13th Nov 2019, 21:12
I am continually amused and confused the level of negative, semi-animosity that I get from people on this thread. Has it occurred to anyone making these comments that:
A: I DON'T want a huge, full sized truck, and that
B: Perhaps I actually really like the current truck I own?
For a bit of background, I bought my truck, brand new, off the dealer lot back in 1996 when I was a teenager. I am now 42 years old. The truck has been with me all those years, moving across the country, meeting my wife, a slew of jobs and a career change, buying a house, and so on. A steady, reliable, and trustworthy friend.
Could I afford to buy a new truck? Yes, and in fact if it were really my desire to buy the absolute top-of-the-line fully loaded F-250 Eddie Bauer edition with heated and air conditioned seats and so on, I could. But I don't and want to know why? Because personally I think a lot of today's full sized trucks are not only stupid looking, but hilariously oversized. To me when I see someone driving a huge truck, more often that not it screams overcompensation. That and as a small man and after having driven a few newer full size trucks, the things are simply uncomfortable to drive. I live in a large metro area, and on the few occasions I've driven one of my friend's full sized trucks, it feels like I'm about to hit whatever other vehicles are stuck in rush hour traffic.
My old truck fits me like a glove. It's small, nimble and fun. With the stick shift and 2.4 liter 4 banger, complete with modest mods, it's like driving a go cart. A real blast to drive. It,s easy to work on. Parts are cheap. And now that it looks more or less brand-new, you wouldn't believe the amount of thumbs-ups and nice comments I get. Why? Because these old Tacomas were used and abused in fleet service and more or less beat to death. It's rare to see one of these that isn't completely dented and utterly worn out from years of heavy usage. And thus to see a mint condition version is becoming rare.
So why not let it be? Why not understand that everyone has their own idea of what an ideal vehicle is? Why not understand that its possible for someone to feel that a stripped down 24 year old 4-banger truck is indeed something some of us love?
10th Nov 2019, 17:01
I am 19:51 comment. I did not write the comment that followed me. But agree. I also own a Silverado; the other popped up as a friend’s flawless cream puff vehicle that was in the process of being traded. So I picked it up.