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But car buyers’ preferences have also shifted dramatically to larger trucks and SUVs in the past 10 years or so, and even more towards high-tech and comfort amenities in the form of cameras, sensors, radars and large infotainment screens," he said.
You can’t buy a smaller truck because the manufacturers lobbied that large trucks are exempt from stricter emissions and thus they don’t have to engineer a smaller, more efficient truck.
Ford’s only car on offer is the Mustang, everything else is some kind of compact SUV, full size SUV, or truck. Other automakers are similar (some offer more sedans and hatches still). Guess I won’t be buying a Ford when I need a new car.
I really liked my focus. And when I went to buy a new one they tried to sell me a hideous SUV. I’m not bringing any kids to soccer, I don’t want your gas guzzler. I bought a Subaru because they still make cars. Tall vehicles suck ass to drive and I wish more people realized it.
The kicker is that that engineering has already been done because small trucks exist in other countries. Several Japanese automakers sell kei trucks in their domestic market. They could sell them in the US with minimal modification.
Need to add:
Crash certified bumpers to 5mph Engineered crumple zones Re-enforced A and B pillars Re-enforced doors Air bags
And I’m quite sure I’ve forgotten more than one other thing they would need to add Kei style trucks to make them roadworthy in many states. And once you make those upgrades, plus the cost of all the federal testing that would be needed, how much do you think one of those little trucks would cost?
There is also the trifle that they’d need to be redesigned to place the driver controls on the left. And then of course nobody would buy them even if they were exempt from most of that, because they were made to do 25km/h through Japanese villages and are not well suited for American freeway use.
The Hyundai Santa Cruz and Ford Maverick would like a word with you.
Have you tried to buy a Maverick?
No, I went with the Santa Cruz instead.
Are the smaller trucks like the Maverick not available in your area? Or do you mean something like a Kei truck maybe
A 2024 Maverick has a wheelbase of 120" and curb weight of 3600 pounds. In 1991, Ford’s compact pickup, the Ranger, had a wheelbase of just 108" and curb weight of 2800 pounds. “Small” trucks have gained a foot and half a ton. The Ranger itself is now a 5000 pound behemoth that outweighs the 1990 F-150 by 1000 pounds.
And you can’t buy a new car without those high tech things. And also this shit isn’t “high tech” anymore. Large screens are dirt cheap. Aftermarket rear view cameras are going out to eat money. Idk about radar and sensors but as technology matures and becomes cheap it finds its way into every car. A budget car should be nicer now than 20 years ago because nice things have been around longer.
Removed by mod
Right? The mid size truck is now the size of a full size from 15 years ago.
I have this weird little vehicle from the 1980’s. I can best describe it as a Japanese Jeep. It wasn’t ever a “big” vehicle, but seeing it next to a modern truck is jarring.
The best part is, I know from direct repeated personal experience that the 60 horsepower 4wd can go more places than a typical 4wd truck.
EDIT: Also, the truck in this picture is a 2004-2008, a 2023 is even bigger…
That thing is cool AF.
Hopefully this will drive car makers to make simpler and more affordable cars.
Or here’s a crazy idea… Public transportation and pedestrian infrastructure could be vastly improved so that we don’t have to depend on cars as much…
Most American companies have ceased production of small cars in favor of giant trucks and SUVs.
“Affordable” American cars are used cars. New cars chase fads and trends to sell to the wealthy.
I can’t phantom spending more than $25k on a new car (for myself, I don’t need a family vehicle). I’m in the market for a used car around $15k and even that seems steep. With this article saying average prices are around $40k and 82% of Americans make under $100k, I have to assume people are seriously struggling to afford anything if much of it is going towards car expenses. And that’s just for a car, not to mention housing, food, etc.
Edit: oh…
Manufacturers cite disappointing sales results as primary reasons for discontinuing smaller, more affordable vehicles from their lineup," Yoon explained.
“But car buyers’ preferences have also shifted dramatically to larger trucks and SUVs in the past 10 years or so, and even more towards high-tech and comfort amenities in the form of cameras, sensors, radars and large infotainment screens,” he said.
Yeah, I’d be a-okay with an fm radio and roll down windows in a compact hatchback, thanks. You people with your fancy cars. It’s all going to be trash with the flick of a firmware update.
Yeah, I’d be a-okay with an fm radio and roll down windows in a compact hatchback, thanks. You people with your fancy cars. It’s all going to be trash with the flick of a firmware update.
Nobody makes fun of my wife’s little econobox anymore. 1.2 liter engine, 5 speed, and a radio.
I’ve been seriously considering a 1970’s VW Beetle. My main hesitation / red flag, of all the things that could be a concern with such an old car, is lack of power steering and my need to parallel park in the city.
Speaking as someone who has suffered an original air cooled Beetle, they’re cool but I wouldn’t try to daily it. The lack of power steering would be far, far down your list of issues you will run into.
But for paralell parking a beetle specifically it can be a challenge, because reverse doesn’t work like you expect. You have to push the gear lever down, like straight down toward the ground, and hold it, to put it in reverse. So you have to steer with one hand and hold the shifter with the other.
Good to know about reverse. Thanks.
Wouldn’t be a “daily” per se but an occasional weekend and holiday car. Like, easily under 5k miles a year.
Oh, perfect for that.
Section 179 allows you to deduct the entire purchase of a vehicle over 6000 lbs gvw if it’s used for at least 50% business use. Farmers are notorious for not paying taxes. I guarantee they use untaxed, dyed diesel in their truck that they drive on roads too.
Nature is healing.
I’ll stick to walking, transit, micromobility, and motorcycling for now.
🤭 Fuck cars anyway!
Yes, fuck cars, but first, fuck America (and other countries) for not building infrastructure to be car independent.
Exactly! That culture of cars do a lot of damage.
ok maybe I don’t exactly understand but how would a car independent America be like since it’s so huge?
You’d need huge investment in high speed rail. Tokyo to Osaka is about the same distance as Chicago to Des Moines Iowa. 3hr train vs 5 hr car ride. We could do it… But the density of travel between those locations would make a project like that a very poor investment, so the government would have to pay the bill knowing it would be at a loss.
Then you build this rail.
That’s the easy part.
Now I have to convince Des Moines to invest in better bus systems or trolleys to get people around in the city and the outlying residential areas. This is where these projects fall flat. Getting local municipalities to invest in public transit. Hundred people get off in Des Moines and unless someone is there waiting for them or they have their bike or left their car there. They’re stranded.
Its not sexy. It won’t get you re elected. It won’t be done in your term.
Japan’s entire system is privatized no?
Moving walkways from sea to shining sea
That which is unsustainable will tend not to be sustained.
$80,000 pickups exist because of farmers’ welfare checks.
There is no real reason for vehicles to cost that much.
I’m confused. Are farmers the ones buying oversized trucks just to drop of the kids and shop at Walmart.
No, farmers are buying them to do work. His point is that they couldn’t afford them if there weren’t huge subsidies for farmers. If those subsidies didn’t exist, farmers would still need pickups, so the manufacturers would almost have to come up with cheaper models, or they’d lose sales to companies that do.
I know it’s edgy and popular to blame farmers for a large number of things. But there aren’t enough farmers to buy that many pickup trucks to sustain the sheer number of of them produced.
Look inward young urbane urbanite.
Good
But an electric bike
Buy an electric
bikemotorcycle.
