I have been looking for a new ute for quite some time and am a fan of the DMax and BT50 (or Ford ranger) but the new price is terribly scary.
I was wandering past the Great Wall dealer in cairns this week and I saw they were advertising another Chinese brand the Foton Tunland for $21,990 drive away for the 4x2 and $24,990 for the 4x4. The great Wall with its small motor and low towing capacity has never interested me but the Cummins diesel advertised and a Borg Warner transfer case , Bosch electrics intrigued me. Went and had a look, it meets aesthetics and finish quite well so off home to check the internet and reviews.
So the upshot is I collected mine yesterday with a heavy duty towbar to tow my 18ft Gazal Infinity and electric trailer brake controller for $25,972. The 4x4 has a higher rated (same) engine and with both having 2.5 tonne towing, I will be the sacrificial guinea pig to try this out. Either a terrible decision or a stroke of genius.
I enjoy driving it so far and some of the bells and whistles inside are quite good 3 years/ 100,000 km warranty too.
The first trip with the Foton has been completed from Cairns to Wodonga and return. I have nothing but positives about the way it performed, the comfort level driving and the numbers also (i think) but I would appreciate comment on thse.
Distance from here is about 2,700 kms and I left 14th March and spent 9 days traveling to get to the Ulysses AGM , then parked the ute and wandered on the bike. Left the following Sunday and arrived home Easter Monday. Only one rest day down and back so it was quite a quick trip in grey nomad standards.
The figures for the trip.
Total mileage 5557 kms
Total fuel 845.16 l
Best fuel consumption 12.26 l/100 kms (an anomaly I think from not a complete fill.)
Worst fuel economy 14.73 l/100 kms
Average Fuel Consumption 13.95 l/100 kms
My view is the economy was quite good given that I was sitting on 100 to 105 km/hr on cruise control most of the way. Compared to my previous Mazda Bravo B2600 petrol it was excellent.
Impressive numbers on your first big trip. I had not even heard of this vehicle before reading your post and it was good to read the review you posted. If it continues to perform like your first trip, I'd say you are onto a real winner there.
Sadly we brought a FOTON TUNLAND December 2014 and its back in for major repairs again third time and only done 12,000 ks. I would not recommend this vehicle to any one as the company carries no parts in Australia and you have to wait as long as three months for parts, very unreliable and I would say to anyone don't waste your money on them.
-- Edited by robo61 on Sunday 31st of May 2015 03:40:55 PM
That is a shame robo61 Yes there are certainly risks with any vehicle that you will get a dud. So far so good for me after 10,000kms I hope you get yours sorted
Greetings from Colombia. I discovered this forum and the thread by chance. I registered some days ago, still didn't get approval, but I got the newsletter today and I presumed it was OK now.
How about your Tunland? How many km on it now? Are you satisfied? I saw you drove in 2 weeks more than I do in 6 months.
Well, I bought a DC 4x4 luxury one (I think they call it like that in Australia or South Africa). Im near 18 000 km after two years and a bit; only that, yes, because I use it to go to the country around every 2 weeks. I live in Bogota, and traffic is crazy here (traffic jams, hard to get parking place, traffic restriction hours by plate number), so a big mechanical vehicle is not ideal. On the roads, specially in mountain roads and on bad trails it's very good, and better, it's economic.
It have had some issues but the dealer always fixed them (still on 3 years warranty) but I do not complain too much because I paid almost a half of a Hilux 3.0 and I got a little bit more of torque, basic for me to drive on those bad, clayish, steep trails where one must go very slowly.
I hope to hear form you.
-- Edited by Rod1 on Friday 7th of August 2015 08:34:53 AM
I have 14,000 kms on it now and currently on a wander
Mitchell today and heading for Hervey Bay next monday
The foton is going well, still around 14 l/ 100kms though the winds on the plains cost me a bit
tows my small van easily and is very comfortable.
Hi. What about your Tunlands? Mine is arriving to 23.000 km in 3 years. Main issues included changing of the original battery (dead) and cardan rubber (I dont know the name in English) and later changing of a worn out cardan spider itself, a drum and a broken leaf of the springs (I do not drive as a crazy man, and rarely with a full load). All that was fixed by warranty, but Im a bit concerned because its finished now. Other people have no issues but it seems I got a bad one.
Hi Wauri,
Have you got to 40,000km yet. If so what did they do for the service. They told us this was the expensive one.
We have been quoted $1000 for the 40,000 service
Ours is still going well.
We use ours with camper on back & towing trailer with motorbikes.
Have 58000 on mine now
It was expensive but was about $600 from memory
You dont have to use the dealer to maintain warranty so i would get a quote elsewhere
I have a few issues now as the air con compressor failed and they are very slow to provide parts for repair
Otherwise I am still happy with v the vehicle
