Will The Pick-Up Vanish

[mlhm5]

The days are certainly numbered for full sized pick-ups that get 20 mpg combined as a non work vehicle, unless you are going to use them for cruise nights.

 

You would think if your #1 product was a full sized pick-up, plans would be in the works for a diesel/gasoline hybrid of some type where you got the first 30-40 miles on battery and at least 30+ mpg after that, yet whatever plans are in the works are not reflecting the increase in energy prices that we are now seeing and will be seeing into the future.

 

Just in Bejing, over 1000 new cars are hitting the road everyday and that number will only increase, so even if the US saves, the price of energy will still be high.

[MERKURXR4Ti]

Here we go again...

[DCSpeedster]

The days are certainly numbered for full sized pick-ups that get 20 mpg combined as a non work vehicle, unless you are going to use them for cruise nights.

 

You would think if your #1 product was a full sized pick-up, plans would be in the works for a diesel/gasoline hybrid of some type where you got the first 30-40 miles on battery and at least 30+ mpg after that, yet whatever plans are in the works are not reflecting the increase in energy prices that we are now seeing and will be seeing into the future.

 

i hope not.. is there any speculation

[mlhm5]

Here we go again...

 

In Europe, essentially no one has a pickup. Instead, many have small trailers that they can tow with their cars. This allows cars to be used for utility purposes and saves a heck of a lot of gas. Of course pickups are more convenient but this seems to work as well.

 

Most people don't haul stuff enough days/year to warrant a pickup truck. Driving a smaller car with higher MPG and using a utility trailer when you need to haul is a really good solution.

 

Gone are the 4cyl 2 seater small pickups (Mazda B Series). The automakers have gradually grown their small pickups into "mid-size" which is really only a tiny bit smaller than full-size pickups from 20 years ago, and they have grown their full-size pickups into 4-door aircraft carriers that take 5 acres to make a u-turn and cost $150 to fill up.

 

Maybe the future is this 4cyl diesel at 35mpg or a trailer.

 

[fxcomet]

Chicken Little syndrome. He has to keep posting until the sky falls...

[MERKURXR4Ti]

I understand your point and have somewhat agreed to it the first time, but it becomes terribly tiring after so many weeks of the same shit.

Edited March 11, 2008 by MERKURXR4Ti

[MERKURXR4Ti]

Maybe if we derail this thread by arguing about the he will go away.

[Michael Reynolds]

In Europe, essentially no one has a pickup. Instead, many have small trailers that they can tow with their cars. This allows cars to be used for utility purposes and saves a heck of a lot of gas. Of course pickups are more convenient but this seems to work as well.

 

In China most people don't have cars. Why point that out? Because it is China and China is much more different than Europe which is much more different then the US.

 

The question on everyone's mind is, "When will mlhm5 vanish"........

[Michael Reynolds]

And how is this a 'Ford' only issue. GM by far sells more pickups/SUVs than Ford. Toyota built an all new plant to build of all things, a pickup truck.

 

IMO the F-150 needs a bit of a diet, but it's not like Ford hasn't announced that a diesel is upcoming. Of course the creator of this thread casually ignores that, and for someone that spouts off about Toyota's and Nissan's diesels that haven't even received a timeline in terms of when they will be introduced, that strikes me as amusing.

[NickF1011]

Chicken Little syndrome. He has to keep posting until the sky falls...

 

Or until he gets his first check in the mail for $3.18 for the posts he made here.

[NickF1011]

In related STFU-Mllhlhhlhlh5 news: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23572266/

[Sixt9coug]

Maybe if we derail this thread by arguing about the he will go away.

 

 

Panthers suck, D3s Suck, Mets Suck, Yankees Suck, OJ is innocent.

[Edstock]

mlhm5 might have a point. Fordlolly has a point, too, but in his case, it's found on the top of his skull.

 

VW thinks a small pickup is a good idea:

 

http://autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?.../FREE/182497545

 

"Volkswagen is developing a compact pickup that will be launched in late 2009 for European and South American markets. But VW CEO Martin Winterkorn said in an interview last week that he doesn't rule out bringing the truck to the U.S. market, according to Automotive News. And as luck would have it, today we get some spy photos of a development mule of VW's pickup making a run through snowy Europe."

 

The VW probably won't make it over here, unless VW build it here.

 

The point is, Ford needs a new Ranger, and hopefully the new world platform will do the trick.

[NickF1011]

Panthers suck, D3s Suck, Mets Suck, Yankees Suck, OJ is innocent.

 

And evolution is a lie!!!!!!

[lfeg]

The pickup will still be around, although it may morph closer to its original form. For work and farm use there will always be a place for it. What will become scarcer is the dolled up crew cab version that is now popular.

 

The "Ranger size" pickup will again become popular, and more of us will get by with regular cab 1/2 and 3/4 ton jobs set up with engines in the 150 to 200 hp range. Hey! Just like 40 years ago.

[MERKURXR4Ti]

VW thinks a small pickup is a good idea:

 

http://autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?.../FREE/182497545

 

Obviously a test mule, but so far it looks like a Toyota Raider, a Raidoma or Tacoder

Edited March 11, 2008 by MERKURXR4Ti

[LSFan00]

Oh my gosh, someone suggested a small diesel pickup. Hearsay! Heretic! The F-150/250 can only grow larger!

 

Folks should finally notice how the market is RAPIDLY moving to smaller engines/cars just by the atrocious Focus' increased sales numbers. Ford really needed the Fiesta/Ranger this year.

[RichardJensen]

[MERKURXR4Ti]

[J-150]

OJ is innocent.

 

 

Oh my...

[NickF1011]

Oh my...

 

No, no. Oh JAY!!

[mlhm5]

In the late 70's and early 80's the state of NC bought Plymouth/Dodge 440 Magnums for police cars and had them fitted with transmission coolers, larger gas tanks larger radiator, and a few more options.

 

The state put around 45-50K of miles and then sold them in public auctions. In 1982, you could buy one for ~$800 because it got 12-14 mpg.

 

This is the future of the full sized pickup with the large V8.

[RichardJensen]

This is the future of the full sized pickup with the large V8.

This is the future of mlhm predictions.

[Sixt9coug]

Because as we all know, there are no European V8s to speak of out there.

 

Diesel 2 stroke!

Edited March 11, 2008 by Sixt9coug

[Tico]

I always have felt pickups should be for people who need a working truck and not a status symbol to drive to the quickie mart to pick up a gallon of milk. Pickups don't need 4 doors or DVD players or navigation systems. Pickups should not be for city folks. Picks should be for people who need a hard working vehicle to haul stuff, pull stuff, push stuff, etc. A real pick up has a 8000 lb hay wagon attached to it. Has the tail gate removed, has cow *$ all over it. It has bailer twine and a tool box in the back. Real trucks don't need a 4 door "crew cab" because the crew rides in the back. A real truck spends most of it's time in the field drive way, not in the highyway. Real trucks belong on the Farm or at the construction site period.

 

Most city trucks will never go off road. The owners are afraid to scratch them. These people need CUVs that look like trucks (Honda sells one I think) so they can pose for their friends. . My mechanic tells me if I want a good hard working truck, Ford or Chevys from the 70s are some of the best trucks ever built. This is what Ford and Chevy should build again. Trucks for people who need trucks. They should copy Honda if they want a 30 MPG city truck for posers in the suburbs. Call it the F100 maybe.