americans want heavy gas hogs

[Thymeclock]

Originally Posted by jamesqf

Who suggested otherwise? But as you say, it's a free country, which means we're free to derive enjoyment from poking fun at their foolishnes.

Originally Posted by PaleMelanesian:

I like the ones who drive shiny trucks to the construction office, then take the company truck from there to the job site. Why does the personal vehicle need to be a truck?

I replied:

It's the idea of their keeping up with the times and being fashionable, which in this case amounts to a display of ego and/or machismo. It's a free country. Let 'em spend their money on such foolishness.

RE: "Who suggested otherwise?" I simply answered the question posed. Why does that draw a provocative remark from you?

BTW we are also free to throw our money away on trucks if we want to.

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by Thymeclock

RE: "Who suggested otherwise?" I simply answered the question posed. Why does that draw a provocative remark from you?

And I answered the question posed by your answer. That is what conversations are about, you know. Why does that draw a provocative remark from you? Or are you Sir Oracle now?

BTW we are also free to throw our money away on trucks if we want to.

Yes, and the rest of us are free to make fun of you for doing so. What's your problem with that?

[mja1]

Originally Posted by jamesqf

What you don't seem to realize here is that if you're working normal construction, that ton of wood or concrete is delivered to the job site, then the workers take days or weeks installing it, so you have e.g. one heavy truck trip with materials plus 20, 40, or more trips carrying a single worker and maybe a few tools. It's just an ego thing that a lot of the workers think the need to take themselves to the job site in a F-350 4x4.

I remember typing in one of these, that if you're a subcontractor or just commute to construction work/site then you can get away with it. But for those of us self employed or contract out labor we need a way of moving materials. There's been more than a few times in the past where I've said to myself, crap this little truck won't be able to handle this load, but thankfully it did. If we can't move the load that day, or it costs another 150$+ to rent a box or flatbed for the day (plus pay the extra diesel), then we lose out in that money, plus time, plus the customer/contract won't be too happy to hear we can't move a few tons of materials because we have a civic.

It also depends on how much gear and people are carried to the site. There's a point, if you're rigging or climbing/cable work for example, you can't fit that weight or bulk in a small car.

[mikehallbackhoe]

no one is saying that some contractors don't need a full size truck for their work, but there are a lot of people out there who drive big trucks, and never put anything in the back. I will say though, nobody needs the absurd amoiunt of power they are putting in these trucks.

[mja1]

mikehallbackhoe - That's very true, the v6 truck has served me well pulling around as much as I've needed. Most it's been loaded down was around a full ton in the bed towing a 5,000lb trailer. Not a good idea for 1/2 ton, but had to be done at the time. I really love the full size diesel guys who are seeing 25 mpg that's an inspiration

[Thymeclock]

Originally Posted by jamesqf

And I answered the question posed by your answer. That is what conversations are about, you know. Why does that draw a provocative remark from you? Or are you Sir Oracle now?

"Who suggested otherwise?" shows a certain attitude. "Or are you Sir Oracle now?" shows sarcasm.

Yes, and the rest of us are free to make fun of you for doing so. What's your problem with that?

As usual, it shows your quickness to become insulting and incite others to join you. Keep it up and the moderators might close the thread to reward you for your incivility.

[mechman600]

I get that many contractors need a big pickup truck. I also get that many do not. Take my father in law. He owns a flooring company. He drives his Duramax diesel all over the city measuring floors and golfing. It would be a good truck for hauling rolls of carpet and boxes of flooring, but that's what his delivery truck is for - a small cab over Mitsubishi with a van body (that gets 13-15 mpg, which is ridiculously good for what it is!). He could do his job with a Prius V.

BUT........

Canadian tax rules. You cannot own a business only vehicle that has more than two doors.

Plus, he does need to look the part for contractors. The construction trade is dumb for having the "big diesel pickup" expectation in the first place. Remnants from an obsolete past?

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by Thymeclock

"Who suggested otherwise?" shows a certain attitude. "Or are you Sir Oracle now?" shows sarcasm.

Well, that's some progress :-)

As usual, it shows your quickness to become insulting and incite others to join you. Keep it up and the moderators might close the thread to reward you for your incivility.

I recall to your attention some lines from Robert Burns:

O wad some Power the giftie gie us
To see oursels as ithers see us!
It wad frae monie a blunder free us,
An' foolish notion:

[wdb]

Originally Posted by Fat Charlie

Since mass doesn't absorb energy, I can't support considering it a safety "feature."

In fact it should be considered the opposite. More mass at a given speed = more energy which could be transferred to the human components in the event of a loss of control of that mass.

[wdb]

Originally Posted by mechman600

Canadian tax rules. You cannot own a business only vehicle that has more than two doors.

CRZ? Miata? There's quite a list.