If you want to compare apples to oranges, how much payload can those VWs carry? How much space is there that doesn't make me feel like I am in a small dog cage? Will it launch Dad's 21 foot boat and pull it out? Will it launch my Jetskis? How about ATV trailer or maybe my 10000# RV?

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01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

We were talking about commuters, not haulers. Yeah, sadly plenty of people buy trucks just for commuting without towing anything.

Oh, and the average pickup truck has just as much interior space as a Jetta wagon, maybe less so the "small dog cage" epithet is ridiculous.

True, but a truck in that second config, will actually return decent fuel mileage! Its why I stopped driving my ML430 and started dailying my pickup. My truck easily gets 5mpg better than my ML!

This! A great example of this is the earlier body on frame MLs had a higher towing capacity than the unibody ML that followed it.

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-Justin

91 560 SEC AMG - other dogs dd
01 Honda S2000 - dogs dd
07 MB ML320 CDI - dd
16 Lexus IS250 - wifes dd

it's automatic.

OTOH, the old Jeep Cherokee was a unibody, and a tough barstid all around.

Apples to oranges. My ML vs GMC is more fair - They both have about the same level of utility.

Can your VW tow a 5th wheel, toy hauler, or car trailer up an 18% grade, with the AC on in 100* heat?

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-Justin

91 560 SEC AMG - other dogs dd
01 Honda S2000 - dogs dd
07 MB ML320 CDI - dd
16 Lexus IS250 - wifes dd

it's automatic.

Again, for a commuter/daily driver, who gives a flying flip? I bet you that most of the people driving trucks to work in certain states aren't doing any of the above.

Sorry, no . it doesn't make any sense , if you just buy it because you might need to move your shyte next year when the lease runs out, or you might want to haul 20 bags of concrete, if you decided to build that sidewalk , maybe, if you got bored.

Just rent a freakin' truck the 1% of the time you really need to haul something.

BTW, my '82 Rabbit diesel pickup has a 900 lb payload capacity. That rounds to a half ton.

When that can't do the job (which really isn't that often), I fire up my REAL '67 F-100.

Not sayin' a Rabbit pickup is the ideal vehicle (too damn dangerous now because of...big pickups on the road), but something closer to that end of the spectrum and diesel.

What happened to the old S-10 and Ranger size? Now it's only the "Big Gulp"?

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80 300SD (129k mi) 82 240D stick (193k mi)77 240D auto - stick to be (153k mi) 85 380SL (145k mi) 89 BMW 535i 82 Diesel Rabbit Pickup (374k mi) 91 Jetta IDI Diesel (155k mi) 81 VW Rabbit Convertible Diesel 70 Triumph Spitfire Mk III (63kmi)66 Triumph TR4a IRS (90k mi)67 Ford F-100 (??)

i have not seen anyone do this in a while. does it work?

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Ben
1987 190d 2.5Turbo

Yes, but it increases the chances of key-scratches I'd rather take the occasional door ding.

You know, it occurs to me that there is probably a similar discussion going on on truck forums. "Look at all those stupid little cars whipping around the truck! They should just buy trucks. rararrr"

lol.

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Cruise Control not working? Send me PM or email ([email protected]). I might be able to help out.
Check here for compatibility, diagnostics, and availability!

(4/11/2020: Hi Everyone! I am still taking orders and replying to emails/PMs/etc, I appreciate your patience in these crazy times. Stay safe and healthy!)


82 300SD 145k
89 420SEL 210k
89 560SEL 118k
90 300SE 262k RIP 5/25/2010
90 560SEL 154k
91 300D 2.5 Turbo. 241k
93 190E 3.0 235k
93 300E 195k

Agreed. It's a matter of having a vehicle that matches the common mission. For a once a year deal, you can always come up with something for the weekend.

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2001 SLK 320 six speed manual
2014 Porsche Cayenne six speed manual

Annoy a Liberal, Read the Constitution

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2001 SLK 320 six speed manual
2014 Porsche Cayenne six speed manual

Annoy a Liberal, Read the Constitution

I own a 2000 S10 and it's a mistake I'll never make again. If I ever buy another truck it will be full size.

- Peter.

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2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S

I think they still make the Ranger don't they. I know they did a few years ago.

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2001 SLK 320 six speed manual
2014 Porsche Cayenne six speed manual

Annoy a Liberal, Read the Constitution

I used to go back and forth with this type of argument until I discovered vans.

I have a small van, but in 10 minutes, it can go from a 10 foot cargo area to a 7 passenger vehicle, plus on the model I have, I can tow pretty much any trailer I could possible intend to use, up to including full double axle car trailers.

Ill never go back to a pickup since my utility is extremely varied. If i need an open bed for something high, I rent an open trailer for 15 bucks or so.

With a pickup, you have a specific utility, and when that utility isnt in use, you have extremely limited cabin space.

The trend towards more and more car like trucks makes them larger and more difficult to maneuver, as well as less useful in the cargo role, and more importantly, caters to people who really aren't competent for such a large dangerous vehicle.

I remember how pissed I was when ford decided to raise the bed sides on the F150 models, making it harder to load them from the sides. (I was working in the fish industry at the time, and would routinely hoist bags of clams and other stuff up over the side of the bed)

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