DETROIT – The hyper-competitive U.S. pickup truck market is getting even more hype with new trucks from Ford and Chrysler that look nicer, perform better and are packed with more features than their predecessors.
truckin’ ……….
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming <!—-><!—-><!—->
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
Replies
Forget hyper-competitive, it's all hype. here's some quotes from the article ...
Dodge's first four-door crew cab I thought I had seen 4-door Rams for several years
six-speed transmissions on some models, and said its three V-8 engine choices improve fuel economy by 1 mile per gallon across the F-150 lineup, which has 35 configurations Oh good ... a more complicated transmission ... one more thing to fail. Wow, an entire 1 mpg improvement. Why in the world would you want to have 35 configurations? Seems like that would keep manufacturing costs high.
changes to the Ram's interior are the big story. Everything, from the heated front and back seats to the heated steering wheel to the instrument dials, was designed to be soft to the touch. Sure looks like they are catering to to feminine side.
Ford said it used richer colors and softer, more durable fabrics. That will sure be a hit at the lumber yard.
Schiavone said he wanted to dispel a notion that the Ford brand can't be luxurious Whats wrong with a truck being a truck? Why not work on durability instead of colors?
"Put your creed in your deed." Emerson
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
I agree Ed.I worked as a porter on a car lot back in the early 70's and remember the pickup trucks coming in stripped to the bone. Actually, a "LOADED" truck meant it had an AM/FM radio and cloth seats. You couldn't ruin the interior of those old trucks.....All rubber and vinyl and not a stich of trim anywhere outside or in. All were very simple, very basic and very productive....and cheap! Bob's next test date: 12/10/07
"Ford said it used richer colors and softer, more durable fabrics. That will sure be a hit at the lumber yard." Quote
I don't know where you live. I live in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. I have lived and worked in several towns supported by the oil industry surrounded in some cases by ranches or farm country. I understand that there are more trucks per capita in Alberta than anywhere else in Canada. I understand that Texas might be the only US State that has more trucks per capita in North America than in Alberta. I have also read that it is truck sales that has kept Ford in business over the last ten years. This used to be (probably still is) a very high profit margin business. I am not sure what impact high gas prices is having.
When I lived and worked in small town Alberta, many families did "not" own a car but had a well appointed truck in their driveways. Most of those trucks never visited a lumber yard. Most of those trucks were used for "play" and not "work." You know to haul all their toys; snowmobiles, quads, boats, trailers etc.
Even the local contractors seem to own well appointed trucks. You know the kind that you see Tom Silva and his crew on "This Old House."
The biggest thing in the past genration that has stimulated truck sales was the introduction of CAFE standards making cars smaller and lighter and for a while less powerful. Trucks were often not subject to all th esame rules, so families opted for trucks instead of cars. Some states I have lived in like Texas probably have more trucks than they do cars.So there are a multiple number of uses for trucks - thus a great variety of configurations to satisfy all the demands of the different users.SUVs then came to meet that market by putting passenger car comfort on a truck frame. It is the trucks and SUVs where Ford and probably the other makers have made their money the last twenty years. There is more profit there.So they are simply meeting market demand.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Yeah, I know they are meeting market demand, but wait a minute. If trucks were trucks, and didn't have leather seats and heated steering wheels and dvd players for the back seat ... who would buy them? People who need to haul stuff. Like someone said, they are becoming sedans with big open trunks."Put your creed in your deed." Emerson
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
me...i used to buy stripped F100... along about '91, i upgraded to XLT .. i wouldn't go back unless i had no choice
i always get 2wd, standard cab, 8' bed..... the new cab with the rear mini-doors & 17" storage behind the seat, really meets my needs for in-cab storage
i spend a lot of time in my truck, about 25,000 miles a year.. the creature comforts make it a lot nicer
http://www.fordvehicles.com/trucks/f150/Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Yup, life is too short to drive a bad (ugly, uncomfortable) truck.Alan
Now that sounds like common sense to me.
MikeInsert initially amusing but ultimately annoying catch phrase here.
They are becoming nothing but big sedans. Crew cab with a four or six foot bed. BFD.
Mike
all bling...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!