The increasing popularity of the dual cab utes has helped this type of vehicle become more family friendly. David Brown puts one to the ultimate family test.
The Volkswagen Amarok 580dual cab has heaps of power and rugged appeal. It seats five. But how well can it help in transport to and from a three-year-old’s birthday party in the park.
With two people and two picnic baskets the back seat was a bit of a squeeze. The tray was great for the new push bike but not for small items that can roll around. And balloons just fly out.
The sides are high and a roll bar on top of the side panel made it impossible to reach everything.
If you are getting a ute for the family think about a liner and boxes in the tray and a tonneau cover.
Motoring Minutes are heard around Australia every day on over 50 radio channels through the Torque Radio network. Motoring Minutes have an average daily audience of over 150,000 listeners. Motoring Minutes are also broadcast as part of Overdrive Radio Program, which is broadcast through the Community Radio Network across Australia and has a weekly audience of over 430,000.
David’s boyhood passion for motor cars did not immediately lead to a professional role in the motor industry. A qualified Civil Engineer he specialised in traffic engineering and transport planning.
What followed were various positions including being seconded to a government think-tank for the planning of transport firstly in Sydney and then for the whole of NSW. After working with the NRMA and as a consultant he moved to being an independent writer and commentator on the broader areas of transport and the more specific areas of the cars we drive.
His half hour motoring program “Overdrive” has been described as an “informed, humorous and irreverent look at motoring and transport from Australia and overseas”. It is heard on 22 stations across Australia. He does weekly interviews with several ABC radio stations and is also heard on commercial radio in Sydney.
David has written for metropolitan and regional newspapers and has presented regular segments on metropolitan and regional television stations. David is also a contributor for AnyAuto
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