Your questions answered: Why can’t Ford Ranger Raptor tow more than 2500kg?

It’s all about diversity with our e-mailbox this week. From towing with the high-performance 2023 Ford Ranger Raptor to selling an old-school Toyota LandCruiser and fixing a cracked dashboard.

One reader wants to know why he may be bumped to the back of the queue if he changes the colour of his yet-to-be-built Toyota RAV4.

Another is eagerly awaiting the arrival of the new BYD all-electric hatchback, while a passionate reader wants an answer to this question: What’s wrong with SsangYong?

Keep those questions coming!

Question:

Answer: Tow capacities come down to a lot more than engine power. Ultimately it’s torque that is a better indicator of towing suitability. That low-to-mid-rev pulling power is the thing that makes towing easier.

The Raptor makes a lot of power – 292kW versus 184kW for the V6 diesel in the regular Ranger. But the Raptor’s 583Nm is outdone by the Ranger V6’s 600Nm. Even then, though, the tow capacity goes beyond the engine’s ability. There are many heavy-duty tow vehicles that aren’t exactly overloaded with grunt.

In determining suitability for towing, manufacturers engineer everything from the chassis and suspension components to the brakes and electronic safety aids.

In the case of the Raptor, keep in mind its primary aim is for driving excitement and travelling fast over rough roads. Its suspension system has been adapted accordingly. Rather than the rear leaf springs of other Rangers – which work well for carrying heavy things – the Raptor gets coil springs at the back.

Question:

Answer: Did you think we were going to say anything other way than carsales? In all seriousness determining the values of older and rarer models is a lot trickier than working out how much a three-year-old family SUV would cost. For a collectible car like this it will come down to its condition, how it’s been treated and – crucially – how original it is.

A car that is as it came off the production line will likely be worth plenty more than one that’s had components replaced with aftermarket alternatives.

For starters, there are far fewer people in the market for a 1979 Toyota LandCruiser. But those that are may be a lot more enthusiastic and passionate about the purchase than someone shopping for a new set of wheels for the family.

That’s reflected in carsales’ current listings for FJ45. You might also like to contact one of the LandCruiser clubs in Australia; they will have a good idea about the affection for that particular model.

Question:

Answer: Good idea in handing the car down to a family member. If you can find someone who wants a well-looked-after second-hand vehicle then it’s a win-win to get the deal done (literally) in-house.

As for a replacement, your $30K budget makes things tight. Most respectable hatchbacks are now approaching $30K. Check out the Mazda3 – winner of carsales’ Best First Car for 2022 – as well as the Hyundai i30 and latest Kia Cerato.

In the SUV space, the Hyundai Kona (another carsales award winner) and Kia Seltos are worth a look. Or check out the Mazda CX-30 or Toyota Yaris Cross, the latter available with an effective hybrid system.

Question:

Answer: The Maserati Levante has the badge and it’s good you’re looking at the V6 petrol, because the diesel engine is nothing special. The Levante V6 is terrific to drive, but it’s not until you get to the V8 that it really starts pushing some enthusiast buttons.

The Stelvio better lives up to the Alfa Romeo brand expectations. The Quadrifoglio has a terrific engine that was developed by Ferrari engineers. There’s some Ferrari character in the way it delivers its power – and it makes slightly more than the Maserati.

While there are foibles – the infotainment system is way off the pace, for example – the Stelvio QV is a terrific performance SUV. Of course, you’ll need to get it checked for issues. It’s a complex machine and some will have been driven hard.

As for resale, it’s impossible to accurately predict the depreciation of a vehicle. However, a four-to-five-year-old car should have been through its most intense period of depreciation. Sure, it will continue to lose value, but don’t expect it to shed tens of thousands of dollars a year. Have a look at the market valuations on RedBook.com.au.

Question:

Answer: How did the top of the dash crack? Was it from accidental damage or just from the harsh Aussie sun? If it’s the latter then I’d be putting it back on Toyota to do the repair. A dash should easily deal with four years of hot weather and sunlight.

If the damage was caused by something you did to the car then that’s obviously different. You could muck around with trying to layer fresh pieces of leather over the vehicle. But for a relatively new RAV4 that would still have plenty of value in it, our recommendation would be to do it properly.

