D40 navara as a first car

Kieran2332 · May 19, 2021

Hi all,

I live in Edinburgh, Scotland and I'm currently thinking about getting a d40 navara as my first car and would like to know if this is a good idea or not. I've had my motorbike for 3 years but never owned a car so I have road experience and have always preferred pickups to any other car. For a decent navara with under 100k miles I'm looking at the same price for a 1 litre Ford ecoboost and surprisingly the insurance of the Ford is ever so slightly more expensive.

I'm aware a pickup in the capital of Scotland may not seem the best idea however I am planning on moving away to somewhere nice and quiet. I know despite cheaper insurance I understand that running costs could come at a shock but this doesn't bother me at all.

I'm currently a security supervisor and it makes sense to me to have a spacious double cab pickup to ferry staff around. I also have 2 large akita dogs that wouldn't fit in a small hatchback or something similar.

If anyone could please inform me the pros and cons, whether its a good idea or bad and a general insight into owning a navara would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

landmannnn · May 19, 2021

Welcome to the forum. Interesting question.

Personally I bought my first pickup in 2003 and have used them as daily drivers since. Back in 2003 people were puzzled, asking me if I lived on a farm etc.
Today, if I look out of my window, there are 12 houses in my street, 4 have double cab pickups...

Comparisons, firstly you can't really compare with a Focus, the real comparison has to be with something like a discovery or other large SUVs. In which case, not much to say, a bit longer, a little less posh, a bit cheaper to run.

GavJ · May 19, 2021

Kieran, the Nav is dead easy to drive forwards, great high seating position with loads of view, light steering, just like a car... reversing & parking is another story

as long as you can park it at home everywhere else is just a bit more inconvienent. As an exmple I can 3 point turn a car behind my house.... but not the truck, I can turn it around but its easier just to reverse it in.

geoffsnook · May 19, 2021

Yeah they are quite long

gfromleeds · May 19, 2021

Welcome to the forum
It depends on your driving requirements! If your doing stop/start city centre driving you'll find they take alot to get up to speed and your fuel costs will be high! Motorway speed and you'll find there not as bad as you'd expect from a two and a half tonne truck!
However if this isn't a problem for you, you will find the navara is a very capable truck especially for dogs (I have a malamute a cocker spaniel and a pug! Although the pug rides shotgun!)
That said carpark parking is and issue, unless like me you just go staright to the far side of the carpark where no one else parks in and prepare yourself for a walk back lol

Thisistheone · Jun 25, 2021

Kieran2332 said:
Hi all,

I live in Edinburgh, Scotland and I'm currently thinking about getting a d40 navara as my first car and would like to know if this is a good idea or not. I've had my motorbike for 3 years but never owned a car so I have road experience and have always preferred pickups to any other car. For a decent navara with under 100k miles I'm looking at the same price for a 1 litre Ford ecoboost and surprisingly the insurance of the Ford is ever so slightly more expensive.

I'm aware a pickup in the capital of Scotland may not seem the best idea however I am planning on moving away to somewhere nice and quiet. I know despite cheaper insurance I understand that running costs could come at a shock but this doesn't bother me at all.

I'm currently a security supervisor and it makes sense to me to have a spacious double cab pickup to ferry staff around. I also have 2 large akita dogs that wouldn't fit in a small hatchback or something similar.

If anyone could please inform me the pros and cons, whether its a good idea or bad and a general insight into owning a navara would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Hi my friend.I wish I still had my old 1994 straight six diesel.It would still be going.As for the d40 dont touch it .Nothing but problems.Just had the whole motor rebuilt by someone that knows what they are doing.So hopefully I will have it a bit longer.It was the cheapest option for me.At least I feel confident that it won’t break down again.Chears

D40 navara as a first car

Kieran2332

landmannnn

GavJ

geoffsnook

gfromleeds

Thisistheone

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