Mahindra Pickup Update

[Diamondpilot]

I think the old toyota pickup that all have rusty beds are a symptom of this.
I heard they shipped the beds unpainted, then painted and assembled them here for tax purposes. unfortunatly they were already exposed to all that salt air in transit, and the salt residue was already in place under the paint.

Could be true. They were also seamed. I had a 1986 Toyota Truck with a stick and the R22 or something like that 4 cylinder engine. By far the best vehicle I have ever owned. That thing was tough. I worked construction at the time as a college student and we filled the bed many of times, once with 26 bags of Sakcrete. The guys on the site could not believe it.

Mine rusted at the bed but other than that the dog house and cab were fine. All I did to it in 160,000 miles of driving was brakes, tires, and a clutch. I changed all the fluids at 100,000 miles along with new belts and hoses just because that is what people did back then. I traded it on a new F-150 Lightning in 1997 when the new Ford Truck body style came out. That Lightning was worthless as a truck but fun to drive with 380HP and a Super Charger.

Chris

 

[Scooby074]

I think the old toyota pickup that all have rusty beds are a symptom of this.
I heard they shipped the beds unpainted, then painted and assembled them here for tax purposes. unfortunatly they were already exposed to all that salt air in transit, and the salt residue was already in place under the paint.

Do you have a source for this? THis is the first ive heard that Toyota shipped any vehicles here without paint?

If your referring to the Tacoma issues.. You can thank DANA for the rotten frames, since they're the ones that built them.

Im not denying that the imports are made with a thinner gauge metal, which can rust through quicker if not maintained. Lack of maintenance is a major source of these issues. I undercoat and cavity wax my Tacoma's frame and body each year. I also remove the inner fenders and pressurewash seasonally. I have NO rust issues with my 13 year old Taco, however there are the exact same tacos here with rust problems, but they wernt maintained to the same level as mine. I should mention that we use tons of salt on the roads plus we live on the ocean, so lots of salt spray.

Proper maintenance is a large part of the equation, and this is the owners responsibility.

 

[kenmac]

Kenmac, Please share with us who and where your local dealer is? I知 curious if it痴 someone we致e already listed on the blog or not. Global Vehicles is non-responsive to my request for a dealer listing.

As far as US assembly or manufacture, I was hoping last year that Mahindra would take advantage of their long time connection with International Truck and Engine. I知 holding out hope for that scenario.

I read an article last week (I can稚 find it to hyperlink) that speculated Ford痴 future small truck plans. 2011 is supposed to be the final year of the current US-version Ranger. The speculation is that we will either get the world-market small truck (that Scooby074 mentioned) or an all-new mid-size pickup. I really hope they opt for the small truck and bring diesels over with them. Maybe they will wait and see how Mahindra makes out first.

Don't know as of yet.. Only heard the mayor of the town close to me announce that mahindra was to open a dealership in the comming months

 

[Groo]

Do you have a source for this? THis is the first ive heard that Toyota shipped any vehicles here without paint?

If your referring to the Tacoma issues.. You can thank DANA for the rotten frames, since they're the ones that built them.

something I heard someware. I'm not badmouthing Toyota, just what they did to get thier trucks to market cheaper around government regulations. Subaru did a similar thing with the BRAT. They bolted a couple of seats in the bed, and abrakadrabra, they import as a car instead of a truck.

I was refering to the 70s and 80s Toyota Pickups. Thier beds (and pretty much just the beds) rusted worse than my old Jeep Grand Wagoneer. Pictures of old Toyotas in Europe and elseware I see don have horibly rusted beds. maybe some overseas Tractor guy can confirm or not.

As far as I'm concerned I don't like complicated laws for anything. simple laws don't have loopholes like these for people to worm through.

 

[Scooby074]

something I heard someware. I'm not badmouthing Toyota, just what they did to get thier trucks to market cheaper around government regulations. Subaru did a similar thing with the BRAT. They bolted a couple of seats in the bed, and abrakadrabra, they import as a car instead of a truck.

