bammo,
i agree some very good stuff in the new one. cant wait to see one in a dealer yard and have a look even though i wont be purchasing - just interested.
with regards to the tub i can assure you when you are trying to fit something in and it misses by 50mm you wish you had a bigger tub
but the reality of having kids in the back far more often, outweighed this for me. it is always the same - you dont think about the stuff that works (such as excellent class leadng leg room for rear seat passengers as they are happy) but whinge when something doesn't fit in the slightly compromised tub. i would be interested to know how other families go on longer travels with kids in the back of the competitiion, and i am not bagging the lux's as they were the next best in this dept. some of the others were a joke - as were the early model tritons.
in any case the commercial dual cabs have probably advanced in technology and comfort more than any other model car in the last 5-10 years in my opinion.
if i was single (no kids), or a tradesman, or regularly used a motorbike etc. i probably would not consider the ML double cab triton........but with wife and three kids it was the best choice. i have to say i am still a bit dubious about the new truck heavily laden and how it handles, irrespective of stability control, it is going to take weight off the front and she might be a handful in the wrong circumstances not to mention dragging its arse over everything like a dog with worms when 4wding.
This car is like a bad drug habit. It is taking all my money and time, my family are concerned, but new mods just feel sooooooo good.