What happened to small trucks?

[Kenneth in Texas]

Small trucks like the ford ranger, nissan, mitsubishi, chev S10, toyotas, and any others? Seemed like in their day they were very popular, now cant even buy one new.

 

[troutsqueezer]

They were bouncy, they hopped all over the road, they didn't have plush seats and all the amenities that your typical biased car magazine writers thought they should have so they gave them low marks, completely missing the purpose of such vehicles. Everyone should drive a vehicle that is sexy, exciting, goes fast and has Bluetooth or it isn't worth owning. Didn't you know that?

 

[ultrarunner]

I had a 91 longbed S10 with 4.3 V6 and also a 91 Silverado Styleside with 5.7 V8

The S10 actually road very well empty.

The Silverado road well with load.

The kicker is I got better mileage with the 5.7 port fuel injected Silverado than I did with the 4.3 fuel injected... plus the Silverado could tow a heck of a lot more and carry more.

Kept the Silverado and sold the S10 with 43,000 miles.

 

[Thomas]

Makers claim demand wasn't there and $$$$ on sales.

 

[vtsnowedin]

I'm driving a 2011 Nissan Frontier that has a six speed tranny and gets 23MPG. Rides nice and has blue tooth hands free phone built into it. So if you know what you want you can find it.

 

[2458n]

It is hard to believe all the truck makers decided to dump this entire class of vehicles all at once. I was part of the first round of small truck buyers when going to school. Bought a new Datsun and paid for it with the fuel saving. I really wished I had waited on the 4x4 Toyota. Drove a good number of Rangers when Ford got away from the Courier. Luv trucks were also popular. There still should be a market out there for a small truck.

 

[DHD]

Got very basic 2007 2wd 5 speed standard Tacoma with a fiberglass cap, rides very nice, and I love all the leg room, have seen on rare occasions 30 mpg and once 32 mpg. Usually mpg is around 26-28 mpg. Only got about 27K and still running the original tires.
I wish the back springs were a little more HD on some loads I've hauled, but then my ride wouldn't be so smooth.
Tows my 5x10 single axle utility trailer real nice, even when trailers been way over loaded.
Only drive it in the summer when there's no salt on the roads, truck should out last me.

 

[square1]

While driving today take note of the number of standard pick-ups you see. If you hit double digits I'll be surprised. The pick up today has to be huge!

The market for a sub compact or even standard cab pick up is practically nil. They are available, but since you don't see them on the road it kind of supports the manufacturers decision to not produce them.

 

[JKR]

Big truck took over small truck because of the incentives from the manufacture. We all seam to be price divine.
So if you get a better price and more for your money. What will you buy? The bigger truck.
I work for Toyota and yes we sell Tacoma's but the Tundra out sells it.
Take a $34,000 Tacoma no program vs a Tundra at $39,000 with a program just use 0% for the Tundra and nothing for the Tacoma. The payment will be the same or less on the Tundra vs the Tacoma.
Tacoma selling for $33000 @ 4.9% 60 month $680 vs $37,000 Tundra @ 0% $616. Just and example of why the big trucks sell better. Yes there are a lot of other factor when buying and truck.

 

[Baby Grand]

An in-law buys the biggest truck he can get with the most options so he can depreciate it as part of his construction business expense.
After a few years, he sells it (for a surprisingly high price). Then he gets an even bigger one.

He sells the "old" one to a soccer mom or office worker who has felt intimidated on the interstate while commuting in a sensible vehicle and has now become a player in the bigger is safer head game.

I'm so happy that my taxes can help subsidize his lavish life style.
If only I could do more ...

I have been looking at small, used, commercial diesels for my next vehicle.
Something in the $6 - 10k range.
Something with ample torque, payload and braking power is of primary interest.
Cup holders, Bluetooth, fart control, etc is of no use ... well, maybe fart control.
It won't get a lot of use, but when it does, I'm going to work it, and hard.