Europeans Slowly Fall Victim to Pickup Truck Fever

The Truth About Cars ^ | November 6, 2017 | Steph Willems

[RFEngineer]

“Toyota sells the Hilux here as well, they just call it the Tacoma.”

True, but not the diesel that is sold nearly everywhere else in the world. If they ever brought a diesel tacoma to the US market, they would completely own the small truck market more than they already do.

[Charles Martel]

The astonishing thing is, why did it take Europeans this long to discover pickups?

I don't know - usually it's cost factors such as insurance that keep entire classes of vehicles from gaining popularity.

I always thought the Europeans would eventually embrace the Australian-style "Ute" variant, but even those failed to catch on. Perhaps they don't sell Astroturf there (obligatory El Camino joke). ;-)

I did notice a few years ago in France, that lots of people had small utility trailers for transporting bags of garden soil, fertilizer, and the like. The hitches there presumably tuck further up underneath the rear of the tow vehicle than is common in the U.S., and utilize a hitch ball that is more of a long, curved forging that disappears under the rear bumper.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

We’re driving a 2011 GMC 4WD extended cab Sierra. It replaced a nearly identical 2001.
Zero problems with either truck.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

LOL!

Having moved recently I do understand. I don't read much horror but I have everything else on the shelf. Happily my husband, the movie nut, is willing to put up with my books as long as I put up with his movies. I do drive him bananas with the way I read four or five books at a time though.

There is the "waiting" book that I carry to read while waiting for appointments, the "before bed" book that I use to give my brain something to dream about, the "work book" that I read at work, the "learn something new" book, the "serious fiction" book, the "author I have never read but am willing to try" book and the "pure fluff" book.

I have always wondered why Gutenberg was never named a saint.

[Charles Martel]

Yep - every company that sells a compact pickup somewhere in the world sells a diesel version, which is kept out of the U.S. by the EPA minefield. The last one to be sold here in significant numbers was the Isuzu P’up Diesel.

[Alas Babylon!]

Where’s “Here”?

[jjotto]

Not just emission standards. Imported (apart from NAFTA) pickups are still subject to a very high tariff - 25%, I think.

[yldstrk]

I absolutely adore Texas, just like SUVs and hate pickups

[yldstrk]

You need a big pickup to prove something?

[yldstrk]

my 2004 Honda Pilot holds seven and can haul all that too. It has 265,000 miles on it this minute, all put on there by yours truly. Bought the SUV new in 2003, fourteen years ago. Love it. Can’t find another vehicle as comfortable or as smooth.

[Alas Babylon!]

And trying to run down Muslim children, according to the Virginia democrats!

[Fightin Whitey]

I gotta big everything, toto.

But what about you?

What’s with all the hate this hate that mad mad mad?

Being puny and grouchy is a tough way to go.

[jjotto]

Unibody construction is a lot more comfortable than the body-on-frame construction that makes a truck.

[BitWielder1]

Victims?
If you can afford to buy and drive a pickup in Europe, you are to be congratulated.
Unlike celebrities who have a fleet of cars, one for every location, including a Tesla to show off how environmentally conscious they are, the rest of us have to pick one vehicle that can do everything.
That means SUV or Pickup.

[wbarmy]

Sorry;

Freetown, Sierra Leone.

[mad_as_he$$]

Oh agreed as a gun truck stupid choice.

[cyclotic]

Well, then you must hate freedom. It’s their choice how they spend their time and their money.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

I’d love to have a pickup, just for the ability to throw stuff in the bed when needed. But their popularity has priced me right out of the market. I’m hoping to find a nice used one someday. There will be plenty on the back end before long, that’s for sure.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Eric Braden did well.

In the Rat Patrol days, he was Hans Gudegast.

[BBB333]

Hidee hi, there, friends and neighbors!
This is your old pal, El Monte Slim, tellin’ ya’ll ta come on down here to Widetrack County in Wilmington.

God damn, we got some outasight bargains here for ya in cars— and be sure to bring the kiddies, too, cause we got free pony rides and lollipops for all the little folks.

Talk about suckers, look at this sucker over here!

Yessirree Bob, that’s a ’58 Dodge pickup, white, of course.

Gotchyer radio, gotchyer heater, gotcher overdrive, and it’s gotchyer Easy Rider rifle rack, yes sir, with room for not one, but thureee of your favorite rifles!

Yes, sir! And be sure to ask for it by license plate number KKKU2, and for the first hundred of you mothers to c’mon down, we got a free America Love it or Leave It bumper sticker.

So c’mon down and ask for El Monte Slim. And now back to our movie, The Jackson Five Story starring The Osmond Brothers.
—Cheech & Chong, 1991