4x2 Pick Up Ranking

[Giga]

Because of the high prices of gasoline, I want to try 2nd hand 4x2 pick up though I will still keep my trusted car.

Since I am new when it comes to diesel vehicles, can you help me rank the ff. 4x2 pick up in terms of over-all performance (engine, body, under chassis, fuel consumption, price)?

1) '97 Mazda B2200
2) '97 Isuzu Fuego
3) '97 Nissan Eagle/Power
4) '97 Mitsubishi L200
5) '97 Toyota Hilux

I am a new here but basing on what I read on the other threads, there are plenty of members here who are willing to help.

Your opinions will serve as my basis when I purchase my 1st diesel vehicle.

Thank you in advance!

[luckytruck]

i think isuzu would be the way to go.......

but if you are not going to maximize the use of your pickup (hauling things, etc), you might as well invest your money elsewhere and use the proceeds of you investment to pay for your gas bills with your current car.

maintaining two cars is not an easy situation.

just my opinion

andy

[orly_andico]

hilux! watch that "top gear" episode... nakaka-bilib

btw the mazda b2200/b2500 is actually a rebadged ford ranger, so interchangeable din yun...

[vinj]

The Mitsu L200 has a good advantage because of parts availability, its the most affordable and widely available amongst the bunch... It may not have the best performance though.

Be wary though as pickups tend to be used/abused so expect to set aside extra PPP for repairs (diesel calibration, change all the filters, some body repair, etc...).

[luckytruck]

yup. the 4d56 of the L200 is a bulletproof engine. i am currently considering getting a 1997 L200 for my 2nd car.

andy

[Giga]

Thanks luckytruck, vinj and orly_andico for your quick replies.

Orly_andico forgive me for my ignorance but can you elaborate on the "top gear" episode of hi-lux? TIA.

I will not really use the pick up for heavy duty chores and for business. I just want to experience the feeling of driving a diesel pick up so I will use it mainly for personal trips.

Yes I've heard that Isuzu pick up is ok but when I browsed in the ads, it commands the highest price.

Based on your replies, pick up with good remarks are L200, Hilux and Fuego.

Hoping to hear more opinions from you!

[orly_andico]

yung top gear episode is where they submerged it in the Bristol Channel, whacked it with a wrecking ball, dropped a camper (RV, yung motor home) on top of it, set it on fire, then finally put it on the roof of a 10-storey building which was then blasted (demolished by explosive).

through all this, with only minor repairs (e.g. tweaks, the mechanic was not allowed to replace any parts) umandar pa rin yung hilux. although after falling from the 10th storey of the blasted building nabasag na yung chassis niya. pero umaandar pa rin yung makina! when it was submerged for 3 hours in the sea, nilinis lang yung diesel engine niya and battery, umandar pa rin...

this was an early-to-mid-90s hilux FYI which already had 200,000+ km on the odo and was 12 years old at the time the top gear boys decided to torture it.

[rsnald]

for fuel effiiciency, durability and respectable enough hauling power... isuzu fuego. kung matyempuhan mo yung special edition ng 4x2 fuego with the 4JB1 2.8Liter engine, mas ok ...mas mahal nga lang.

L200 ok din, have no experience driving one but I guess the 4d56 engine is really good considering na yun din makina ng pajero.
pero I'd rather go for the Nisssan eagle. 2nd vote ko Nissan Eagle or frontier 4x2. mas tahimik compared to the fuego.
hilux... was able to drive the 4x4 version, medyo mabagal sa acceleration, mabigat kaha, and masikip legroom sa likod.

toss up between isuzu fuego and nissan eagle for me. but that's just me. test drive mo muna to get a feel.

