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Old 01-03-2011, 12:36 AM   #77 (permalink)
The Rooster
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Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Amador County, CA
Posts: 111

Tree Catcher - '94 Acura Integra LS
90 day: 32.12 mpg (US)

The Old Dog - '92 Honda Accord LX
90 day: 31.58 mpg (US)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Old Mechanic View Post
The 94 T100 with the 2.4 4 cylinder had an original EPA rating of 28 highway (now 26).
With 16 years of advancement in engines, better gearing, and something like the 2.5 engine in my Altima, they could get it to 30 highway or maybe a couple of MPG higher.

That might not be enough for some who want to tow more than 6000 pounds or carry more than 2000, but it would be perfect for a lot of people. It wouldn't need to weigh more than 3200 pounds and I would wager than a lot of people would buy one if they just built a basic truck without all the rubbish that doesn't belong in a truck in the first place, if you are using it for the purpose for which it should be designed.

Of course the manufacturers and sales personnel would hate it since they can't make a ton of money on the 100% marked up options.

The two trucks I bought were both basically strippers. I took the ads with me to the dealer and basically told them that was the one I wanted. They tried to sell me anything but the cheap stripper, but miraculously "found" one when they realized I was walking out the door.

regards
Mech
I doubt it. It seems to me the only people that buy strippers are the actual truck people who use them, which has become a fairly small segment of the market...this astute assumption based on my personal observations of seeing very, very few strippers on the road.

If it were available, and people had enough money, they would by V-12 Alcohol burning 6x6 Moster trucks with Ostrich skin seats and a built in, 6 way power ego stroker. And if they don't have the money for that, they just won't buy anything. They'll go get a used one instead.

Gas prices themselves or regulations are the ONLY thing that's going to change what people want to buy. Not even the economy can kill trucks.

SUV, Truck Sales Trumping Energy Efficient Cars - CBS News

Ford's 2011, base model 4x2 F-150 with a 3.7 V6 gets 23mpg highway. This isn't far off from your current request for a basic truck that get's 30. We could also wait to see how Mahindra does once they release their trucks for sale later this year;

Mahindra Clean Diesel Pickup Trucks and SUVs

That's your pure utilitarian truck, lets see how it sells.
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