set on an Maloo for the power and looks and also hardlid for security. but price and practicality have slight cons with the 20"s and blindspots due to the aerokit.Series 1 or 3 for any VE as I hate that red colour screen interior and also the hoodgrilles.

Still thinking about a |4 amarok but i dont need 4 seats and mates that have them average over 10l/100km.
budget is probably 35k max.

looking to hear from finance types about best personal loan or business loan ideas.

have driven every model ive mentioned except a ford.

also being the last of the aussie utes hoping it will be a High Yield Investment ;) as the 2nd hand car salesman told me today.

Automotive

Comments

  • [Deactivated] on 10/02/2018 - 19:43
    +2

    I read your post but honestly I'm not sure if you want car advice or financial advice?

    • abuch47 on 10/02/2018 - 19:54

      porque no los dos.

      but seriously anyone has anything to offer Ill listen.

      peer group advice is great compared to family and friends. whirlpool is to slow and old fashioned in format. reddit would work but finding the right userbase that has a wide variety of ideals and exp.

      ozb hates ozcars, awaiting incoming wrath in 3,2,1…

      • [Deactivated] on 10/02/2018 - 20:12
        +2

        have you tried a BT50?

        Maybe not as cool of an idea as a maloo or pursuit ute but I've a friend who loves theirs and you can get a 2nd hand but torquey 5cyl turbo diesel for your budget.

        But no hate for ozcars from me. I totally get your thirst for a nice v8

        • abuch47 on 10/02/2018 - 20:29

          I havnt but know of 2 who have liked theirs.

      • whooah1979 on 10/02/2018 - 20:15
        +2

        Why no the both? Sorry still a beginner.

        Amarok

        Stay away from these unless you want to visit your mechanic on a regular basis.

        • abuch47 on 10/02/2018 - 20:26

          I have heard plenty of anecdotal evidence to steer me from the |4, which had a new engine yet I still like it.

          The new v6 uses a porsche cayenne engine so hopefully more refined Im pretty much waiting for the manaul v6 to release and then drop in price and this will be the car in between.

        • [Deactivated] on 11/02/2018 - 22:01
          +2

          @abuch47:

          I wouldnt consider another VW/Audi/Skoda even as a passenger car since my last Audi brought me to into the workshop for around 10 times over a 2 years period. (bought brand new). Mine was an A1 and had the following issues:
          - The usual DSG clutch + mechatronic replacement
          - Poor idle at start up (high idle rpm with abnormal vibration), the workshop said it's "okay" because no "fault code" based on their computer diagnose. (duh, maybe it's a problem that has not been coded yet)
          - Poor resale. Lost 40% value after two years.

          family also got a s3, and cayenne. s3 had a failed gearbox. cayenne seemed okay so far. (1 year in). mates also got the polo, golf GTi… various issues from gear box to engine light.

          Would say get something has a more reliable reputation if it's your only work vehicle.

  • smuggler on 10/02/2018 - 19:53

    How much is a used Xtrail?

    • abuch47 on 10/02/2018 - 19:56

      tree fiddy same as my budget.

    • abuch47 on 10/02/2018 - 20:06

      its nice but i dont want 5 seats or ground clearance atm.

  • chumlee on 10/02/2018 - 20:12
    +3

    I hear in WA with the mining boom over heaps of bogan utes are for sale. Maybe worth a look on carsales

    • abuch47 on 10/02/2018 - 20:28

      I know a guy who bought a used mining amarok from pickles interstate. looked in poor condition but hes had no problems in 2 years.

      +1 good suggestion

  • spackbace on 10/02/2018 - 20:37
    +1

    VF over VE any day of the week. Front & rear sensors, rear camera & blind spot monitors make the utes so much easier to park/drive.

    • abuch47 on 10/02/2018 - 21:32
      +1

      Price and commodore depreciation scares me too much. also Im really not a fan of that touchscreen cutout.

      • spackbace on 10/02/2018 - 21:46
        +2

        Meh, this is coming from someone who used to sell them and drive them. I'd take a VF SS over a VE Maloo any day, unless you wanna be a poser in the Maloo.

        Depreciation shouldn't matter, you're not buying new, it's worn it's major depreciation

        • abuch47 on 11/02/2018 - 11:14

          I do see your point but there wasn't a single ls3 vf ute in my budget. Not a huge issue but I tend to prefer older models of cars anyway.

  • [Deactivated] on 10/02/2018 - 20:52

    All the tradies near me drive Maloo's

  • fantombloo on 10/02/2018 - 21:11

    I'm a bit of a greenie,

    Be careful repeating this while driving your v8 else you may get raised eyebrows / funny looks.

