Quote:
Originally Posted by Fat Charlie
Arragonis- we're a lot more decentralized than Europe, and decentralizing things makes for lots of inefficiency. You've got more rail over there, sure, but Wikipedia says that Western Europe has 165,331 km of rail (I just zipped down the list and I know I missed Portugal with its 2,842km) while we "only" have 226,427 km. Out here, you've got to have your own infrastructure, and some way to "haul stuff" is a big part of that.
Hatchbacks and wagons are really effective at that, but mpg requirements actually killed them here because the requirements weren't paired with meaningful gas taxes- people got the same utility (and more manliness) by buying an SUV that didn't have to meet the same requirements as cars. Since gas was so cheap for so long, there was no real incentive for people to buy cars instead of trucks. Add a little shortsightedness about real costs and a lot of marketing, and you wind up with a country full of chromed out quad cabs with V-8s. |
Charlie - I appreciate the reply but I think you are confusing a number of issues.
Firstly I am not in Portugal, I am in the UK - we invented trains here but we have not extended the network for a very long time. Certainly hauling things to my door or even to the store where I might spend my cash is more likely to have been done by road than rail. Rail these days is mainly used for passengers.
Even with that I don't need a truck - seriously. Let me give 2 examples. Last year I bought a fridge - the retailer offered free delivery, so no issue.
I also bought a shed with no delivery. I ended up paying a "man with a van" £50 for 2 hours of loading, shipping and unloading to my door with me helping. Again no need for a truck.
Most people in Europe (certainly in the UK) do not even have the space for an extra truck not doing anything. And road laws here in the UK mean that if I did decide to buy one I have to insure it for the whole 12 months (even if I don't use it) and I also have to road tax it even if I don't use it.
Given that assuming I had a need to own a truck I wouldn't, I would buy a
Transit Van - it drives better than a truck, uses less fuel, has more torque, more load space, better built and better FE, even with a 4cy TDCI.