No one makes a small pickup that gets more than 30 mpg on the highway. Why doesn't Toyota, for example, make a Corolla-based pickup with a short pickup bed? The Corolla gets close to 40 mpg - with the reduced aerodynamics of the pickup bed, it would still probably get 35 mpg. And I will guarantee you they could sell 100,000 of them a year.
2007-12-17 09:52:22 · 7 answers · asked by The Oracle of Omigod 7 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Other - Cars & Transportation
My friend's brother wanted to work for a car company as a design ever since he was a kid. He got a job in one of the big 3 on summer intern. He then changed his mind and said he can never work for them.
They (the big 3 companies)could get a thousand complaints and the management can be bothered to change their ways.
Good Luck and keep asking the hard question.
2007-12-17 10:41:46 · answer #1 · answered by Lover not a Fighter 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is amazing that you can "guarantee" this. Think back a couple of years. VW made the VW pickup, but Americans would not warm up to it because of the size and HP. Most p/u owners want to haul heavy loads, more than three people, and be able to tow a boat or trailer. Even a Corolla P/U wouldn't do that. Auto manufacturers are not stupid. They do the research on what customers want, and a tiny p/u is not a selling feature. How about the Subaru BRAT? Didn't last long, did it? Even now, Subaru has a p/u style vehicle but people are not running out to buy it.
2007-12-17 17:59:28 · answer #2 · answered by rex_rrracefab 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You are so right!! There is a great market niche here that has been totally abandoned. Small pickups are fun to drive, but there aren't any on the market.
The reason must be that manufacturers thought we wanted bigger and heavier pickups.
Big opportunity there for somebody. BTW, the smallest pickup now on the US market is the Ford Ranger, which used to be considered mid-sized. Ford is currently insane, and they don't seem to be interested in capitalizing on this at all. If they would make a major update to the ranger, and make it smaller as much as they can reasonably do, they'd have a market leader.
2007-12-17 18:02:15 · answer #3 · answered by Firebird 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The chassis is too small for that truck to be useful. I see where you are coming from but people buy a truck to haul things.
2007-12-17 17:57:02 · answer #4 · answered by ryankneale 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think you can use those words in the same sentence...Truck and good MPG....total contradiction of terms
2007-12-17 17:58:45 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
What you want is a Chevy S-10. they get great mileage.
2007-12-17 19:15:05 · answer #6 · answered by Jo Jo 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They used to! Everyone complained it was too small and underpowered!
2007-12-17 18:00:20 · answer #7 · answered by Wounded Duck 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