[toyboxph]

based on people i know who owned the late 90's L200, may problema ito sa front suspension. palaging nauubos ang front tires because of alignment problems. papalitan nga mga bushings often and it goes mis aligned again after a few months lang. and based on my observation, yes it has a reliable (easy to maintain - maraming mekanikong kabisado ang 4D56 engine) pero madaling umusok. always a smoke belcher, mahirap yan pag tumatakbo ka sa edsa or makati, haharangin ka palagi ng police. hassle. P1,000 first offense. 2nd offense is something like 4k. but as i do on my fuego, i clean my exhaust every week. so andy, think twice before getting an L2.
Giga, it will also help if tsikoteers can give you disadvantages of the different models. sa fuego ko (2000 model), yun lang kailangan din maglinis ng exhaust regularly by hosing the tailpipe with water. matagtag din ang ride as in all pick ups. advantages: matipid (12 to 13.5 kms/liter city driving- loaded), di pako tinirik ever since i bought it. just have the regular PMS. can go deep in the floods. can go in the rough roads - high ground clearance.
nissan disadvantage: rust forming on the bed wall sa ibabaw ng wheel well. lahat ng nissan late 90's pick yan - no exceptions! good engine though.

[luckytruck]

my company's L200 is ten years old and din naman mausok, siguro nasa maintennance yan. tapos lagyan pa talaga ng biodiesel, ayos ka na.

but for power, you can't beat the isuzu. mas mahal lang talaga

andy

[Giga]

Thanks again orly_andico for patiently explaining to me the "top gear" episode of Hilux. That only shows the toughness of Hilux.

rsnald your remarks about Fuego, L200, Hilux and Eagle are greatly appreciated.

toybox you are right. It will be a big help for me if tsikoteers will also provide me with the disadvantages/minus points of the pick up to be rated.

luckytruck thank you for giving your side specially when it comes to L200.

Except for the price, Fuego seems to be on top of the list.

I will be waiting for other tsikoteers to give their remarks particularly on the downsides/disadvantages of the pick up in the above mentioned list.

Thanks!

[Hibiki]

From my experience, matipid talaga ang fuego kasi direct injection. It usually runs 12-14 km/l City and 14-16 km/l Hiway. Aside from that, mas maluwag ang rear seat compared to the others in the list. The downside is that it's engine is louder. This is because it is using a timing gear+chain instead of belt. The advantage of having that is that it will last longer. (You can use B5 biodiesel as your fuel which will lessen the smoke, noise, and vibration.) Parts are cheap and readily available.

When buying a 2nd hand fuego, just check the "pang-ilalim" (ball-joints, tie-rod/ends, front/rear shocks, steering damper, leafsprings, bushings, and the tires (inc spare). Make sure that most of them are still in good condition so that you won't have to replace them after the purchase.

I also strongly suggest that you bring a qualified diesel mechanic with you to check the engine.

[vinj]

The Nissan Eagle is also quite good but it's hard to come by in the used ads... the engine and suspension are reliable (with a kalawang problem with the rear bed though). If you can get a Frontier then this is also quite good.

I'd suggest you keep your list open and get the best unit/deal you can find.

On the 4d56, it can be quite smoke belcher but if you know what to maintain then it should be fine (clean strainers, change filters, etc...).

[katsudon_ph]

Nissan eagle ka na.. the best pickup in its class..
strong a/c
strong engine
ample legroom

[katsudon_ph]

fuego dashboard not really eye candy..(no offense) just 2cents opinion

[Giga]

Fuego4x2 thanks for your advices. vinj and katsudon_ph thanks too for your remarks about the Nissan Eagle.

The information that your contributed in this thread is really very valuable to me. I dont know how to thank all of you!

If you have additional info, just keep it coming!

[theveed]

Pag ako Fuego and Nissan... The issue I have with Nissan pickups though is the frequent rusting sa bed fender area.

[ARB]

2wd hi-lux is a big difference sa 4wd hi-lux in terms of their suspension sa front, so the 2wd is not as good as the one used in top gear video.

[luckytruck]

after even more research on this:

if you have the budget, go for the isuzu, if not, go for the L200

ok ba? hehehhe

andy

[jay2]

Isuzu for me. Mine is 1996 model still being used top speed ko around 140 kph with big tires. Wala usok at hindi gaano matagtag. Minsan nasiraan ako ng preno sa bundok, pumara ako ng jeep na pamasahero, at binili ko pyesa ng preno nya at kinabit ko sa pikup ko And besides sya ang pinakamahal ang resale value