2012 Fuso Canter FE vs. Isuzu NKR (4HG1-T)

[number001]

Fuso Canter FE



vs.





Both are SRP : Php 1,120,000


Intended use: Enclosed delivery van for transporting dry goods, mostly through the highways within and outside perimeter of Metro Manila.

Average annual mileage use: Bet. 12,000 - 15,000 kms per year.


Some random thoughts:

-Canter has obviously the fresher design and ergonomics.

-Isuzu is the #1 seller in the segment for the year 2011.

-Isuzu has supposed the "best" engine. Not sure this refers to performance, maintenance or reliability, or all?

-Isuzu's cab design is more than 6 years old!

-Mitusibishi might hold another trade-in promo this year (like May of last year). If they do, I can trade-in a well-worn L300 delivery van for the Canter.

-Based on OTEP's review of the i-van (which is based on a NHR cab chassis), isuzu vans seem to perform badly in terms of driveability.


So, Which one is better?

[GTi]

Well that is because the all new N-series trucks have already been making waves elsewhere for quite some time now. And as always, we get the old crap that Isuzu sends us here. But then, their trucks are really and truly tough as seen by the huge population of Isuzu trucks on the road, be they locally purchased or Japan surplus. I've read bro OTEP's review of the i-Van. Most of his peeves with it were about the poor quality of the passenger cabin of the i-Van, poor braking performance (since the NHR was not designed to be a passenger van at the first place), and rather underpowered engine (pickup truck engine for a truck?!). These however do not apply with your requirements. The 4.6L 4HG1-T engine is an excellent one. Parts are also very easy to find and do not cost much. And it is common knowledge among truckers that Isuzu parts are easier to source and often cheaper than Mitsubishi/Fuso parts.

If compared to the Canter, the NKR, having the bigger engine (4.6L vs. 3.9L) obviously has more power. But I do not know how much this will affect the gas mileage of the truck. So I suppose I'll just put it this way. If you carry heavy loads and power is very important for you, then get the NKR. If you intend to drive the truck personally and/or value fuel efficiency, you may appreciate the more user friendly Canter more.

[KIANTOT]

Kung parehas brand new sa Fuso ako kahit mas malakas yung isuzu dahil malaki ang makina, lumang cab na talaga yang sa isuzu, mas convinient din yung canter yung kambyo nasa dashboard, yung latest model yata ngayon isuzu reward na hindi isuzu elf

[AKI125]

We got a local nkr years back, yes its still alive after 2 major engine overhual, 5 or more times starter problem and their rear cab which i dont know who is there subcon is...... It sucks big time. Almost yearly we have to have it body repaired and repainted.

[OTEP]

Havent tried the mitsu yet on the road but ergonomics wise, the controls are easier to reach and use and the driving position is more comfy.

Headlamps of the isuzu are pitifully useless at night especially at expressway speeds. No idea on the mitsu. Being able to see where you are going is part of safety.

Plastic bumper of the isuzu allows it to regenerate after minor hits. Also tends to inflict less damage on what you hit. Motsu metal bumper is flimsy and once hit, is already dented.

Will the isuzu come with a radio also? At least something to listen to instead of just falling asleep. The mitsu has basic audio.

Mitsu glove box is a joke. Its more of a mail slot. Hehe.

Afaik, both are already tilt cabs so thats good.

Have you tried looking at the toyota hino 300 too?

Isuzu rear bodies are made by Centro if you buy from the dealer.

[Ry_Tower]

Kung parehas brand new sa Fuso ako kahit mas malakas yung isuzu dahil malaki ang makina, lumang cab na talaga yang sa isuzu, mas convinient din yung canter yung kambyo nasa dashboard, yung latest model yata ngayon isuzu reward na hindi isuzu elf

If brand new, Fuso din ako. Based sa experience namin mas matibay mitsu engine. Bihira lang talaga parts kaya mas madali maintenance ng isuzu. Although nasa MM ka so parts won't be an issue.

But given the chance to buy brandnew, Mitsu din kami. Good luck TS. Both are reliable vehicles naman.

[uls]

Canter

Isuzu isnt taken seriously in Japan. Dito lang naman sikat ang Isuzu

Isuzu sells us old stuff knowing pinoys will buy anything Isuzu. They must be very happy there's a market like the Phils.

Fuso mas matibay

[truckesh]

Go with Mitsu-Fuso, the 4D34 is proven to be robust same with the old reliable 4D30, 4D32 & 4D33.
My father has shifted to Mitsu-Fuso since it perform better than Isuzu in construction & hauling business.
Try to get inside the cockpit of the SUPERGREAT & say goodbye to GIGA.

