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.