I need your help!! Frontier or Tacoma???

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I did drive an F150 later on. Very nice also but if you don't want/need the full size truck its another category.

Cant wait to see the ecoboost MPG numbers for the F150. Anybody got those numbers?

J

[Billy Pilgrim]

Why would you buy any truck on the US Market today? Nothing gets better than 20-22 mpg.

No offense to the particular life situation you might be experiencing. I get that you might really need a small truck right now, and that you truly might have the need for a small pickup now.

That said, consider that you are going to be hating your life this summer when gas hits $3.50. The only thing that is keeping gas prices as low as they are right now is that we are on the back side of the worst recession any of us have ever imagined. To purchase either of these trucks right now, is a questionable move. You are purchasing over $20k of capital equipment uniquely suited to underperform for the life of the automobile.

Consider that if we (and China/India) have a strong recovery through 2010 into 2011, there is a good chance that gas could exceed $5 in the summer of 2011. On Friday, oil hit $85/bbl. The 24 month outlook for oil could see over $150/bbl oil. This isn't speculation, folks, it's demand. Last summer, China was selling over 140,000 Volkswagens per month. The long term price for oil is headed up, not staying neutral or going down. Do you really want to be saddled with one of those pigs if this happens?

Also consider that CAFE efficiency standards were promulgated this week. The upshot is that the CAFE rules give manufacturers a definitive requirement to get fleet averages to 34.5 mpg by 2016. Choice will be out there, for the consumer that is savvy enough to wait.

I am sure that I am more desperate that almost anyone on this board for Mahindra to come through with their diesel pickup. I drive a 1999 Oldsmobile Alero with 193,000 miles on it. I even pulled my boat with it last year (I only live 5 miles from the boat ramp, with liberal use of 1st and 2nd gear).

If the Alero kicks the bucket I will immediately proceed to Carmax to purchase a used Subaru Forester (AWD is not an option in UT, it's a necessity). What I will not do, under any circumstances, is acquiesce to auto manufacturer's insistence that owning a pickup, having AWD (or 4WD) and engine efficiency greater than 28 mpg is somehow prohibited by the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics!

Well, it isn't! The only thing keeping consumers from having vehicle choice is their belief that we will give in buy what they manufacture. The only way to send manufacturers a message is to AVOID THEIR PRODUCTS until they manufacture and market the products that they are capable of building and that we deserve.

I solemnly VOW to not own a pickup that doesn't break 26 mpg and offer AWD/FWD. If that means buying a subaru and a trailer, so be it.

But good luck to you in your search. If it means that a Frontier or a Tacoma are in your future because of your circumstances, I hope that it works out for you.

Thank you for the space to share this rant.

[clubgitmo]

Ford Ranger @ 27mpg
Chevy Colorado @ 25mpg

But I agree with what you're saying.


Also, on a side note. Anyone worried about rising fuel prices should own stock in oil related industries. When gas goes up, I make money. When gas goes down, I lose money; but I save money at the pump. Win win either way

[Billy Pilgrim]

Clubgitmo,

Can you give me more specifics with respect to the Ford Ranger (27 mpg) and Chevy Colorado (25 mpg)? Are either one of the vehicles 4WD capable?

Any details you could provide with respect to the package are welcome.

A 27 mpg truck that is 4WD would be a consideration.

[clubgitmo]

I looked up both, and apparently Ford doesn't offer 4x4 with the 4 banger. I swear auto companies are getting dumber'er! The 4 banger did fine with the 4wd for years, and now that 4 banger has the same HP as the older V6'ers, Ford drops the 4wd. Who comes up with this crap?

The Colorado offers 4wd with the straight 5 engine, but you lose a MPG. So, it'd be 24mpg highway. Still not bad for a midsize truck.

[clubgitmo]

Originally Posted by blue7.3

dude, evryone likes french fries and tacos. Tacos especially w/ refried beans! Almost as good as pizza...

