Entries are closed!
I’m still processing some entries but I should have preliminary reviews out shortly. Stay tuned.
I’ve got 39 entries to go through.
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Reviews Part I
Sitting in his motel room, Bill begins flipping through the Truck magazine to see what’s available for him to purchase. The plan is to note down everything that catches his eye and then check the yellow pages for dealerships to visit tomorrow. The first part of the magazine he lands on is the list of vehicles the editors don’t recommend.
@anotherone Henderson Monstera 4300
“The Monstera 4300 is packed with advanced features such as a 5-speed (!) and disc brakes all around yet still returns a well below average fuel economy, not even managing 9 MPG. It is also not geared for towing by any means and has the stiffest sway bars we’ve seen this side of a track car.”
Engineering is all over the place (chasing stats above realism?) and the tow rating is a whopping 60 kg.
@Madrias Bricksley Wanderer High-Top
“The Bricklsey Wanderer High-Top is a solid multi-purpose alternative to the standard 4x4 carryall. Its one downside is the rather limited tow rating, so it’s not necessarily the best proposition for some.”
Towing capacity not meeting the minimum 500 kg.
@vero94773 Edison Montauk LX-S
“The Edison Montauk LX-S is a capable offroader outfitted for adventurers but it sacrifices utilitarian duties for it. The tow rating is lower than you’d expect and the leather bucket seats all around several compromise interior practicality, not to mention the low quality radio.”
Towing capacity not meeting the minimum 500 kg and interior layout is completely unrealistic (rear bucket seats, and premium interior with basic entertainment).
@Mad_Cat Estrada Familiar 1600WL
“The Estrada Familiar 1600WL is a very cheap utility wagon that is neither capable nor spacious and is best suited for small urban deliveries.”
Load capacity of only 999.9 kg might have slid by but cargo volume is also below 2000L. Generally poor performance in important stats.
@LinkLuke GMI Friesian Frontier Edition
“The GMI Friesian Frontier Edition, while an attractive offroader, is unfortunately no longer available due to tighter emissions regulations.”
No catalytic converter.
@EnCR Avantii Mammoth
“The Avantii Mammoth is a very affordable offroader that performs quite well for a variety of utilitarian uses. It is however let down by its rather limited tow rating, so if you really don’t need to tow anything substantial it can be a decent purchase.”
Towing capacity not meeting the minimum 500 kg.
@HelloHi Warlock Conqueror
“The Warlock Conqueror is an interesting little offroader, offering plenty of capabilities in that regard but cannot be used as for utility purposes due to the effectively non-existant tow rating.”
*Towing capacity of 0 kg (also premium interior with basic entertainment is never a way to go.)
@Restomod Brute 15000 4x4
“The Brute 15000 4x4 is just a bad truck, from the delays due to the overcomplicated engine, to the apparently inadequate tow rating, and the abysmal comfort levels.”
Towing capacity not meeting the minimum 500 kg, engine ET too high.
@Urke101 Fukorami Sightseer EO-48 Pickup
“The Fukorami Sightseer EO-48 Pickup is quite a mounthful of a name and likely too much for it to tow. While a mostly solid vehicle, the inadequate tow rating means we can’t recommend it.”
Towing capacity of 0 kg.
@oppositelock GSI Caribou
“The GSI Caribou looks like a capable truck at a glance, but while it can haul decently and works well when empty, the electronically controlled automatic seems to have issues in terms of towing, giving it an effectively non-existant tow rating.”
Towing capacity of 0 kg.
@patridam Earl E-15 Lakota 4x4
“The Early E-15 Lakota 4x4 truly looks the part of an all-American truck and while it is for the most part, it falls short with an unusually low tow rating for the segment.”
Towing capacity not meeting the minimum 500 kg.
Following the list of vehicles to avoid, Bill flips over to the main article: the comprehensive list of 1982’s 4x4s, ranging from wagons to trucks to vans. And so he begins leafing through to see what looks intresting to him.
@cake_ape Mons Crest
The first vehicle Bill lands on is a seemingly conventional compact pickup truck. Bill finds the styling rather attractive and reads on.
“The Mons Crest is quite expensive for the segment at $15,800. It’s a technological showpiece likely to cost a pretty penny to repair. It makes use of the latest in electronic fuel injection technology, electronic 4-speed automatic, sport brakes, and sport steering”
That’s enough to make Bill shake his head at it. The article also mentions that its offroad capabilities are quite lacking compared to a lot of the competition, so it’s definitely not the right vehicle to replace the Dominion.
@conan Ossan Hardwood 4x4
The next vehicle Bill flips over to is a coupe utility. That’s something different but there’s no reason to not have a look, maybe he’ll be pleasantly surprised.
