Truck Double Standard

[Mykl]

Originally Posted By: KrisZ
Repeat after me:

"Oil is bad! Everything powered by oil is bad! Electric is our salvation! Everything electric is good!"

Hatred towards trucks is just a stepping stone, once they are all but gone, that hatred will move to the next biggest "precious resource waster".


Sure, and that's how social pressure works. I don't involve myself in it so much, but I don't disagree with the trend towards applying social pressure in the name of being more efficient in the use of our resources.

 

[gman2304]

Accident compatible...I read that as being safer in a pick up truck than a SMART car. Am I being inconsiderate of other motorists if I choose to drive a safer vehicle? If a Ford focus hits me head on while I'm driving my pick up truck and I survive with no injuries but the Focus driver is hospitalized with injuries, am I a bad person as I chose to drive a safer vehicle as opposed to hyper miling and being able to brag about my fuel mileage at the next family cook out? I think not!

 

[PF52]

Originally Posted By: Miller88

Then there is a person who "needs" a truck. Commutes on the highway 20 miles to work, never tows a boat, never works on a house, never uses it as a truck. He finances a F350 King Ranch because he "needs" it.



Sounds like my neighbors. Husband and wife, both buy high-end premium European SUVs not because they need them, but to be stylish. Every eighteen months its time for a new one. Its almost painful to see them trying to wiggle the child seat in through the back doors on those things. And they complain they get something like 14 miles per gallon. I wonder if they'd be happier in a minivan? Happier, perhaps, but not as stylish. I don't care however; they're nice neighbors. I don't care what they drive.

 

[IndyIan]

Originally Posted By: gman2304
Accident compatible...I read that as being safer in a pick up truck than a SMART car. Am I being inconsiderate of other motorists if I choose to drive a safer vehicle? If a Ford focus hits me head on while I'm driving my pick up truck and I survive with no injuries but the Focus driver is hospitalized with injuries, am I a bad person as I chose to drive a safer vehicle as opposed to hyper miling and being able to brag about my fuel mileage at the next family cook out? I think not!

No one can fault you as an individual for picking a safe vehicle, but pickups as they are now, are more dangerous than they have to be, to other drivers. A few design regulations to ensure some accident compatibility wouldn't make a pickup more unsafe to its occupants, but would let others choose more efficient cars with less personal risk.
Obviously, the sheer differences in vehicle mass will always be a factor in some accidents, but no need to compound the problem with vastly different bumper heights.

 

[wemay]

Funny you bring this up, my wife had a fender bender recently and the other party's insurance company got us a 2015 Tahoe LTZ while her Infiniti gets fixed. This is a sweet behemoth of a vehicle. We've had it now for 5 days and I must say, her M37 gets 19mpg while the Tahoe gets 18mpg. All figures are city driving. The cylinder deactivation has worked wonderfully for us. Its true, this thing may be to big for us, but what a secure, comfortable, powerful drive. Never thought I would like a full-sized suv as much as I do this Chevy.

 

[eljefino]

Originally Posted By: DBMaster
I have no problem with people buying whatever they want. I just don't want to hear them whine when gas prices go up!

You make your bed, you sleep in it. You don't answer to me for using more resources than someone else. This is still America. We waste more than just about any nation on Earth.


Yeah exactly this. I'm lucky to live somewhere where annual costs for reg, insurance, inspection on a 1995 F150 are ~$275 a year. I drive this truck when I need to, which is not often. My other vehicles are properly sized for commuting, hauling family, etc. Gas could be $10 and I wouldn't be upset that I bit of more than I could chew, and I wouldn't undergo the cognitive dissonance of "I assumed gas would be three bucks for the next twenty years straight."

 

[meep]

I think it's more the dislike of image. Nobody fusses over a, '02 2wd F150 with 110,000 miles on it. Or trucks that are obviously worked. It's the mammoth miles of bed and chrome and lifts with not a single spot of mud beneath. the lifted trucks here that actually look they someone plays in them--- I think they are probably looked at "ok" too -- yes they put their time and money into it... but it's not necessarily for looks--- they are using it for their hobby. But if it's got all the bells and whistles, yet the bed is spotless and the bottom is all shiny black, (and it gets worse with HID and straight pipes) then it just goes downhill, because it starts to look like an image thing, and that's where folks get turned off.

