Comments on: The End of the Pickup? http://www.hybridcars.com/end-of-the-pickup/ Auto alternatives for the 21st century Mon, 03 Dec 2012 19:24:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 By: Anonymous http://www.hybridcars.com/end-of-the-pickup/#comment-4446 Anonymous Sat, 06 Mar 2010 03:47:19 +0000 http://127.0.0.1/wordpress12/?p=1209#comment-4446 Hi everyboby I know this is a US site but I do have a quick comment.
I drive a 93 lifted with big tires suburban, yes you can say it “glug glug” at the pumps 9-10 mpg. Need to haul tools etc. Some of the time, so need something cheaper. Here’s the problem, went to ford today saw they had a ugly little van that would be perfect for what I need. They call it the Transit connect 4 cyl gas 30 city 36 hwy 2 seater 1600 lbs payload. Now the problem they want $29,000 cdn for a bare bones little van. Even the dealer says they are way over priced because they’ve been out since sept 09 and have only sold one. What is ford thinking, ok they didn’t ask for a bailout but asking that price for a 13-19000 vehicle…… “they could be making a killing for small contractors couriors or poeple like me who need gas mileage and the ability to haul.”

]]> By: james s. http://www.hybridcars.com/end-of-the-pickup/#comment-4445 james s. Thu, 24 Apr 2008 20:55:24 +0000 http://127.0.0.1/wordpress12/?p=1209#comment-4445 Wish subaru still made the Baja

]]> By: Floyd http://www.hybridcars.com/end-of-the-pickup/#comment-4444 Floyd Thu, 12 Jul 2007 00:49:08 +0000 http://127.0.0.1/wordpress12/?p=1209#comment-4444 I own a 98 Sierra.I bought it new.It cost about $20 to fill it up when new. Now it cost over $60 for a fillup. I like it and use it when I need a truck, but I drive a Ford Escort daily. I plan to buy a Prius if the Volt does not become a reality. Looks like the secondary vehicles are the gas hogs and the economy vehicles are the primary now. Trucks are not going away, and they will get more fuel efficient. I doubt they will ever attain the mileage alot of us are looking for in our daily drivers.

]]> By: Nancy http://www.hybridcars.com/end-of-the-pickup/#comment-4443 Nancy Wed, 11 Jul 2007 12:03:45 +0000 http://127.0.0.1/wordpress12/?p=1209#comment-4443 I haul working dogs and would give my eye teeth for a small rugged fuel efficient truck that could go off road (farm fields, clearcuts) … the little SUVs are good BUT the truck bed with a dog box is a lot cooler place to keep the dogs and you don’t have to mess with tarps, and fans, and leaving your valuables in an unlocked car. Something you can get in wtih muddy feet and clean up later. Somehting you can drive across a field, up a clearcut, or down a logging road with confidence Something that won’t drain you at the pump. They have such trucks in the REST of the world. Most of the the “midsize” trucks out there are marketed as toys in the US but there are lots of uses for a small truck.

]]> By: Timbo http://www.hybridcars.com/end-of-the-pickup/#comment-4442 Timbo Thu, 05 Jul 2007 20:51:13 +0000 http://127.0.0.1/wordpress12/?p=1209#comment-4442 Just found this site and glad I did. I have a 2001 F150 2WD. I’m now a renter and obviously use my truck mostly for commuting to my office job. Does it suck down a lot of gas? Yes! Do I mind? Sometimes. Am I glad I have this vehicle? Definitely!! I have moved myself twice, my parents once, friends numerous times, I do charity construction work on the weekends, helping out my mother-in-law all the time with it, too.

If Ford ever comes out with a hybrid F150, I will jump on it. Until then, I’ll keep my truck and grin and bear it at the pumps. That’s life.

]]> By: AP http://www.hybridcars.com/end-of-the-pickup/#comment-4441 AP Wed, 04 Jul 2007 12:40:34 +0000 http://127.0.0.1/wordpress12/?p=1209#comment-4441 A comment to “curious”: larger trucks can be “greened up.” Remember that hybrid cars don’t run on electricity (unless they’re plug-ins) – they run on the gasoline the engine burns. Some of the engine’s power goes through the electric motors, but much of it is carried by the shafts in the transmission.

The battery doesn’t need to do much in a normal hybrid. It gets things going and can push the vehicle short distances when the engine isn’t running, but the engine is the main source of propulsion.

Large trucks have been “hybridized.” GM has been selling city buses that are hybrids, which is ideal because of how much time they idle and since they are always stopping and starting.

]]> By: Tor http://www.hybridcars.com/end-of-the-pickup/#comment-4440 Tor Tue, 03 Jul 2007 01:01:42 +0000 http://127.0.0.1/wordpress12/?p=1209#comment-4440 they do exist…just not here

http://www.mrvirtual.com.br/catalogo2/images/fiat.jpg

http://www.chevrolet.com.br/montana/index.shtm

http://www.viarural.com.ar/viarural.com.ar/insumosagropecuarios/ganaderos/vehiculos/volkswagen/saveiro/default.htm

]]> By: Curious http://www.hybridcars.com/end-of-the-pickup/#comment-4439 Curious Mon, 02 Jul 2007 14:20:56 +0000 http://127.0.0.1/wordpress12/?p=1209#comment-4439 I believe the reason why larger trucks have not been “greened” up and on the market is simply.. Electricity will only give you a certain amount of power. Larger trucks run on diesel because they need it to be able to haul larger amounts. I could be wrong, but that’s the reason why you have different trucks in a series. You wouldn’t be crazy enough to get a small Ranger, for instance, and try to make it haul what a F-250 usually does. It works, but you waste so much gas and time because the engine is so weak. A larger engine requires more consumption.. how much energy from a battery would that take? Maybe when the hydrogen breeds come out, but right now.. it’s just not feasible.

]]> By: Wrong Question http://www.hybridcars.com/end-of-the-pickup/#comment-4438 Wrong Question Fri, 29 Jun 2007 17:32:42 +0000 http://127.0.0.1/wordpress12/?p=1209#comment-4438 There will never be an “end to the pickup.” That’s ridiculous. Some people NEED pickups, and manufacturers need to build them.

The real question is, “Have we seen the end of the full-sized pickup with a single occupant commuting 45 miles each way?” If fuel prices stay high, then maybe. For better or worse, if fuel prices drop again they’ll be back.

]]> By: Chris http://www.hybridcars.com/end-of-the-pickup/#comment-4437 Chris Fri, 29 Jun 2007 13:55:21 +0000 http://127.0.0.1/wordpress12/?p=1209#comment-4437 Pick-up sales may be down slightly from their immense popularity the last few years. But just look around on the roads…Even with the already high price of trucks and the high price of gas, a lot of trucks are still being sold. Actually, I’ve noticed a trend to bigger trucks (from the half ton to the 3/4 ton and full ton trucks). If the sales of 1/2 tons are down, I feel certain that the sales of 3/4 and full ton trucks are up. That is a message from the public that they want “bigger”. The popularity of trucks, given the increased cost, is testament to the very strong appeal of trucks.

I don’t know that an 87 Accord and a $300 trailer is going to pull 5000 pounds of sod very easily! I’m not a contractor, but I did need to haul some sod for my yard.

A lot of people live in semi-rural areas and actually “do things” with their trucks, as opposed to someone living in a condo in the city that just goes to work and comes home.

By the way, I’m educated (engineer, MBA, and accepted to med school), not just some redneck dummy.

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