Posted on 01/02/2017 12:50:18 PM PST by heterosupremacist
“People in Texas will buy trucks even if they’re not going to haul anything heavier than raindrops.”
The NY Times went on safari to Texas, and it has an article about a peculiar love of the natives for trucks, Rodeo Offers a 90-M.P.H. Glimpse of Texans’ Truck Mania:
Tim Spell has noticed a peculiar condition that affects Texans’ mental, physical and automotive well-being.
“I call it ‘truck-itis,’” said Mr. Spell, the former automotive editor for The Houston Chronicle. “People in Texas will buy trucks even if they’re not going to haul anything heavier than raindrops. I was interviewing one guy. He had a 4-by-4. I said: ‘You live in Houston. Why do you have this 4-by-4?’ He said, ‘Well, I own a bar, and 4-by-4s are higher, and I can climb up on the cab and change out the letters of my marquee.’”
Whether for high-up urban letter-switching or more rural and rugged purposes, pickup trucks are to Texas what cowboy boots and oil derricks are to the state — a potent part of the brand. No other state has a bigger influence on the marketing of American pickup trucks.
Having diagnosed the symptoms and named the disease, the Times tried to understand by taking a safari to the Texas Truck Rodeo:
This year’s rodeo, held in October at the Longhorn River Ranch here in Dripping Springs, in the Hill Country outside Austin, left me with a new appreciation for the word truck-a-thon….
At the outdoor awards ceremony, everyone gawked at the two-handled Truck of Texas trophy. In the end, it went to the 2017 Ford Super Duty. A mere five voting points separated the Titan from the Super Duty. John Rieger, Ford’s Super Duty brand manager, gave the trophy a long kiss in the glow of the headlights.
(Excerpt) Read more at legalinsurrection.com ...
I’d rather have “little man syndrome” than be just a plain old a$$hole. I am 5’ 8” . I don’t know if that qualifies me as a little man or not but KMA anyways.
NYT, I can’t understand why people are still reading you!! Trucks are used for lots of reasons...you can’t put 10 sheets of 8x4 plywood in a Yugo. The Yugo might tip over...
I lived in South Florida most of my life. I used to like to point out to visitors to the area how many cars stopped at any given intersection were expensive luxury vehicles or sports cars. There could easily be several million dollars worth of vehicles at any major intersection.
Moved to New Mexico 10 years ago. Now, at major intersections, we notice the SUVs and pickups. Still easily several million bucks worth of rolling iron.
One more thing...the other day I was going to the supermarket about 4 miles away. I started counting white pickups- okay, I can be OCD like that. Anyway, I counted 16 WHITE pickup trucks just going to the store.
Thank you. Ive had it for almost ten years now - what head-turners these old beasts are!
“Cash for Clunkers” artificially elevated the value of used vehicles - especially trucks. The stupid bass-turds took so many off the road before their time!
Lived in England in early 90’s. The local’s called American trucks “yank tanks”. I didn’t have mine over there, gas/diesel was too expensive. Now drive a 250 power stroke just for fun.
Whoa.....mine’s the 27th........lol
Wow!!! you got me by almost a year...You ARE OLD!!!!*LOL*
Oh I know dat’s right.........lol
Sure, the guy with the truck looks like a real dim bulb. Then comes the day you need to move something big somewhere. He’ll say yes when you come asking, because truck owners are like that.
I drive a MB and my wife drives a Toyota Highlander - mine is the "mini" of the two - lots of fun to drive though.
“I’d rather have “little man syndrome” than be just a plain old a$$hole. I am 5’ 8” . I don’t know if that qualifies me as a little man or not but KMA anyways.”
IF you were paying any attention at all to the article that I was responding to, you would know that I was referring to the author of the article and his obvious elitist comments. Either that, or you are lacking in reading comprehension. Which is it?
As to kissing your ass, where would one begin?
Texas has grown to be the sixth largest wine producer in the US (yeah, I know California dominates with over 80% of US production), yet it has yet to produce enough to meet domestic (in state) demand.
My favorite winery is located 15 miles south of Fort Worth, and there's nothing hoity-toity about them. It's a great place to kick back, and family activities include movie nights during the summer. I've taken friends with affiliations to Napa out there, and they've been surprised at the quality of wine as well as the atmosphere.
New Yorkers tend to operate under the false assumption that NYC is the cultural center of the United States.
I will never own another vehicle than a Toyota Tacoma 4 door.
Big enough, but not too big. Can reach into back seat to get stuff or pass snacks to kid.
Bed is barely long enough to hold my 29er mountain bike.
Went to Big Bend; got it up to 105!
No kidding.
Bless their hearts. :-)
“I grew up in Tahoe”
Must have been before they put in the Cabelas at Exit 4 Navada side.
So close but so far. I am a half hour EAST of Reno and it is a completely different planet.
Yep. I moved from SLT and went to college in Fresno State in 94. Moved out of California in 99. Would love to move back but California would be business suicide. Such a shame what’s gone on in that state. Yeah. Sure. I can move to the Nevada side at Incline Village. Affordable there :-)
I drive a 2002 Ford Explorer Sport Trac that I bought new in late 2001. Got a little over 120k miles on it. I don't haul a heck of a lot, but it has come in handy for taking my lawn mower in for repairs, or bringing home a Christmas tree or construction materials. I still enjoy driving it. Too bad Ford doesn't make them any longer. Because of my height (6'5-1/2") I prefer trucks so that I don't have to fold myself up to get into the driver's seat.
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