I think it really comes down to a combination of cost, needs, wants and what we think we're happy to pay out for what we think we're getting. We each have our own sense of values and we have individual levels of what we think a particular thing is worth to us personally.
For me, the D22 never even came into the equation. For starters, I wanted a highway ute to tow a 5th wheeler. It had to be an auto, both because of my physical limitations and because autos are better for towing heavy stuff for long distances. The D40 fit that bill and had a fair bit more power up its sleeve to do it.
The D40 also has a longer and wider stance. While that means its ramp-over is not as good as a D22's, it is more settled and stable when clambering around. They're pretty much the same height (it's only a few mm between them - the D40 is higher - and off road, that equates to very little). In terms of actual ability there's really not a lot between them.
The rest of the differences come down to things that you'd expect to pay $ for. A better turbocharger and an extra 175mm between the front seats and the rear seats and you've got a D40 RX. Move up to the STX and you're really just adding bolt-on refinements like electric mirrors, cruise control, auto gearbox etc.
I had never intended to use my car for off-roading, but since trying a few mild tracks the appeal has grown, to the point where we're equipping ourselves for treks away from the tarmac.
I don't think I need to change to another car. I don't need to make myself feel better about my choice by ragging on "the others" to justify what I spent on mine. I made a choice that suited our purposes and was costing me an amount that I was happy with.
So forgive me for not jumping in and trying to knock "the others" off their perceived ladder - it's my opinion that we're all up on the top rung anyway, and it's those bloody Mazdas that have to struggle.
For me, the D22 never even came into the equation. For starters, I wanted a highway ute to tow a 5th wheeler. It had to be an auto, both because of my physical limitations and because autos are better for towing heavy stuff for long distances. The D40 fit that bill and had a fair bit more power up its sleeve to do it.
The D40 also has a longer and wider stance. While that means its ramp-over is not as good as a D22's, it is more settled and stable when clambering around. They're pretty much the same height (it's only a few mm between them - the D40 is higher - and off road, that equates to very little). In terms of actual ability there's really not a lot between them.
The rest of the differences come down to things that you'd expect to pay $ for. A better turbocharger and an extra 175mm between the front seats and the rear seats and you've got a D40 RX. Move up to the STX and you're really just adding bolt-on refinements like electric mirrors, cruise control, auto gearbox etc.
I had never intended to use my car for off-roading, but since trying a few mild tracks the appeal has grown, to the point where we're equipping ourselves for treks away from the tarmac.
I don't think I need to change to another car. I don't need to make myself feel better about my choice by ragging on "the others" to justify what I spent on mine. I made a choice that suited our purposes and was costing me an amount that I was happy with.
So forgive me for not jumping in and trying to knock "the others" off their perceived ladder - it's my opinion that we're all up on the top rung anyway, and it's those bloody Mazdas that have to struggle.
Knuck Knuck Knuck !
