[DicKy]

Originally Posted by PrideRed

The 200KG difference mentioned, I am assuming has to do with some tax or compliance....As for weight, there is no physical changes that warrant 200KG weight difference, Toyota had reduced price of standard variant by good margin and mostly has to do with some approvals/compliance.

Originally Posted by Turbanator

200 Kg - are you referring to the difference in the total weight the cab can carry? This has to do with our norms which are different for personal vs commercial registration. A manufacturer can easily change this by using a different type of suspension (springs) or even having a different type of cab construction. For most practical considerations, it's all on paper and actual load hauling capacities are much higher.

According to the brochure/ website it is the gross weight.

From the Xenon days, I recall TATA declaring that the Xenon only had a payload capacity of 200kgs. This was done so that white plates could be issued for personal use, as if the payload was more than the passenger weights(?), white plates won't be issued.

I believe these pickups can easily carry 1 tonne, but are downrated on paper in India so that they can be registered for private use.

[Turbanator]

Originally Posted by DicKy

According to the brochure/ website it is the gross weight.

Currently, I see no difference on the website. If it's on the brochure it has to do with the Payload capacities. Yes, manufacturers keep these lower to pass as personal vehicles.

[DicKy]

Originally Posted by Turbanator

Currently, I see no difference on the website. If it's on the brochure it has to do with the Payload capacities. Yes, manufacturers keep these lower to pass as personal vehicles.

My bad.
It is just in the brochure, not the website.

I downloaded the brochure, since the website mentioned that Gray metallic was available only for the High variant, while Gendiesel's STD variant is clearly Gray metallic.


Found the difference in gross weight in the brochure.

[Raghav07]

[quote=Simplemotor;5927780]This statistic came as a surprise to me when I first heard about it. So far I have not been able to find a satisfactory reason for it.

Sir, to be honest, I just made that up, but I am mostly certain its true.
Because no one is going to spend that much for a MT Hilux, when the AT is a few lakhs more. I have barely seen any ownership, let own reviews of the High MT variant.

Looks like STD MT and High AT will do the bulk selling in India. A STD AT would boost sales alot if it is sold, and makes sense, but Toyota wants to make a profit.

I wonder whats rarer in India. A petrol Crysta, a High MT Hilux or a Lamborghini.

[Simplemotor]

[

Originally Posted by Raghav07

Because no one is going to spend that much for a MT Hilux, when the AT is a few lakhs more. I have barely seen any ownership, let own reviews of the High MT variant.

Hmm. If this turns out to be the sole/major reason then I am going to be very disappointed. Where are the true enthusiasts when you need them?

You seem to be right about the sales numbers though, if I am to believe the Toyota dealers that I talked to. They said they have sold 2 MT per 100 AT, or some such low ratio.

[DicKy]

Originally Posted by Raghav07

I wonder whats rarer in India. A petrol Crysta, a High MT Hilux or a Lamborghini.

offtopic. Guess, unlike 1st gen innova and Fortuner, the Innova Crysta petrol did sell decently. Helped in part by the NGT ban in NCR and a few months NGT scare in Kerala hot on the heels of the Innova Crysta launch.

Also when the Innova Crysta diesel sales were stopped for a while (to clear petrol stocks?) before the Hycross launch, many had bought the petrol Innova Crysta as they were forced to.

[330i]

Originally Posted by Simplemotor

Because no one is going to spend that much for a MT Hilux, when the AT is a few lakhs more. I have barely seen any ownership, let own reviews of the High MT variant.

It's the complete opposite here in Nagaland, rarely see any High AT. Most of it are the High MT variant.

[PrideRed]

Originally Posted by 330i

It's the complete opposite here in Nagaland, rarely see any High AT. Most of it are the High MT variant.

Smaller cities/towns usually see higher number of MTs. Jimny/Thar/Roxx/Hilux see good number of MTs . In bigger city, majority are ATs.

[tazmaan]

Can anyone check if the headlight/indicator stalks of Hilux have backlight when the headlights are turned on? i.e. do they glow when headlights are turned on in dark.

Back light similar to the ones on steering mounted control and power window switch. Mine either doesn't have or have stopped working.

[CEF_Beasts]

Originally Posted by tazmaan

Can anyone check if the headlight/indicator stalks of Hilux have backlight when the headlights are turned on? i.e. do they glow when headlights are turned on in dark.

Back light similar to the ones on steering mounted control and power window switch. Mine either doesn't have or have stopped working.