I was refering to the 70s and 80s Toyota Pickups. Thier beds (and pretty much just the beds) rusted worse than my old Jeep Grand Wagoneer. Pictures of old Toyotas in Europe and elseware I see don have horibly rusted beds. maybe some overseas Tractor guy can confirm or not.

As far as I'm concerned I don't like complicated laws for anything. simple laws don't have loopholes like these for people to worm through.

I wasnt tryin to start a fight, just curious. Ive seen it posted in a few comments on some "blogs" but never with any substantive proof. I always figured toyota was smarter than to ship some boxes over in raw steel.

The rust thing could also be due to our climate over here, we put some pile of salt on the roads. That doesnt do our cars any good.

I got a 2003 F150, that the paint is blistering on the sills and door bottoms. There is no real rust inside the sills, but the surface is. THe sills get annual undercoat inside. I dont know if it was paint prep in the factory or just thin paint, but i do know that Ford wont go good for it (been this way since 2006). Fords excuse is it was caused by "environmental" conditions and therefore NOT under warranty.

About what subie did with the brat, ford is currently doing with the Transit Connect. These rules are stupid and wasteful. Only a gov't could come up with these ideas

 

[MahindraPlanet]

Well, I did a bit of a "call-out" on Mahindra and Global Vehicles earlier in the week on my blog. I wanted to address the concerns I've gotten from readers and read on message boards. GV did respond to me, but I haven't gotten further clarification on dealers or other questions. I'm hoping to continue a dialog with them.

I did however obtain some new 'leaked' photos that I have posted on my blog. They are of the Australian truks I believe, but it's nice to see them. The hood scoop does feed a top-mount intercooler, versus a front mount. Take a look at Mahindra Planet if you get a chance. More as I get it!

 

[dgl24087]

Spied! U.S.-Spec Mahindra TR40 Diesel Pickup - PickupTrucks.com News

 

[Groo]

I'd like to have seen an inegral 2" reciever.

so is Michigan the only state to offer M plates?

 

[Scooby074]

Spied! U.S.-Spec Mahindra TR40 Diesel Pickup - PickupTrucks.com News

GAH.... Loose that stupid looking bush bar and restyle the actual bumper and it'd look 10x better. Look at the fit around the driving lights!

And the genuine fake wood and auto box got to go too.

Interior fitup looks dismal. Check the gaps around the centre dash. Check the heater controls. Priced at 20-25k is too much for that truck. Your really close to Tacoma country. First gen Toyota pickup was MILES ahead of that interior in both appearance and usability. The Mahindra Should be 15-20k max.

I hope thats a pre production truck.

 

[Groo]

no doubt, a pair of aftermarket bumper will be a huge improvement.

The center stack looks kind of like a woman's torso. I like it!

in general, I'd guess the interior fitment issues are because they are using preproduction tooling or at least presses. the black airback cover is a sure sign of that (I hope)

come on, everybody must like fake wood, or it wouldn't be everywere.

 

[Scooby074]

The center stack looks kind of like a woman's torso. I like it!

Im a bit of a fan of "air vents" myself

 

[California]

I'd like to have seen an integral 2" reciever.

So is Michigan the only state to offer M plates?

Agreed. They have to equip it as a work truck if they expect anyone to buy it. There isn't any other customer group who would choose this ugly duckling first!

M = Manufacturer's plates? I have seen California 'MFR' plates once in my life. On a Los Angeles freeway. On an immaculate 2wd Willys Wagon! - some 40 years after they quit making them. I've always wondered what the story was. Maybe it was a prototype that someone restored.

 

[MahindraPlanet]

On the bumper discussion, I agree, that brush guard has to go. Looks like it would immediately fold up and smash the grill. Maybe someone like Shrockworks will step in and build a proper bumper. We’ve got a Shrockworks rear bumper on my wife’s Xterra, and I pity any fool that were to rear-end her.

There is now a forum dedicated to Mahindra trucks. MahindraTruckBlog, and its sister site MahindraTruckForum. These have nothing to do with my blog MahindraPlanet, but Andy is doing a really nice job with both of them. You will be seeing a lot of cross-over and original content that should complement each other. Not to take anything away from TractorByNet or this thread, but it’s nice to have a place dedicated to truck discussion.

