I love trucks, but I think it is getting a little too ridiculous now. At first, I like seeing how trucks are really popular, but I feel that more and more trucks aren't being used for what they are designed. More and more people are buying them for people hauler or status symbol rather than utility and if an extra cab, compromised people mover/stuff hauler. I am practical minded, although I will not force my will upon others, I will like to express my opinion. I hate it when some people would buy a heavy gas guzzling SUV when a more fuel efficient minivan would suffice. Or get a truck and use it as a car. I also don't like it when when more trucks are out there than cars because that means fewer vehicles for much more gas consumption (I am a little green), and more crowded parking lots, and sometimes road-rage-filled-danger-to-society-think- they-are-invinsible-because-they-have-a-truck drivers. Besides with more trucks, the specialness of us truck owners lessens making us less of an elite group (hehehe). Sorry, I am trippy today.

Leo dC

 

See also "Raouls rantings"

 

GoodGuy: I just came back from Detroit and noticed up there that a LOT of trucks (fords) were on the hwy. A friend of mine up there stated the same thing you just said: people drive them because they're safe. You don't see as many trucks here in NC but most of the ones you do see are being used for work trucks. Perhaps the area of the country you live in makes a big difference. When I was in DC, I didn't see many at all and NO females driving trucks there!!!
Oh, one little bitty commit on the minivan: I can't stand them. I don't care what they get for fuel milage, even if I was given one for free, I wouldn't drive it. They are almost as bad as a pinto. My sister on the other hand, loves her's. And that's why there are so many different types of vehicals on the market, everyone's different.

 

I've been driving pickups since 1980. Back then, the vista from behind the wheel was from a lofty perch over a creeping sea of chrome land barge sedans and station wagons. I always enjoyed having the loftier view, being able to see far ahead down the road, except when stuck behind a full sized custom van with sidepipes, a semi, or another pickup truck.

Nowadays, I still have the elevated view, but the vista is obstructed much more often by other trucks, SUV's, and yes, semis.

And I notice on my daily commute how many "suits" drive XLT and Lariat extended cabs...so much for trucks being the domain of the blue collar worker, as it mostly was about twenty years ago.

The times, they do change...

 

Yep, lot's of suits out there driving these trucks. Us working men really have no choice. I have to have a truck to get my goats to market. I drive a Lariat cause I want them to arrive in style. As far as traffic goes, I never have to use the horn because of all the bleating going on and I don't have to worry about tailgaters becuase I'm hurdling goat dung all over the highway.

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99 Lariat R/C 2WD 120"WB 5.4 3.55LS Tow Dark Toreador/Gold Line-X
raoul_oba@hotmail.com (Virginia)

 

i just can't resist this one.
back when i worked as a machine oper. i too used to notice the suits driving trucks and snicker.
now that i have become a suit of sorts i understand it better. see i still haul my dirtbikes, my kayak, camping,fishing and hunting equip. as well as still enjoying a drive down a good trail now and then.
in short i still use my truck.
although in my own defense i did not succumb to the power goodies and all that, i can still roll down my own window or even push down a door lock.

 

My parents haven't owned a car in I don't remember how many years. My dad drives a Ranger, my mom a Land Cruiser or a RX 300, she just got rid of our old minivan(Pontiac TransPort). My sister drives an Explorer Sport and I drive an F-150. Why only trucks and SUV's? The high seating position...

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'98 Bright Red XLT F-150, Regular Cab, Flareside, STX, 4.2L V6, Auto, 3.55, SuperChip, K&N High-Flow Air Filter, Mobil 1 motor oil, Westin chrome step bars, Magnum bug shield, Extang BlackMax.

 

My first vehicle was a truck, then a truck after that. Then I became a suit, so I decided it was time to buy a car. So I bought a Mustang GT. After a year of driving that around I traded it in on a '98 F-150. I'll never go back to a car.

I guess you can take the person out of a truck, but you can't take the truck out of a person.

-Tim

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1998 F-150 4X4 ORP 4.6L
Dark Toreador Red

 

Yea Tim, you can take the person out of the suit but, you can't...

Wait a minute, what kind of suit are we talking about? I've only had one job where I was required to wear a suit. I did bank and gas station grand openings but I finally quit. I just couldn't take standing on the corner waving at traffic with balloons tied to my head.

[This message has been edited by Raoul (edited 12-03-1999).]

 

LOL

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1998 F-150 4X4 ORP 4.6L
Dark Toreador Red

 

I believe the SUV/pickup trend is gonna take a twist soon, many manufactures are coming out with cars designed like a suburu (a wagon/suv combo w/ all wheel drive). If yer by the city/in the city/commute to the city, you know that suvs and large trucks don't fair well up there (especially parking) so cars still dominate that. I also think the addition of the new honda and toyota gas/electric hybrid will bring people back to cars (60-70 miles per galloon!!!)

But yeah, right now pickup trucks are the most popular selling item, especially for males between the ages of 18-25. But just about every household that has a truck, also has a family sedan and/or mini-van.

 

Get hit head-on by an idiot moving 76 MPH convinced me that my SUV is the ONLY way to go. I like trucks not because they're different or studly, but because they're MASSIVE. Defense is what it's all about on some of these roads. Give me the highest GVWR truck my wallet can afford!!!

 

I have a truck, but my dad had it before me. I got to pick it out, but that was because it would be mine when I turned 16. My dad needed a truck cause he pulled a trailer and hauled stuff, so i didn't consider any thing but a Ford truck. Now that I have it the only thing it hauls is @$$. I think it is pretty ridicules how all these trucks are trying to handle like cars. My truck handles like a truck and I wouldn't expect more. The car magazines will give a truck a negative rating B/C it handles like a truck. It is getting out of hand, but it's making the car company's money, and that's all that matters...

 

Ford trucks are everywhere. I like seeing them, but I do need to see a variety. Ford beating Chevy and Dodge is something that will never end though!

 

Trucks are a way of life here in Kansas. Most of my friends family's only own trucks, if you don't have a truck, you don't survive. I can't imagin life without them, let em go out of style, I'll still get one, maybe the prices will come down a bit! I think that Ford should only build 4x4's. But that is another story...