Regular readers might know that any time I get to test drive a pick-up truck the old Dukes of Hazzard television programme is mentioned.
Ah yes, happy memories of Saturday evenings in the eighties with the children watching the antics that the Duke boys, Bo and Luke got up to and the lovely Catherine Bach, starring as Daisy Duke plus the infamous Boss Hogg. Did you know there is now a restaurant in Dublin named after him?
In the Dukes of Hazzard series Uncle Jesse used to drive a pick-up truck in some episodes and the pick-up truck reminds me of the good old USA where my brother used one in his holiday home in Pennsylvania. In the US the weather is always good in summer time and you didn’t need a tonneau cover for the cargo area. The pick-ups are also very popular in Australia.
In Ireland that wouldn’t work; you need a tonneau cover like I had in the new version of the VW Amarok last week. In Ireland if you went into your local hardware shop and bought a few bags of cement, they would be washed away by the time you get home, unless you had a cover for the cargo area.
The Amarok is a massive double-cab pick-up truck with seating for four people. So it would be perfect for a small builder who would have room to ferry his workers and their various tools and building materials would be kept dry in the covered cargo area.
And your builder won’t get lost as you wait for him to arrive, as there is a message on the dash telling you which direction you are travelling in.
It might also be attractive for a sheep farmers in areas like Wicklow or Kerry as they often need get to high ground in winter time with fodder for sheep. But would sheep farmers be able to afford an Amarok?
I drove a Mid-Blue coloured version and it certainly got a lot of curious glances. It was powered by a 3.0-litre, 10-speed automatic, which was very quiet. I didn’t get an opportunity to take it off-road, where the engine might have been more frugal than on the motorway.
It’s a massive pick-up truck, but thankfully it had parking sensors which helped. But really this is a truck for people who lives in rural areas and may only need to visit their local village or grocery/hardware store once a week.
It’s very similar in design to the Ford Raptor pick-up. The Amarok also had a tow-bar which would be handy if working in rural areas. But be careful when walking across the back of any car or pick-up truck that has a tow-bar. Many years ago my leg connected with a tow-bar and believe me it can be painful.
Prices start at €47,355 for the two-litre 168hp version, but my 3.0-litre V6 diesel, ten-speed auto with 237hp will cost you €73,085. My version had a tonneau cover; I checked on web and covers were available for €325 sterling. Road tax is €333.
Re-runs of the Dukes of Hazzard programme were pulled from American TV a few years back due to the use of Confederate flag on the General Lee car that the Duke brothers drove, but there plenty of episodes are available on YouTube if you like nostalgia.