Speak to a specialist automotive trimmer and ask how much it would cost. It’ll almost certainly be cheaper than what a Toyota dealer would charge.

Will a small turbocharged engine be reliable and powerful?

Question: I have a 2.0-litre engine powered car. Was wondering if I downsized to the smaller engines eg: 1.0 to 1.5 litre turbo. Would they be as good for power and longevity of the vehicle? – Phil L

Answer: Downsizing has been a strong trend in automotive for the past decade or so, especially when teamed with a turbocharger or two. With some rare exceptions, you’ll find most modern compact turbo engines both reliable and powerful – or more correctly, torquey.

In many instances there are shorter service intervals and it’s important to abide by those for engine longevity.

Just don’t expect too much in the way of grunt or excitement from the very small turbos ie: the 1.0 and 1.2-litre turbos. That said, a 1.4, 1.5 or 1.6 turbocharged engine should easily provide better overall performance and economy than a conventional naturally-aspirated 2.0-litre.

Question:

Answer: Everything BYD seems to run late, in Australia at least. It’s one of the many challenges for the local importer as the brand finds its feet. Those delays include the BYD Dolphin (if that’s what it ends up being called here; we’ve been told it’s unlikely to use the Atto 2 name).

The latest from BYD Australia is that the Dolphin will be open for pre-orders in July before arriving in the country later in the year. We wouldn’t be surprised if there were more delays…

There will be EV alternatives, of course, including the upcoming MG4 and GWM Ora. Each is less than $50K and fairly compact.

You can also check out carsales’ international review of the BYD Dolphin here.

Will I really get pushed to the back of the queue for changing the colour of my order?

Question:

Answer: Many car-makers like orders locked in without any changes, even if the car is still months away from its production date. It’s all about planning the production process and ensuring all the components and model mixes are in place. We asked Toyota for details but have not yet received a reply.

However, following further investigation, it seems the dealer is giving you the correct information.

It’s not unusual for car-makers to insist any change will bump you to the back of the queue. But it’s not exactly a customer-first approach.

It’s also one of the negatives of the existing dealer model, whereby dealers get an allocation and the only way to get late-ish changes is by swapping with another dealer – if they’re up for it.

Some brands will try to help out with colour changes, though. We know Mazda, for example, will try (not always successfully) to accommodate colour changes after the initial order. They’re not alone.

There’s no harm in asking the dealer if there’s anything they can do re: swapping your order. Or you could call other dealers, who may have shorter wait times or (unlikely) a cancellation.

If not, consider taking delivery and selling the car once it arrives. Some buyers are currently paying over the retail price for near-new RAV4 Hybrid models. Or you could consider the Nissan X-TRAIL e-Power. It’s a terrific alternative to the RAV4 Hybrid.

Question:

No, I have no connection with SsangYong other than my father driving the original ‘Mercedes drivetrain’ Musso from 1996 onwards. He loved that thing, clocked over 350,000km and towed vans around Australia. No-one will argue that they didn’t make some abhorrent-looking vehicles in the 2000s, because they really did! Mind you, the original Korando from 1997 now has a worldwide cult following, if you can find one. Despite the company’s fragility, ‘the other Korean’ makes a strong showing now apparently, with more (electric units) to come.

Answer: There’s no doubt the Musso – along with other SsangYong models – is a sharply priced vehicle that looks good on paper. The seven-year warranty is also a plus. But it’s not without its faults, including a lower payload and less torque than most rivals.

In short, it undercuts most rivals but it’s also a long way from perfect.

Keep in mind, too, that value is about a lot more than the price and the feature set. Residual values also play into the value equation and the reality is SsangYongs don’t hold their value as robustly as many in the dual-cab ute segment. No doubt that has a bit to do with the company’s history and uncertainty, especially in recent years.

Another challenge is being able to evaluate them. We’d love to drive more SsangYong models but the company doesn’t always make it easy. So while we can comment on our experience from some time ago, the models are less fresh in our minds because we tend to have less seat time in them than we do with other brands.

Got a question but don’t know where to find the information you need? Email us at editor@carsales.com.au

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