[Frank Lee]

Originally Posted by mja1

I want a heavy 'gas hog' as people call them. Well not a gas hog but something that can tow and work. Preferably something that can get decent mileage. How do you think 1/3 of the people with trucks can afford their gas... because those trucks are what enables them to make the money to pay for the gas.

If I had a hatchback civic, no way I could make nearly the same money as I do now, not until a college degree is had. I'd be making half at best, working as a waiter/bartender somewhere. Can't do contract work or heavy manual labor with little cars... can't tow a 5,000+ lb trailer 500 miles and back for months in a row, can't fit two refrigerators or kitchen cabinets in a metro or a full ton of wood/cement for building projects etc. Some people don't have the extra cash to pay insurance on 4 separate vehicles, or an awesome life/health insurance plan for a motorcycle, so they stick with the one that's most practical (and reliable) and pay the extra 40$/week at the pump. 40$ is 1-3 hours of manual labor, it makes up for itself very quickly.

This is probably a touchy subject on the eco forum, but some people like to spend an extra 100$ a week in gas at the 1/8th mile or autocross every now & then to have fun. But other people will drop well over 100$ eating pasta and drinking wine for an hour, to each their own.

It doesn't take all that much observation of traffic, vehicles, and how they're being used to realize that 95% of pickups aren't engaged in any work other than that of daily driver for the solo occupant. We didn't all just fall off the turnip "truck" (PUN!).