The New Republic: dissing full-size pickups

[EdDucks916]

http://www.tnr.com/easterbrook.mhtml?week=2004-01-20

See above, click link, and read down to where it says "Even worse than SUV's" (1.21.04).

Be aware that the publication mostly has left-leaning political views.

-- By the way, waiting for the Titan and 2006 Tundra to shake out the first-year bugs, observing what they will do to Detroit's "imperial empire" they call the full-size truck market. --

[consideringtitan]

That guys full of it. Weighs over 3 tons. Yeah right. My 2003 Dodge Ram Quad Cab 4x4 loaded up with everything except power pedals, side curtain airbags, leather heated seats, and upgraded sound system weighs around 5700-5800 pounds with the 20 inch wheels, nerf bars, and spray-in liner. And before that I had a 4.7L Dodge Dakota. Ummm they do make LEV or California specific versions of most vehicles. That was one of the holds up on the first Dodge HO Cummins for Cali residents. I pulled this from a site:

The 235-horsepower rating for the 4.7L Power Tech V8 engine does not apply to Low Emission Vehicles (LEV). The horsepower rating is 230 in the following LEV states: CA, CT, DE, MA, MD, NH, NJ, NY, RI, PA, VA, VT and the District of Columbia.

This guy needs to do research and oh he should restate the weights. Here's the heaviest Tundra and Titan per carpoint.

Toyota Tundra Limited Double Cab 4WD: 5020 lbs curb weight http://autos.msn.com/research/vip/spec_Exterior.aspx?

modelid=11034&trimid=-1&src=VIP&tab=2&sub=3

Nissan Titan LE Crew Cab 4WD: 5341 lbs curb weight

http://autos.msn.com/research/vip/sp...IP&tab=2&sub=3

And oh about the gas mileage remark. I normally get 15.25-16 mpg on highway with my HEMI going 60-65 mph and that was driving from North Dakota to Montana. Last time I checked a Nissan Altima with the V6 and 5 spd was getting 23 mpg as a best highway and that was with the 6 spd per http://www.altimas.net

[shleprock]

Yeaaaaah I love my MEGATRUCK!!!!...

[shleprock]

Originally Posted by EdDucks916

http://www.tnr.com/easterbrook.mhtml?week=2004-01-20

See above, click link, and read down to where it says "Even worse than SUV's" (1.21.04).

Be aware that the publication mostly has left-leaning political views.

-- By the way, waiting for the Titan and 2006 Tundra to shake out the first-year bugs, observing what they will do to Detroit's "imperial empire" they call the full-size truck market. --

More Left wing Bull****..(sorry)

[cttitan]

Originally Posted by EdDucks916

http://www.tnr.com/easterbrook.mhtml?week=2004-01-20

See above, click link, and read down to where it says "Even worse than SUV's" (1.21.04).

Be aware that the publication mostly has left-leaning political views.

-- By the way, waiting for the Titan and 2006 Tundra to shake out the first-year bugs, observing what they will do to Detroit's "imperial empire" they call the full-size truck market. --

"Suburban buyers of mega-pickups may not care much about the cargo box, or use it much. What they're looking for is a vehicle that's huge, menacing, and exempt from mileage and pollution-control standards. "

Hey, how did he know that was what I used for my criteria to determine what kind of vehicle I wanted to buy??

[Farmer Fred]

I wrote the author an email and told him the correct curb weights for the Titan and Tundra and asked why he only quoted the EPA city mileage figures. I also told him that a lot of pickups are sold to people who use them for more than going to the mall.

He is correct about the accident statistics for pickups, and the emissions and CAFE mileage regulations not applying to pickups. As for the intended purpose of most pickups purchased, I have no idea, but I see many that never get used for anything besides commuting.

[Chilicat]

I don't get it. If I want to drive a "mega-truck" (man, do I feel virile knowing I drive one of them!), who the hell is this pencil neck to worry about my motives? Is he saying that if I'm a blue collar ditch digger, an honorable job btw IMO, making 9 bucks an hour, it's okay to drive a big truck but if I a) spent the time, money, and effort to work my *** off getting a couple graduate degrees and then b) work my *** off 60 hours a week to make myself into a white collar executive, and I decide to drive a truck vs. a 100k German import, I'm somehow a bad person?

Funny how the left always maintains we have no right to judge people, yet they want to deconstruct and apply motives to all actions of anyone they deem not worthy. Ah well, I'd be bitter too if I didn't have a mega-truck.

[jd1973]

Originally Posted by Chilicat

I don't get it. If I want to drive a "mega-truck" (man, do I feel virile knowing I drive one of them!), who the hell is this pencil neck to worry about my motives? Is he saying that if I'm a blue collar ditch digger, an honorable job btw IMO, making 9 bucks an hour, it's okay to drive a big truck but if I a) spent the time, money, and effort to work my *** off getting a couple graduate degrees and then b) work my *** off 60 hours a week to make myself into a white collar executive, and I decide to drive a truck vs. a 100k German import, I'm somehow a bad person?

Funny how the left always maintains we have no right to judge people, yet they want to deconstruct and apply motives to all actions of anyone they deem not worthy. Ah well, I'd be bitter too if I didn't have a mega-truck.

AMEN!!
I drive a truck because I like the ability to relocate my boat to the water on occasion. Can't do that with a gas saving econobox. I would love to have a capable truck with 30mpg. But until then I guess I'll have to enrage the tree huggers.

[pluckyew]

rant on:

there're fools and idealists that threaten our liberties and tax dollars from both sides: leftwing and rightwing.

i'm a "leftwing" man.
i like kickboxing and "wrestling" (not watching no tv, but in sparring in a gym and coaching).
i shoot .45, .44, .308, 12 gauge and .458 and traditional archery recurve with sharp broadheads and left wing turkey feathers as fletching.
i hunt deer and wildpig and fish for trout, bass, and shark.
i race my mt. bike in the masters sport division, on a steel "hardtail" bike.
i'm for the death penality and for prosecuting the errant prosecutors 'cause no one ought to be above the law. I'm against abortions, but against anti-choice even more.

i love my gas guzzling titan: made for americans, by americans, & made in america -- the greatest country in the history of the universe.

now i'd be luving my four-wheelin' titan more if it had more power AND better gas mileage. i need my truck and even if i didn't, i'd WANT it.

the rest of yall "leftwing" stereo-typers or anyone dissing my truck can kiss my grits

i respect that mr. bush has a vision; i have a problem with only some of his visions, but dont't agree with a lot of his tactics. i'd prefer sen. mccain or the former sen. kerry, the other kerry that had won the medal of honor and sits on the 911 commission, but the only available choice is sen. john kerry.

i'm a "leftwing" man and i luv my titan.

rant off.

p.s. paron folks, by "wrestling" i meant hapkido (that's jiujitsu, judo, and kickboxing)

[Optimist]

My home is run on green specific Windmill energy not directly but through the purchase of green tags so to a limited degree I’m doing something. Alternative energy is a viable option in many cases but I wish these programs had teeth 20 years ago. The sooner we get off both the grid & dependency of foreign oil the better in my opinion. No regrets with my Truck purchase, one I need not justify to anyone.

[Half Shovel]

Originally Posted by cttitan

"Suburban buyers of mega-pickups may not care much about the cargo box, or use it much. What they're looking for is a vehicle that's huge, menacing, and exempt from mileage and pollution-control standards. "

Hey, how did he know that was what I used for my criteria to determine what kind of vehicle I wanted to buy??

lol. I feel menacing now.

[FLfinfan]

Pluckyew, you coach wrestling? Me too! Folk style, Freestyle or Grecco Roman?