Nope, no car which has stalks for indicators/lights has them backlit ! Cars which have knobs for headlights do have them, stalks nope.

[megazoid]

Completed a journey of 5600 km in the Hilux covering multiple states and diverse terrain with elder family occupying the back seat. The pickup was just insane almost everywhere, be it high speed highway cruising, broken sections of tarmac, off road trails or more purposeful off road driving. Except for a jumpy back end on encountering a high speed bump or undulation, the Toyota had everything else under control. We had to do a lot of highway mile munching, traverse extremely dusty sections of vast open desert, navigate narrow lanes where one either glared the oncoming vehicle into submission or dropped the wheel into ruts and stones to let them pass as well as tackle off-road trails while carrying a tub full of luggage. The pickup had a carryboy soft lid at the back where all the luggage sat with no lockable boot. The power, drivability and seating are absolutely spot on. The heat was severe in the plains and the air conditioning was doing duty all the time and was wonderfully effective. The materials inside are hardy and abuse friendly and could be used without worry. The luggage tub was full with bags of all shapes and sizes and camera gear while four of us occupied the cabin. Was running the Maxxis Bravo ATs in stock size. These were outstanding except when it came to sudden braking from high speeds where expectedly the effectiveness wasn’t as good as a highway tire. A big surprise for me were the passengers at the back mentioning that they were supremely comfortable except on those occasions where I went bersek and hit sharp undulations at high speed. Was able to use the luggage tub for pictures and spotting, making it a handy place. It took a few hits while off-roading but then what use is a pickup without a few battle scars. The fellow is a keeper.

A few cons while on the topic. One needs to be active to use a pickup, especially while loading and unloading luggage or climbing into the tub for whatever reason. My shirt shouldn’t be soiled and I can’t haul myself up won't work in most cases. It is a good handler but one needs to be wary of the size if navigating tight spaces with thin margins gives you a kick. The tub can get dusty. So, it’s always good to pack items in enclosed containers. The back end can throw you around if you crash through all surfaces alike. The AT tyres will compromise braking on the tarmac if speeds are high.


The vast expanse of the white Rann in the background


Making our way back with the rising moon


Salt flatlands


Setting sun and a pickup


Early morning run


Lots of stuff pushed into the tub


Forgot my dumbbell


Waiting for the winds to subside


Desert life


Occupants of the land.

[PrideRed]

Originally Posted by megazoid

A few cons while on the topic. One needs to be active to use a pickup, especially while loading and unloading luggage or climbing into the tub for whatever reason. My shirt shouldn’t be soiled and I can’t haul myself up wont work in most cases. It is a good handler but one needs to be wary of the size, if navigating tight spaces with thin margins gives you a kick. The tub can get dusty. So, it’s always good to pack items in enclosed containers. The back end can throw you around if you crash through all surfaces alike. The AT tires will compromise braking on tarmac if speeds are high.

Nice report and pictures Megazoid. If you are doing cross country drives in this pickup, one needs to be fit. Especially handling luggage in truck bed is quite a task. I had to change tires couple of times and handling heavy tires is an uphill task. On smooth 4 lane roads truck is quite comfortable , come bad/patchy roads, truck starts showing its body on frame and leaf spring underpinnings.

Spot on observations on tire. If one is frequently using truck for cross country drive, tires like LTX Trail/Dueler HT perform better on tarmac and can handle some amount of off-roading too. These tires though becomes a challenge post 50% life on off road condition.

[viXit]

Man your pics make me double guess my decision.
TD'ed the Hilux but went with the Fortuner instead just for the rear seat comfort as we tour a lot with family.

I'm guessing rear seat comfort was manageable as there was load in the bed?
We played around a lot with @cornelieu's truck and found the front to be super sorted while the rear jumped without load. The rear lockable lid and tool kits helped.


Sharing some pics


This platform is quite capable and is a dream on the highways. All the advantages of low CG aside, the effortless nature of a BOF on the highway with a commanding position is unmatchable.


Highway is my home kinda car.

[b0pawan]

Guys looking to purchase Hilux AT in Maharashtra has been in touch with dealers in Mumbai for 3-4 months and they claim vehicles are not getting allocated. Any information on vehicle availability in other states will be a help

[Gendiesel]

I'm curious to know if any BHPian has tried with after market performance air filter or air intake system (altogether) in the Hilux?

I've been studying about them. What I came to understand is that though they marginally improve the power/ torque figures, but at what cost/ compromise? the answer could not be found.