GTP Cool Wall: 2010+ Volkswagen Amarok

[Tornado]

The closest I ever got to crashing a vehicle (the times I almost rolled the Blazer don't count) was when trying to park my mom's truck in a Ponderosa parking lot while it was raining.

 

[Wolfe]

Not my problem. I'm sorry I like what I like.

You don't understand what I mean. It's subjective, and perfectly acceptable, to like american V8-powered body-on-frame trucks and prefer them over anything else. If anyone had a bone to pick with you over that, they'd be dogging you on every post you make.

However, it's objectively false to presume anything that doesn't fall into the aforementioned category is hopeless once the pavement ends, "just asking to get stuck." Driving offroad isn't all about tackling extreme obstacles, like deep mud bogs or boulder-studded hillclimbs, and never ever getting stuck (if you never do, you're not trying hard enough). It's just driving over terrain that isn't a road. I'm pretty sure the Amarok can do that well enough. Not exceptionally so, but there's kind of a scale between "can do anything" and "asking to get stuck."

You can think whatever you like about full-time systems and electronic doodads, and vote accordingly. However, to accuse a vehicle like this of total inadequacy just because it doesn't utilize a V8, part-time 4WD, or manual locking hubs is a baseless assumption. That you continue to make such statements from a gut reaction to a spec sheet and a photo, as with the UAZ 469 and Panda 4x4, is what's tiresome.

 

[niky]

Not this particular one and yes I have taken new trucks offroad quite extensively. I find they don't perform the way I ask them to.

Not all trucks are built the same. Between electronic torque converter locking, intelligent transmission control, HDC, etcetera, there's a whole lot of ways automatic vehicles can differ.

And honestly... what do you actually expect of showroom stock trucks? Even with old-school cars with the supposedly superior lockers and mechanical systems and etcetera, etceterae, etc... you can still get very stuck and very bent out of shape.

Eh, I'm not sure I totally agree with that...unless the vehicle that supposedly had open diffs either got welded or had factory lockers in it, they are kind of even other than you can drive the differential system on pavement with much less stress thatn with a t-cse. In which case the t-case wins offroad, because it's not full time 4WD aka part time systems. It has that advantage over the center differential to begin with. I'd say they can take much more abuse as well. NP205 anyone?

Durability is in how a part is built. There are strong center-diffs and there are puny transfer cases. And part-time versus full-time is mostly a moot point now that many dedicated off-roaders come with full-time 4WD. It's all in how the locking is done.

For most uses trucks like this will see, a lockable center differential and rear differential are enough.

Not to mention the fact that they have a low range, which torque vectoring center differentials don't have. This truck was clearly not designed for abuse and heavy usage. It also gives more choices for offroad conditions.

Again... 8-speed with a built-in crawler gear. Not as low as a full-on crawler gear, but low enough for an unmodified truck..

Yes they did. All factory 4x4's came with them. The only way the truck didn't have them was if it was a 2WD only model. You can quote me on that as well. Ford had factory hub locks on every 4x4 vehicle all the way through most of the '90s. In fact, most of them I believe had factory Warn locking hubs, which are pretty much the best in the industry.

My mistake, I was looking through the literature... I meant rear locker.

 

[SVT Cobra GT]

VW making a truck is about as strange and silly as Ferrari making a diesel engine.

Uncool.

 

[TheCracker]

VW making a truck is about as strange and silly as Ferrari making a diesel engine.

Uncool.

VW have a history of making all kinds of vans, pick-ups and various quasi military utility vehicles, i don't see why a body-on-frame truck is any different.

 

[SVT Cobra GT]

VW have a history of making all kinds of vans, pick-ups and various quasi military utility vehicles, i don't see why a body-on-frame truck is any different.

I know they have a history of vans. The Transporter vans are probably some of the best you can buy. But they don't really have a history of making a body-on-frame truck. Most people normally think of Hiluxs, Navarras, F150s, Rams etc. Not a VW.

 

[Cano]

I'm pretty sure the Amarok can do that well enough.

It can. The magazine tested it in quite a few off-road situations and I remember them saying it was pretty damn capable at anything you threw at it. I think they even got it in a small mud pool and all that stuff.

 

[Blitz24]

My vote is uncool. I don't like the badge engineering method that is undertaken so it's already down a peg and the Colorado itself was pretty blah on its own.

Retract my statement. Still uncool because it looks just like a truck. Nothing special.

 

[Jet Badger]

I really really doubt that it shares a single component with Chevrolet Colorado if that's what you're implying.

 

[Sage Ages]

My vote is uncool. I don't like the badge engineering method that is undertaken so it's already down a peg and the Colorado itself was pretty blah on its own.

 

[Blitz24]

I really really doubt that it shares a single component with Chevrolet Colorado if that's what you're implying.

Apologies. I have no idea why I thought it was based off of the Colorado. I guess it just looked like it.

 

[Slash]

You don't understand what I mean. It's subjective, and perfectly acceptable, to like american V8-powered body-on-frame trucks and prefer them over anything else. If anyone had a bone to pick with you over that, they'd be dogging you on every post you make.

