• PNW_Doug@lemmy.world
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    4 months ago

    I’d much rather drive the Miata. There’s a reason that when I was forced to purchase a car after almost 20 years without one, I opted for a Miini Cooper. Sure, they’re cute, but I was ecstatic to look it up and find it was only about an inch larger than my first car, a 1983 Renault Alliance MT.

    Small cars rule.

  • DegenerateSupreme@lemmy.zip
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    4 months ago

    The shift to these ridiculously large trucks is partially consequent of the poorly-implemented Obama fuel economy regulations. The regulations were determined by wheelbase and tread width, which disincentivized manufacturers from making mid- or small-sized trucks. The bigger they made them, the less restricted they were by fuel economy. Larger vehicles also ease constraints on engineers; they don’t have to struggle fitting a lot into a small body. Once large trucks became the default offering, they morphed into the annoying cultural “status” symbol we know today.

    Anyway I have a Miata MX-5 and I love my tiny car.

    • Grass@sh.itjust.works
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      4 months ago

      except for the one I saw today with the wheels tilted so only the inner edge of the tire touches the ground

      • PennyRoyal@sh.itjust.works
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        4 months ago

        No no, Miata is always the answer. Clearly, Miata is in that case answering the question “how do I look like a bellend without spending too much money, and clearly communicate that while I understand mechanics, I probably shouldn’t”.

      • otacon239@lemmy.world
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        4 months ago

        I would consider anything “slammed” no longer viable as a vehicle since they can’t clear a speed bump. I don’t even think they should be road legal because your reaction distance dramatically increases with those setups.

        • SpiceyDejarik@infosec.pub
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          4 months ago

          That reminds me of when I lived in Houston and they re-did the speed bumps in the parking lot of my apartment complex. There were some guys there who had small pickup trucks that they had lowered like that and they had a spoiler on the back of the bed. It was pretty funny to watch when one of them got stuck on the speed bump.

    • snooggums@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      The big one is a work truck and should not be driven as a commuter. It really shouldn’t be allowed on roads where cargo trucks aren’t allowed.

      • CatLikeLemming
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        4 months ago

        Even as a work truck it’s comically large. You can get the same amount of cargo space in a far smaller vehicle, this one’s only advantage would be the sheer horsepower which you only need for very specific work.

          • optional@feddit.org
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            4 months ago

            It’s made for carrying tiny penisses. Cars that are actually made to tow massive weights look like this

            1000048856

            or this

            1000048857

            • snooggums@lemmy.world
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              4 months ago

              Those are impractically large or not highway ready for horse trailers and other comparably sized trailers that are used for working. The F250 and 350 sized trucks are for in between light loads and those loads.

              Not everything needs to be at the extremes of tiny or semi trailer.

              • optional@feddit.org
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                4 months ago

                I thought you were talking about massive trailers and not horse trailers. Noone needs a clown car to tow a horse trailer or something comparably sized. Your average station wagon is totally capable of that.

                • YouShouldSeeMyAlt@lemmy.zip
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                  4 months ago

                  One of the most common and reliable pickups was the 1970 Chevrolet C10 Long Bed:

                  Height: 65.8 inches Length: 207.75 inches Width without Mirrors: 65.8 inches Ground Clearance (Front): ~8.1 inches Ground Clearance (Rear): ~8.1 inches

                  This is a 2025 Regular Cab Long Bed Chevrolet Silverado 1500:

                  Height: 75.6 inches Length: 229.7 inches Width without Mirrors: 81.1 inches Ground Clearance (Front): 8.1 inches Ground Clearance (Rear): 8.1 inches

                  The “farm truck” excuse is nonsense.

                • snooggums@lemmy.world
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                  4 months ago

                  In case you aren’t trolling, I’m talking about horse trailers that anyone familiar with horses would understand.

                  Also comparable trailers.

                  None of these should be driven around in a city regularly. These trucks are not made for commuters or small spaces. They are for large farm, construction, and other work that requires more than a light truck but not a semi or tractor. They are comparable to delivery trucks and vans. In fact, large vans are just enclosed versions of the trucks. This was the van version of the F350 of its day.

            • frezik@midwest.social
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              4 months ago

              This is a weird argument to put here. You’re actually advocating against the smaller option.

              • optional@feddit.org
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                4 months ago

                I advocate for using the right tool for the right purpose. I’d rather have one real truck on the road that is able to transport a decent amount of stuff, driven by a professional truck driver with a professional drivers license than three of these wannabe trucks that are driven by wannabe truck drivers.

  • XOXOX@lemmy.world
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    4 months ago

    “It’s the only thing that makes me feel significant in a society that I struggle to understand” - Large truck owners (if they were literate)

  • Blaster M@lemmy.world
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    4 months ago

    Emotional support truck vs. Sports car

    I mean, a Miata is a good car, but a hatchback seats a family and gets the groceries.

