You're too stupid to... own a diesel small truck

[Triple J]

Not just us though.  Most lands on Earth have mid-sized fuel efficient diesel utes available from most manufacturers.  My theory is that its because we in the rest of the world have to pay money for the fuel, whereas in the US since it's virtually given away free there's no great incentive to be frugal with it .

More to do with California's CARB rules from what I understand.

The manufacturers know people want them here. When I bought my truck I asked the Nissan dealer if there were any plans to bring the Navaro (Nissan's version of the Helix) over to the US. He said he wishes...gets asked all the time, and they've let Nissan know a lot that they want them. He thought they'd sell a ton of them.

[JohnEE]

We wish for more fuel efficient engines, everybody else wishes they had our gas prices. Just a tad ironic.

[Popeye the Sailor]

The current generation double-cab long bed Toyota HiLux with 2.5L diesel in the UK gets almost 39 MPG combined.  The 3.0 version gets 36 mpg combined. 

The 2.5L version gets 140 hp / 343 ft lbs torque and 0-60 in 12 seconds.  It's exactly what we need in the US for a small truck.  If Toyota sold this version, Ford would go bankrupt when their F150 sales tanks.

http://www.toyota.co.uk/cgi-bin/toyota/bv/generic_editorial.jsp?navRoot=toyota_1024_root&fullwidth=true&noLeftMenu=true&forceText=%3Cnone%3E&edname=CC2-Hilux-specification&zone=Zone+NG+Hilux&id=CC2-Hilux-specification

It's not a true "small truck", but it's smaller than the American-spec Toyota Tacoma.

Utter nonsense and I expect better from you. They use kilometers in the UK-they don't get MPG. Sheesh 

[ungeheuer]

Utter nonsense and I expect better from you. They use kilometers in the UK-they don't get MPG. Sheesh 

I wonder who really it is speaking utter nonsense? 

In the UK they use miles.

The same miles containing the same utterly nonsensical 1760 yards as you persist with in the USA.

Their utterly nonsensical gallons however get more utterly nonsensical miles than your utterly nonsensical gallons due to utterly nonsensical gallon non-standardisation.

Soooooo... shall you be eating your utter nonsense now or will you be doing it later? 

[Howie]

 

[DRKWNG]

Now now, lets not be too terribly dismissive of the Brits and their systems of measuring volumes.  The imperial pint is a wonderful thing!

[Popeye the Sailor]

Now now, lets not be too terribly dismissive of the Brits and their systems of measuring volumes.  The imperial pint is a wonderful thing!

Everyone knows they measure hectares per hogshead.

[DRKWNG]

Everyone knows they measure hectares per hogshead.

Which is a measure of area, not volume.  You rocket scientists aren't that bright...

[Monsterlover]

Which is a measure of area, not volume.  You rocket scientists aren't that bright...

Its a wonder we ever got people into space.

[ducatiz]

38 imperial mpg is 31 US mpg.  Still beats the crap out of any truck in the US. 

[ungeheuer]

Everyone knows they measure hectares per hogshead.

Hectares?  Now you're just being sensible  .

They use acres.... all utterly nonsensical 4840 sq. yards of 'em. 

Which is a measure of area, not volume.  You rocket scientists aren't that bright...

Pointy end Up.  It's not that hard 

[LowThudd]

It may not be a Pickup(though I have seen more than a couple of "Conversions"), but I can get 27mpg in my 83 MB Diesel S-Class. Bought it for $2400 about 8 years ago, and has been mostley trouble free. Can easily haul the previously mentioned 500-800 pounds of junk, as long as it fits. lol

I have considered getting a beat up diesel wagon and chopping the top, but they are popular and run more expensive.

[Skybarney]

Not a pickup but an excellent example of stupid:

In 1999 I was in Europe and saw the Mercedes Smart car for the first time.  I noticed not just because of it's size but because the guy in it was burning rubber!  I headed over to see about the car and got a great little tour.  50mpg diesel engine with a ton of torque and fun as heck to zip around the parking lot.  I thought "If that makes it to the USA it could make a fantastic commuter car".

Well a few years later I saw one here in The States.  35mpg and a gutless 3 cylinder motor......... Needless to say I now refer to it as the Mercedes stupid car..........

I had also rented a diesel Opel station wagon while there 45mpg fast as hell with four wheel Brembo brakes........ 

All we get in the States are stupid cars...............

[Speeddog]

Looks pretty easy to me. 

[LowThudd]

Looks pretty easy to me. 

Yup!