It has arrived! Yes, it is only a bakkie, but please allow me to explain my excitement.
A long-term car is something with which you have to live – and develop a bond with – for a year. If you like it, it’s a real bonus. In the days and months leading up to the Hilux’s arrival, I became more and more excited. Is this the same feeling a proud father has when his first son arrives?
Apart from getting along with your long-term car, you don’t want to struggle to find stuff to write about. After a year, I found it rather difficult to write something useful about my previous long termer, a Toyota Verso 1,6 SX. Hopefully, the Hilux will prove more exciting. For one thing, it may be an Xtra Cab 4×2 raised body version, but it does possess a differential lock, which should see some semi-serious off-road ability.
There is around R22 000 of optional extras on this specific bakkie, including a nudge bar, roll-over bar, tow bar, side steps, tonneau cover, seat covers and good looking (in a bakkie kind-of-way) alloy wheels.
Until now, I haven’t ventured far off road, but this will change in the coming months. Fortunately, it has a decent 80-litre tank, so fill-ups shouldn’t occur that regularly.
I have already gotten to know some of the Hilux’s characteristics, of which more next time. For now, I don’t see the need for single-cab bakkies for leisure use. On almost every journey, I use the space behind the seats.
Winter has arrived, which will hopefully see the Hilux stretching its legs in some mudplay before heading to Namibia before year-end for fun in the sand.
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