“The Ossan Hardwood 4x4 is a very affordable proposition for those not in need of a heavy duty truck. Being a coupe utility we can understand the 5-speed, but what we don’t understand is why the cabin is so spartan. It’s almost comparable to a military jeep.”
While Bill isn’t too concerned about comfort, he also isn’t keen on anything too spartan. The article also mentions its capabilities and driving characteristics. Bill ultimately decides to pass up on it since he’s sure to find equaly capable vehicles that haven’t sacrificed comfort.
@yangx2 Innis Kiwanda Jumbo Junior
Bill goes through a few pages and lands on a two door offroader that looks like it can tackle any terrain in the Yukon.
“The Innis Kiwanda Jumbo Junior is a unibody pickup with a standard bed cap that effectively transforms it into a more conventional offroader. The main thing to note about it is that it’s astounding at off road driving while being better suited for utility purposes than a standard offroader due to still having a separate bed.”
Bill was surprised to find out it was actually a truck, but a closer look at some of the photos confirmed it. The praise it got for its capabilities and the affordable price of $14,400 means he’s off to the yellow pages to find the nearest Innis dealer to have a look tomorrow.
@AMuteCrypt Taupo Workhorse
The next vehicle Bill has a look at is a high riding compact truck with a very saprtan design.
“The Taupo Workhorse is a capable compact pickup that offers excellent capabilities when off the road and rather good fuel economy, and while feeling solidly built it is more expensive than a lot of its competitors.”
The price was nagging at Bill a bit, as the truck doesn’t seem that outstanding. He also finds that the very bare bones styling would be more at home in the lot of a mine or logging site than on his property, so he flips the page to something else.
@abg7 GEC GXT 4.2 4x4
Bill goes through a few pages until he finds a quite modern conventional pickup truck that looks comparable to a new version of his Dominion.
“The GEC GXT 4.2 4x4 is one of those trucks that does the jack of all trades role quite well, being quite capable in all aspects seemingly without any compromises. We do have some hesitation about the electronically controlled 4-speed automatic; you just never know how new technology will hold up.”
That line about the transmission does give Bill some hesitation but this is a capable truck after all. While the $15,000 price is affordable, the article mentiones that service costs are a bit high compared to many others. Bill decides that unproven tech is not worth the risk when the vehicle does not particularly stand out to him.
@Jaimz Franklin Marshall Overlander
Turning back the page, Bill finds a rugged 4x4 that looks like it would be right at home in his corner of the Yukon.
“The Franklin Marshall Overlander may look like a conventional 4x4 but it makes use of a unibody chassis that seems to work well in giving it additional rigidity. While offroad capabilities are not compromised we’d be careful not to beat on it too much as it is lacking in utilitarian qualities.”
A unibody 4x4 is certainly something unusual for Bill. While this is fairly small, the foldaway rear seats give it enough cargo space to be usable and the $14,800 price is more than fair. However, Bill gets the feeling that he’ll need something more utilitarian.
@GassTiresandOil Armor Anvil Mesa
Finding his way toward the start of the article, Bill lands on another stylishly rugged offroader with some eye popping graphics.
“The Armor Anvil Mesa is one of the best offroaders on the market, and while it’s not the most all-rounder it’s certainly no slouch for family and utility use. The suspension is rather stiff however, making it less than ideal in terms of ride comfort.”
Bill finds it hard to look away from the very attractive styling. He figures that it’s worth deciding for himself if the ride comfort is a problem or not seeing as it checks off all the boxes, so he adds the Armor dealership to his list. At $15,800 it’s near his budget limit but seems to offer enough for it.
@nerd Dixiecar Truman 271
Bill next ends up on a page with a very retro woody wagon that looks more like something his parents drove when he was young.
“The Dixiecar Truman 271 is an unusually retro styled woody wagon but we assure you that it is a new car. It has the same capabilities as you’d expect from a station wagon while it’s 4x4 system also gives it some carryall characteristics, but not to the level of something based on a truck chassis.”
Retro styling aside, the utilitarian and offroad properties of this car seem a little low compared to some of the others Bill has looked at. The wood veneer along the sides also looks pretty crudely applied and Bill decides it’s not worth a closer look.
@Knugcab IP Brigadier Uti-Lite
Bill flips through until he finds something more conventional, this time a compact pickup truck.
“The IP Brigadier Uti-Lite is one of the best towing platforms out there and it’s cheap. Beyond that, it has a decent load capacity but its bare bones nature make it mediocre in pretty much all other ways.”
This isn’t the vehicle for Bell as he wants something to do more than just towing and looking the part, so it’s back to flipping through the magazine to find something else.
