Posted on 12/13/2011 5:57:25 AM PST by Behind Liberal Lines
The government's pending (2016) 35.5 MPG CAFE fuel economy requirements -- which for the first time apply to trucks as well as passenger cars -- are going to make it very difficult for any automaker to sell trucks in volume in this country.
Ford has just dropped the compact-size Ranger from its U.S. model lineup -- making it the first CAFE casualty -- and I predict that larger trucks are on the endangered species list now, too....
Even a small truck with a four-cylinder engine will have a hard time averaging 35.5 MPG....
(Excerpt) Read more at spectator.org ...
We have a beat-up, old Ranger and it has served us well...
But it seems that if these standards are kept in place, no trucks will be on the road...
My congressman will be swamped by calls from all the farmers around here if this is left standing...
I have an ‘02 Tacoma. 150,000 miles and never any malfunction of anything on it.
When you put a 3500 pound payload and chains on all 4 cornere of a 1 Ton, 4x4 truck then start driving through 10-12 inches or more snow on rough, hilly terrain, it takes horsepower AND displacement to pull the load. If those kind of engines worked in trucks, highway transport trucks would be using them.
“It symbolized the individuality, freedom, ruggedness, etc. that real freedom-loving Americans are!”
Yep, young white “lesbians” and feminists just love the feelings of empowerment they get driving around in their little trucks and Jeeps...You go girl!
“isnt the Tacoma supposed to be pretty good?
Of course it is, its the “Official Vehicle of the Taliban”.
No decent turban wearing dude would be caught dead riding around in a Ford Ranger. That would be like carrying an M16 instead of a Russian AK47.
Seriously, old Tacoma’s and Nissan pickups that do not pass inspection in the US are typically shipped abroad and sold througout third world countries.
When I sold my 1988 Tacoma, I had two guys call me and wanted to know if it would pass inspection. Of course I proudly replied yes. When I inquired why , they stated that they shipped them to Asia and Central America and would double or triple their investment on them. This was about the same time that we invaded Afghanistan. I started seeing old Tacomas on TV every night with Taliban fighters riding in the back.
If towing ability goes away, camping, boating industry takes a huge hit. Along with construction, lawn, home maintenance.
They’d better research before applying stringent standards.
Pull a 5x8 or 5x10 trailer behind an economical car.
Cheap!
Let the load beat up the trailer (if necessary), not the prime mover.
Smaller car is easier to park, more comfortable, less expensive and better mileage.
My 5x10 is rated at 3500 lbs. I pull it with either a Subaru Legacy Outback or a Honda CR-V.
The CR-V is rated at 1500 lbs towing in the USA, 1500 kg (3300 lbs.!!) in the UK. Both were made in the UK (in 2004, at least).
Someone asked American Honda, “They are the same vehicles; why the difference?” The reply was, “We have more lawyers.”
I think your confusing them with Subaru’s.
I have driven Cheve Surburbans before they had that name (early 70’s) and they were a 3 door crew truck. Then Tahoes since the first one came out. I had a great ‘05 Tahoe when I heard that obozo was taking over GM. I went out and bought a new Tahoe that was made before General Motors became government motors. I will drive it for as long as ( I ) or it lasts.
And don’t get me started about light bulbs, I am a LB hoarder.
My Sprinter van has just such an engine. It is a 5 cylinder Mercedes diesel and the van. It does not get 35 mpg but it cruises at 70 mph at 23 mpg. At 55, it gets 26 mpg
Well, they will have to pry my 2001 Diesel Ford Excursion off all the little Smart cars, the Fiats and Mini-Coopers before I get rid of it!
It has the 7.3L PowerStroke Diesel and I get 22MPG on the highway and 17MPG in the city. I am going to put in straight pipe exhaust with a small straight-line muffler (one of the wife’s Christmas presents) - should give me another 6MPG on the highway and 3MPG in the city!
It rides like a dream, the family is comfortable when traveling and I can haul half the house in the back! If it was really necessary, I could TOW the other half of the house! LOL!
Whoa there, nasal radiator!
We have owned two Jeep Wranglers and have a Ranger and while I really loved driving around with the top off when we were stationed in FL, etc, I’m DEFINITELY not a lezbot or feminazi...hardly...
just loved being an old broad in a cool vehicle!
Now THAT is a truck!
Put a limited slip diff in it and the 2wd version will go most places you normally need 4x4.
These 2wd versions haul 5 tons all over East Africa, dirt roads, in the rainy season.
Hang, a Toyota HiLux 2wd will haul well over a ton. It’s rated at a metric ton, 2205 lbs.
You get a pass!
Hey, I’m not trying to say that all drivers of little trucks and jeeps are, I’m just saying that a lot of them do.
When I first looked at the name on that truck I thought it said FURD! Old eyes I guess!!
... unless you have a camper shell and a bicycle rack
to make it politically correct!
I like your style!
I’ve seen old Bedford (British) lorries hauling several ton loads up a 5+ mile grade in Kenya, climbing from 6000’ elevation to 9100’ elevation. Not very fast, but no turbo either.
Currently Subaru sells its 2.0-liter 4-cylinder boxer diesel in Europe where it makes 145-hp and 258 ft-lbs of torque and gets around 34/41 mpg (city/highway) in vehicles like he Forester 2.0D
Of course. I stand corrected, but I wish you hadn’t reminded me.
Ford dropped the Ranger because it’s a boring, old style which nobody wants to buy anymore.
If they built a replacement styled like the F-150 they’d sell a zillion of them.
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