    • Burninator05@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      I traded my minivan in for a civic hatchback. It easily does 99.99% of what I need a vehicle to do. For that last 0.01% of the time I rent a truck for $50. I save money and my car fits in the garage.

      • dmention7@lemm.ee
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        4 months ago

        Exactly! I live in the suburbs, where every driveway seems to have a massive full size truck (because they barely fit in the garage)–and also, where I am 15 minutes away from at least 3 places where you can rent a pickup for like 5% of the monthly payment on one of those beasts.

  • untorquer@lemmy.world
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    4 months ago

    I miss mini-trucks. Compact size cab with full size bed, engine from a sedan and 4wd. Good economy, much cheaper, great utility, better handling, less dead children, and a lot more fun out on the trails.

    Caustic masculinity fear of smol pp ruins everything.

    • Troz@sh.itjust.works
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      4 months ago

      I strongly agree. One thing to add to your list: easily being able to lift things in and out of the bed, even from the side.

    • psud@aussie.zone
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      4 months ago

      It’s just marketing. Australia shares a lot of American culture and we still have car based utes, though larger vehicles are also becoming popular here

      • untorquer@lemmy.world
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        4 months ago

        The amount of times I’ve looked at the Aussie and Japanese markets and just sat jealous…

        • psud@aussie.zone
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          4 months ago

          Sometimes it’s not good here. We only have 25 million people and we drive on the left, so we miss out on quite a few vehicles

    • EldritchFemininity
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      4 months ago

      I used to work with a guy who had a Tachoma that he loved and he only used it for offroading. He kept a pair of spare axles in the bed to swap out on the trail if he snapped one.

  • Bjarne@feddit.org
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    4 months ago

    I mean these are also two different types of cars. But it is actually so weird to see even two cars of the same type made in different times next to each other. It’s like somebody messed with the scale slider in the level editor. It’s uncanny.

      • Soapbox@lemmy.zip
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        4 months ago

        I don’t want to defend the overly supersized truck too much, but I do want to point out that even these are two different class of vehicles. Sure, you can cram 4 smallish people into that old Ford Ranger, but nobody is going to be comfortable or happy about it. Also, that small ranger has far less cargo and towing capacity.

        Of course, a good chunk of truck owners do not need that much capacity and big trucks are just a toy/status symbol to them. Which is stupid. But there are use cases where those trucks are actually needed, and a small Ford Ranger won’t cut it.

        That said, I do wish we could get more small pickup trucks again. The maverick is a good start.

        • MajorasMaskForever@lemmy.world
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          4 months ago

          For these kinds of comparisons people have to cherry pick and cannot compare similar class trucks because similar class trucks haven’t really changed in 30 years

          If you compare the size of a base 1990 F150 https://www.edmunds.com/ford/f-150/1990/features-specs/

          To a base 2025 F150 https://www.edmunds.com/ford/f-150/2025/features-specs/

          The 2025 is 6 inches shorter, barely an inch taller, and barely an inch wider. Or in terms of percentages: -3.1%, +1.1%, +1.2% respectively

          What has changed in 30 years is it was common back then for an average consumer to buy a “regular” cab two door truck with a 6 foot box, four door behemoths were rare. If you wanted a 4 door truck you had to get the F350

          Today it’s the other way around, it’s rare to see a single cab F150 and now you can get a 4 door F150

          • Mesophar@pawb.social
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            4 months ago

            Yeah, the problem isn’t that the big trucks exist. There is a place for them, always will be. But they shouldn’t be a commuter vehicle, the majority of owners never use them for their intended purpose, and even those that do need a truck rarely need one of the size they get.

            • MajorasMaskForever@lemmy.world
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              4 months ago

              Most definitely. The fact that the four door 5 foot box exists is hilarious to me in a sad kind of way.

              I occasionally get made fun of for owning a 22 two door Ranger, that I bought a “tiny” truck. Honestly I hate how big it is, but I wanted a truck that would be my single vehicle, something I can use for DIY house projects, commute in, go camping/off roading, and take on cross country road trips. Custom ordered it with the specific features I wanted all for ~40k, meanwhile the guys giving me shit for it are paying just as much for a truck with less features, it never leaves the city, and waaaaay more expensive at the pump.

              Morons

        • grue@lemmy.worldM
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          4 months ago

          I tried to compare to a '90s F-150, but that site doesn’t have one.

          Also FWIW, anecdotally around here small trucks seem more likely to be used as work trucks than [now greater than] full-size ones. My '90s single-cab Ranger was pretty clearly a former work truck (given how beat up the bed was and the fact that it came with a toolbox), for example, and I use it mainly for hauling and towing. Small trucks can, in fact, “cut it” in a lot more situations than people give them credit for.

