Why Not To Buy A Light Truck?

Today more and more people think of a light truck when they think of their dream car. The positive side to this is that many light trucks are reasonably affordable, making them accessible to just about everyone.

The light truck market is currently a study in irony: these vehicles are popular primarily because they exhibit a ruggedness not found in passenger cars, but as their popularity increases, automotive designers are making them look and feel more and more like regular passenger cars. More and more contemporary MPVs feature fancy dashboards and cushy bucket scats. Also, one can order just about any 4×4 with air conditioning. Some have power windows.

Despite these advances in softening the hard edges of the light truck population, they are, like minivans, considered to be MPVs. This means that they also don’t necessarily meet many of the safety standards found on passenger cars. Since minivans are so obviously used as passenger cars most of the time, they often do have a reasonable complement of goodies for the safety-minded.

It should also be pointed out in discussing this particular group of vehicles that pricing works a little differently with MPVs than with passenger cars. The base prices quoted in ads and at dealerships refer to stripped-down models which are rarely available, and which one would often not like to buy. The options list is much longer than for passenger cars-especially among domestic products. Options are also often bundled in pricey trim packages. It’s easy to add thousands of dollars to the price of one of these vehicles, even when one wants just the basics.

Functionality of small and medium-size pickups is obvious; they can do much of the work of a light-duty large pickup while providing the driver and a passenger with the same amount of seating room-and delivering far better fuel economy. When ordered in their long wheelbase/long cargo bed versions, the smaller pickups can handle the same size load as large pickups with small cargo beds.

Most are available in ‘extended cab’ form, which usually offers two extra fold-down seats behind the driver and front passenger. However, it’s not likely that adults would be comfortable back there on any but the shortest of trips. These jump seats, of sorts, also make for awkward child safety seat attachment in many cases.

In terms of safety features, many of these pickups come up a bit short- one has to pay extra for a rear bumper on many of the cheapest models, and interior padding is also on the skimpy side-although this is becoming less of a problem as these pickup trucks become more ‘refined’, i.e., car-like in their trimmings.

Although the cargo bed is a great idea for people wishing to haul things, it is a bit of an inconvenience in our climate. If one doesn’t buy a cover, or a truck cap for the bed, snow and rain will turn it into a messy pool. Furthermore, without the cap or another accessory that can be locked, whatever one leaves in the bed is left at the mercy of passers-by. Also, look for a double-wall cargo bed. In single wall designs, little dents and scrapes from objects placed in the bed will leave scars on the outside of the bed as well-and these will rust quickly if left unrepaired.

As with the interior trim, ride and handling arc improving a great deal on little pickups, but these are still a far cry from even the most rudimentary passenger cars. Traction on slippery roads is poor unless the vehicle is fully loaded, or if a four-wheel drive model is chosen.

If you are going to buy sell cars, ask members of a Car Club for advice.