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Sat behind two pick ups at temporary lights today. At the front, an early 90s Subaru Brat. Behind that, a recent Ford Ranger. Couldn’t believe the difference in size. The Brat looked like a Matchbox toy!
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It's the oafish times we live in. Nothing has any style or subtlety. If it's expensive it has to be big, flashy, and overpowered:)
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The Subaru wasn't rated to tow up to 3.5 tons and carry a one ton payload and seat 4 or 5 people in comfort.
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The Subaru wasn't rated to tow up to 3.5 tons and carry a one ton payload and seat 4 or 5 people in comfort.
Most of the Rangers and Hiluxes that I see around have only one or two people on board and no sign of anything in the back. A lot of them are mostly used for the school run and a weekly supermarket trip.
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Is that right that VW and Ford are joining forces to make the new generation Amarok and Ranger in Thailand ?
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In American terms, the Ranger is a small truck. I saw an F250 being driven around our roads the other day and it looked ridiculous. Those are used for the school run in Texas!!
Round me (proper farmer country) most of the pickups are used for their intended purpose. The battered muddy Hiluxes and L200s usually have sheep or builders rubble in the back, and the shinier newer ones are usually towing a horsebox or big trailer.
Having been forced to drive an L200 in Birmingham City centre by an incompetent hire car company once (I'd asked for an Astra!) I can't see why anyone would want to drive one in a city unless they needed to. Really slow, terrible MPG, not particularly comfortable, long rear overhang and huge blindspots down each side and out the back. A bit like driving a large commercial vehicle then .......
Edited by SkodaIan on 17/11/2022 at 09:35
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Is that right that VW and Ford are joining forces to make the new generation Amarok and Ranger in Thailand ?
Yes and no - the new VW Amarok is simply a rebadged Ford Ranger, nothing from VW is used.
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Yes and no - the new VW Amarok is simply a rebadged Ford Ranger, nothing from VW is used.
What a pity, a real backwards step, the VW Amarok was arguably the most civilised/comfortable of the type, i was told that VW galvanised the chassis of the Amarok, which would be unique as chassis corrosion is what usually kills pick ups, but can't confirm this was the case.
MB did this already, badging up a Nissan pick up, now discontinued if i recall.
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I’ve heard that the Amarok V6 has a chain driven cam set up which has a habit of snapping in the usual VAG way.
And the rear doors have no airbags?
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Is that right that VW and Ford are joining forces to make the new generation Amarok and Ranger in Thailand ?
Yes and no - the new VW Amarok is simply a rebadged Ford Ranger, nothing from VW is used.
I heard that the Amarok has different sheet metal but the same engine, transmission, etc. As the Ranger. I think it is to be made in South Africa.
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IIRC the.received opinion on BITOG, the US-based website I used to grace with my virtual presence until banned permanently, was the that Ranger was considered to be ridiculously small and lacking in “presence”. I also got posts banned (by an American moderator)on Formosa by arguing for an older Hilux (pre Tacoma) and calling the Toyota Tunndra a Toyota Tumour. No actual argument for the bigness (though some ranchers and such probably need it) just religion. It’s a bling belt thing.
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It's the oafish times we live in. Nothing has any style or subtlety. If it's expensive it has to be big, flashy, and overpowered:)
Maybe just another example of UK and Europe blindly following US example ? As in many other facets of life, including the language. Why do so many people now say Kil-lommeter - it's scientifically senseless ? What Brit words do Americans copy (answers on a postcard, should be big enough) ?
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Pick ups became common here for several reasons.
Business users can claim the VAT back. VED from March 2006 on was much more favourable as commercial vehicle tax. 4x4 versions with rear seats usually classed as dual purpose vehicles so car speed limits. Buy the right one you get robust vehicles of industrial quality often running the same or very similar drivetrains as the maker's normal 4x4s for 1/2 to 2/3rds the price. Buy the right one and depreciation can be favourable compared to similar size cars. A boot fully removed from the car interior can be extremely useful put a hard top on it you've got a decent van that can still carry 4 or 5 people in comfort. Tend to be late to the party with pointless electronic faff. No worries about them falling to bits on our deteriorating roads. Mirrors are usually excellent, rectangular and large, not like the silly things too many cars are fitted with which are no more use than a make up mirror.
Compared to the US market the pick ups sold here are quite normal in size, often narrower than fat German cars and barely any longer.
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Yeh, I'd like a pickup, but I wouldn't really like a bloated US-stylee pickup, especially at UK fuel prices.
There are still quite a lot of utilitarian pickups here in Taiwan, notably the Toyota Zace and Mitsubishi Freeca. If I could have located a Zace workshop manual I'd probably have got one by now, though its tricky (and maybe impossible) to register one here without a bizniz, so I might have had to settle for the waggon version.
In the UK I dunno. Maybe the Mitsubishi L200 would be the best (as in least, because less is more) one could do?
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What Brit words do Americans copy (answers on a postcard, should be big enough) ?
Most words they use come from here...