-pete

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[moulin6801]

Good writting Billy Prilgrim
You make me think of my own vow not to get a pickup truck until I could get at the leat 25mph, it seems that the Tacoma can do that in the Hwy (or my own excuse to ge one of these)
You are righ on everything.... But I need a pickup this summer, getting a boat. I have been pulling my jet ski with my Mazda3 (and it is doing a great job with it) but that's all I can do with it.
I guess I am just getting really pissed off with Mahindra with all this Jerking around and no solution in site...

[blue7.3]

Originally Posted by clubgitmo

. . . .. . . . . . . . . . . ,.-‘”. . . . . . . . . .``~.,
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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _

Yo dude! An Ar-Teest in our midst!

-pete

[blue7.3]

Originally Posted by Billy Pilgrim

Why would you buy any truck on the US Market today? Nothing gets better than 20-22 mpg.

No offense to the particular life situation you might be experiencing. I get that you might really need a small truck right now, and that you truly might have the need for a small pickup now.

That said, consider that you are going to be hating your life this summer when gas hits $3.50. The only thing that is keeping gas prices as low as they are right now is that we are on the back side of the worst recession any of us have ever imagined. To purchase either of these trucks right now, is a questionable move. You are purchasing over $20k of capital equipment uniquely suited to underperform for the life of the automobile.

Consider that if we (and China/India) have a strong recovery through 2010 into 2011, there is a good chance that gas could exceed $5 in the summer of 2011. On Friday, oil hit $85/bbl. The 24 month outlook for oil could see over $150/bbl oil. This isn't speculation, folks, it's demand. Last summer, China was selling over 140,000 Volkswagens per month. The long term price for oil is headed up, not staying neutral or going down. Do you really want to be saddled with one of those pigs if this happens?

Also consider that CAFE efficiency standards were promulgated this week. The upshot is that the CAFE rules give manufacturers a definitive requirement to get fleet averages to 34.5 mpg by 2016. Choice will be out there, for the consumer that is savvy enough to wait.

I am sure that I am more desperate that almost anyone on this board for Mahindra to come through with their diesel pickup. I drive a 1999 Oldsmobile Alero with 193,000 miles on it. I even pulled my boat with it last year (I only live 5 miles from the boat ramp, with liberal use of 1st and 2nd gear).

If the Alero kicks the bucket I will immediately proceed to Carmax to purchase a used Subaru Forester (AWD is not an option in UT, it's a necessity). What I will not do, under any circumstances, is acquiesce to auto manufacturer's insistence that owning a pickup, having AWD (or 4WD) and engine efficiency greater than 28 mpg is somehow prohibited by the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics!

Well, it isn't! The only thing keeping consumers from having vehicle choice is their belief that we will give in buy what they manufacture. The only way to send manufacturers a message is to AVOID THEIR PRODUCTS until they manufacture and market the products that they are capable of building and that we deserve.

I solemnly VOW to not own a pickup that doesn't break 26 mpg and offer AWD/FWD. If that means buying a subaru and a trailer, so be it.

But good luck to you in your search. If it means that a Frontier or a Tacoma are in your future because of your circumstances, I hope that it works out for you.

Thank you for the space to share this rant.

Nice rant dude! Just fyi, I had to look... a 2008 <I guessed the year> Forester w/ a naturally aspirated 4 cyl. w/ auto gets 22/26. Tow ratings are 1000 lbs w/out brakes, 2400 lbs w/ brakes and a tranny cooler. It's a light-weight unibody people mover, not a tow rig. That's why trucks weigh more and get poorer fuel mileage. They are expected to take a load (carried or towed), and in some not-so nice conditions.
I only partially understand the continued reluctance from the manufacturers to bring in the existing small diesels they have overseas (the new Ranger diesel looks awsome!), but I do know that they are tryng to improve the mileage of everything they have (even the Mustang 5.0 gets better mileage then it's 4.6 predesessor, and it has 97 MORE hp).
But Subies ARE nice cars. You see them all over northern New England...

-pete

[Billy Pilgrim]

It is good to remember the Chevy I-5.

I thought that engine was a serious move in the right direction by Chevrolet. The straight five is an underutilized powerplant and is actually the most balanced engine configuration.

What I really, really, really want is a small diesel though.

I'll hang on as long as I can before making any rash decisions.