21st Apr 2009, 17:20
The last I checked this was a dedicated topic specifically full size trucks. The small truck owner who never has and likely never a full size is making some effort to dissuade people from buying. What's the point? I would be equally unaffected seeing them in front of new full size truck dealerships parked out front with signs on their little car.
Here's how I have found full size truck ownership. If you are worried about fuel MPG, don't buy one... I have never checked my MPG and quite frankly why?
#2 If you are pleased that you can quickly address towing, carrying requirements, that's a very good reason to own.
#3 If you have 50/50 small truck large truck needs, how will you ever make a small truck larger?
#4 If you have zero application for a large truck, why do you have beyond zero for a small one?
I maintain small trucks can be replaced by cars, meaning hatchbacks with a rope, roof racks or small sedans with a trailer with no insurance. My friend with a Taurus pulls a big trailer. In spite of that, it cannot ever do what a full size truck can do. Having a new full size truck empty or full is "showy"? It's a truck. Trust me, few if any people driving by are overwhelmed with your buying a truck. They will never see the hidden upgrades under my hood. I like tasteful fun to drive upgrades, not the junk piled on roofs and flash. Quite frankly if there's an argument I see only full size trucks or cars with trailers. I prefer a mid size car... they ride better, handle better overall.
And I own a new truck. It's another vehicle in our driveway with a purpose. Mine has proved invaluable. I use it both for personal use and with our investment properties. I do not know if you can claim a partial tax deduction riding solo in the woods or in the mud, but let us know. Whatever anyone is driving in Brazil or other countries with cars, that's great. I am not interested. I would like to kept abreast with newest full size truck developments. I keep hoping more will appear.
Lastly, saying we will have no savings from new full size truck ownership, hardly... if I even gave mine away to my kids or whomever, it will be replaced with another. I own everything now, what more savings do I need? I will look and find another one.
The small truck/small car mentality is quite limited on a full size truck review. The reason is totally neglecting why people buy, own and have applications. My horn does go honk honk by the way... I guess yours goes beep beep or toot toot? You will never find a way to make a small truck become a full size... maybe on the small truck review you can commend vs. condemn what you never have had or will, or even understand.
22nd Apr 2009, 14:24
Again - I'm not sure what you're trying to say with the term: " Small truck Mentality". We're also disagreeing with why people tend to buy large trucks. I maintain that 90% of those buying full size trucks likely never or seldom if ever use them for their intended purpose. If what you're saying is that "Small truck mentality" is inferior to "Large truck mentality", then I suppose the bulk of the world's population must have a bad case of "small truck mentality" because you will not find full size consumer trucks outside of the US and Canada. Sorry.
"Large truck mentality" again is the epitome of the American who even now already forgot what a world with high gas prices is like less than a year after gas prices spiked to $5 a gallon. As said, this will happen sooner than later. I'll enjoy hearing the silence from these full size truck owners once this happens in the future.
Sorry, but "large truck mentality" is a dinosaur. Might as well get yourself used to the changes coming your way.
23rd Apr 2009, 21:22
I totally agree that 90% (or more) of full size truck buyers never use them for anything beyond transportation. Due to the far greater safety of large trucks, probably 75% of the families in my upscale suburb buy their teens either a full size truck or truck-based SUV for the safety factor alone. My wife insists on driving a truck-based SUV because of the safety factor, although virtually 100% of the time there is no one in the vehicle but her (we use one of my cars to go out together). No one I know who owns a full sized truck ever hauls or tows anything with it.
I'd like to see EVERYONE switch to smaller vehicles, but the fear factor continues to drive the demand for big vehicles. Also, the media doesn't help. The big headline articles last week (April 12-18) about how dangerous small cars such as the Fit, Yaris and Versa are in collisions with larger vehicles adds to the hysteria over crashes with monstrous vehicles. I guess it's understandable. My neighbor was bemoaning the fact that his teenage son's full-sized GM truck got such awful fuel mileage (15-18mpg), but then he added "I guess it's better than having him die in a little tin can." Until a huge majority of drivers are in smaller vehicles, many people will be hesitant to risk their lives or those of their families in smaller vehicles.
24th Apr 2009, 05:44
This is a large truck owners survey. When you buy or own a vehicle, you conduct a survey of its daily performance, capabilities and repair records. This information enables others to compare exact equivalent models to watch out for repair issues or buy another exact equivalent.
I find it a bit off topic to never have owned a vehicle or ever plan to own one, yet post hundreds of posts not to buy. This is a forum that could be more beneficial staying on topic and relating to actual experience and ownership reflections.
The small car/truck mentality I am referring to is gas pricing or economy only. If that is why you want everyone to sell their full size trucks, keep in mind new trucks many do get mid 20 MPG, but even then that is not the reason people buy. Again it's applications never discussed by small vehicle owners, as if you own and use a full size it's instant.
I do not know where you get 90% empty, is this a figure you have derived for your specific commute in your town? Maybe go to home centers, building supplies at 6 AM and see loaded trucks... maybe go to some marinas on a hot sunny day at the ramps.
Personally I have said it before; trucks are uncomfortable and not as nice handling and driving as cars. Many own both anyway. People buy full size trucks because they get the job done... it's not just gas. Not everyone is destitute or has to drive distance crammed up taking 2 vehicles instead of one. I do not check MPG anyway. It sounds like the "Chicken Little" story on here about fuel and the sky is falling down.
Trust me, when my family gets out refreshed in a nicer vehicle and goes out in our boat, we enjoy our time off.
I love vehicles and enjoy driving... constant complaining and trying to get everyone to sell their specific vehicles on here is unlikely. I have a friend selling his beloved Vette is retiring 55 year old (pilot) and is now buying a small plane to enjoy at the local small airport. Hes not whining about buying Av-Fuel. He's looking forward to retiring and enjoying another type of transportation.
My family total enjoys our life as well. Maybe we will live longer with not being so down on others.
This is a full size truck review with owners that enjoy what they own. If they have some issues it's nice to know that as well. But the applications are there or I know I would not have bought a truck. Cars are better to drive, but full sizes work and are extremely useful. I'll take both.
20th Apr 2009, 18:28
"When someone get gas scare they seem to rush to go small."
This is very true and not very smart. Do the math. If you trade your 6-year-old full size truck or SUV for a small car, you will lose virtually all the initial purchase price of the older vehicle. In addition if you pay $25,000 for a new hybrid you are out ANOTHER ton of money. Unless you drive 500,000 miles a year you'll NEVER recover enough to break even in such a case. When gas prices skyrocketed we checked the trade-in value on our 6-year-old GMC. It was worth $25,000 less than we paid. We had no intention of trading, but if we had traded for a $25,000 hybrid we would, in effect, be throwing away $50,000. That will buy gas for the GMC for the next century, even if it hits $5 a gallon.