All the help you need to buy a tradie car

All the help you need to buy a tradie car

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2025 GWM Cannon Alpha Ultra
2025 GWM Cannon Alpha
Ultra
3.6
From Sid
Strong features and pricing are undermined by persistent howling and vibration issues I think these cars look great but don't seem like they have really been through enough development work and have some underlying issues. Pros: Excellent value for money on paper High level of standard features and technology Strong towing and payload ratings Comfortable interior and good road presence Long factory warranty (in theory) Cons: Reproducible differential howling noise when driving over 90kmph. Especially at the tip in point of acceleration, de acceleration or coasting. Noticeable vibration through the seat and cabin, even when RPM appears stable. It seems to appear when reversing and you gently use the brake to slow down or when stopped at lights and the gear is in drive. Have had GWM look at the issues, and test drove another 2025 model and the issue was present in that car as well. Feels like a model-year NVH or driveline calibration issue, not an isolated vehicle. Raises concerns about long-term reliability and resale value Overall Strong features and pricing are undermined by persistent howling and vibration issues that appear systemic in the 2025 model. Buyers should test carefully at idle, at traffic lights, and in reverse before committing.
2025 Mitsubishi Triton GLX
2025 Mitsubishi Triton
GLX
1.8
From Anonymous
very bad mechanically as far as a car goes When driving around 60 km and below and i slow down the gear box drops into 1 st gear in more so cold mornings and brings me to a bad slow down speed, engine has a bad rattle all most like a manifold gasket is missing and loud tapping sound from engine, Took it the the dealer to be told nothing wrong with it, only option is to seel it and has only done 5400 ks and loose 10 k never buy these models dont get me started on there stupid dash out lay and eye monitoring system.
2025 BYD SHARK 6 Premium
2025 BYD SHARK 6
Premium
5
From Jeremy
All round goodness, power, efficient, comfort, versatile The initial Pre-Order was agonising. 4 month wait, but it worth it! The delivery was swift, a brief walkthrough, connection to android auto, then you were on your way! FIRSTLY, there is no physical manual, it must be downloaded via the infotainment system, AFTER the built in SIM card is activated. So the interim, being part of a great many forums to get information is paramount! SECONDLY, the sticker of the advertised 2l/100kms relates to the first 100kms of any trip, including most of the EV battery, BEFORE the petrol generator kicks in for the remainder of the test. So if you plan on buying and only using HEV, expect the fuel usage to be higher than 2L/100km. Anyone else able to charge at home with the supplied charger will get from 70% to 100% within about 8 hours. I've personally got a 15A plug at home so can charge at almost 3KW effectively halving that time. THIRDLY, I moved out of a V8 Bi-Turbo Diesel Q7 and can say the two drive pretty damn similar. Power delivery for obvious reasons cant do a hard launch like the Q7, however the delivery itself rolls on smooth and powerful. Handling is stiffer in the Shark, with minimal roll too. It is much faster than the Q7, with HEV driving coming in at about the same economy as well. Q7 - 8.8l/100km, Shark 6 (Race mode, HEV - 8.7l/100km). I will say the tank on the Shark is considerably smaller, and yes, does require more frequent filling when driving in HEV. Unlike the Q7, there are weeks I solely use EV mode. Twice a day doing the school drop off and pick up being the main reason. Combining fuel costs only, the Q7 would get around 1,200kms per tank, the Shark around 700kms. I've travelled around 15,000kms in six months and being a lease vehicle have been able to monitor consumption - petrol only. Fuel cost (91oct) has been $1000, for that distance, with obvious charging in between, but not frequent. Compared to nearly $1.90p/l of diesel, the Q7 comes in at more than double the fuel cost. Lastly, the service centre I've dealt with have been great, any question answered promptly and work carried out efficiently, well done Esther! It did take 6 months to have the bull bar and canopy installed, however, I believe that backlog is now pretty much finalised. Summary- I've owned many brands over the years, researching the market as new R&D projects come to light. BYD was ahead of the competition and with the SHARK 6, even as a concept initially stood out. Camping is easier now with the 240v, no more butane gas cartridges, kettle, microwave, Starlink, work from anywhere, or trade use charging your batteries for your tools, let alone able to use an extension lead for bench saws or the like... WOW! Being a tradie myself with no intention of doing Beer O'clock or Gunshot Creek, this vehicle will go most places I'd ever want or need to go! BYD in my opinion have shaken up the market showing legacy brands that innovation, quality and price, can work when packaged right. Two things I miss compared to the Q7, LOUD MUSIC and memory seats. I'm 6'2", my wife 5'3"...
2025 BYD SHARK 6 Premium
2025 BYD SHARK 6
Premium
5
From Jason
Tesla meets Toyota Quality interior, massive infotainment, incredible acceleration for the weight, comes with 8 PowerPoints, easy to get in the habit of puting your phone/car on charge when you get home, features galore, ride height stock is AAA+++, looks great too!!!
2025 BYD SHARK 6 Premium
2025 BYD SHARK 6
Premium
4.6
From Geoffrey
