How come they don't make any small pickup trucks ...

[recycled sixtie]

anymore? Am looking for a small used Toyota or Mazda truck. I mean small not like a Ford Ranger which has a big engine. All the old compact trucks seem to have 200,000 plus miles on them. There is a local 2008 Mazda B3000 which has 187,000 miles on it but I suspect it is on its last legs. I might take a look at it.

Apparently Hyundai may be coming out with a compact truck in the next of couple of years. Your thoughts please.

[Arizona_928]

25% duty on trucks not made in the us.

If you want an older one, why not buy and rebuild it to new. Fresh engine, trans, suspension. Should be cheaper than what they sell new......

[Jolly Amaranto]

It's the market demand. They don't sell well in these parts so no one builds them in the USA.

[red-beard]

It's funny, I'd like to "complement" my F250 with a Ranger, for day to day driving. But I could buy an F150 for the price of a Ranger.

[wdfifteen]

VW diesel pickups are like gold around here. I don't know if it's just a cult or if a similar truck assembled in the US (like the Mercedes van) would sell well enough to be worth their while.

[stevej37]

Ford has a smaller version of the new Ranger coming out next year.

[mattdavis11]

Hell yeah! Bring back the Chevy LUV!

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by mattdavis11

Hell yeah! Bring back the Chevy LUV!

I had one of those....they were made by Isuzu (I think)
Tough little truck. It rusted away bad and it still ran like new.

[red-beard]

They will bring these trucks back when gas is $8/gallon

[David]

Originally Posted by red-beard

It's funny, I'd like to "complement" my F250 with a Ranger, for day to day driving. But I could buy an F150 for the price of a Ranger.

Looking at dealer's online pricing, the Rangers sell for quite a bit below MSRP.

I've been seriously thinking of getting one.

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by Arizona_928

25% duty on trucks not made in the us.

If you want an older one, why not buy and rebuild it to new. Fresh engine, trans, suspension. Should be cheaper than what they sell new......

Yep, the old Chicken Tax.

Originally Posted by stevej37

Ford has a smaller version of the new Ranger coming out next year.

Mar 09, 2020
Smaller, Cheaper Ford Pickup Truck Has Been Shown To Dealers
https://www.motor1.com/news/403025/ford-smaller-cheaper-truck-shown/

The small pickup would replace the Fiesta and Focus as Ford’s entry-level offering as the Blue Oval is shifting its product range from sedans to utility vehicles. A report from September 2019 suggested the vehicle will be based on the platform of the new Euro-spec Focus and could utilize its 1.5-liter turbo gasoline engine, as well as a larger 2.0-liter unit. An eight-speed, torque-converter automatic will be available, too.

[JackDidley]

People want bigger and more.Thats what they buy. Local dealers only stock 4 door, 4 wheel drive truucks. Not sure why people want the 4x4 around here, we dont get that much snow. No profit in selling a low volume little trucks.

[fanaudical]

When I was looking for a "small" used pickup 5 years ago, I found that:

- Smaller trucks got about the same gas mileage as full-size trucks.

- Smaller trucks seemed to have a price premium.

- Insurance on smaller trucks was not less-expensive than on full-sized pick-ups.

- Everything (around here) that was older was very beat up.

I eventually bought a full-sized pickup; no regrets and have used its capabilities more than I thought I would.

[GH85Carrera]

On a recent road trip we were in traffic behind two trucks. One a F150 full size truck, and an old S-10 Chevy. The little truck honestly looked like a toy next to the monster giants of a modern truck.

It is one reason I still drive my El Camino. Drives and handles like a car, yet I can haul stuff if needed. If I need to haul a load of soil for my wife, I borrow a buddies F250 and get er done.

[doug_porsche]

Another overlooked issue.
Safety and the slippery slope.

The classic toyota/datsun/luv had a very small passenger compartment. Didn't do well in the crash tests.

Slippery slope time.

To make them safer in crash test, you make it an extended cab or crew cab.
Once you do that, and add all the first world luxury stuff buyers demand, your price point is very near a full size truck.

Once the price point is in the f150 zip code, and gas is cheap, the US will buy the f150's

The f150 has been the best selling vehicle in the US for a very long time.

[Tervuren]

In addition to the crash related bit:

In the US, MPG allowed is tied to the foot print of the wheelbase and track.

This is why a Porsche 911 Turbo is huge, and this is also why pickup trucks are huge.
If you want a lot of ponies, you have to put it in a big package.

Without the EPA regulations you might see smaller lighter trucks.

[RANDY P]

Originally Posted by fanaudical

When I was looking for a "small" used pickup 5 years ago, I found that:

- Smaller trucks got about the same gas mileage as full-size trucks.

- Smaller trucks seemed to have a price premium.

- Insurance on smaller trucks was not less-expensive than on full-sized pick-ups.

- Everything (around here) that was older was very beat up.

I eventually bought a full-sized pickup; no regrets and have used its capabilities more than I thought I would.

This- and the fact small trucks simply have less power in traffic.

However I bought a pair of S-10's simply because they are smaller and easier to live with in town.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Because small trucks don’t appeal to guys trying to display how macho and tough they supposedly are.

[cabmandone]

My take is, with the newer 1/2 ton trucks getting the gas mileage they do, why would you want a smaller truck?

[porsche tech]

I had an 88 Mazda B2200 extended cab back in the day. It was 5 speed with A/C and I loved it. 2 wheel drive but I had an extra set of wheels with studded snow tires and it performed surprisingly well in snow. I was following an old Tacoma into the landscape dump in our hood this morming and had that same thought you did...they used to be a nice compact size. I miss my old Mazda.