I dunno. I had to drive a truck over the weekend, to move 3 cords of wood. I rented an F250, which is a big truck. It was useful to have; there's no way that I would have been able to move that much wood with a smaller truck and trailer, and, if my driveway wasn't so tight, it would have been nicer to rent a larger dump trailer (I'm pretty sure that I was over the maximum load rating on the trailer for each trip).

...But it's not a fun truck to drive. Power is slow compared to the compact car I usually drive, and very slow compared to my motorcycle, steering feels sloppy, brakes are feel mushy, fuel economy is terrible, and it was so goddamn big that I had to drive very carefully to be sure that it wasn't over any of the lines on the road. Aside from the ability to move a very heavy load--greater than a ton--it really doesn't have much of anything going for it. I can't imagine why most people would want one, compared to a vehicle that allows them to react quickly.

...Or compared to functioning public transit.

I think this is USA only. Maybe mention that in the title. They don't sell half of those cars here.

That is primarily a US problem. Here, a pickup owner is either a gardener or an excentric.

It's an arms race to not die in a car crash.

Story time. I was going back home yesterday when I saw this lifted F250 tailgating a Chevy sedan for going 5 over the speed limit (clearly the pickup wanted to go faster), so I can guarantee you that the Chevy driver will get something bigger if they can for their next car because having a monster truck right behind you seems t scare the shit out of most people so they feel safer in a larger vehicle.

I can't even bother to give a shit if that were happening to me.

I think that compact SUV is an optimal car. It is not too big (sized like a normal car), it doesn't consume too much fuel, you can drive to the countryside (with light offroad) and it has enough space for some load and passengers feel comfortable. It can have AWD but I think that differential block is more important than AWD.

🤮

Unless you work in construction, or have a similar need for a pickup, fuck you for buying one.

Here's a fun anecdote: I live in California, where these vehicles are (mostly) limited to those who need them. In 2018, I visited family in the midwest. We played a game of counting the pickups while walking a short trip from a hotel to a chain outlet. We hit 99 pickups by the time we got to the doors. I was irritated that we got to 99 and not 100 cause that would have been so awesome, but seriously. 99?! In just several minutes. People drive them for fashion, not for practical need.

Every pickup driver that doesn't "need" a pickup is my enemy.

Within the "truck" class of vehicles, EPA fuel efficiency standards are based on weight. It's easier to build heavy trucks and SUVs that meet those standards, than light trucks.

Effectively, the US government legislated heavier trucks and SUVs.

Video that explains it.

Well, we needed a vehicle that could fit two children and related sports gear and, ideally, haul bikes at some point, and the had the cargo capacity for the yearly road trip vacation with the extended family. A small SUV was the winner as no car measured up and a true truck was overkill.

Shocking though it may be, for many, the use case may be valid.

Stop buying bigger and bigger cars.

I drive a station wagon because I need to fit two dogs in the booth plus and entire family in the same car. But this is a transitory need. At some point I'll either get a small van, for carrying the dogs, or a small hatchback and have the backseats always folded down.

You should buy according to your true needs not market pressure.

I saw a truck with regular old halogens the other day and it still seared my retinas. Fucking hate how tall every vehicle is now.