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What Brit words do Americans copy (answers on a postcard, should be big enough) ?
Most words they use come from here...
But only because most of the speakers did too ... :-)
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I rather fancy a classic Mini pick up. My mum had a Mini van as a daily driver - anyone remember the start button by the handbrake, the fuel pump which needed to be hit occasionally (so keep a stick in the door pocket)?
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We had these mini pickups in Oman in the seventies and they were always popular even though they struggled with the ruts in the sand roads.
But I was astounded to learn that a classic car insurance company valued one of these in immaculate condition at £39,500. Bought for less than £500.
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I rather fancy a classic Mini pick up. My mum had a Mini van as a daily driver - anyone remember the start button by the handbrake, the fuel pump which needed to be hit occasionally (so keep a stick in the door pocket)?
SWMBO's first 'car' was a beige Mini-van, £400 new about 1960 and no purchase tax ! Yes, the starter button in the floor, so that long grass would stop it working.
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Sat behind two pick ups at temporary lights today. At the front, an early 90s Subaru Brat. Behind that, a recent Ford Ranger. Couldn’t believe the difference in size. The Brat looked like a Matchbox toy!
Perhaps the size of these 'cars' is just keeping up with the size of the people mostly buying / using them? Obesity levels rising dramitcally over the last 30 years. Yet another unwanted 'import' from the US of A.
Seems like a lot of plumbers, gardeners and tradesmen my way are starting to buy these monsters as well. Possibly because they charge so much and can afford them more than a white panel van, though storage ability is rather limited and security ain't much better either.
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Seems like a lot of plumbers, gardeners and tradesmen my way are starting to buy these monsters as well. Possibly because they charge so much and can afford them more than a white panel van, though storage ability is rather limited and security ain't much better either.
Unless you really need to get to some inaccessible places, some traders who buy them realise the cons as you say. Good for towing, but then you have to have somewhere to park the trailer when at home. You need space to park pick up/trailer combo at the workplace which could be cramped, and it's harder to manoeuvre. Tools aren't secure unless you buy a hard top, but then you can't get big items in, and tools only accessible from the back. The load space in the crew cab version is compromised. Thirstier.
I know some people who bought pick ups only to find out the downsides quickly and buy a van instead. For farm use though they seem to be ideal.
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Seems like a lot of plumbers, gardeners and tradesmen my way are starting to buy these monsters as well. Possibly because they charge so much and can afford them more than a white panel van, though storage ability is rather limited and security ain't much better either.
Unless you really need to get to some inaccessible places, some traders who buy them realise the cons as you say. Good for towing, but then you have to have somewhere to park the trailer when at home. You need space to park pick up/trailer combo at the workplace which could be cramped, and it's harder to manoeuvre. Tools aren't secure unless you buy a hard top, but then you can't get big items in, and tools only accessible from the back. The load space in the crew cab version is compromised. Thirstier.
I know some people who bought pick ups only to find out the downsides quickly and buy a van instead. For farm use though they seem to be ideal.
Exactly. The driving down narrow country roads and parking appears to be a big (pardon the pun) problem for them or for those coming the other way where the passing places are not large enough to accommodate them.
On my housing development, we've effectively banned them because they prevent adjoining cars from being able to open their doors sufficient to get in because they're so wide, and often because they are too long for the allocated space and can get in the way of other vehicles, especially refuse lorries.
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The plumber opposite me runs a Ford Ranger but also has a panel van used mostly by his son, who is also in the trade. It certainly looks a big menacing beast but I doubt its footprint is bigger than the Range Rover he had before.
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Exactly. The driving down narrow country roads and parking appears to be a big (pardon the pun) problem for them or for those coming the other way where the passing places are not large enough to accommodate them.
passing places not so much of a problem in town but as some drivers don`t know the width of the motor, rather than can`t make it they won`t... got stuck many a time through large motors who`s driver thinks the gap to pass isn`t big enough and won`t even try passing even when there's a large enough gap to get through.
One driver offered to move a persons Audi Q7 because the driver thought they were stuck between a parked car and driver coming the other way, bearing in mind a gap of over a foot was clearance each side of the car, but driver didn`t think so and wouldn`t move, bus drivers get very frustrated at this as well as its becoming more common
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Hm. You should see the number and size of pick-ups on American roads. These gargantuan open boxes never have much in them, mostly used as shopping cars. I reckon at least a millimetre of global sea level increase is a result of forty years of Ford F150 production and use!
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Hm. You should see the number and size of pick-ups on American roads. These gargantuan open boxes never have much in them, mostly used as shopping cars. I reckon at least a millimetre of global sea level increase is a result of forty years of Ford F150 production and use!