@mart1n2005 KnightFreight Packer 4x4
The next vehicle to catch Bill’s eye is a conventional 4x4 cargo van.
“The KnightFreight Packer 4x4 offers all the space and utility you’d expect from a van along with the offroad capabilities of a carryall. It is also worth noting how comfortable it is to drive, especially for a a purely utilitarian vehicle.”
The praise given by the Truck staff to this van have Bill reaching for the yellow pages to hopefully find a KnightFreight dealership nearby to give this one a try. It’s not every day one finds a cargo van that’s seemingly a joy to drive and coming in at a low $14,700.
@Admiral_Obvious Eagle Emporium
Bill next comes across a strange green van that looks more like a car than a conventional van.
“The Eagle Emporium is quite different, as should be obvious by its, ahem, unconventional design. While it cannot be denied that it offers good utility features and can certainly do as a small delivery van, we cannot recommend the offroad capabilities nor would we recommend it for rural deliveries for that reason.”
As he really couldn’t get behind the styling of what somehow made him think of an ogre, Bill finds it easy to move on after learning it’s not capable enough for his needs. There’s a reason he’s looking through Truck magazine rather than any number of car publications.
@missionsystem CCM Reacher
The next vehicle to catch Bill’s eye is an unusual soft top pickup with attractive graphics that he first mistook as a conventional soft top offroader.
“The CCM Reacher does a very good job at combining work and fun into an attractive package. It is an excellent offroader while also being excellent in a utility role, making this another of those jack of all trades that seemingly does so with no sacrifices.”
Bill had not really considered a soft top vehicle but a solid case is made for this one, and he could always get a hard top for it for better insulation during winter. This is another one to grab the yellow pages for, especially with the $13,700 being the lowest so far.
@Maverick74 Ryuji Shogi 4x4
Bill flips through and lands on a Japanese compact truck with some interesting graphics along the side.
“The Ryuji Shogi 4x4 is a solidly built truck that can hold its own off the road and at work. While the price is very attractive it is let down by its rather spartan interior and poor driving comfort.”
While he has nothing against imports, Bill does have a thing against comfortable vehicle. Even with its stellar styling and utilitarian qualities, it’s not enough to overcome the fact that it’s simply not comfortable enough.
@Stryder237 Zihatsu Elysian 3.0 Trek
Bill finds his way to the end of the alphabetical list to land on polished looking Japanese offroader. The magazine must have processed the pictures backwards because the steering wheel is located on the wrong side.
“The Zihatsu Elysian 3.0 Trek is a well engineered and capable offroader that works just as well hauling cargo as it does passengers. It doesn’t specifically stand out anywhere but stands strong as a mostly solid all rounder. It is fairly lacking in tersm of utilitarian features.”
The article did mention the back seat needs to be folded down to make full use of the cargo capabilities but that isn’t an issue for someone who travels alone like Bill. While the $14,600 price is enticing, the apparently lacking utility features as well as a mention of servicing costs slightly above average force Bill to pass it up.
@Xepy Kaufmann Kleinbus 2.5
Once again Bill flips through and ends up looking at a van, this time an imported cabover passenger model with a very European flair.
“The Kaufmann Kleinbus 2.5 may ultimately be a passenger van outfitted with 4x4 but it does that very well. The short wheelbase allow it to get surprisingly far from the road whereas the interior is more spacious that some larger vehicles and has loads of storage space even with all the seats occupied.”
A European passenger van isn’t what Bill was expecting to find but this one seems to be worth taking a look. The $15,300 asking price isn’t the cheapest but then there are a lot of possibilities with this unconventional vehicle that have him seeking out a dealership.
@karhgath Angus HT300 SE Ranger
Going back through the magazine, Bill finds himself looking at something more conventional: a pickup truck. This one promises military levels of utility.
“The Angus HT300 SE Ranger is one of the most capable trucks we’ve tested this year. Seriously. It’ll seemingly haul and tow anything you throw at it while driving through just about any terrain with ease. Our only gripe is a small one about the fuel consumption being slightly higher than average.”
Slightly higher than average fuel economy isn’t enough to dissuade Bill from a capable truck that looks the part, but reading further about the service costs and fairly high sticker price are. Even such a capable truck has some shortcomings that can’t be ignored.
@Mikonp7 Deer and Hunt Fallow MKI Safari
From one pickup to another, Bill’s attention is captured by a truck outfitted with offroad accessories that cuts quite the tough image.
“The Deer and Hunt Fallow MKI Safari is another of those trucks we’ve gotten our hands on that we can declare as being one of the most capable on the market and we truly mean it. It’s tough, it’s rugged, and it can handle any job through any terrain. It isn’t the most cooperative thing to drive however.”
