[stephenhuey]

There are only a couple million farmers in the United States, and yet the top 5 manufacturers of pickups sell a couple million trucks every year, and the F-Series is nearly a million of those sales. I guarantee farmers are not buying a new pickup every year! (And yes, in my part of Texas a lot of people just say "pickup" instead of "pickup truck"). I'm a city dweller and there are plenty of pickups around, but I can tell you know tons of Texans in both cities and smaller towns who wouldn't even consider buying anything other than a pickup for their daily driver (and no, they're not farmers).

A lot of people around the country don't realize that lots of commercials are tailored for Texas. A big part of those are pickup commercials, saying they're built "Texas tough" or whatever.

[ajuc]

That sounds completely crazy from european POV. I've seen probably less than 50 pickup trucks in my life. How do you drive that thing in a city? Where do you park it?

[reportingsjr]

People in the US are obsessed with cars, and as a result cities have been forced to build expensive, absolutely massive streets and even more expensive parking structures.

There seems to be a bit of growing pushback on this since it causes a ton of deaths and injuries due to speeding, drivers not paying attention, etc.

Although a lot of the larger, more dangerous streets in cities are run by state level Dept of Transportations whose only care in the world is how quickly a car can get from point A to point B, and won't downsize streets even though their standards say it is acceptable.

There are lots of videos, etc out there on the insane size increase of driving lanes to accommodate these massive vehicles speeding through areas.

[hedora]

It is hard, but possible.

I’ve had to park the truck in downtown San Francisco a half dozen times. I’m pretty good at fitting into tiny spots, but it devolved into Austin Powers-style 100-point turns a few times. That’s with cameras, proximity sensors, power fold mirrors, sticking heads out the window, etc. I take the car instead of the truck whenever it’s possible.

As someone who’s visited Europe a few times, I can say that your big city delivery truck drivers make it look easier than it is in the US. I’ve seen more than one back down an alley at speed after folding back their mirrors to make the truck fit!

An American pickup truck is comparable in size to a European-style delivery van. (Eg: the common Mercedes ones, or the things where the driver sits over the engine.) US delivery trucks are much larger. Our streets were made after automobiles were common, so they’re wider than they should be (I prefer to walk!). That makes driving a truck easy.

Parking spots tend to be under-sized, however. Also, there aren’t consistent rules regarding “compact” or even full-sized parking spots. Some compact spots can’t fit an American sports car (it will be over the lines on both sides, but other compact spots are 2 feet wider and 4 feet longer than a full sized pickup truck.

[MarioMan]

Parking spaces and roads average significantly larger in the states to accommodate pickup trucks, SUVs, etc. Americans love their big cars for the flexibility it affords.

[cosmodisk]

We used to have this mentality back home: Normal cars- only German made , if you can't afford normal car- buy Japanese,as a second best option,which really is the worst option. And the rest of the brands? Nobody really buys them unless they are crazy.

[protomyth]

Funny, I guess we the low-rent version growing up: Chevy cars and Ford Trucks. Oh, the comments when the redesigned Dodge RAM showed up and some folks bought it. Now if I had to choose, I would probably buy a taco (Toyota Tacoma).

[unethical_ban]

For sedans, perhaps. The quality and reliability (and looks) of American trucks vs. cars can be a bit different.

I stand by my Mazda, though. 2014, 110k and it has only needed a replacement alternator.