Current Events > Americans love buying trucks whose features they never use

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https://www.thedrive.com/news/26907/you-dont-need-a-full-size-pickup-truck-you-need-a-cowboy-costume

This is the golden age of full-size pickup trucks. Because the market demands it, and because the market is enormous and extremely profitable, the latest breed of pickup trucks is comfortable, commodious, potent, and dare I say luxurious. The Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado, and Ram 1500 are, respectively, the top-selling vehicles in America. And with their Brobdingnagian scale, appliqu steer horns, remotely erecting towing hitches, and power-opening tailgates that drop like the rear flap on a cowpokes union suit, pickup trucks may be the greatest examples of overcompensation ever invented.

If you look at pickups objectivelya stretch for a country raised on "Like a Rock" adsthey are also kind of ruining the world. Theyre a grotesque addiction. And our unslakable thirst for them is irrational.

Americans are batshit crazy for pickup trucks. Last year, in a new vehicle market that was basically flat, full-size truck sales grew to nearly 2.5 million units. If you include so-called mid-size trucksmany of which are now longer than the full-size trucks of just five years ago and sales of which increased 15% in 2018that number rises to nearly three million. Thats more than one out of every six new vehicles sold in 2018. And this doesnt even take into account truck- or car-based SUVs. Taken all together, these vehicles now make up seven out of ten American vehicle sales.
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So what do people actually like about trucks? According to Edwards, the answer is counterintuitive. Truck drivers use their trucks very much like other car owners: for commuting to and from work, presumably alone. The thing that most distinguishes truck owners from those of other vehicles is their sheer love of driving. The highest indexed use among truck owners is pleasure driving, says Edwards. Truck drivers use their vehicles this way fully twice as often as the industry average. This is the freedom that trucks offer, says Edwards.

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Truck owners might protest that they are slightly less likely than owners of other categories to use their vehicle as primary transport (83% vs. 95%), limiting the miles and gallons. And they might also protest that trucks provide capabilities that other vehicles lack. But, as it turns out, a significant portion of truck owners never use their trucks for these capabilities. According to Edwards data, 75 percent of truck owners use their truck for towing one time a year or less (meaning, never). Nearly 70 percent of truck owners go off-road one time a year or less. And a full 35 percent of truck owners use their truck for haulingputting something in the bed, its ostensible raison dtreonce a year or less.

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People buy BMW's when they can by Chevy's

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"Waahh! Stop liking things that I don't like!"

If people want to drive trucks, who are you to complain?

that Cybertruck is the new age tech bro Hummer

"I'd rather need it and not have it than have it and not need it."

TheGleamEyes posted...

If people want to drive trucks, who are you to complain?

Well, for one, this trends bodes poorly for our ability to prevent the most disastrous impacts of climate change.

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Most of the trucks I see around in my town are pretty much immaculate with not a scratch or piece of dirt to be seen. You can tell they're just used for a daily driver and not for anything truck related. Mostly rich folk who still feel the need to express their supposed country boy credentials.
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I live in semi-rural Appalachia in the gas fields. Huge trucks are everywhere. At work, I hear people talk about liking them because they feel safe and ride high.

Some people actually use their luxo-trucks here though. But is insane to see people in 50k trucks never use their features.

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Antifar posted...

Well, for one, this trends bodes poorly for our ability to prevent the most disastrous impacts of climate change.

Oh please, Greta. Get that bullshit outta here. All fossil fuel vehicles need to go. Not just the trucks

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Yeah giant pickups are what I think of when I think "fun to drive"
TheGleamEyes posted...

"Waahh! Stop liking things that I don't like!"

If people want to drive trucks, who are you to complain?

I like my planet being alive, thanks. A move towards even bigger and more fuel-sucking vehicles for no reason but vanity seems to kinda fight against that.

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Southernfatman posted...

Most of the trucks I see around in my town are pretty much immaculate with not a scratch or piece of dirt to be seen. You can tell they're just used for a daily driver and not for anything truck related. Mostly rich folk who still feel the need to express their supposed country boy credentials.

There is a parking garage nearby for white collar office workers. It's hilarious because the builders didn't anticpate that locals drive huge trucks to office jobs. The trucks barely fit width wide, and make opening doors beside them almost impossible. They also hang out too long for the parking place, and can get in the way of traffic.

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I never understood the appeal of pick up trucks until I lived in the US and saw how big the roads are and why you wouldnt want to be on the highway in a compact sedan.

