They're losing their most vocal supporters, though. Cartuber types have generally been big boosters of EVs, but they're visibly backing away from them now. Example from just today:
One of the main arguments of the green movements is that "it will get better" which people bought wholesale, but it's been nearly a decade of EV cars and they still suck monumentally, nothing was fixed and the faults far outweigh the positives. With the dawning realization that a 7 year old might as well be a total loss, you need to be insane to call yourself a car person and keep supporting those cars. If any of those cartubers own a repair shop then they probably realized that the movement will ruin their livelihoods since only the manufacturer would be able to repair cars, and their clientele would massively drop since no one can afford the price ranges for a new car and there won't be a second hand car market.
Tyler's takes are usually pretty mild but he hit the nail on the head about Ford's pickup truck priorities. Ford really should have focused on the Maverick production instead of the Lightning's. GM is pretty slow to respond to the gap in the market despite the high demand for regular gas compact trucks. I guess they don't want a repeat of the C10.
You're telling me there's a market in the North America for front wheel drive not trucks?
I had the pleasure of driving one of those i7 at a BMW event and that thing has gobs of torque. That's the only party trick though. The rest of the car feels like a gimmick.
It would be nice if the Maverick was made in larger quantities to meet demand and not overpriced through dealer markups. Though the Santa Fe exists it's a bit more expensive. That's why I think there's still a gap in the market.You're telling me there's a market in the North America for front wheel drive not trucks?
The 04+ Tacoma really hurt the compact truck market NA. The Maverick is going to kill it. Kei truck imports are going to keep it dead.
I think there's a Toyota minitruck coming out? I hope Mazda brings back the B-series. not the nasty Ford clone tho
The Toyota Stout? I'll believe it when I see it on the roads and isn't marked up ridiculous amounts. That would actually be something I would get since I'm not a fan of Ford.
Considering Mazda is rebadging T6 Rangers, I don't think that's happening.
...why? FWD gives you better control in icy conditions, and it's the smallest truck on the market while still conforming to safety and efficiency standards. Something that small and light isn't going to tow a fuckton, and if you're regularly hauling stuff to heavy for the box then you'd normally get abigger truck anyways.
Unibody+100,000 miles of gravel roads. There are a lot of irrigated farmers that daily I4/5sp Rangers all summer. Especially the farmers that still have some flood irrigation. They need something to haul a Montezuma box, some fuel, a drive motor or gearbox and if they're having a bad day a irrigator wheel/tire. They also need something that's cheaper to drive around all day than their F350-550. 10 years ago, the local diner in a town with 4 buildings would have 15-20 Rangers in the parking lot every morning. When the supply of decent Rangers dried up, some of them started using Kei trucks.
In cars. When you have a 40/60 weight balance, not so much. I have driven a sprinter and pro master in 6" of snow and ice and while neither was particularly fun, I could actually get some where with the sprinter.
It's really gay when they replace the gear shift with a knob or buttons. There's nothing like the feeling of grabbing that metal dick and sliding the vehicle into reverse and drive and feeling the mechanical gears click in your hand, and despite how that reads it's still less gay then a fucking knob or unintuitive button press.
They are linked with General Motors so if they bring shit into the US that's not a commercial truck, sadly it will be rebranded GM. I guess you could buy the smallest Isuzu truck (elf) though. Or just buy an Isuzu engine from them and swap it into car of your choice. You can buy an "industrial" isuzu generator/engine which is basically an 4JB1T, as a matter of fact, it has the same flywheel attachment as the Japanese built Isuzu Troopers/Pickups.
Is it so hard to ask for an efficent diesel for light pickup duty in moving things (inline 4) that don't fit into enclosed vehicles well? I don't need a GOTTA GO FAST vehicle like most stuff today, I just want to move my odd ass equipment across long stretches of road at maximum MPG.
GM had a decent MPG pickup with a Diesel in the Canyon/Colorado. Mine gets 28 or so unloaded on the highway. But they don't sell those any more.
I knew a guy who got low 50s on the Ford (Mazda) Ranger inline-4 turbo swapped to the 2011 gen Ranger chasis. Shame they don't make the small ones no more. Yeah it took forever for that piece of shit to hit 70mph but the MPG is 100% worth it if you're driving long country roads.
Yep, EVs are extremely difficult to repair beyond basic bodywork and if the battery is damaged you're out tens of thousands of dollars.
The Maverick is in the same platform as the Escape and Bronco sport. Ford actually made it as a compliance/CAFE gaming vehicle and were shocked by how well it sold. Turns out a little truck for $21k that gets high 30s MPG is REALLY popular.
Ugghhhh so many carmakers are mindlessly following the idiotic Tesla "all screen" UI except... Toyota and oddly enough GM.
The Maverick is enough truck for 70% of truck buyers in the USA of people were actually honest with themselves.You're telling me there's a market in the North America for front wheel drive not trucks?
The 04+ Tacoma really hurt the compact truck market NA. The Maverick is going to kill it. Kei truck imports are going to keep it dead.
* Bronco Sport. It, the Maverick and the Escape area all on the same platform.
The Maverick has an AWD version. Not a true 4x4 vehicle but it's something.
