wanting to dd a gas guzzler

[MCompact]

In my opinion you should buy whatever you like and to H*ll with what anyone else thinks. Full-size trucks are light-years away from my cup of tea, but if you want to drive an F-250 and never carry anything more than a beer cooler in the bed, have at it; it's simply none of my business.
I have an instinctual urge to strangle anyone who wants to dictate what I "need" or "don't need"- the eco-nazis in particular.

 

[aquariuscsm]

Originally Posted By: Panzerman
I think the truck market has shifted. Trucks are so nice now, I am on the other side of the fence wondering why have a car, except for costs. Trucks cost more and hold their value better. My Dodge easily seats 6, has 4 wheel drive, I can tow with it, haul with it and it is built better than any car, so I will probably survive any crash and last for 300,000 miles. Did I mention its under driveline warranty until 2077. If your a home owner you probably should own a truck. If your a city dweller and live in a studio apartment or condo, I don't expect you to understand. Trucks do so much more than a car, its no reason they are popular. They aren't the single cab Farm trucks from the 50's anymore.


^^I agree with this. Trucks aren't the stripped down rough riding uncomfortable vehicles they used to be. They're basically luxury cruisers now. They ride smoother and more quiet than their same brand "luxury" sedans. Imo no one really makes the typical luxury sedan anymore. They're more like sport sedans and trucks are the new "luxury sedans".

 

[Panzerman]

Don't get me wrong I have a good buddy that buys old Dodge Caravans and hauls any and everything in them and they last forever and get good gas mileage. I think the post was originally started to see the reason why people drive gas guzzlers over economic cars. The reason is trucks are now luxurious and can still serve as work horses. Econo-box cars really have one goal. You can do all kind of crazy stuff with them, including strapping a ATV on top of it. It doesn't make it actually the best choice for the task.

 

[Nate1979]

Why isn't the question why do people drive sports cars just to cruise down the highway? Why not buy a Prius instead? At least a truck can do some work but a sports/muscle car has no added value. Except fun..... Point is that trucks get beat down on here but no one questions the waste of buying anything more than an econobox.

 

[DoubleWasp]

I burn gas for pleasure all of the time. When I take my boat out, it's for purely recreational purposes, and I destroy 230 gallons of fuel over a 9 hour period, while injecting raw exhaust directly into the water, simply because I have been given the option to do so, and it makes life more enjoyable.

Don't like it? Close your eyes, and hold your nose. This is America, not Communist Russia.

There are plenty of places in the world where you will not see people living nearly as high as those who claim they're saving the environment and minimizing waste.

If you're not sharing your home with several other families, sharing your car with several other people, and riding your bicycle for all trips of less than 5 miles, please take your environmental Spanish inquisition somewhere else.

Our very system of First World style living is selfish and wasteful as the day is long, and while reducing the use of resources is a good thing, and even admirable, it doesn't make anyone living outside of a kibbutz a Saint.

Stop riding the high horse, nitpicking at others to make yourselves feel better, and worry about your own lives.

 

[moving2]

My house buying got me thinking and wondering why do folks love living in big homes? My step dad even asked why don't I buy a home with a few extra bedrooms/baths....my answer was I have no use for it. I have a small family and not a lot of stuff so a little house does fine for me. I would hate spending so much money on heating, AC, maintenance, power, property tax, landscaping. If you need a big house that's totally different. Now i know several people who say they need a big house but really do not.

I just do not understand the logic behind wanting a gaint house.

I've also seen lots of people buying big houses and not many looking at smaller houses......just seems crazy to me. The prices they demand are crazy too. Absolutely surprises me. I guess I'm different i prefer a practically sized home with low monthly costs. That's all

NOTE: substitute Rolex vs $15 watch, 65" vs. 40" TV, midsize sedan vs econo-sedan, etc etc.

 

[eljefino]

To get back on topic of OPs question there are probably places where standing costs of parking, tags, and insurance are in the several-thousands of dollars per year before you hit the pavement. This could make a 2nd car less viable as its lower costs per mile never make it back.