At $16,000 on the nose, Bill does have the money for it, but the issues about how drivable it is worry him especially for winter and how uncooperative his old Dominion can be. The article also mentions rather high service costs, so Bill figures it’s enough downsides to not be worth testing out.
@66mazda @Aruna Kaizen Terravis 15o
Bill flips through to land onto another imported offroader also outfitted for the part. The styling almost looked like a pickup with a bed cap at first but a closer look shows that isn’t the case.
“The Kaizen Terravis 15o looks like any number of other offroaders but it manages to be one of the best to tackle unpaved terrain. Truly surprising is how much weight it seems to be able to carry, though it’s not the most utilitarian vehicle when compared to a pickup.”
Bill is placed in a tight spot on this one again as it really tugs at his heart. Thinking with his brain he figures that with the higher retail price of $15,700 paired with less than stellar utilitarian qualities and the apparently higher servicing costs make it not worth his time.
@Kyorg Merca-Boretti GS82 LX-6
The next vehicle that sticks out to Bill is what he initially took for a soft top offroader but a closer look revealed to be a soft top pickup truck.
“The Merca-Boretti GS82 LX-6 is the king of the trail. This was the vehicle that none other could keep up with in the trails. Beyond the outstanding offroad capabilities, it is a comfortable vehicle that isn’t all play: it holds up well like one would expect from a pickup. It does seem like the stereo budget was put into the transmission with that electronically controlled 3-speed.”
All that offroad praise does have a part of Bill excited but there’s also a part of him that’s cautious about that transmission, while the low spec radio is a strange pairing with leather seats. While $15,400 is affordable, the unproven technology and seemingly elevated service costs have Bill hesitant enough to decide to pass over this one.
@Petakabras Cabrera Pathfinder Injection
Bill flips through and stops on a page with an unusual yellow soft top vehicle. Strangely enough, the magazine mentions it’s a pickup truck but from the photos that’s clearly not the case.
"The Cabrera Pathfinder Injection is an unusual vehicle with its long soft top and somehow being officially classed as a pickup truck. It’s capable but doesn’t particularly stand out in any ways outside its unconventional styling, rendering it outclassed by several less expensive vehicles.
While he can’t say he’s a fan of the styling, Bill was willing to give it a chance but the high purchase price with no particularly outstanding qualities means he goes back to flipping through the article for something else.
@Spot IMC L250 Quad-Drive
Bill finds himself once again looking as a brown van with styling surprisingly similar to one he’s seen before. After double checking that it isn’t a variation of that cargo van, he carries on reading.
“The IMC L250 Quad-Drive is a 4x4 passenger van that can hold its own with various trucks and SUVs for work and tackling rough terrain. Where it loses praise is the rather high sale price along with the service costs being much higher than we’d expect from a van, so if you have a large budget and need a van that can do some offroading then it can be the van for you.”
Servicing costs and asking price are both things that matter to him, and while he can afford it, he isn’t comfortable spending this much on a vehicle that isn’t as impressive off the road and will end up costing him when it needs servicing.
@Arn38fr Watson Cargo V8
Flipping back toward the end of the article, Bill once again finds himself looking at a coupe utility. It’s not the first one and still seems odd to him but worth giving a chance.
“The Watson Cargo V8 is a capable 4x4 coupe utility that can almost hold its own against conventional pickup trucks. It can haul and tow adequate amounts of cargo and offers an alternative to a larger pickup truck. We do think it is outfitted with inadequate tires as even with an automatic it struggles to keep the wheels from spinning on dry pavement.”
Well that seals it for Bill, capabilities aren’t outstanding and it’ll just chew through rubber. He gave it a chance and it just isn’t for him.
@Detsikeulii Birch Hypic Express 2.4
Going back to the other end of the article, Bill once again finds an unusually sleek car-based van.
“The Birch Hypic Express 2.4 is a small, strangely designed van that is more capable than it seems. While small it can haul a surprising amount of cargo but it seems that the low cost was achieved with sacrifices to the interior, so if you want a bargain it might be the one for you.”
While the low price and decent capabilities are nice, Bill isn’t keen on the lower comfort, and the article also mention that front and rear tires are of a different size. He’ll pass up on that extra complication.
@LS-Vehicles Reuna Hana XXL
Flipping through the article once again, Bill lands on the largest truck he’s seen so far. The large heavy duty looks suggest it to be a very capable vehicle so he starts reading.
“The Reuna Hana XXL is a borderline heavy duty pickup best reserved for job sites. It can practically haul a house but it has a purely functional interior with no extras and also makes use of an unsual 4-speed electronically controlled automatic and includes a speed limiter so low that you may end up finding it when driving unladen down a mountain pass like we did.”
