Fascinating article - and why Mid-Size trucks are better

"In May 2020, Americans bought more pickup trucks than cars for the first time." - wow

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-03-11/the-dangerous-rise-of-the-supersized-pickup-truck

 

That's an interesting article and I'll be honest and say that I'm also not really a fan of how huge vehicles are getting. That article doesn't quite call it out, but it seems to me that there really is a kind of arms race going on - people get huge trucks because they feel unsafe because everyone else is getting huge trucks. I heard a phrase a few years ago, "urban assault vehicle" - it gets more and more accurate as time goes by in the US.

Remember when the Excursions and the wide-load Escalades came around for a few years and they really were just TOO BIG for everyone? They aren't any bigger than a quad cab full size pickup is these days.

 

While I am old enough to remember the picture of the 1967 truck shown in the article, this article is just stupid bashing of non prius drivers.

 

I wish we could go back to 1st gen/s10/us ranger size trucks again. Unfortunately people wanting to drive bigger vehicles to not be the smallest vehicle on the road and the numbers dick measuring contest has made vehicles in general way bigger

 

When I bought my access cab in 2015 I ranted at the sales guy when he told me they didn't offer a regular cab anymore. I still don't need the extra space or weight. My last truck was a 2WD 4cyl MT 92 Ford Ranger regular cab long bed and the size of that truck was perfect for what I needed even in 2015. I'm not disappointed in my Tacoma, but I don't think the benefits outweigh the negatives compared with my older Ranger.

I'll see myself out now lol

 

I occasionally go through that thought process. One big plus in my eyes is that I no longer have to deal with the ford dealerships and more specifically the parts department.

 

No.

 

You used to buy a pickup when you couldn't afford a nice car... Look how they've inverted that today. https://www.autonews.com/article/20...974/ford-says-cars-lose-money-so-they-re-gone

 

In my dreams Ford wakes up tomorrow and offers a supercab stepside Ranger the size of the late 90s run, with an aluminum bed and an updated turbodiesel drivetrain.

 

I love the Taco, everything about it, but I'm the first to admit it is big and heavy and not as nimble as the old 20R 5 speeds were. Where mid 80's SR5 was still under 2400 pounds?

 

I’d like to time warp back to 2003 and buy my FX4 150 again.

 

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