It's Big and Red

I fitted all singing and dancing LEDs to the Land Rover and the light bar along with roof lights came on with the main beam.

Don't tell me you want Mark to paint "01" on each front door too?

... or spend 16 years converting it into a hearse ??

If anything it would need to be the St Andrew cross, a bit like the drivers do on race cars, probably under the door handle or such. A big blue and white cross on the roof might be a bit much style wise.

I just couldn't help it. EU approved A bar installed and light bar transferred to it.

No words.... just 

I saw a clip of James May having a moan about various things and pickups was on the list.  Amongst other things, he likened them to buying a saloon car and removing the boot lid!

He said if need to move stuff, buy a van.  Just sharing what he said!

Four months and 4k miles in. I made the right decision. I really like the truck.

I was actually contemplating cars today and if I didn't mind running my car myself, I would probably have a Disco 4 or RRS. I wouldn't run one as a company car as the tax and class 1 would be eye-watering. A pickup is a decent compromise, I think.

I like the way it drives. It is quite pointy, despite slightly vague steering, but it's a revelation after a Defender. It gets uncomfortable when hustled along quickly, but it's a relaxing drive if you take it easy. We are booked to go to Devon in September and I won't be taking the MX-5. That being said it canbbe hustled when needed and has a decent turn of pace.

It's comfortable inside. It has taken me a while to tweak the driving position, but I have it now. Lack of memory seat is a minor pain, but Lindsey doesn't drive it that often. It's pretty quiet, has a good infotainment system and the AC is icy. The climate control is hit and miss on auto - I blame lack of solar sensor so it needs manipulating to keep comfortable but it isn't exactly a hardship.

Back seats are reasonable and probably best in class - L200 has more rear legroom than any other pickup apparently - this may be at cost of headroom, but I am not uncomfortable sat behind myself.

Love the fact I can chuck stuff in the load bed and not give a shit. I won't be getting a canopy. I like the looks and haven't felt like I need more secure load space. I have added load bars to the bed so can carry stuff on them and may get a small roof box for Le Mans.

Other than some decent tyres and an A Bar to mount a light on, I don't feel the need for any modifications. I am tempted by roof rails so I can carry a ladder or such, but haven't needed to yet.

I don't like parts costs. Mitsubishi have always been costly, but £400 for a bumper strengthener is taking the piss and £500 for the bumper cover is worse. I've heard scare stories about routine service costs - will have to see.

I did buy at the right time. New pickups are in short supply and as a result, used ones have skyrocketed. Isuzu can't supply a new one until next year and Toyota have handed deposits back as they can't give a date. There was a used L200 from a dealer on a 16 plate with 36k miles at the same price I paid for my 19 plate with 12k from a franchised dealer.

I miss my Land Rover and I have motivation to get the Cummins built now, but as a daily vehicle, I don't miss the "will it/won't it" and constant maintenance the Defender needed. I think I am genuinely a pickup convert.

^ Agreed, it sounds like the round peg in the round hole.

It has 3 years warranty left, so peace of mind, I will use the dealer. I will either buy a proper service tool or send it to the 4x4 specialists when the warranty expires.

I guess Mark has a similar issue in the Land Rover and had to constantly fiddle with the angle of the window to get the temperature right, although that only worked up to about 16-17c!

I think it's the chip shortage. That and higher demand for Toyotas and Isuzus as Mitsubishi and Nissan pulling out of the UK market. Nissan are still here obviously, but the Navara is no more.

Downturn in the market so not worth upgrading the European factory for the new model - it is closing instead.

It's still being built in the USA for their market and South America.

I quite like the current Navara - certainly they have more FG than my truck and the interiors are nicer, but both of my immediate neighbours have one which made me want something different. They have both had niggly issues with them too and they don't have a centre differential so 4x4 can't be used on the road.

It probably only benefited me on the one day it properly snowed, but I find it quite interesting watching the 4x4i screen that shows you what the active centre and rear diffs are doing on my car.   They can partially lock (infinitely variable apparently), which both do when you set off (in auto terrain mode) and if you do that more quickly the centre one locks fully before quickly unlocking.   They all get the centre diff but only the V8's have the rear one.