A conservative truck buyer today is kinda doomed from the beginning too, thanks to some way over-masculine styling. Huge big-rig like grills on pretty much all of them, threatening front stance, drive-over-it looks-- no good for a guy that just wants a truck to drive to work during the week, tow a toy or two on the weekend, and enjoy the utility of being able to move things around for the family, bring lumber home, etc..

I have wondered if I sometimes get smirked at, as a truck owner. You'd never know I use it hard as a truck on the weekend, as I don't drive with the hitch ball in unless I'm pulling something. It's also a hobby, so I do little mods here and there. I'm also the guy who all the family members call if something needs to be moved, and it's ok. I do pay for it at the pump, every week. And after towing, I pay double at the pump. But a second car for commuting is even more costly, either in payments if it's new, or upkeep if it's older.

But yeah, even I look at the "shiny waste" I see often, sort of shaking my head, wishing trucks could be built and designed as tools rather than things that LOOK like they want to be seen.

I do get a little concerned about fuel waste. Our money spent on that stuff doesn't stay in the US, and that bugs me. But we all have to make our own decisions; I can't make the decision for the next guy -- just myself.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

Originally Posted By: DBMaster
I have no problem with people buying whatever they want. I just don't want to hear them whine when gas prices go up!

You make your bed, you sleep in it....


+1.

So many people over buy with regards to their vehicle. Annoying for sure but I'll play "My heart bleeds for you" if they ask.

 

[jeepman3071]

Originally Posted By: DBMaster
I have no problem with people buying whatever they want. I just don't want to hear them whine when gas prices go up!


This. I have a Jeep, and I probably get 17 mpg on a good day. I didn't buy it for fuel economy, and have never whined about gas prices to anyone. I don't even really look at the prices much any more. I just factor it in as a cost of owning a vehicle. My Jeep is paid for, its easy to fix, great in the snow, and pulls my trailer. My commute is 14 miles, so a little gas every week beats having expensive insurance and a car payment.

I have friends who buy expensive trucks like a Duramax crewcab, but don't even put anything in the bed. Then they whine when diesel is too expensive or their truck breaks. The same goes for a co-worker with a BMW. He is always complaining about how much the maintenance costs. Stop complaining and do something about it then.

I really have no issue with people who buy vehicles for a purpose. So you want a Corvette because its fun to drive to the beach and you like cars? Awesome. You buy a Mercedes-Benz because you have an hour commute and want to be comfortable? More power to you. You drive an F-250 diesel King Ranch because you haul equipment around all day and want to be comfortable? Nice!

My beef is with the guy who drives around by himself in a lifted luxury truck just to show off. I could care less about what he drives, but its usually accompanied by a macho attitude and driving habits that are hazardous to others on the road. I could care less if you drive a big diesel truck that is straight piped, but rev it every chance you get to make noise, and blow smoke at people just to be a D-bag and we have a problem.

 

[DBMaster]

Originally Posted By: gman2304
We also give more than ' just about any nation on earth '!


Without stats I can't agree 100%, but you are probably right. Does that make it all OK?

Since rampant consumerism is what seems to be advocated by most of U.S. society one should, in concept, buy the most expensive vehicle they can possibly afford. I mean, how dare anyone buy only what they need?

 

[expat]

Originally Posted By: IndyIan
Originally Posted By: gman2304
Accident compatible...I read that as being safer in a pick up truck than a SMART car. Am I being inconsiderate of other motorists if I choose to drive a safer vehicle? If a Ford focus hits me head on while I'm driving my pick up truck and I survive with no injuries but the Focus driver is hospitalized with injuries, am I a bad person as I chose to drive a safer vehicle as opposed to hyper miling and being able to brag about my fuel mileage at the next family cook out? I think not!

