Pick up for a frontline use

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The Artillerist

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I’ve made a somewhat similar thread awhile back. Need a new vehicle again.

I’m an officer in Ukrainian Armed Forces. The theater I’m in today is Ukraine Sumy/Kursk People’s Republic. Muddy tracks that get frozen is what I need to navigate to get to my position, which is usually 3-6 km from the zero point. Have to move fast.

My budget is around $25k this time. Looking for a hive mind conclusion to take into consideration. Really appreciate everyone’s input.

Choices:

1. 2018 Merc X250 automatic, 173,000 km on the odometer
IMG_4737.webp

2. Says 2019, but it’s a rather 2020 Ford Ranger automatic with a 3.2 6 cylinder diesel, 90,000 km on the odometer
IMG_4738.webp

3. 2021 Nissan Navara, automatic, about 100,000 km on the odometer
IMG_4739.webp

OR

4. 2024 Fiat, brand spanking new Fiat Titano for 22k euro with a manual…
IMG_4740.webp
 
Use caution with modern vehicles. Most have some sort of system that will use cellular connections to phone home. Cellular connections are easily triangulated and therefore targetable. If you do get a modern vehicle, research how to neutralize any wireless emanations on that specific model for your safety.
 
IveBeenRued said:
Use caution with modern vehicles. Most have some sort of system that will use cellular connections to phone home. Cellular connections are easily triangulated and therefore targetable. If you do get a modern vehicle, research how to neutralize any wireless emanations on that specific model for your safety.
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Yes. Airplane mode is part of the safety list. 👍
 
Op, obviously you need full time 4wd, but really aggressive knobby tires have to be part of the final package regardless of what the vehicle is. Have you figured out what model of tires you will be equipping it with? Include those tires in the budget.
 
LongTime_Lurker said:
If I were in your situation, I'd pick the new vehicle option. The last thing you need is potential downtime due to maintenance and repairs on used
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JimPghPA said:
Op, obviously you need full time 4wd, but really aggressive knobby tires have to be part of the final package regardless of what the vehicle is. Have you figured out what model of tires you will be equipping it with? Include those tires in the budget.
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It’s whatever AFU supplies us with. Don’t know exact brand but they are mud tires
 
Seems like I'd want a solid front axle on leaf springs and a ladder frame. Do you/ will you have ground clearance issues?

BITOG is an American-centric site and we don't have small diesels here, so I can't offer much other advice.

I give the nod to the Nissan like CptBarkley.
 
cptbarkey said:
Nissan Navara, best of luck sir.
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My question is whether it has a CVT or a conventional automatic transmission. If it's a CVT I wouldn't touch it.

My SIL's Nissan Rogue's CVT transmission failed at low miles. Never driven hard. Mostly highway miles.

Personally I'd go with a well used Hilux with a manual transmission.
 
Pablo said:
USA nickel or your own money?

I'm a little confused. Officer supplies their own vehicle\?

Reliable solid beater would be my recommendation. Looks and body shape do not matter. Matt black/OD.
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My own. My country is not terribly rich and it has taken a significant battering. War is bottomless. Nothing’s ever in sufficient quantities.

We, soldiers buy a lot on our own. Not ammunition or armored vehicles of course, but about 20-30% of our pay goes towards war needs. It’s a rather people’s war

There are barely any good cheap old pick ups left in Europe. We have scooped them all up.

At this point I have an AFU issued diesel 2003 Ford Ranger. I want something nicer, considering I’m walking under God daily and, the fact that live goes on just 20+ km away from the frontline. I’ll use this vehicle as personal too.

When at zero point it’s MRAPs and other APC’s that I use. But 3-6km it’s mostly drones that are of a concern and a pick up truck with radio jammers suffices.
 
Fiat would not be on my list. The Benz is intriguing. Nissan is likely a bit more robust but I might favor the Ford over it. I’d need to drive both - not every vehicle can take frozen mud trails at 40kmh gracefully.
 
KrisZ said:
This must be a gullibility test of some sort.
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It is, of sorts. My mind tells me brand new Fiat is where it’s at, from the common sense perspective.

Merc is too gratify one’s vanity, haha. I move about Ukraine and it shall be a more pleasant experience for that part

2021 Nissans Navara is a midway between the above too choices. Nicer than Fiat, but not as new. Not as nice as Merc, but newer — haha.

I don’t like Ford’s absolutely dull and old school interior, but I know it’s a superb product mechanically and it has a nicer V6 diesel vs 4 cylinder diesels in others. So, um, yeah

Was hoping that the hive mind here will aid my decision making

Thus far I have reserved this beauty 2018 118,000 mi, but I have about a week to come to my senses:


mercedes-benz-x250-2-3-l-vnedorozhnik-krossover-2018-dizel-0.jpg
 
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