Back breaking comfort, complicated variable tire sizes, an unproven transmission type, and a fairly high asking price are all things Bill is not looking for in a truck, so he turns the page in search of something else.
@Elizipeazie MOOVER T330e 4x4
Bill finally finds a page with a truck he hasn’t seen yet. This truck looks quite conventional if rather small but still well worth a read.
“The MOOOVER T330e 4x4 is a compact truck that stays true on the path forged over the last decades, pushing ahead with what works. It should prove to be one of the most dependable trucks on the market and is well worth the price for buyers that value that.”
The praice for its reliability is interesting to Bill but beyond that the $15,500 seems to mostly be going toward building these well rather than capable as it seems very average in capabilities. Bill decides to pass up on this one as well, with potential reliability not being enough to sway him.
@Hilbert Suzini OKI-T 4x4
The next vehicle Bill looks at is a brightly coloured imported pickup that looks nothing like anything else he’s seen.
“The Suzini OKI-4x4 is the cheapest vehicle we’ve had a chance to look at this year. Seriously, this thing is bargain basement cheap. It offers loads of cargo space in its large bed and can hold a good amount of weight. Where the low price stands out is in the spartan interior, so unless you need something comfortable then this is an absolute bargain.”
Bargain or not, Bill does care about comfort, and he also cares about ease of maintenance from even sized tires he can rotate, so this practical back breaker isn’t right for him.
@donutsnail Boulder L150 4x4 StepSide
Bill looks through the article for anything he’s missed and lands on what he finds to be an absolutely beautiful stepside truck. This definitely looks like the sort of vehicle he wants.
“The Boulder L150 4x4 StepSide happens to be one of the more expensive vehicles we’ve tested this year but it’s another of those jack of all trades that has no problems doing it all. The quality is truly commendable and we expect this truck will be good as new for years to come.”
$16,000 is the absolute limit Bill set for himself. This truck does everything he needs quite well, but it’s expensive to purchase and expensive to service. Tentatively, Bill the Boulder dealership to his list to test drive this one.
@Falling_Comet @variationofvariables Yama Sharyo
Flipping all over the article once again, Bill finally finds the last vehicle that interests him, an attractive Japanese carryall with a military heritage.
“The Yama Sharyo is a very rugged vehicle designed to handle any terrain. While offroading is its strong suit, comfort for the whole family is also present, but it is lacking a bit in utility features. Unusually, it also makes use of a 5-speed, making it seem like it might have some sporting aspirations.”
Solid and capable, but still a $15,500 carryall that isn’t the most utilitarian thing. Bill finds himself having to pass up on this one, closing the magazine and unfortunately not ending this evening’s search on a high note.
With that, Bill will be test driving vehicles from:
@yangx2
@GassTiresandOil
@mart1n2005
@missionsystem
@Xepy
@donutsnail
19 Likes
Ah, crap. Kilograms, not pounds. Been so long since I participated in a challenge that I flat up forgot to change that unit so I could get that stat dialed in.
1 Like
Seems like Bill is right to be wary about all the advanced tech available in 1982. Variable power steering, multi-point EFI, 4-wheel disc brakes and electronically controlled automatic transmissions were not as common back then compared to just a decade later, let alone today - especially in the utility 4x4 sector where the simplest solutions tend to be the best ones.
1 Like
Doh, I looked all over for the tow rating, never thought to look in the “test track” tab. 
It is a pleasant surprise that Trucks magazine seems to have understood what the Brigader was all about. It has its roots in military vehicles and is sort of like the simplest Patrol and Land Cruiser models. I expected a harsh review in the Comfort concious North American market TBH.
1 Like
Was supposed to be LTMono but the difference to Util was negligible.
Nice, concise, reviews. Thanks for hosting. 
How the fuck did I submit a right-hand drive car lmao, I’m such an idiot lmao
Can we just take a moment and appreciate the incredible effort of reviewing all 39 entries the day after the submissions closed? Excellent write-up, and congratulations to the finalists.
9 Likes
A day? It was about 3 hours. Gotta get started on reviews as vehicles start coming in, that makes it a lot easier to have things done in a timely manner without stressing out.
That said, I’m aiming to have the detailed reviews to crown the winner out in the next few hours but no promises.
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Reviews Part II
https://darlenesvintagepostcards.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/aerial-view-anchorage-alaska.jpg
Bill gets up bright and early and pulls out his list from the previous evening as well as his map of Anchorage to head out for some dealership visits and test drives. He’s hoping to have a new vehicle by day’s end so he can head back home away from the hustle and bustle of the big city tomorrow morning.