[number001]

Am I right to assume Isuzu engines are easier to maintain bec. of abundance of parts? If its an abundance of surplus or replacement engine parts, I try to avoid these anyway.

Mitsubishi also has independent genuine parts like El Dorado.

The guy that repairs our fleet says to get Isuzu bec. its "better" and easier to repair, etc..

Actually, the NHR 4JB-1 fits our load requirements. But became more concerned with the Isuzu engine 4JB-1 after reading OTEP's review of it being short on power. Hence the need to upgrade to a NKR w/ 4HG1-T. NHR and NKR are the same chassis and everything. They differ in the engine options.

The problem with Canter is that not alot of people know or consider it as a workhorse in the same light as Isuzu.

If you pass by Union Motors OTIS, you will see parked outside are 10+ Canters for delivery to customers. At times, this occurs on a monthly basis. That's why when I read about Isuzu topping the sales charts for 2011, I was surprised bec. I hardly any see any brand new NKR, NHR, on the road. Yes, 2003-2009, there is a lot of them on the road.

[c_cube]

Canter ako given na brand new parehas.

sabi ng mga driver namin at mekaniko mas matibay daw talaga canter at sa piyesa daw mas mabilis maghanap

mga delivery trucks namin puro canter tas mga coverted at galing japan.

alive and kicking pa naman lahat sila more than 10 years na. yun pinaka matagal yata 17 years eh

[userfriendly]

We have the old school 4d32 and 4fh1. per our experience sobrang tibay ng Canter. The plate starts with T so you its a early 90s model. Never overhualed, no engine problems almost no maintenance. We just change oil when the driver ays that the oil needs changing. Overhualed the isuzu last Nov 2011. The mechanic also said that in his experience, the Mitsu's engine is sturdier.

[uls]

The guy that repairs our fleet says to get Isuzu bec. its "better" and easier to repair, etc..

sabi niya yan coz mas sanay siya sa Isuzu

Actually, the NHR 4JB-1 fits our load requirements. But became more concerned with the Isuzu engine 4JB-1 after reading OTEP's review of it being short on power. Hence the need to upgrade to a NKR w/ 4HG1-T. NHR and NKR are the same chassis and everything. They differ in the engine options.

we think people who buy elf na 4JB1 ang makina don't know anything about trucks. it's freaking UNDERPOWERED

[loidch]

as long as the driver knows how not to cook the turbo, the fuso canter is my choice.
our 10dc11's are proving to be less headaches than the 8dc9tt's

[ronw123w124]

We have both Canter (4D31) and Isuzu NKR (4BE1) in our company, mga 90's model pa yung sa amin, yung mga Canter namin (6 or 7 units) na-overhaul na lahat puro 1993 model, yung mga NKR naman, napalitan na lahat ang makina, mahina kasi yung 4BE1, madaling bumigay under heavy loads. Based on your choices, go for the Canter. Pero kung ako ang gagastos hindi ako bibili ng brand new kasi lalaspagin lang naman ng mga driver, sayang lang yung truck, ok na para sa akin yung mga surplus na galing Japan.

[number001]

Pero kung ako ang gagastos hindi ako bibili ng brand new kasi lalaspagin lang naman ng mga driver, sayang lang yung truck, ok na para sa akin yung mga surplus na galing Japan.

We also have two japan surplus Isuzu Elf (1 single cab and 1 double cab) bought in 2001 and 2003, and both look like they are models from the 90's. Ganoon din, sirain. Since then the company would not even consider buying surplus or used vehicles.

Surplus are converted and there is no guarantee of the state inside its guts. There are many reasons we wouldn't know why these surplus units have been allotted for disposal anyway. Ang yumayaman lang dyan ay yung importer ng surplus (smuggled kasi) at yung buhayang mekaniko (sa kakaayos at lakas magtaga sa mga sirain na surplus yan).

Tama ka sa linalaspag ng driver yung sasakyan. That's why selecting and hiring them are important before anything else.

[GTi]

Oonga't lalo na mga turbocharged trucks na ang mga pinapamaneho mo sakanila ngayon. Tapos after a long delivery isasara nila kaagad yung engine... Sabog turbo niyan!

Dun sa Japan surplus, baka kasi naman mumurahin lang ang mga converted na Elf at tinipiran nila to keep the price low. I've seen some very poorly converted Elf's, some converters didn't even bother to change the dashboard. They just cut it in the middle, switch places and attach it again. Some even have chunks of the dashboard missing. Then there are those with the gearbox and handbrake still at the RHD position. Pero to the best of my knowledge, walang nagtitipid sa conversion ng mga heavy trucks. Siguro dahil mamahalin ang mga ito kahit na Japan surplus, napakaganda ng quality ng conversion, parang original LHD talaga. One such example is our 10 wheeler Giga flatbed truck (made for plywood delivery). Nung binili namin napakaganda talaga, mukhang brand new inside and out. So far, we had no conversion-related problems with it. Normal consumables lang talaga. So perhaps kung bibili ka ng Japan surplus, your best and safest bet is to personally pick a unit and supervise the conversion yourself. Kahit papano it is still cheaper than getting brand new, lalo na't mga malalaking makina ang habol mo.

