Do you work as an automotive OEM development engineer, in the area of crash test safety? I worked for an OEM, as an engineer, for 21 years, so I'm interested in hearing your experience in such matters?
Where is the modern mini-truck?
- Thread starter Nessism1
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Miata's got lighter in the last revision, 2341lbs. And its got the added challenge of not having a roof. A Miata coupe could be lighter still.
What's interesting in the IIHS deathrate data is that Large(1/2 ton) and very large (3/4+ ton) pickups have a higher death rate/per registered vehicle, than the small pickups.
I assume its because small pickups are driven by older drivers, not as far, and not for commercial purposes, but who knows?
Anyways, its pretty clear the north american auto makers have very effective lobbyists, to have laws and regulations that favor their most profitable vehicles, so I'm not too hopeful we'll see small simple vehicles anytime soon.
The 1900lb Mirage exceeds all safety requirements with ease, a truck would have absolutely no issues being legal.
But because a crackhead wrote the platform laws that drive the weighted CAFE fuel economy requirements, such a truck would need to average over 60mpg to be “legal “ as you put it.
As for obscurity, there was the Mitsubishi Mighty Max. I actually knew an IRS agent who had one.
edyvw
$50 site donor 2025
So, you say that 15.7ft truck that meets all crash requirements can weigh 3.000lbs? Please share technical data how to do it bcs. a lot of my friends who are in business of trimming weight for racing and track purposes would like to know that.
edyvw
$50 site donor 2025
Miata is not 15.7ft long with truck bed.
The Chevy LUV was available in the USA until 1980 IIRC.
Even at $5+ a gallon pick ups remained the best selling vehicles.
I refuse to buy anything not pushing 300 horsepower if not more. And if it’s a “truck” it better not be based on garbage FWD (Maverick/Ridgeline/Santa Cruz).Throw a GM 3.6 or Pentastar v6 in it and I’ll be happy!
Possibly nationally, but not in my neck of the woods.
Actually, they may stay 'best sellers' but the lots do fill up with big twucks when fuel prices spike.
The data behind my comment is very limited.
Also, the 'gunnel' tie-down hook along the box in post #67 are things all trucks should have.
Here are sales stats on the Maverick. I’ll bet the manufacturers are watching carefully.
And here they are for the F—150.
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You’re right that Americans have a comical obsession with huge trucks, but I think the Maverick is selling pretty well.
Ford is expected to sell about 150,000 Mavericks this year. By comparison, they will sell about 800,000 F-150s in the same timeframe. If purchasing decisions were actually based on logic and use case rather than image projection, those numbers should probably be reversed.
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The Ridgeline’s 3.5L v6 IS pushing 300 hp and has a standard torque-vectoring AWD system which can send 70% of power to the rear and 100% of power to either side.
It is far, far from “garbage.” In fact it seems like it might be well suited for you given your stated preferences.
Neither one is too shabby off road.
"Sport Truck"
If slow single cab long small trucks would sell i promise someone would be building one.
There's a reason you can only buy crew cab colorados and rangers...
The same goes for regular trucks that look like they should be on a DOT detail and prison vans. No one buys them except the DOT and prisons. I bet over half the people who say they would wouldn't.
There's a reason you can only buy crew cab colorados and rangers...
The same goes for regular trucks that look like they should be on a DOT detail and prison vans. No one buys them except the DOT and prisons. I bet over half the people who say they would wouldn't.
The engine is mounted the wrong way and I don’t want “up to” 70% of my power going to the rear wheels, I want a proper RWD based AWD system like my Durango had.
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Right? Add a little more ground clearance and some better tires and these would be even better. Are they ever going to wheel as comfortably as a Tacoma with a locker? Nope. Are they capable of handling the majority of sketchy situations most people get into? Absolutely.
I've long wondered what a Toyota version of a Ridgeline would be like--and if I'd have bought one already. 2GR-FE lacks a timing belt and is seen as a relatively good engine; Toyota is often behind in number of gear ratios but usually doesn't get knocked for transmissions. Ridgeline's 5AT and 6AT have always struck me as not quite good enough (complaints of overheating and overall gear spread for what it's asked to do, plus inability to select gears--can't put it into 2nd and have it only shift between 1st and 2nd, or put into 1st and have it stay there).
Might eat too much into Tacoma sales though. Can't have that. But if Maverick sales remain strong, I guess we'll see what the future holds. It seems to keep changing, decade to decade.
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Ridgelines have the ZF 9 speed.