@yangx2 Innis Kiwanda Jumbo Junior
The first dealership Bill visits in the Innis one, located near the motel. He quickly spots a Kiwanda Jumbo Junior like the one in the article and goes to look for a salesman to set up a test drive. After cutting off the salesman’s attempt at a sales pitch and anything else not related to the test drive, Bill gets the keys and walks up to the truck for a closer look.
First and foremost, even in person they can easily be mistaken for a standard offroader rather than a pickup truck with how well the bed cap has been integrated. Beyond that, the styling is very macho and utilitarian. Bill gets the feeling it shouldn’t ever get stuck anywhere, especially with those gigantic tires. Climbing inside, the cabin is quite utilitarian as well but the seats are rather comfortable. Buckets aren’t that common in trucks so these are a pleasant change, though the radio is the usual basic unit found in trucks.
Starting the engine with more of a whisper than a roar, Bill puts it into drive and leaves the lot. Acceleration is nothing to write home about and the Kiwanda understeers more than he’d expect. Trying out the brakes, the front ones feel rather grabby and might be an issue on slippery surfaces, but he’s surprised at how quickly it’s able to stop. Maybe there’s something to be said about these disc brakes. Taking it out on the highway, the Kiwanda reacts as expected and nothing seems out of the ordinary to Bill. Of course, he had to take a ‘shortcut’ getting off the highway to try out some of the capabilities and is glad to see his expectations in the lot were true.
Back at the lot and returning the Kiwanda, Bill gets to reflect a bit on it. It was certainly easy to drive, certainly due to the automatic transmission, while comfort was quite average as he expected, just as the fuel economy. Offroad capabilities were very impressive, as are the apparent utility features and of course the large cargo volume of the bed even with the cap in place. At the dealership Bill also has a look under the hood at the inline-6 and in the parts catalogue and figures that costs and ease of servicing should be about what he expected. Having seen what he could, he gets back to his old Dominion feeling like he’ll need to keep Innis in mind.
@GassTiresandOil Armor Anvil Mesa
The Armor dealership is not located far from the Innis dealership, so after a short drive Bill is back at a lot expertly dodging sales pitches and getting himself set up to test drive the gold Anvil Mesa he parked next to. Once he finally gets the keys, he walks over to the offroader he had his eyes on.
Standing next to the Anvil, Bill can’t help but compare it to the Kiwanda. The proportions are so similar and he wouldn’t be surprised if they happened to use the same size tire, as these are massive as well. The first thing to really stand out in terms of styling is the gold paint job with contrasting stripes wrapping around the body. Beyond that, the design is the pretty standard macho looking one for large offroaders that Bill finds appealing. Climbing inside, the cabin seems is pretty standard fare for one of these, with fairly comfortable seats and a mid range radio.
Bill put the key in the ignition and the engine comes to life with a slightly unfamiliar rumble. This is his first V6 experience and could very well decide what he thinks of them forever after. Leaving the lot, the first impression is yet again that acceleration is nothing special and fitting for the segment. While the ride is stable and steering rather neutral, Bill finds that it might be too stable. The suspension feels quite stiff and there’s little body roll, making it less comfortable over rough patches of road and around corners. Also to not is the rather biting brakes, being discs all around on this one. A bit of highway driving does not change his impression, but where he does get some excitement is when he takes the same ‘shortcut’ as with the Innis and finds that the Anvil manages it effortlessly. The offroad capabilities may very well be incomparable.
Returning to the dealership, Bill is debating the duality of the Anvil. It was well drivable, but of course the comfort was compromised by the suspension, which was seemingly designed to offer the best all terrain capabilities. Fuel economy as pretty average, nothing to note in that regard. Utility features were a bit lacking, it isn’t a pickup after all. The trunk is still very spacious and can get truly cavernous with the back seat removed. Popping the hood, Bill finds the fuel injected V6 engine and realises that it’s a bit more complicated than what he’s used to. A look at the parts catalogue also shows that things can get a little pricy though not excessively so. Getting back into his own truck, Bill decides the Anvil isn’t for him as he pulls out his map for the next dealership.
@mart1n2005 KnightFreight Packer 4x4
Bill drives closer to the port to find the KnightFreight dealership with its rows of vans and heavier duty vehicles. At least here when the salesman realised he wasn’t buying a fleet he was pretty much left unbothered to get a test drive of a van. Getting the keys, Bill heads out and needs to try the door of a few identical vans before finally getting to the right one.
There really isn’t much to say about the styling of the Packer. It’s a van… with a push bar. The styling is current and inoffensive. Getting inside, Bill sits down in the split bench and is a little surprised to see a mid range radio where he expected a cheap unit. The comfort of the bench is pretty good and interior features are about as expected.
