Another crossover pickup

https://www.roadandtrack.com/new-ca...agen-atlas-tanoak-concept-pictures-info-pecs/

 

The Ridgeline barely sale many units so it does not seem like there is much market to gain but that looks better than the goofy Honda.

 

It does look better, anything would... but holy cow most of the cost is in the exterior lighting...

 

I considered a ridgeline when looking at trucks. Here's why I didn't choose it: It costs the same and is the same size as a Tacoma with marginally better fuel economy and much less "truck performance". Less truck performance how? A smaller bed, wrong AWD/4WD system, less towing capability, no real ability to lift and less clearance.

I don't want a cross-over based truck, I want a CAR based truck! Something like a re-imagined Subaru Brat/Baja. That segment has completely disappeared. Had that existed I probably would have bought it. But then again, if they made actual body on frame smaller trucks like the ranger or original Tacoma I probably would have bought that over a smaller car-based truck.

I hate that the current auto industry has basically eliminated half the options the older generation had. Where's my tiny trucks? Wheres my full size 4WD vans (don't try to tell me a 70K sprinter is an option)!? Where's my El Camino? Where's the microbus!? A mid size station wagon??? Four door convertible with a V8? Where's my V8s in light cars at all? Why can't I have RWD under 25k? And yeah, I know. blah blah blah market segment. blah blah blah have to make as much money as possible. blah blah blah pay for crash tests. blah blah blah global market. I just want to complain.

 

I like it. My gti was more trouble free than my Tacoma so.... Too bad it would be too expensive though.

 

When are these comming back?

 

And I agree, I had a Rabbit that just ran forever, very reliable and just a great car. This truck - it will be pricey. As far as tech and cost to own goes, time will tell.

 

The Amarok blows that away for what most of us want, but you can't buy it in the States. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_Amarok

The reason has more to do with a 1920's tariff called the Chicken Tax than it does about all the blahblahblah's. Essentially, foreign pickups have a 20-25% tariff to overcome in order to protect the big three. The Chicken Tax tariff is here to stay if you follow the KORUS trade pact that is being renegotiated, so don't expect foreign the pickup market to improve in the U.S. VW is so damaged from the TDI scandal that erupted here that they are moving away from diesel altogether. Safety standards and amalgamation regulation up the ante even further.

So if you really, really want the smaller / lighter vehicle truck (El Cam, Microbus, waggy), esp one with a turbodiesel or a V8, it is all about buying an older vehicle and doing some serious fabrication for a restification that suits your wants/needs. A good example of a car-based truck is using the A4 VW chassis (either Golf or Jetta) and doing the off-the shelf FIVE pickup conversion. For less than $15K it's all good - except it is DIY and you have a 15-year old platform. Add probably $10K for someone else to do it and now you are getting into new-truck-sticker territory.

At the end of the day our 3rd Gen Tacos look pretty darn good. They are made with NAFTA-approved labor and parts assembly (not strictly following the intent of the Chicken Tax) and meet all the safety requirements but they aren't as huge as the current domestic 1/2 tons.

More than anyone was looking for no doubt.

 

Is that Benz truck coming or what?

 

No doubt more, but nonetheless thorough. I for one never doubted my Tacoma.

 

Currently, Volkswagen has no plans to produce the Tanoak, hoping to gauge public reaction during its launch at the 2018 New York Auto Show. What do you think of the Tanoak?

Same as the Ridgeline. No full size bed, no interest.

 

It looks so lopsided and stupid. The 5ft bed on these trucks is pushing the "looks silly" limit, but that looks way worse.

 

@tacoflavoredkisses1

Yup. Wish we could get a TRD OR Access Cab Manual Transmission D4D turbodiesel with choice of 6ft or 7ft bed, but we can't. Canada has slightly better options in some cases, worse in others. Can't 'splain it.

 

This???

 

No, this;

 

I have a 2009 Jetta wagon that I love. It's an interesting idea, but unless the import tax on foreign trucks is eliminated we will never see it here in the US.

Major downsides for me would be the lack of a manual transmission option, limited slip, and 4 low. The cab is long and the bed is goofy short. Anything less than the 6ft "long" Tacoma bed is basially useless in my opinion. I realize some put more priority on passenger compartment than bed space though. I'm also not a fan of the uni-body design.

It does however look better than the Ridgeline. I cringe every time I see one on the road. If I see it coming from head on I always mistake it for a soccer mom driving her Odyssey around.

 

VW quality. VW reliability. VW resale. I will pass.

 

It would be built in America thus avoiding the Tax.

 

What makes it "Cross Over"? It simply looks like a truck to me.

 

Totally agree with everything you said. More and more it looks like to get the car I want I'm going to have to look to the past. And with the prices on old cars, I'm going to have to find a do-able project. As far as the Jetta El Camino, my girlfriend owns a 2001 Jetta that I have been keeping limping along and omg no I would never own that car on purpose. No insult intended to any who have them and love them but after working on Japanese cars as a shade tree mechanic for years, that Jetta is a total cluster fuck.

I just hate it because I really want the safety/reliability/NVH reduction of new cars. I just also want fun platform/drive train options.