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As long as you’re realistic in what the vehicles capability is I don’t see a issue. Not everything me needs a 8 foot bed dually diesel crew cab. Not everyone wants a midsize truck either. Lots of people had mini trucks in the 80s that were about the size of that Focus truck.
Imo the only truck today that’s close to the same size as the 80/90s mini trucks is the Frontier. Even the frontier is bigger than the old SR5 Toyota’s. Everything else is about Midsize (Dodge Dakota T100 dimensions)
Not really. I sold an early 90s Toyota truck and got a 2nd gen Frontier, which is the current gen. It was marketed as a midsize and I think it is. I noticed a fair bit of extra width in the cab and bed when I made that switch. But the Frontier, being an “older design” now, is indeed smaller on the outside than new GM “midsize” trucks. I bet the new Ford Ranger will also be bigger than midsize.
Geez, do manufacturers really think that longtime truck owners do not notice the trend?
Not really. I sold an early 90s Toyota truck and got a 2nd gen Frontier, which is the current gen. It was marketed as a midsize and I think it is. I noticed a fair bit of extra width in the cab and bed when I made that switch. But the Frontier, being an “older design” now, is indeed smaller on the outside than new GM “midsize” trucks. I bet the new Ford Ranger will also be bigger than midsize.
Geez, do manufacturers really think that longtime truck owners do not notice the trend?
Yes american automakers do know what’s sell and they did have the Ranger and the S-10 small pickups but guess what they did not sell. They are not going to retool an assembly plant to sell them to the few people who still want them. They have to sell over a 100,000 a month to make it worth while and the sales are not there for that size pickup again at least for the big3 automakers. The new Ranger is going to be bigger than the older version. They build what the people want and full size pickups are it. And do you think that Ford or GM would of stop making them if they were selling well.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pikabike
Yup, it is a “chicken or egg” situation.
If someone needs a truck and can ONLY get it configured as desired in the humungo category of trucks, it is assumed that he “wanted” a full size truck. That might not have been the case at all. He might have wanted a smaller truck with those features but the manufacturer removed them as choices long ago unless it was a full size. In effect, they are forcing the compact buyers to get huge trucks—or no truck, or a smaller truck that lacks the desired features.
You cannot buy a vehicle that is not being made AND offered to the US market. I read that earlier generations of small trucks and SUVs are indeed being made, but they are not available to US buyers. If the manufacturers really want to know, they should ask whether potential truck buyers would prefer the small sizes if fhey were available.
That's why I bought an older Toyota Tacoma for hauling wood at my cabin. I needed a small truck and would have bought a new one if they were available in size small. Nothing fit it so I bought used with 560k miles on it. The new Tacoma won't fit down an ATV trail where I cut wood.
Some of my relatives had those Datsun, Chevy Luv, and Toyota trucks when they were tiny. Though low on power, they said it was fun to drive hard off-road. Sometimes it’s more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow.
Not really. I sold an early 90s Toyota truck and got a 2nd gen Frontier, which is the current gen. It was marketed as a midsize and I think it is. I noticed a fair bit of extra width in the cab and bed when I made that switch. But the Frontier, being an “older design” now, is indeed smaller on the outside than new GM “midsize” trucks. I bet the new Ford Ranger will also be bigger than midsize.
Geez, do manufacturers really think that longtime truck owners do not notice the trend?
That’s why I said close. The Frontier is about as close to a minitruck as you can get today. Everything else is about the size of what was considered midsize.
I’m sure Ford will do a survey of some sorts to see what people think about it, that’s why they have a very large marketing department.
Yea, Not sure what demographics they are going after. Young drivers, a pickup, No. Pure pickup truck lovers, with a 1.5 liter engine, No! But Ford and their better ideas to go with mostly pickups and SUV's, they just might offer it. Hopefully it wont have their troublesome CVT transmission that the Focus had.
Imo the only truck today that’s close to the same size as the 80/90s mini trucks is the Frontier. Even the frontier is bigger than the old SR5 Toyota’s. Everything else is about Midsize (Dodge Dakota T100 dimensions)
Actually the Nissan Frontier is a mid-size truck now. They used to be smaller, years ago, but got upsized. There is no small compact truck on the market today. The new Ranger is a mid-size.
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