It is interesting to note that in Taiwan, the truck market is exactly opposite to the one here. Mitsubishi/Fuso gets most of the market there and Isuzu's presence is hardly felt. Even being a smaller market than us, for both Mitsubishi and Isuzu, they get their new models on time and in pretty much the same specs as JDM ones. Engines are DOHC 16 valve commonrail direct injection versions of the Mitsubishi 4M50 and Isuzu 4JJ1 VGS with the Canter even getting a 6 speed gearbox. Kawawa talaga tayo dito...

So I'd suggest that unless you really need lots of power, get the Canter.

[ronw123w124]

We also have two japan surplus Isuzu Elf (1 single cab and 1 double cab) bought in 2001 and 2003, and both look like they are models from the 90's. Ganoon din, sirain. Since then the company would not even consider buying surplus or used vehicles.

Surplus are converted and there is no guarantee of the state inside its guts. There are many reasons we wouldn't know why these surplus units have been allotted for disposal anyway. Ang yumayaman lang dyan ay yung importer ng surplus (smuggled kasi) at yung buhayang mekaniko (sa kakaayos at lakas magtaga sa mga sirain na surplus yan).

Tama ka sa linalaspag ng driver yung sasakyan. That's why selecting and hiring them are important before anything else.

So far di pa kami uli bumibili ng 4 wheeler in the past 15 or so years, ang binibili namin lately eh yung mga surplus na Isuzu Forward na wing van to replace our fleet of 6 wheeler Canter and NPR, alanganin kasi sa load namin yung mga 6 wheeler na Canter and NPR. So far naka 6 units na Forward na kami ( the first was bought in 2005 and the most recent was just last November) wala pa naman kami nagiging problema na major except for the one na napalitan na ng engine pero dahil sa kagaguhan ng driver. (during the height of Ondoy eh pinilit paandarin, ayun! sabog tuloy ang makina) Pag bibili ng surplus talagang dapat suriin mo ng mabuti ang unit, usually 4 kami tumitingin 2 mekaniko, ako at yung 1 driver na matagal na sa amin, at saka huwag na huwag ka bumili ng recon unit kasi usually mga substandard parts ang nakakabit dyan masabi lang na napalitan. What we do is we buy an as is unit na pasado sa aming 4 then kami na lang ang mag rerecondition since in house naman ang mekaniko sa amin, at least alam namin na talagang magagandang parts ang kinakabit namin since kami mismo ang bumibili ng pyesa.

[boybi]

Been using Japan surplus trucks since my dad started the business. And all are Isuzus. The trick is to buy only from trusted/reputable sellers and you'll never have a problem with your trucks aside from the wear and tear parts. Some will say swertehan ang pagbili ng surplus. And this is true. So even if you'll buy from a reputable seller, always bring your trusted mechanic to properly inspect the truck before purchasing.

Also, halos lahat ng mekaniko sanay sa Isuzu engines, that's why may notion na mas madaling i-repair ang Isuzu. Kaya to be safe and weary free, we always buy Isuzu, especially nasa province ako and hindi ganun ka abundant ang non-Isuzu parts.

I just bought a 10-wheeler Isuzu Giga wingvan (6WA1) last week. Grabe na rin ang cost ng surplus trucks now. Almost twice the cost na compared to the last time I bought one.

[OTEP]

Madaming isuzu elf with "dualmode mt" sa surplasan ngayon. What is that? Pati new canter may surplus na din, matic yung nakita ko. Ewan ko lang kung na tsunami or may radiation.

[Ry_Tower]

It is interesting to note that in Taiwan, the truck market is exactly opposite to the one here. Mitsubishi/Fuso gets most of the market there and Isuzu's presence is hardly felt. Even being a smaller market than us, for both Mitsubishi and Isuzu, they get their new models on time and in pretty much the same specs as JDM ones. Engines are DOHC 16 valve commonrail direct injection versions of the Mitsubishi 4M50 and Isuzu 4JJ1 VGS with the Canter even getting a 6 speed gearbox. Kawawa talaga tayo dito...

Mas less usok kasi Mitsu vs the Isuzu kaya ganun. Although pasado naman sa regulations pero meron din kasi perception sabi ng brother-in-law ko.