  • djkelly69 on 10/02/2018 - 21:15
    +3

    IMO you are pissing money away buying a 'toy' now and then having to get the practical ute in a few years time for no real reason.

    Given you have the suitable alternative of a dual cab which appears perfectly suitable for both current and future needs, I would go with that.

    • abuch47 on 10/02/2018 - 21:31

      I kinda know this in my head, but my heart says otherwise.

      • djkelly69 on 10/02/2018 - 21:38
        +4

        Fair enough, I know the feeling.

        Take it from me, if you have kids in a few years time you will be kicking yourself for wasting money on things like this.

  • Euphemistic on 10/02/2018 - 21:39
    +2

    You know you want a v8 ute,, and you know you don’t want a high riding twin cab. Simple. Test drive either a ford or Holden ute in your budget and go with the one you like most.

  • wordplay on 10/02/2018 - 22:21

    I don't know how ute will be usefull if you are carpooling with a bunch of people (unless you only carpool with one bloke or you never have to drive).
    I would get an old xr8 (even an au) and save a bunch of money (can spend it on the fuel bills).

    I get the hardlids are good for security, but limit the amount of stuff you can fit in there (unless you are constantly detatching it (which gets annoying)) but assume if you are really carting stuff around will have a trailer or take a truck when needed.

    sounds like you would rather have a ute than a dual cab so forget them for now and it narrows down the choices a fair bit.

    • abuch47 on 11/02/2018 - 11:16

      The major flaw to carpooling but yeah well sort it out. There's a few with utes and a few with dualcabs.

      Serioiusly love carpooling, don't have to drive alone, save on petty, save on parking, save the environment. Just have to get up a bit earlier.

  • [Deactivated] on 11/02/2018 - 02:01

    vw amarok v6

    • abuch47 on 11/02/2018 - 11:18
      +1

      I couldn't stand the auto and it's supposed to be the best auto gearbox in the world (zf)

  • Aussie Smurfette on 11/02/2018 - 08:28

    What sort of tradite doesn’t have a Ute in their first 10 years? My stepson started his plumbing apprenticeship with a Ute.
    V8s you need to keep up the services more than anything you can ever imagine, it is just the nature of the beast. Can you afford to have your Ute of the road for this?
    Hard loss are pretty useless for any tradies, you can’t fit much in the back with them. Everyone I know has learned this the hatd way.
    Look at Hilux, BT50 Triton twin cab Ute, you don’t even have to go 4wd if you don’t want to but remember things can change and you never know when a 4wd can be handy.
    Your first decision is whether you want a toy or a workhorse.
    BTW I would assume the X trail comment was a joke.

    • abuch47 on 11/02/2018 - 11:22

      Well we don't get paid for by work for a vehicle so it's been more of a stubbornness. It's painful at times but now I could use one outside of work is less of a compromise.

      I've really debated hardtop v softtop but I've known three people to have everything stolen from a softlid and one from a hardlid. I'll take the hard lid off when I have to, who knows how easy this is with a factory central locking lid. somewhere I need to do more research.

      I ain't giving no loch Ness monster my x-trail

  • rigby75 on 11/02/2018 - 10:07

    V8 holden or ford otherwise hilux for best resale.
    Greatwall's are cheap you could buy one and shoe horn an LS in it.

    • abuch47 on 11/02/2018 - 11:23
      +1

      You really think the 8s will hold value?

      Seems the navaras hold well too.

      Amarok are poor for this

  • Birchy on 11/02/2018 - 12:13

    Been in trades for over thirty years and have killed over 15 utes. So what ever you buy and use for for carting crap around is probably going to look like like crap in a couple of years any way.

    • Euphemistic on 11/02/2018 - 15:22
      +1

      The t’tradies’ with shiny Utes are the ones that just do the quoting and organise someone else to do the real work.

    • abuch47 on 11/02/2018 - 16:00

      Yeah I'm a little scared of this with the few cars I've taken to work but honestly I'm in commercial construction were a vehicle isn't as necessary as residential and am looking to move into the office asap. I need to speak to my employer about leasing a work car or a getting a business loan through them as my current financial options of personal loans or lines of credit seem excessive to me.

      Has your employer been providing or have you leased these cars?

  • TransportPosters on 11/02/2018 - 20:12

    If I was buying my "first ute" for a tradie job then I'd get a cheap and easy to fix/repair Commodore or Falcon ute, and not worry about resale so much after all the scrapes and dings from being onsite. Use it for a year, make some good money and learn from the experience, then get something really special and apply the experience to your better vehicle.

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