Firing up the engine, Bill finds that it’s barely audible and mostly noticed through vibrations. This one’s a V6 as well and his impression so far is that of somewhat expensive servicing. Driving out of the lot while rowing his own gears, he finds that the Packer is about as slow as he expected from a van but that’s of no issue. Handling is very neutral, brakes stop efficiently without too much bite, and the suspension comfortably absorbs bumps. It all makes for a rather pleasant drive. Heading up onto the highway, there’s nothing to note as well, so Bill heads off looking for somewhere to try the offroad capabilities. Finally finding a spot, he puts the Packer through its paces and finds himself pretty indifferent to it in that regard as he heads back to the lot.
At the lot, Bill sits in the van reflecting in what’s quickly becoming a habit. The The Packer isn’t the easiest thing to drive and it’s not just from the manual. What is are the less than stellar all terrain capabilities, as well as the utility ones, which seems odd for a 4x4 van. Comfort was much better than expected so that’s a plus, fuel economy seems on the good side of average, and looking behind him there’s also the cavernous cargo bay. Popping the hood, Bill finds that the V6 is more conventional here than in the Armor. Access isn’t ideal as he expected but the parts catalogue shows that prices are reasonable. Walking back to the Dominion, Bill realises the KnightFreight isn’t for him either.
@missionsystem CCM Reacher
Bill eventually finds the CCM dealership and pulls in. Walking into the showroom he once again dodges all attempts at sales pitches on his quest for the keys to a Reacher. Finally getting some, he heads out onto the lot to one of the Reachers with the roof already removed.
The styling of the Reacher is very rugged and the image of a traditional offroader that this pickup is clearly based on, making it seem confidently capable. Looking around he can see that it looks okay with the roof and doors installed as well. Stepping over the modern graphics and into the cabin, Bill sits in what he initially takes to be a bench until he realises there are only two seatbelts. That said, the seat is quite comfortable even if lacking in bolstering, and the radio is a standard unit. Overall interior features seem pretty normal but he’ll need to at least sit in one with a roof and doors for full judgement.
Bill starts the engine and is once again surprised at the low sound level, even with most of the cabin removed. Getting into gear, Bill drives out into traffic and finds acceleration a little better than average. The transmission shifts well, the steering feels solid and neutral, the suspension is pretty good, and the Reacher is quite good to drive. There is a bit of worry with the brakes that might bite a little hard in low traction, but the front disc layout works well to stop quickly. Heading onto the highway once again, other than the noise and wind there isn’t much to note. Following the previous test drives, Bill takes a detour off the road to try out some of the Reacher’s other capabilities which turn out to match the styling.
Back at the lot, Bill considers that the all terrain capabilities were good but not stellar and the same can be said for the utilitarian aspect. Comfort as average, driving was smooth and without surprises, same with the fuel economy. The cargo bed behind him is also quite spacious. Getting the parts manual and looking under the hood, Bill finds access easy and the inline-6 conventional but is shocked to see how expensive parts can be. The balance between the low purchase price but expensive maintenance will need some more consideration but for now he needs to go drive something else.
@Xepy Kaufmann Kleinbus 2.5
Bill makes his way over to the Kaufmann dealership for the most unusual vehicle on his list. This time he seems to have come during break time as it takes him awhile to locate someone to set up a test drive but at least that means not being pestered. Keys in hand, he heads toward a van in the lot.
The Kleinbus mainly stands out from its cabover nature, a design that just screams import by this era. The styling is quite crisp and modern albeit not outstanding but Bill isn’t expecting a van to look like a work of art. Climbing inside, the crisp and modern styling continues into the large cabin. The seat is comfortable and the general layout is more family oriented with cubbies and the like all around, even some strange round ones. Somewhat surprising for a family vehicle is the quite basic radio.
Starting the Kleinbus, the engine quietly comes to life as expected and Bill can feel the vibrations from under his seat. He puts it into gear and drives out of the lot as fast as the van allows, which is rather slow. A pleasant surprise is how easily it drives. The steering is light and neutral, the suspension is well adjusted, and the front discs are a little grippy but not overly so. Also remarkable is the comfort, with the suspension doing a lot in that regard. Taking it up to speed on the highway and cruising for a bit also doesn’t bring out anything, so Bill heads back to the same route he took the Reacher. This is where the Kleinbus shows some weakness and reminds him that it’s a family vehicle first.
