[kungfooey]

I hope those trucks become white elephants.

I haul a lot of dirt, hay, etc for gardening and drive a 1993 Ford Ranger. Even the new Rangers are twice as large (sits higher, taller, and wider) and the bed is 1-2 feet smaller. I just really don't understand the appeal from a usefulness perspective.

[ta1243]

In the UK in my rural area there are two types of pickup truck. The first is the old beatup two-door ones which you see in a field or with a sheep in the back.

The second is far more common, they are pristine, as if they've just been valleted, they have 4 doors, and are often parked in the disabled space at the local shop.

Seems that these 4 door monstrosities "Ranger", "Warrior" etc, have major tax benefits. You can claim them as a working vehicle so your company pays for them, where paying for a typical car attracts benefit-in-kind taxation.

[acdha]

It’s about image, not utility. I’ve had a few big projects in the past couple of years and all but one of the tradespeople drove vans (your tools don’t get stolen/wet) or an old, small pickup. I asked the HVAC guy about that pickup and he noted that it got better mileage, held and much, and he never had trouble parking.

[onlyrealcuzzo]

> I just really don't understand the appeal from a usefulness perspective.

Most $100k are about signaling in the same way most $100k cars are...

The vehicle doesn't need to be useful (or have any utility) to signal.

[recursivedoubts]

1981 Toyota Pickup/HiLux was the peak

[wing-_-nuts]

My father has an 83 that's been used as a hunting truck for the past 40 years. I'm convinced that truck caused toyota to go back to the drawing board and redesign for planned obsolescence.

[recursivedoubts]

my rage is immense and my day is ruined

[hk1337]

I miss my 1994 Ranger. I wish I hadn't gotten rid of it.

[cityofdelusion]

I replaced my 1993 Ranger with a Maverick, and it is absolutely the spiritual successor, plus significantly more safe and capable. Rangers were awesome but against modern cars they crumple into a heap of metal and flesh in a big crash.

[hk1337]

That seems like a better option than the new Ranger. I waited for that to come out for so long to check it out and was so disappointed.

[dkjaudyeqooe]

That's officially a classic car now, soon it may be worth quite a bit.

But yeah only a small percentage people who buy trucks use them for truck purposes, it's mostly about making themselves feel a certain way by driving such a vehicle.

[zdragnar]

They are extremely comfortable to ride in. I struggle with 90+ percent of sedans and crossovers because I have to slouch just to see out the front of the car.

I also use it for towing trailers and moving fallen trees that I buck and split for firewood, which is something I don't want to do with a lighter framed vehicle. I don't know that I'd own one if I didn't do that, I suppose.

[dkjaudyeqooe]

Sounds like you've got a good reason to own a truck. My comment isn't to say there is no valid reason to own a truck, just that most people don't have one.