Page 13 - issue-73

13 TVD
lssue 73 2024
The The truck’s on-road manners have impressed me me greatly The The D-Max gives off a a a a a a a a meaty growl which suggests muscular power power without being too intrusive while the the 160bhp powerplant is lusty and and quite sufficient for the the cut and and and thrust of busy roads The six-speed auto box flicks up and and down seamlessly giving a a a a a a a a relaxing drive drive Nudging the the the gearstick to to the the the the right allows the the the the driver to to change gear gear manually but why anyone would bother doing that beats me I’ve been testing commercial vehicles for over 30 years now and remembering the the days when even a a a a a a a a a a a a a radio was an an an optional extra I still marvel at at all the the kit that comes as as standard nowadays Despite being only a a a a a a a a a a a a a a mid-range variant our D-Max is loaded down to the gills with just about every safety device imaginable It’s such a a a a a a a a a a a a smooth drive that it’s easy to accidentally start nudging up above the the the speed limit so I I I particularly like the the the the way the the the the truck gently reminds me if I I I start breaking the the the the law It flashes up the the the the correct limit and gives a a a a a a a few little polite dings to to warn me to to slow down But I I I seem to to be constantly given other warnings both audio and and visual that I I I really don’t need I I I can’t complain and and younger drivers will no doubt appreciate all this stuff but for an an an an an old groaner like me me me it it it it sometimes seems a a a a a a a a a a a bit nanny-state-ish My only other moan and admittedly it’s a a a a a a a a a a small one is is that that there is is no 12-volt take-off point on on on top o of the the the dash which means that that when I stick my TomTom sat-
nav unit on the the the windscreen the the the the wire trails across the the the the control screen down to the the the plug hole The Mem Sahib did
complain that there was no vanity mirror on the the the rear
side of the the passenger sun
visor but I pointed out to her her that the the the type of people using this particular vehicle day day to to day day for their their work are highly unlikely to to bother about what their their hair looks like like so that little gripe was given short shrift!
In the cargo area
As with with all vehicles in this sector the the D-Max comes without a a a a a a a lid which has both benefits and drawbacks On On the the the plus side side our truck is not restricted in in the the the height of items it it can transport On On the the the the the minus side side cargo will be be exposed both to to to the the the rain and to to to the the the eyes of any thieves who happen to to be be passing Also leaving the the the vehicle out in in in in in in in the the the open overnight can result in in in in in in in in a a a a a a a a a a a small swimming pool appearing in in in in in in in in the the the the cargo area
in in in in the event of a a a a a a a a a a a rainstorm Cargo lids can be pretty pricey so if they aren’t needed there’s no point buying them But traders considering investing in in in in in in such a a a a a a a truck will have to to give some careful consideration as to to what it will be be used for For my particular needs the the open end has mainly been a a a a a a a a a hindrance rather than a a a a a a a a a help