 

[California]

that brush guard has to go. Looks like it would immediately fold up and smash the grill.

I thought the only reason they added it was to strengthen the bumper up to federal crash resistance standards.

I agree its ugly and might be replaced with something prettier. Better yet would be for Mahindra to design something that both looks and works better.

 

[California]

I bought an Isuzu Trooper before many of them had been sold here. $13-something thousand 'price', $14.2 grand total with tax and license. It was thousands lower than comparables and was everything I had hoped for.

But Mahindra is entering the market with a mid level price and in my opinion, 'value' buyers like me won't take a second look at it. I like the concept but not the price.

 

[Scooby074]

Yes the bumper was added for crash test purposes. An aftermarket bumper like a ARB, while it would look cool, wouldnt meet crash test standards.

They need to rework the plastic bumper for fit and finish and crash worthiness, and loose the chinsey tubes.

I see fit and finish being a major problem for Mahindra at this price point.

 

[dgl24087]

Power Ratings For Mahindra TR Series Pickups Released - PickupTrucks.com News

 

[schmism]

i was thrilled with the idea of a no frills entry lvl "mini" truck to replace my 1994 toyota with 230K miles.

No one builds them anymore (edit, no one sells them in the US anymore). A basic hardcore tough little truck.

now i see the org version has been American-itized.

i dont WANT a 6 speed automatic. And why cant i have a REAL 2.5L CRD

now its got to have a fugly front bumper and that stupid pitched forward look they put on the trucks. (for a Chevy you need a 3" LEVELING kit, its bad when a 3" lift kit is called a LEVELING kit)


I want a 5 speed maual with a 2.5L CRD with 4wd operated by a stick on the floor and manual locking front hubs. No power windows, no power door locks, no nav system, no onboard GPS ONSTAR tracking, no built in sat radio, no bluetooth bullsh*t, no autostart.

Ill take ABS, integrated power inverter, tow package and skidplates.

for 15K

(hmmmmm sounds like i like my 15 year old Toyota, can i start over with a new one of those plse?)

 

[Scooby074]

140 horsepower and 236 lbs.-ft

payload rating of up to 2,765 pounds, up to 30 mpg highway fuel economy and a four-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty.

Specs look good so far. Hopefully the other issues with fit and finish get addressed.

 

[mojoinco]

Saw one today. MFR plates, 'test vehicle' marked on it. 2 door, white/off white. See a lot of vehicles in Colorado during testing (high altitude: brakes, cooling, acceleration testing, mtn driving). I haven't seen any in the flat part of the state before, so I would guess it was more durability testing of some sort. Looked empty. Didn't have an opportunity to get close to it. In Elizabeth Colorado. Presumably making the loop from Denver (I 25) south to Castle Rock, then East to Limon (I 70) and back to Denver.

Toyota used to import its trucks (Hilux anyone?) without beds to avoid (as I recall) a 25% import duty. They contracted to a company in California to make and install the beds to complete them. Eventually they bought the company. Then they built plants in North America and no longer need to import the full vehicle (makes for better politics, ads, and easier to move money around the world by taking advantage of taxes and exchange rates versus where the money needs to be). A lot of the import brands watched how US businesses used the power of politics to get there way (not politic, I know) by lobbying a local congressman or senator where a facility is. That probably had more to do with placing plants in a variety of places (especially if there wasn't an existing car manufacturer) as the UAW. More states mean more senators and congressmen and more votes.

Import duty wise, Nissan stopped selling the 2 door Hardbody Pathfinder in the US until they had a plant here to build them due to the import duty. That was a reason that Suzuki eventually stopped selling the 2 door hardtop Sidekick (and Tracker twin), as they were built in Japan (probably had to do with sales as well; the soft tops were built in Canada). Of course, markets have changed and few non-pickup truck type vehicles are available as two doors anymore. Probably just as true in the car market too.

Motorcycles have been shipped as knock downs for as long as I know (maybe the imports started the process -- undoubtedly it took the advent of fork lifts to get the ball rolling). They may have been shipped in crates but otherwise complete prior to that (easy to get forklifts in high traffic areas like freight yards -- when fork trucks were still relatively expensive).