Returning to the lot, Bill goes over the pros and cons of the Kaufmann. It’s been the best in terms of ease of driving and comfort, as expected from a family vehicle. The cargo area is alright with the seats in place but truly cavernous without, apparently more than even the KnightFreight van. Fuel economy was okay, but the offroad capabilities were not as good as those on a truck or purpose built offroader. The utility aspects of this van also seem fairly low. Bill gets the parts manual for this and is surprised to find how cheap they are, especially for an import. Any praise evaporates when it comes to accessing the engine, requiring moving the driver’s seat and opening a panel in the floor to access the unusual fuel injected boxer-4. Not bothering to close it back up, Bill returns the keys and heads out. The Kleinbus could be a great compromise if he had a family but he doesn’t so it’s not up to par.
@donutsnail Boulder L150 4x4 StepSide
Bill finally gets to the last mark on his map: the Boulder dealership. Bill parks next to the red and white stepside L150 that he has his eye on. Once again avoiding sales pitches, Bill walks back toward the L150 with the keys.
Walking up, Bill can’t help but admire the looks. This was his favourite to look at in the magazine and it looks just as good and capable in person. While not obviously outfitted for offroad use, it has the look of a capable 4x4 work truck. Climbing inside, Bill finds a typically appointed truck cabin with a comfortable bench and a low end radio. This one overall has familiarity as it’s a lot like a newer version of his old Dominion.
Bill starts up the L150 and is greeted with a burble from the inline-6. Putting it in drive and heading out, it’s another one that’s familiarly slow. The first thing he notices is how much body roll the suspension allows, leaning into the corners more like a luxury car, while driving over bumps feels rather stiff. Outside of that, handling is predictable, brakes are very efficient without seeming to grippy, but there’s just something about the driving that makes it more a chore than some of the others. Heading out on the highway, the L150 performs as expected as well with nothing out of the ordinary. The final test of course is the all terrain one, and once again his expectations are met but not exceeded.
Parking back in the Boulder lot, Bill takes a moment to reflect on the L150. The offroad aspects of the truck were pretty average, same with the comfort of it. It was not the most easy to drive vehicle but utilitarian aspects of it are excellent, as is the space available in the bed. Fuel economy was on the lower side of average so unremarkable in that aspect too. Getting the parts catalogue, he comes back to pop the hood and have a look. Accessibility and good and maintenance should be a breeze if not for the fact that parts are ridiculously expensive. Paired with the high purchase price, Bill figures that the L150 isn’t quite outstanding enough to make up for the costs.
Returning to his truck, Bill is left with a decision between the Innis Kiwanda Jumbo Junior and the CCM Reacher. The Innis is outstanding in some aspects but rather average in others, while the CCM is pretty average overall but significantly cheaper to purchase. Bill finds himself almost subconsciously driving back to one of the dealerships when he realises he’s already made up his mind for his future purchase. A rare smile crosses his lips when he sees his next truck in the distance.
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Congratulations to @yangx2 for winning CSR134!
Runner-ups:
2. @missionsystem
3. @donutsnail
4. @Xepy
5. @GassTiresandOil
6. @mart1n2005
7. @Mikonp7
8. @Jaimz
And here’s the stat spreadsheet for the the finalists:
19 Likes
Aiiii sweet! First win for Innis!
I always say the simplest CSRs are the best, and Carlover, you did a great job on this one! Concise and detailed reviews, simple yet effective story, and done in a quick timeframe despite how many entries get sent in CSR these days. I always love those ones the most.
It seems like I always end up winning these during my busiest times haha. I wish I had the time to do another, but unfortunately under the pressure of school once again, I’ll have to pass this one off as well.
8 Likes
thanks for the host. it was a very fun challenge
unfortunatley i cannot host as i have exams.
sorry
3 Likes
An impressively quick turnaround on this one! Compared to the other finalists, my truck’s costs are hard to overcome, and I think I got a bit of tunnel vision chasing reliability at the cost of my price and service costs. More than happy to place 3rd here.
As far as hosting, I will have to pass it on as well. Won’t have as much time for Automation in the coming weeks.
I couldn’t quite get the Van to work so I panicked and made this monstrosity. Fun challenge, would probobly break my computer to host, not much time either 
Oh no! Is it down to me already?! I never thought I’d get as high as I did, this is a personal best for me. But I’m completely ill-equipped to host a round, so I’ll have to pass the torch again. Great round, though!
Gonna add on that I don’t think I have time either. At least not time for a good round.
From what I’ve seen, it’s hard for me to disagree with you. There hasn’t been a quick turnaround for a CSR in quite some time, and it’s nice to have it once again.
As for hosting duties… Since of the top 5 are able to host the next round, I’m expecting one of the other three finalists to take the reins. Fingers crossed that regardless of who takes over for CSR 135, it turns out to be just as fun as this one, if not more so.
Right then I’ve given this some thought since I’ve been at home. I should be able to host this as I have evening times available to work on it.
Will put rules and a post up tomorrow.
Coming soon: CSR135: The new city.
11 Likes