perfect for purpose I purchased the car/ute to utilise the 100 km electric range and the car is perfect for that purpose. i purchased a white one and was pleasantly surprised to find it's a metallic or pearl white. I love the tech, the cameras and most safety aides. I turned off some. Plenty of room for tall back seat passengers. It's quick and quite ,smooth on most roads. The interior is stylistic and the seats are very comfortable. Vision is god from the mirrors The car whilst driving has a feeling of overall heaviness, due to it being heavy. ( v8 commodores steering felt much heavier over the front wheels compared to the v6's) This does not effect the driving feel whilst on the road. the car is a pleasure to drive on good roads or around town. I swapped a 2008 rc colorado and the size took a little getting used to ,suffice to say I feel at home now after 2500 km.. Violent shudder I live on the outskirts of Sydney in the Hawkesbury where the dreadful roads have caused the vehicle to violently shudder or shake, a couple of time over the last 3.5 months . Maybe it has too hard shocks. Savnav The maps are out of date by I'd say a couple of years. Phone assistant She is a little hard to get used to. AM Radio The AM radio does not have great reception when in and around a lot of overhead electrical wires. A piercing sound erupts and just does not disappear. Still awaiting on optional weather shields that were not available in FEB 25.
2025 Mitsubishi Triton GLX+
2025 Mitsubishi Triton
GLX+
2.4
From Shahram
Terrible I have experienced some discomfort during low-speed rides, and I found the air conditioning to be less effective than expected on a 30-degree day. Additionally, the back air vent seems to struggle in providing cool air. Very disappointed with purchase
2024 Mitsubishi Triton GLX
2024 Mitsubishi Triton
GLX
3.4
From Daniel
A somewhat rugged and reliable modern dual cab ute A somewhat rugged and reliable modern ute will move your mate’s couch, but as a daily workhorse, its skin will bruise. The GLX feels tough, no-frills, and designed for work first. It has felt solid every time it’s been driven. But daily workhorse duties will take their toll. This ute is treated with respect and a lot of care, yet the interior may not be as rugged as it seems. A lot of plastic items are already starting to fail, for example. The steering wheel cruise control buttons no longer function. The plastic flap for the 12-volt power socket is, uh, nowhere to be found. A nice scratch has formed across the climate control screen, and the oversized hole beneath the handbrake — covered by a leather boot in GLS and GSR models — has swallowed items I hope to one day see again. There have been no real issues or reliability problems with the engine or drivetrain, unless I start to nitpick. For example, occasionally you turn the key to the start position and nothing happens until you try again. The second time, the engine decides to start. The engine performs okay. Power is adequate and consistent, and it will hold speed uphill with a load. It accelerates ever so slightly quicker than a Navara N-Trek Warrior. Fuel economy is impressive, averaging around 9.5 L/100 km with a loaded tray. Fit tyres that actually deserve to be called all-terrains, though, and that figure rises to around 10.3 L/100 km. Permanently disabling Auto Stop-Start is essential — it feels unsafe, especially at roundabouts. Emergency braking can also be intrusive, occasionally activating when it shouldn’t. The rest of the beeps and alerts — driver monitoring, collision avoidance, and so on — depend on the day. The car seems to decide which drivers it likes and which it doesn’t. The rear-view camera quality is excellent: sharp and clear. The auto high beam system is useless in most situations, unless your goal is to blind everyone else on the road. Interior space is decent. The stock suspension is average — somehow too harsh over bumps yet too soft and bouncy at higher speeds, which hurts control. Upgraded rear suspension is necessary if you plan on carrying loads. Speaker quality leaves a lot to be desired, especially for music, and I imagine the additional tweeters in the GLS or GSR would improve things. Overall, the Triton GLX is a good ute. It’s mechanically reliable and gets the job done. The work-focused interior is let down by cheap plastics and a few questionable design choices, but it remains practical for most tasks. It’s nice to drive, delivers good fuel economy and comfort, but lacks a few refinements that would make it great.
2024 Toyota Hilux Workmate Hi-Rider
2024 Toyota Hilux
Workmate Hi-Rider
4.8
From AARON
Great workhorse Back to basic but very tough and reliable great workhorse.very efficient rough on long journey but great around town Toyota work horse use every day for tradesmen bit slow but great all round
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Disclaimers

*Where the price contains the notation "Drive Away No More to Pay" or "Drive Away Price" the price is based on the manufacturer recommended retail price and includes additional costs, such as stamp duty and other government charges. Please confirm price and features with the seller of the vehicle.

Specifications have been sourced from third parties such as redbook.com.au or directly from the manufacturer. Actual specifications for this vehicle may differ, please confirm with the seller.

Vehicle images are guides only and may not reflect the model's exact specifications/features– exact specifications/features should be confirmed with the seller.

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