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I live in a part of the country with terrible roads, interstates, highways. If I'm still in the area when it's time to get a new vehicle, I won't be apologizing for getting a truck.
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I am still waiting to see some of the guys I know to use that new Chevy Swiss Army Tailgate for some purpose other than showing it off.

glitteringfairy posted...

Oh please, Greta. Get that bullshit outta here. All fossil fuel vehicles need to go. Not just the trucks

So you're agreeing with him that a cultural shift towards pickups is stupid?

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Antifar posted...

Well, for one, this trends bodes poorly for our ability to prevent the most disastrous impacts of climate change.

Then why are democrats proposing a Road Tax?

If a benefit of electric vehicles is to pay less (cheaper elec > gas), why **** up and eliminate the advantage of owning one over a traditional gas vehicle by implementing a road tax.

Of course less people will be inclined to choose electric over gas as a result.

TheGleamEyes posted...

Then why are democrats proposing a Road Tax?

I think you've mistaken me for a Democrat. But I'd note that such taxes are hardly exclusive to blue states:
https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/13-states-now-charge-fees-for-electric-vehicles

The following nine states passed or implemented EV fees in previous years: Georgia, Washington, Wyoming, Idaho, Colorado, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina and Virginia (see chart below). According to the Sierra Club, other states have introduced legislation this year that would require EV owners to pay a separate fee, including Kansas, New Hampshire and Montana.

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can confirm

i know many people that spent 10-20k on lift kits/suspension/tires/mods and never go off road
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TheGleamEyes posted...

Then why are democrats proposing a Road Tax?

If a benefit of electric vehicles is to pay less (cheaper elec > gas), why **** up and eliminate the advantage of owning one over a traditional gas vehicle by implementing a road tax.

Of course less people will be inclined to choose electric over gas as a result.

Are we not going to need roads in an electric future? Will the roads be funded by fairy dust and good will?

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TheGleamEyes posted...

If a benefit of electric vehicles is to pay less (cheaper elec > gas), why **** up and eliminate the advantage of owning one over a traditional gas vehicle by implementing a road tax.

I'm not sure which particular road tax you're referring to, but the ones I'm familiar with wouldn't affect the decision between gas and electric.
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Btw, does anyone happen to know the economic term for a good that's priced at its "correct" value but where consumers would prefer a less valuable version?
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They care more about the trucker badassness than any of the features. They think theyre better than others just because they have one.
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Crossovers are the ones that are bought for features that aren't used

A couple can have one kid and all a sudden they need a big lifted hatchback car to overcompensate and to be "safe" and have "space"
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Malfunction posted...

that Cybertruck is the new age tech bro Hummer

It looks like something Robocop would drive.
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Antifar posted...

But I'd note that such taxes are hardly exclusive to blue states:

Which states are pushing a "green future"/"Dangers of Climate change" angle?
Red states implementing road taxes as a source of revenue is a no brainer, especially since they don't care all too much if people still choose to buy gas vehicles as a result.

Blue states, at least those crying about climate change, should make it more appealing to buy an electric vehicle. A bit of the appeal is gone when you're telling prospective folks "Well, if you were expecting to save money by buying electric, don't expect so because we're now charging by how much you use the roads".

hockeybub89 posted...

Are we not going to need roads in an electric future? Will the roads be funded by fairy dust and good will?

Are the fees you pay on vehicle registration, etc. (or any existing tax in general) not going towards road maintenance?

TheGleamEyes posted...

"Well, if you were expecting to save money by buying electric, don't expect so because we're now charging by how much you use the roads".

Using: https://www.energy.gov/articles/egallon-what-it-and-why-it-s-important

Currently, on average, there's a $1.40/gallon difference between driving gas and electric.

If we replaced a gas tax with a road tax, we'd be removing 52 cents/gallon from the cost of gasoline.

So in that scenario you're still saving ~63% of what you are now. Is 63% savings less? Sure. But you're still saving plenty of money if you are a regular driver. It's disingenuous to pretend like a road tax would wipe out the savings. Gas is still far more expensive than charging a car.
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I hate that even bare bones work trucks I look at have a bunch of useless shit I don't plan on using.
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glitteringfairy posted...

Oh please, Greta. Get that bullshit outta here. All fossil fuel vehicles need to go. Not just the trucks

So you think people are gonna buy electric trucks?

oh I didnt see who I was responding to

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Anteaterking posted...

Currently, on average, there's a $1.40/gallon difference between driving gas and electric.

Work it out when the difference between gas and electric is .30 cents

Hell I've never used cruise-control in all my years of driving.

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Antifar posted...