I'm lucky my standing costs are about $300 a year for a 20-year-old F150.

 

[SeaJay]

Originally Posted By: hatt
If I were 5'7 I'd be interested in little cars. 6'9 means I like trucks.


You have a good point, I am several inches shorter and it took a lot of research to find a mid-size with enough legroom to use as a daily driver. I don't think you would be comfortable in my car. I have an old ford superduty that I use on weekends for hauling [censored], and for short rides. It is a much more comfortable vehicle for me to drive than is my daily driver. But the fuel economy is horrendous, so I don't often use it on longer trips, or for daily driving.

 

[InfmousCornholio]

Large vehicles are less wastely now as gas is so low...

However, +1 all comments on comfort. I knew some larger people and they were NEVER fully comfortable in "cars." Even the LTC... Somehow, I feel like an Escalade or Navigator or even a Tahoe or Suburban livery ride would be the ultimate for them. (Simple: Step-in height.)

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Originally Posted By: moving2
My house buying got me thinking and wondering why do folks love living in big homes? My step dad even asked why don't I buy a home with a few extra bedrooms/baths....my answer was I have no use for it. I have a small family and not a lot of stuff so a little house does fine for me. I would hate spending so much money on heating, AC, maintenance, power, property tax, landscaping. If you need a big house that's totally different. Now i know several people who say they need a big house but really do not.

I just do not understand the logic behind wanting a gaint house.

I've also seen lots of people buying big houses and not many looking at smaller houses......just seems crazy to me. The prices they demand are crazy too. Absolutely surprises me. I guess I'm different i prefer a practically sized home with low monthly costs. That's all

NOTE: substitute Rolex vs $15 watch, 65" vs. 40" TV, midsize sedan vs econo-sedan, etc etc.


I have recently started looking at houses. I can't find anything ... reasonable.

My apartment is the perfect size. Obviously a house would have to have a 2nd bedroom (family purposes) , but I'd like as small as possible. Definitely need a garage. Small homes are much, much cheaper to heat in the winter. I love the "green" couples who have a 3200 sqft house for 2 people yet heat it to 80 degrees in the winter.

And if I can play my cards right, I will have a base model, rough riding, single cab "farm truck" in the driveway for house work, plowing and towing my Jeep around.

I am planning on living out in the country. I would probably end up attaching a trailer to the Focus to make Home Depot runs, etc.

 

[Propflux01]

Originally Posted By: whip

Define used for "it's intended purpose". What percentage of use has to be considered truck use to justify it? How do you know how the truck is being used?
Why do cars escape the waste criticism? Is it OK if a guy buys a V8 Camaro, or Charger to make the same commute? What about a V6 Camry when a 4 cylinder would be more efficient.


What I consider "intended use" is what one poster above stated, that he uses his DD for hauling things around several times a month. Sans a business truck, the most I ever see getting hauled around in the south is some guys ATV he puts back there and drives around for a week to show it off. 90% of the rest are empty beds. I mean, if you really wanna get stupid about it, why not just buy a used cab-over and you could haul anything you want, see over everyone, walk away from a crash, and even sleep in it when the wife kicks ya out of the house? This is why I posted that it's a choice to buy a high dollar truck for a DD, drive around empty, but like the OP asked, what's the real reason people do it?

 

[hatt]

It's got to be a hard life worrying about everyone's personal property. I may lol a little at the idiots who bought a fashionable shoebox when a Civic/etc who have been the same price, get the same mpg, and be much more comfortable but I don't obsess about it.

 

[Propflux01]

Originally Posted By: hatt
It's got to be a hard life worrying about everyone's personal property. I may lol a little at the idiots who bought a fashionable shoebox when a Civic/etc who have been the same price, get the same mpg, and be much more comfortable but I don't obsess about it.