No one can fault you as an individual for picking a safe vehicle, but pickups as they are now, are more dangerous than they have to be, to other drivers. A few design regulations to ensure some accident compatibility wouldn't make a pickup more unsafe to its occupants, but would let others choose more efficient cars with less personal risk.
Obviously, the sheer differences in vehicle mass will always be a factor in some accidents, but no need to compound the problem with vastly different bumper heights.


Agree!

It's bad enough having to share the road with incompetent drivers, let alone with verhicles that handle poorly and can do more damage in an accident than a car meeting modern crash regulations.

There will of course always be a need for such verhicles, but if they are purchased just as a fashion accessory, then I tend not to be happy about it.

 

[DemoFly]

I have yet to see a SINGLE Toyota Tundra tow anything other than a utility trailer.

SOMETIMES I see them haul a couple of plastic garbage cans in the bed.

I understand and totally respect people working hard to earn their own money, and spend their own money in the way they see fit.

I just literally can't understand spending 45k on a depreciating asset you refuse to use. Buy some land or a rental property or something.

Not questioning their right to do so. Just makes no sense to me.

 

[double vanos]

Driving in Houston pretty much dictates driving a truck unless you don't mind your car contending with all the trash , debris, auto and truck parts strewn across our freeways. A goodly portion of our traffic consists of container trucks, gravel trucks, cement trucks and just good 'ol semi trucks - all of which kick up the aforementioned debris and then add to it !
Pick up trucks deal with this environment much better than cars by being taller and able to straddle road trash; and the Houston freeways have tons of that! The other day, I straddled a whole tire tread with my FX4, the 350Z behind me did not.
This is the ONLY reason I drive trucks!

 

[supton]

Heh, my Tundra right now is my commuter (running an mpg experiment, and it's so shiny and quiet compared to my Jetta). I've pulled my utility trailer like once with it, my itty-bitty camper twice and usually just trash cans to the dump on the weekends.

Glad I'm fitting the profile.

But last I looked it hadn't depreciated much, nearly the same price as I bought it, according to NADA & KBB. If I keep driving it, the value will go down (miles and age). Trade-in, ok, there I'd take a big hit. But I bought it for $22k and it's $17-18k on trade-in.

 

[gman2304]

Demofly, Get ready to hear from the Tundra owners who have 200,000 miles on them and are using them primarily as work trucks....you know it's coming! Has anyone else noticed how geographically different the posters replies are? Just sayin....

 

[NHGUY]

If someone NEEDS a truck,fine,but 95 percent go unloaded with only one occupant most of the time.Wasteful.I feel its people trying to relive the musclecar days with RWD/V8/macho styled trucks largely that otherwise would buy a normal car.Fleets and municipalities NEED a truck...and that's fine.
Sports cars? Total waste unless you are rich....

 

[DBMaster]

Let's all agree on something. No matter what people drive, most of them do it poorly.

 

[supton]

Originally Posted By: gman2304
Has anyone else noticed how geographically different the posters replies are? Just sayin....


No, I hadn't noticed... I'm not sure what you're driving at.

 

[meep]

Originally Posted By: jeepman3071


My beef is with the guy who drives around by himself in a lifted luxury truck just to show off. I could care less about what he drives, but its usually accompanied by a macho attitude and driving habits that are hazardous to others on the road. I could care less if you drive a big diesel truck that is straight piped, but rev it every chance you get to make noise, and blow smoke at people just to be a D-bag and we have a problem.


^^^ said it much better than I could ^^^

 

[supton]

Originally Posted By: NHGUY
If someone NEEDS a truck,fine,but 95 percent go unloaded with only one occupant most of the time.Wasteful.I feel its people trying to relive the musclecar days with RWD/V8/macho styled trucks largely that otherwise would buy a normal car.Fleets and municipalities NEED a truck...and that's fine.
Sports cars? Total waste unless you are rich....


Sure. But while I really want to have N+1 vehicles the truth is that it *might* be cheaper (for some) to have compromise vehicles than to have dedicated vehicles. It costs nearly a kilobuck to have a vehicle on the road, between tax and registration; toss in the typical repairs and it is seemingly a kilobuck to have it parked in the driveway. A grand might not pay for a lot of gas but it sure helps to offset the mpg loss of a vehicle which is otherwise overkill for commuting.