The Core

Why We Are Here => Water Cooler => Topic started by: Brad on April 22, 2023, 03:34:51 PM

Title: Rural Americans are importing tiny Japanese pickup trucks
Post by: Brad on April 22, 2023, 03:34:51 PM
https://www.economist.com/united-states/2023/04/20/rural-americans-are-importing-tiny-japanese-pickup-trucks
Title: Re: Rural Americans are importing tiny Japanese pickup trucks
Post by: rcjordan on April 22, 2023, 05:07:30 PM
The big Coast Guard base near me uses a bunch of these.  Even though they don't have Gov license plates, they use one public street that runs alongside the base perimeter.  Some, Mitsubishi brand IIRC, seem to have a top speed of 35 mph and are pretty close kin to motorized golf carts with a truck body.

15-ish years ago, I used to keep an Isuzu Pup as a spare vehicle.  You couldn't kill that thing.
Title: Re: Rural Americans are importing tiny Japanese pickup trucks
Post by: Brad on April 22, 2023, 05:35:03 PM
I'm sitting here remembering the original Chevy s-10, Ford Ranger, Nissan Frontier andd Toyota small pickup trucks from 30 years ago and I'm wondering how we make encourage the auto industry to make smaller cars.  We once had cars that were smaller yet still had room in them and it was not that long ago.
Title: Re: Rural Americans are importing tiny Japanese pickup trucks
Post by: Travoli on April 23, 2023, 07:12:07 PM
There is a big JDM importer with several of these trucks in Southwest VA, if anyone is looking. https://www.duncanimports.com/virginia-inventory.htm?bodyStyle=Mini-Truck
Title: Re: Rural Americans are importing tiny Japanese pickup trucks
Post by: Brad on April 24, 2023, 12:11:34 AM
>JDM importer

Nice selection.  Right hand drive would drive me nuts tho.

Their selection of classic cars is impressive too.
Title: Re: Rural Americans are importing tiny Japanese pickup trucks
Post by: ergophobe on April 26, 2023, 05:53:37 AM
They use a lot of those mini trucks aroud Yosemite for local work. Cheap, fuel efficient, easy to park and maneuver in tight spaces.
Title: Re: Rural Americans are importing tiny Japanese pickup trucks
Post by: Brad on April 26, 2023, 02:47:31 PM
That dump bed option has to be handy as heck.