        • joel_feila@lemmy.world
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          4 months ago

          Yeah my Uncle owned a irrigation company so he need to haul not uiat lots of pipes but pumps and even a ford truck could hold pipes that long so he need a trailer. Then for several years i lived out in the country and we needed a truck to haul teash to the dump. Nothing big just the smallest Toyota truck will do. But it also had to haul a family around so we needed a back seat that hold a 6 ft teenager

      • Pup Biru@aussie.zone
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        4 months ago

        in australia, i make sure to kick and dent every yank tank i see. its not often - we have more of the smaller pickups (though we call them utes)

  • AnitaAmandaHuginskis@lemmy.world
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    4 months ago

    If you need to explain to Trump why many american cars do not sell well in Europe just show him this image. Chances that he’ll get it is higher than zero at least.

    I cannot imaging driving around this hulk of a car all day. How would I even find parking space?

    • Illecors@lemmy.cafe
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      4 months ago

      I think looking for a parking space in what is, effectively, a lorry - is a bit of a waste of energy. It will only fit into >=4 spots anyway, might as well just stop wherever you need. You’ll be a hated by everyone anyway.

      Not taking a piss - are they legal in EU to drive on a B cat license?

  • I Cast Fist@programming.dev
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    4 months ago

    Baby, I may have micropenis, but my monster truck will vibrate enough to make you orgasm!!!
    Some time later, the woman breaks up with the dude and starts a relationship with the truck

  • ChetManly@lemmy.world
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    4 months ago

    I’ve tried to get in a Miata once. Had to put the top down and my eye level was over the windshield.

    • P00ptart@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      I’m 6’4" and fit in my 19 just fine, I have MAYBE an inch of head room left with the top up. Now the solstice I tried to get on? No fucking way. Was it an NA?

      Edit: sweet reference on the handle.

      • Omgpwnies@lemmy.world
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        4 months ago

        I’m 6’, but I have a comparatively long torso, so I generally have the seat set as low as possible in a sedan to be at a comfortable height, and even then, my head nearly touches the ceiling. Life before height-adjustable seats was interesting.

        • P00ptart@lemmy.world
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          4 months ago

          Sheesh, I’m kinda the same way, my mom calls the men in my family bulldogs because of our short legs. Are you like… Deadpool when he was ripped in half by juggernaut, and then started regenerating?

    • Semisimian@startrek.website
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      4 months ago

      I’m 6’4" and have driven tons of cars and owned a few. Stepping into a proper pickup was the first time I thought “oh, a vehicle designed for me.” I’m also a carpenter, so it is essential to my work. Memes like this are low hanging fruit.

      Yes, we do have a size problem in the USA. Is everyone that drives one of these trucks a selfish, tiny-dicked, backwards-thinking asshole? No, and honestly, the majority of the people that I know are like me and need a work vehicle like this. More than half of them are in a union. We can point out the absurdity of the size wars when it comes to American vehicle design, but stop picking on pickup trucks.

      • halcyoncmdr@lemmy.world
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        4 months ago

        I’m 6’4" as well and I fit in just about everything that’s not clearly a compact car. I fit fairly well in Honda and Toyota sedans, and drove a Civic until 2018, when I bought a Tesla Model 3. That was okay, I fit but it’s low, too low for my tall legs really getting in and out Traded that in recently and got a Polestar 3, which is a larger SUV.

        Big work vehicles aren’t the issue, as long as they’re used for that purpose, it’s the pavement princesses that are the problem. The ones that rarely or possibly even have never seen a day or work. They’re all over the place.

        There are a lot of owners of these pickups that use them as their primary vehicle and grocery getter. Then they try to justify needing the truck because of the two days a year they actually use the bed to bring something back from Home Depot or towing a trailer. Both of which have daily alternatives available either through a rental company or from the store itself.

        • grue@lemmy.worldM
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          4 months ago

          You tall folks should pick VW New Beetles. An average-sized person can wear a top hat while driving one of those because the roof is so domed.

          (If you must drive at all, of course – obviously, the real best choice is a bicycle with infinite headroom.)

      • P00ptart@lemmy.world
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        4 months ago

        I’m 6’4 and easily fit in my mx-5. And you know for a fact at least 90% of those trucks are grocery getters “because I like to drive up high, it makes me feel safer, and more of a shitbag”

    • Zorsith
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      4 months ago

      My problem is usually width. Most vehicles aren’t built for anyone physically wider than average (while yes, i am also overweight, id still have this problem no matter what). Some office chairs give me hip pain, and most armrests can’t be adjusted out far enough to not be digging into my ribs.

      There’s also just nowhere for my left leg to comfortably go in an automatic, at least with a manual i had the clutch to keep that leg moving.