TheGleamEyes posted...

If people want to drive trucks, who are you to complain?

Well, for one, this trends bodes poorly for our ability to prevent the most disastrous impacts of climate change.

You do know that electric cars are far, far worse than any gasoline-powered truck, right?
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Bigger trucks becoming popular along with SUVs is all part of the big-oil company conspiracy that surrounds CAFE standards. CAFE standards ate updated very rarely, but they are a US legal requirement to follow when creating vehicles of a certain type/sedan. They keep making vehicles heavier or larger to avoid cutting edge engineering that would make vehicles average much higher MPG because heavier vehicles = more gas = more money for oil.

We were creating vehicles capable of 51 MPG in 1989. We have the ability today to make vehicles that get 200mpg but we don't do it because it would cost oil too much

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When I drive I'm almost always hauling something in my truck, I just don't drive very often anymore.

Anteaterking posted...

Btw, does anyone happen to know the economic term for a good that's priced at its "correct" value but where consumers would prefer a less valuable version?

I'm not really sure if its exact term that describes it but I would say preference relation is the closest.

the wiki definition would put it as "preference is the order that a person (an agent) gives to alternatives based on their relative utility, a process which results in an optimal "choice" (whether real or theoretical). Instead of the prices of goods, personal income, or availability of goods, the character of the preferences is determined purely by a person's tastes."
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Perascamin posted...

Bigger trucks becoming popular along with SUVs is all part of the big-oil company conspiracy that surrounds CAFE standards. CAFE standards ate updated very rarely, but they are a US legal requirement to follow when creating vehicles of a certain type/sedan. They keep making vehicles heavier or larger to avoid cutting edge engineering that would make vehicles average much higher MPG because heavier vehicles = more gas = more money for oil.

We were creating vehicles capable of 51 MPG in 1989. We have the ability today to make vehicles that get 200mpg but we don't do it because it would cost oil too much

You do know that the larger and heavier trucks made today are more powerful and more fuel efficient than even ten years ago, right?

And that 89 vehicle getting 50mpg? That was a fiesta 3-cylindwr that could BARELY do 65 mph.
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This country's society celebrates a culture of excess in all aspects of life, not just the vehicles we drive. Look at how big new houses are compared to years ago. Not like families are getting bigger, or people are taking up hobbies or activities that need a ton of space. Just more room to store all that shit you don't really need.
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Perascamin posted...

Bigger trucks becoming popular along with SUVs is all part of the big-oil company conspiracy that surrounds CAFE standards. CAFE standards ate updated very rarely, but they are a US legal requirement to follow when creating vehicles of a certain type/sedan. They keep making vehicles heavier or larger to avoid cutting edge engineering that would make vehicles average much higher MPG because heavier vehicles = more gas = more money for oil.

We were creating vehicles capable of 51 MPG in 1989. We have the ability today to make vehicles that get 200mpg but we don't do it because it would cost oil too much

While I agree with you on the greed factor involved, it's not possible to get anywhere near 200 miles a gallon no matter what you do. You can only run an engine so lean before it runs so hot that the mileage benefit is negated by the fact that you quickly burn up the engine.

I have a 2 cyl motobike that is 233cc which is barely bigger than a push lawnmower engine and it gets 90 miles a gallon on a good day. That's a 233cc engine moving a 300 pound bike. No way in hell will a 2000cc engine moving 4,000 pounds ever come close to these numbers.

darkjedilink posted...

You do know that the larger and heavier trucks made today are more powerful and more fuel efficient than even ten years ago, right?

And that 89 vehicle getting 50mpg? That was a fiesta 3-cylindwr that could BARELY do 65 mph.

No it was actually a diesel jetta station wagon style

Demon1050 posted...

While I agree with you on the greed factor involved, it's not possible to get anywhere near 200 miles a gallon no matter what you do. You can only run an engine so lean before it runs so hot that the mileage benefit is negated by the fact that you quickly burn up the engine.

I have a 2 cyl motobike that is 233cc which is barely bigger than a push lawnmower engine and it gets 90 miles a gallon on a good day. That's a 233cc engine moving a 300 pound bike. No way in hell will a 2000cc engine moving 4,000 pounds ever come close to these numbers.

If we pushed our technology instead of settling for motors to constantly bigger and heavier vehicles, we would have drastically higher MPG ratings

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Yeah, no shit, they are mostly owned by people with small penises.

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TheGleamEyes posted...

"Waahh! Stop liking things that I don't like!"

If people want to drive trucks, who are you to complain?

Whose alt is this?

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