It was just a question of curiosity, not obsessiveness

 

[gathermewool]

Originally Posted By: ls1mike
Originally Posted By: gathermewool

FWIAW, I drive a Subaru because I like it. My Civic does pretty well in the snow with snow tires on, so it's not a requirement that I have something with AWD, but it's nice. I chose it, because it was what I wanted and what I could afford. I don't begrudge anyone who drives a big honkin' truck for pleasure. I only begrudge them when they do something despite others, such as drive around dangerously, because they feel that we're figuratively (and literally) beneath them or roll coal or anything else that directly negatively effects me. For the majority of truck lovers, I couldn't care less.

That, my friend, is not exclusive to the truck club, you might want to chat with some or your Subaru or Civic brethren. Ever seen some modified ones? I have seen them act just like the goof balls roiling coal. It is the person not the vehicle.


Exactly. My comment was specifically in the context of the OP (i.e., truck hatred,) but I agree with you, it's 100% about the db behind the wheel. Heck, even the average Joes spewing out blue or black smoke from the only car they can afford is incredibly annoying. The difference is intent.

 

[sciphi]

I can get it. No point in having a separate vehicle if one likes to tow a boat to the lake every weekend or chooses to purchase a large camper.

There's also the other side of the coin where a comfortable smaller vehicle and trailer can do the average home improvement store run just fine. Not everybody wants to go through the challenges of operating an articulated vehicle, though. So I can see the appeal of having a vehicle that "can do it all", even if it's used for a daily driver hauling air 90% of its life.

 

[moving2]

Originally Posted By: Propflux01

What I consider "intended use" is [...]


I wonder if you ask the same of most sports cars on the road, why you've not chosen to comment on it, and what your conclusion is regarding them.

I think Hangfire put it best when he said "Auto marketers never created this situation. Give them credit for creating what people really want, which is a vehicle that combines the best features of the family station wagon, the 4WD pickup, and the luxury (performance) sedan."

 

[linksep]

Originally Posted By: Propflux01
I just think the OP was just trying to figure out what drives people to make the decision to purchase a big truck when it's usually not used for a trucks "intended purpose". I don't think he was berating the people buying them.


Because even though it looks like you're a weenie buying a vehicle you will never use as intended maybe you tow boats or enclosed snowmobile trailers or a hobby race-car... Maybe you tow stuff once a week or 4 times a year but you "need" to tow 4 to 50 times a year. Maybe you're tall or fat or short and need the extra room or like sitting up higher or want a status symbol or live in 'Murica and you're free to be stupid and exercise that freedom with abandon. Maybe you have a 1 mile commute and fuel econ doesn't matter... Maybe you have 6 kids and need a small bus to transport your family of 8, maybe you are a traveling salesman that needs to haul demo/purchased equipment...

 

[Silverado12]

Originally Posted By: hatt
If I were 5'7 I'd be interested in little cars. 6'9 means I like trucks.


I'm with you, bro. I use my truck now as a daily driver, but have my son's old Cavalier for a backup in case gas gets high. I'm 6'6", and even with the truck I had to make brackets so the seat can go back further.

 

[Nate1979]

I am surprised no one just stated the obvious. Real men drive trucks!

 

[Propflux01]

Originally Posted By: moving2
Originally Posted By: Propflux01

What I consider "intended use" is [...]


I wonder if you ask the same of most sports cars on the road, why you've not chosen to comment on it, and what your conclusion is regarding them.

I think Hangfire put it best when he said "Auto marketers never created this situation. Give them credit for creating what people really want, which is a vehicle that combines the best features of the family station wagon, the 4WD pickup, and the luxury (performance) sedan."


Even though this thread was about trucks, and why I didn't comment about sports cars and such like you referred, my questions in that case would be the same. No one here was berating the type of vehicle, just why some would buy the product they have but never use it for its "intended purpose" let's face it, even with the metamorphosis that pickup trucks have gone through, they still have a centralized purpose: to haul cargo a normal automobile would not be capable of. And as for trucks, the questions that the OP asked seem to have been answered.