However, it's objectively false to presume anything that doesn't fall into the aforementioned category is hopeless once the pavement ends, "just asking to get stuck." Driving offroad isn't all about tackling extreme obstacles, like deep mud bogs or boulder-studded hillclimbs, and never ever getting stuck (if you never do, you're not trying hard enough). It's just driving over terrain that isn't a road. I'm pretty sure the Amarok can do that well enough. Not exceptionally so, but there's kind of a scale between "can do anything" and "asking to get stuck."

You can think whatever you like about full-time systems and electronic doodads, and vote accordingly. However, to accuse a vehicle like this of total inadequacy just because it doesn't utilize a V8, part-time 4WD, or manual locking hubs is a baseless assumption. That you continue to make such statements from a gut reaction to a spec sheet and a photo, as with the UAZ 469 and Panda 4x4, is what's tiresome.

I can't argue that, it's all true.

Not all trucks are built the same. Between electronic torque converter locking, intelligent transmission control, HDC, etcetera, there's a whole lot of ways automatic vehicles can differ.

That's true.

And honestly... what do you actually expect of showroom stock trucks? Even with old-school cars with the supposedly superior lockers and mechanical systems and etcetera, etcetera, etc... you can still get very stuck and very bent out of shape.

Well, to be fair, anything can get stuck. If you don't get stuck, you're doing it wrong

Durability is in how a part is built. There are strong center-diffs and there are puny transfer cases. And part-time versus full-time is mostly a moot point now that many dedicated off-roaders come with full-time 4WD. It's all in how the locking is done.

For most uses trucks like this will see, a lockable center differential and rear differential are enough.

This is all true again 👍

Again... 8-speed with a built-in crawler gear. Not as low as a full-on crawler gear, but low enough for an unmodified truck..

I guess it depends on what you intended to do with this. You are absolutely correct in saying it's low enough for an unmodified truck. Looking up on it, I see it's 4.8:1 for first gear, which is pretty good and pretty standard for older 4x4's, but it's not the 6.7:1 ratio I'm used to, so that's kind of why I'm so picky.

My mistake, I was looking through the literature... I meant rear locker.

All good. Yes, rear lockers didn't come on all of them but it was optioned on most of them. Usually the door tag will give you an axle code which will tell you if its got a limited slip or full on locker in it. Most had an LSD or open diff. Personally I'd take the LSD system.

 

[Badasp5.0]

Meh for me its VW and a truck.

 

[JMoney]

I just want to check...

To you, a pickup with a 2.0 turbodiesel producing 121hp & 250lbft = meh, not enough power
To several of your countrymen, a pickup with a 4.1 V6 producing 85hp & 154lbft = sub-zero, it's not about the power, they're tuned for low-down torque

Huh?

My truck has around 225 horsepower, and over 260 lb-ft of torque. And most trucks sold today have more than mine. Why would anyone want less? Not sure what Americans (or especially Kentuckians) you are referring to.

 

[Famine]

My truck has around 225 horsepower, and over 260 lb-ft of torque. And most trucks sold today have more than mine. Why would anyone want less? Not sure what Americans (or especially Kentuckians) you are referring to.

Enjoy...

 

[Adamgp]

I am shocked as anyone that a modern 2.0 turbodiesel makes more power than a ~40 year old smog choked V6.

 

[AlexandaHonda]

I live in rural England, there's a lot of pickups everywhere and they are all this size, it is not a compact pickup, Americans just have to much space! Look at the Piaggio pickup below, that is a small pick up. The only 'cool' pickup you can get is the Toyota Hilux that was bought up and rebadged by VW (below is an example) back in the 90's, but even that was only cool because me and my mates had a canoe attached to the back of it, in the snow, doing 30 mph down the lanes.

 

[Badasp5.0]

I have never seen a F-350 with a extended cab behind the rear crew cab doors. Its an aftermarket conversion. And yes even in the US a F-350 dually is considered a huge truck.

 

[Slash]

@Badasp5.0 is right. Those dually's are considered huge even in the US. You also had these kinds of F-350's.

About 20 feet long.

I am shocked as anyone that a modern 2.0 turbodiesel makes more power than a ~40 year old smog choked V6.

This. A gasser at that.

Enjoy...

It's not a V6. It's an Inline 6. And it was only offered for a short period of time before the 300 I6 took over again.

 

[Mikeybc]

It's not a V6. It's an Inline 6. And it was only offered for a short period of time before the 300 I6 took over again.

Gee, I didn't never seen or even heard tell of a smaller inline 6 than the 300 in the pickups. That truck must've been a real dog with the 4.1

 

[Slash]

Gee, I didn't never seen or even heard tell of a smaller inline 6 than the 300 in the pickups. That truck must've been a real dog with the 4.1

Hence why they got rid of it. Although with the manual setup trucks I can't imagine it being horrendous for light loads. Wouldn't win any races though. Think it was in a bunch of cars though.

 

[Beeblebrox237]

VW making a truck is about as strange and silly as Ferrari making a diesel engine.

Uncool.

Ahem.

 

[Sage Ages]

Ahem.

 

[JAHHAJ]

Meh.