What's it like?
I don't really have much experience with them. I drove one a few times but it was a 2000 model, didn't really like it, the driver position seemed to be sitting on the floor peeping over the door card, all you could see out the windscreen was bonnet and couldn't seem to judge it's position when reversing. Not much leg room in the rear of the crew cab either as a passenger, 30 miles was too far.
I ask because I am looking to change my Discovery and a couple caught my eye as they were delivery mileage,14 plates, for the same money as a 5yr old Discovery I was looking at. I have owned pickups in the past so am not totally against the idea.
Have they altered much in the last few years? Style wise they look much better.
no they are horrid drive horrid drive like a old havnt had but a company i worked for had 2 .they had them for two weeks sold them and bought 2 nissan naveras much better .
The 2000 model was ok at the time and probably the best of the bunch back then, but I think Mitsubishi have rested on their laurels a bit and the competition have left them behind. You don't even get central locking or electric windows or air con on the L200 4 Work base model.
While my Ford Ranger was being repaired recently I did about 2000 miles in a new L200 crew cab 4 Life model. I found it to roll and bounce about a bit, especially during spirited driving and although the seat was comfortable enough it didn't offer any support and i always felt like I was going to slip out of it it the corners. Soft suspension did lessen the jarring experienced on some pick ups though. Controls and stereo etc seemed a bit basic, although this did have elec windows, air con and central locking. I did tow over a short distance and it performed ok then though. I was pleased to get my Ranger back, which is only the base model with air con fitted extra and also not the ltest incarnation being a 2010 model. I have looked in a more luxurious model L200 which was all leather and shiny etc, but at the end of the day personally I wouldn't have one.
I also recently did about 300 miles in a new Isuzu d-max. It wasn't the base model though, it was the Yukon. Nice spec and nice drive, also had adjustable seat height. It felt a lot more sure footed on the road but was a harsher ride. I didn't tow with it though.
Toyota hilux double cabs had 3 of them ...towed everywhere Caen to most westerly point on the Algarve like driving a farm tractor for comfort "none" but chuck any thing you need in the back ...Things are bombproof though...............
I towed with a 07 Navara around France. Comfortable enough up front and my two children were quite young, so the back seat didn't pose much of a problem then. The taller you are, the more uncomfortable it would be over long distances in the back.The Navara was more comfortable to drive than the more agricultural L200. Unladen they are still quite bouncy, whichever pickup you choose.
They had an Isuzu on the marquee firm I worked at. Useless thing. No low down grunt, you had to rev it to pull off and reversing cooked the clutch, also had to stop to switch ranges. Again hopeless in the rear.
I don't mind a bit of agricultural, I want something that will earn it's living rather than be motorway cruising.
Oh dear, the poor L200. We love ours. Elegance spec 2007. Tows our van perfectly, room in back for everything and sliding windows to cab back too for the dogs.
Auto model and top of the range for the year. We fitted a shocklink to the tow ball which is transferable to another vehicle when we stop towing with this one. The shocklink softens the suspension and really does make towing even easier.
In fact, when we buy a newer pick up, this one is going to stay in the family and we will continue to use it as a second car.
For the money this is a lovely car and we even enjoy parking it due to the high seating position.
Theres a few here comparing the L200 to a discovery or shogun, you cant, fundamentally its a work truck in its basic form, these others arent, higher spec models do have car comforts and are more car like inside but for the money its about right, the amarok or navara are the only two with beter build quality but still both have issues, navara had issues with overheating and the amarok have clutch issues, Toyota is well proven in the past but getting left behind now, You need to view all types AND drive them to get a good idea but dont dismis the L200 its bang on the money
------------- Doing as little as possible for as much as possible...
L200s are NOT classed as commercial on caravan sites or by the caravan manufacturers. We have never had a problems on sites and have always been welcomed. They are great work vehicles, and really good at towing, we are looking forward to more worry free miles in ours. As a bonus, main dealers charge much less for the car as its a 2007 too. All the servicing is discounted including genuine spares.
I've been driving mine since October 2007 and love it, don't know what i'd swap it for if I had to. It's a Feb 2006 old shape L200 that cost me £12000 when I got it at 18 months old with 6000 miles on the clock.
I couldn't justify spending silly money on a Discovery etc.
It rides well and manouvring is fine as long as you can reverse using mirrors instead of behind you. The kids complain that there's not enough leg room in the back on long journeys. It's been very reliable, not needed anything doing to it in all the time we've owned it (now got 83000 miles on the clock)
There's plenty of boot space and the only time i'd like a normal boot is when I go shopping, it has to go on the back seat rather than rolling around in the back.
It does about 30mpg, whether towing my trailer tent or not and whether the roof box is on or not.
I've never had a problem on any campsite with it being a commercial vehicle.