Pick-up trucks, popular in the UK? (buying, tax, live)

[wrightclan]

Originally Posted by KYLE1

I've never seen a pick-up truck in UK and I think they are generally pointless vehicles.

Funny how, when a person has no need for a particular thing, they can say they find that thing pointless. A pickup truck is the most useful mode of transport for my particular business. I can also fit most of my family in if necessary (five seats). We also have another family vehicle which is used most of the time for family outings.

Actually I've seen lots of pickups in the UK in recent years, particularly North of the Border. Most of them however, are rather small(e.g. Mitsubishi, Toyota, Nissan) compared to U.S. pickups . A mechanic friend in Scotland has an older F-150, though.

[southdown]

A colleague of mine runs a part-time gardening business in Sussex and much beloved pickup is very useful, and (he thinks) safer than a van, which has restricted rear-view. He can throw anything straight in the back, in no particular order! And if it's raining he just puts the cover over, if necessary. It is not a huge gas-guzzling 4x4, jus a 2-litre normal worker vehicle.

He hasn't had any tailgating parties yet tho.....

[tvdxer]

From Pickup truck - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia :

"In the United Kingdom on the other hand, pickups are gaining popularity fast; they are the UK's fastest growing vehicle sector. Through 2006 pick up sales have increased by 14 per cent to reach a total topping 36,000, where overall new car sales are down by 4.2 per cent. The biggest sellers in the UK are mid size trucks like the Nissan Navara, the Mitsubishi L200 and the Isuzu D-Max. These are often seen as a lifestyle statement associated with surfing or other extreme sports."

[chilaili]

Americans do use "tailgate" as a verb. One "tailgates" at the game; you plan to "tailgate" with your buddies; "tailgating" is a big party and lots of fun, etc, etc. It does come from the letting down of the back end of the flatbed and using the whole space as a serving/barbecueing/eating area.

Personally I don't understand why anyone would buy a pickup in the UK. The damn things do about 8 miles to the gallon! All my friends who have one moan endlessly about their $90 petrol bills every week so imagine how much that would cost in England

[cook100]

haha.. this is really funny...
I live in Canada, in Alberta where trucks, tailgate parties and molson canadian (beer) defines the culture... the bigger the truck you have the bigger the man (or woman ) you are.. some moms i know take their kids to school in huge trucks, or hummers... it really is confusing to me, I guess i really dont fit into the culture here... and ive lived here all of my life!!!

[UK2theUS]

I'm surprised how many American pickups are in the UK I have seen more now than ever which is most surprising as the cost of petrol most are down sizing.

Most of the pickups seem to be dodge rams that I have seen I have always loved pickups but they just don't look right in the UK they look out of place as the roads here are small and seeing one parked next to a small Peugeot is hilarious the size difference but they do turn heads.

Where I'm located are 3 dealerships that just deal in American cars so there must be demand.

Also it was or is a bit of a bling item David Beckham had an F150 and so did some other footballers

[ButterflyUK]

My husband drools over any big truck he sees. Here in the North West we do see some, but to be honest, it to expensive to run. We pay around $10 a gallon for gas. It would cost you around £700 ($1400) to register it. Add MOT, sort of like an intense smog check on that every year. Most people can not afford to run trucks.

Tailgating isnt something done here. I have done it, being American, but not here. Hard to tailgate in pouring rain, as it rains most of the year non stop.

It really two different worlds.

[cook100]

I really think they are ridiculous....people here actually do need them.. farmers i mean, and oil rig workers, but not housewives especially the ones with huge tires that you have to get a boost to climb into....

[richt71]

Don't see many round me but it'd be hard to have one where I live as it's all onstreet parking with just enough room to get 2 'normal' sized vehichles parked either side of the road and allow another 'normal' vehicle access. Many times delivery lorries have to knock on doors to get people to move vehicles to get through particularly at night and weekends!

[Raggy dee Ann]

I'm not a truck girl and have never wanted one, however the best thing about the F150 my ex had was on warm summer nights and we would pile up the comforters (duvets) and camp outside for the night. It helped that we lived on a 10 acres ranch and had no immediate neighbours and lived in small town. Oh yes and the smell of the Jasmines

I see a lot of trucks and some with campers, you know the big Mitsubishi’s in my hood. I notice a lot of them have business logos for building co’s, contractors, Landscapers etc. Oh and tailgate parties can be fun.