I have been to Florida some time ago and have seen the pick- ups, but then they have wider roads and wider parking spaces (not forgetting the giant car parks) even the heavy trucks out there look small, some pick-ups even carry 100-200 gallon fuel tanks on the back almost attached to the cabs. with plenty of room to spare, we couldn`t use them here I doubt some drivers could handle them?
garage I stopped at had a driver of one filling up, he was grabbing the fuel while it was cheap as it was going up in price
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<< Perhaps the size of these 'cars' is just keeping up with the size of the people mostly buying / using them? >>
Yes, they do look huge. But they still aren't as big as small lorries, which have been on our roads for yonks, apparently without causing too much objection ?
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which have been on our roads for yonks, apparently without causing too much objection ?
Like pick-ups, depends whos driving, and how experienced they are, some small lorries can be annoying if the driver hasn`t a clue how to manoeuvre it, which is very often, just not mentioned thats all.....;)
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which have been on our roads for yonks, apparently without causing too much objection ?
Like pick-ups, depends whos driving, and how experienced they are, some small lorries can be annoying if the driver hasn`t a clue how to manoeuvre it, which is very often, just not mentioned thats all.....;)
That was me in my Renault Dodge ex-BT workshop camper, which I shouldn't really have been driving, but the camper conversion made me exempt from legally needing an HGV license.(I THINK)
Driving it in London made my mouth go dry.
It was in some ways a relief (as well as a bit astonishing) when it was knicked.
Edited by edlithgow on 19/11/2022 at 15:52
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That was me in my Renault Dodge ex-BT workshop camper, which I shouldn't really have been driving, but the camper conversion made me exempt from legally needing an HGV license.(I THINK)
The heaviest Dodge/Renault 50 Series (assuming that is what you had?) had a 7.5 tonne GVW which, If you passed your test before Jan 97, you can legally drive on a car licence. If you passed your test after that date, 3.5 tonnes is the heaviest you are allowed to drive.
But AFAIK, whether or not the vehicle is made into a camper makes no difference.
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Hi all, what is your opinion on the Ford Ranger? why would you use one rather than a van?
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Hi all, what is your opinion on the Ford Ranger? why would you use one rather than a van?
Presumably image is a big factor, after all there isn't much need otherwise for them to be so huge. But also, if it needs to double up as a family car, a van (unless crew cab) isn't going to have enough seats.
Personally I don't rate them at all, nothing to do with reliability but because they are just far too big.
Edited by badbusdriver on 16/12/2022 at 14:36
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Rear seats and 4x4?
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People of a certain persuasion will recall the Skoda Felicia Fun - a small pickup that had two seats that slid back from the cab so you could carry rear passengers (in the open). It was quite a good concept but available only in yellow with weird frog-print seats.
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Rear seats and 4x4?
And ground clearance, if needing to access some very rough ground.
There are plenty of van based people carriers but as far as I know, the seats have to be removed and stored for carrying big loads. They fold, but not flat into the floor like a Ford Galaxy or Seat Alhambra.
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People of a certain persuasion will recall the Skoda Felicia Fun - a small pickup that had two seats that slid back from the cab so you could carry rear passengers (in the open). It was quite a good concept but available only in yellow with weird frog-print seats.
I certainly remember the Felicia Fun!
Not sure I'd agree that it was a good concept though, unless you lived somewhere predominantly dry and warm!.
Although they seem to be a dying breed, pickups of a more modest size are still available in various countries. Some interesting ones in South American markets like the VW Saveiro, Fiat Strada (yes, really!) and Renault Oroch. The VW comes as a standard two seater, an extended cab two seater or a (two door) double cab. The Fiat comes as a standard two seater or a four door double cab. The Renault is perhaps the most interesting being essentially a four door double cab Dacia Duster pickup!.
In South Africa, AFAIK the only one still on sale is the Nissan NP200. This is also essentially a Dacia under the skin, but not one we got in the UK. The pickup was available in other EU markets, along with a four door saloon (both called Logan, but different from 'our' Logan which was just a Sandero estate). But South Africa also used to have a Ford Bantam (4th gen Fiesta pickup) and the Opel Corsa Utility (Corsa C).
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One of my neighbours has French visitors 2 or 3 times a year and they drive a Logan. It appears to be a Sandero saloon. Very desirable...
Taking of weird European pickups, though, we used to go to Greece when I was a kid and our best ever hire car was something called a Renault Farma. Googling it (and without getting into the depths of the Renault-MAVA arrangements), it looked a lot cooler when I was 7. I'd happily have one (or a 'proper' 80s Dacia Duster) though.
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Taking of weird European pickups, though, we used to go to Greece when I was a kid and our best ever hire car was something called a Renault Farma. Googling it (and without getting into the depths of the Renault-MAVA arrangements), it looked a lot cooler when I was 7. I'd happily have one (or a 'proper' 80s Dacia Duster) though.
Never come across the Farma before, but when I've been on websites selling cars from other EU countries, I have come across these plenty of times, 9583101087_52693b2804_b.jpg. This is, for all intents and purposes, a Renault 12 double cab pick up (also comes as a single cab). Ive also seen them with a large fibreglass canopy making them into a van. I believe engine options are 1.3 and 1.4 petrol or a 1.9 diesel (all n/a).
Usually pretty cheap!
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