> “Burning fossil fuels can come to function as a knowingly violent experience,” Daggett writes, “a reassertion of white masculine power on an unruly planet that is perceived to be increasingly in need of violent, authoritarian order.”<p>Except pickup trucks are also very popular among Latino buyers, and increasingly Black buyers as well: <a href="https://thecargossip.com/2020/10/17/ford-aims-f-series-push-at-black-buyers/" rel="nofollow">https://thecargossip.com/2020/10/17/ford-aims-f-series-push-...</a> ("he F-Series is on pace to displace the Toyota Camry as the No. 1 nameplate among Black buyers this year, up from fourth place in 2019, according to IHS Markit registration data through June.... The Silverado is the second-bestselling vehicle among Hispanics, behind the Honda Civic.")<p>This brown guy's next vehicle will probably be a pickup truck. Not to impose "violent, authoritarian order" on an "unruly planet," but because I'd rather throw the kids' paddle boards into a truck bed than wrangle them into the interior of our 4Runner.
Fuel efficiency standards killed the small truck, sadly. They couldn't stay small without hitting car mileage numbers, so they had to get bigger, because aerodynamics and a pickup bed are hard. Nobody liked biggish small trucks, so now we only have big trucks.
This is the best visual comparison I've seen: <a href="https://i.imgur.com/HJd9qSn.jpg" rel="nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/HJd9qSn.jpg</a>
I see pickups in the parking lot that literally do not fit in the parking spaces.<p>Many of these are from nearby farms I'm sure. But wow, they're just freakishly large. At a certain point you've got to wonder if they're basically heavy equipment that don't belong where normal autos belong.<p>I wonder where that line is. Can I build and drive the Canyonero even if it's two lanes wide?
The Honda Ridgeline isn’t a masculinity truck but it checks all the other boxes. They really do need to make some basic pedestrian safety rules in the us and enforce existing laws against aholes Rolling coal. I don’t really care if folks buy trucks but the F-u arms race is forcing me to consider buying one just so that my wife and kids aren’t at risk of getting squashed by one.
My wife wants a small electric but having everyone drive a car 2-3x the weight is kind of a problem when you have an accident
I think they’re kind of awesome but so absurdly impractical and expensive, I could never justify buying one. I mean I have enough money to do so, but I’ve never spent more than $4500 on a car and ain’t gonna drop 40k or more for a cool car.<p>I could see getting your kid a truck so if they get in accident they’re less likely to die, but when my oldest starts driving I’m gonna get her a retired police interceptor. Burly and relatively safe, but way cheaper.
Recently upgraded from a mid-size sedan to a Ram 1500, which feels huge compared to your average car. All I’m gonna say is that the auto stop sensors on the front and rear are amazing and so is the 360 cam. All vehicles should have these features. Rear ending and backing into someone should be things of the pastZ “We have the technology.”
Trucks have gotten too tall recently. I’m not sure exactly why. The offroading packages lift the body, so you’d think they could lower the cabs to the old height. Also, fuel economy has been stuck for decades despite most shutting off engine cylinders, and including all sorts of other fuel saving gizmos.<p>Having said that, modern trucks have much better visibility than other body styles. The rear view mirrors are placed lower, greatly reducing blindspots beside the truck, and the backup cameras are higher off the ground, providing a better angle.<p>As for parking, fitting an American sports car in a spot is almost as much of a crap shoot as fitting a full sized truck.<p>As for the masculinity digs, well, it’s my wife’s truck. We’re both extremely concerned about climate change, but there is no reasonable alternative on the market. It’s not like the cybertruck is shipping or dealerships carry smaller engine trucks any more. Heck, they don’t even make small diesel trucks any more, and the EPA was blocking sales of the larger diesels the last time we were shopping. (Small diesel trucks had much lower CO2 emissions than gas trucks, but they have a less popular acceleration curve.)<p>There’s a lot of ignorant prejudice in this thread.
I think it’s a bit lazy to dismiss trucks as “petro masculinity”. First off, there’s nothing wrong with masculinity and how people choose to express it - imagine making such a pejorative statement about the other sex or a race. Second, the plain reality is that trucks are a versatile do it all vehicle. It can transport your family, hold your dogs, haul lumber from the hardware store, carry your toys for that destination/road trip, and more. They give the driver a commanding view of the road and are easier to operate than ever, despite their size, because of surround cameras and other tech.<p>There’s a lot to like about pickup trucks - and I say that as someone who has never owned one. This article just seems very biased and written from the perspective of a city dweller who looks down on all of suburban or rural America. It’s a tired form of self indulgent opinion journalism that we see regularly from urban activist blogs.
I drive a Mini Cooper - it
It definitely worrisome when the bottom of the current round of pickup driver’s windows and bed heights are taller than the roof of my car. I basically always assume drivers of these truck don’t see me.