Chevy Pokes Fun at Ford Aluminum Truck

[Garandman]

My 2 cents worth.......
Any SUV is a better purchase than a minivan, much less a Caravan

I would not have a Caravan up my whatchacallit if I had room for a saw mill

But I sure am curious how we went from Aluminum Fords to Caravans......
:confused3:

Someone suggested pickups were going to become aerodynamic. I countered that I considered it unlikely for two reasons. First, the average speed on the EPA highway mpg test is 48mph so aero matters little.

Second, brand researchers have studied why people buy pickups and SUV's instead of more practical minivans. The truck buyers are more concerned with factors like huge grilles and other large truck styling cues.

Note that Chevrolet and Ford don't even make minivans or station wagons for sale in the U.S. anymore, though their "people mover" market share is huge in Europe.

 

[aczlan]

Note that Chevrolet and Ford don't even make minivans or station wagons for sale in the U.S. anymore, though their "people mover" market share is huge in Europe.

Actually Ford has the Transit Connect which would be in the minivan size class.

Aaron Z

 

[lilranch2001]

Someone suggested pickups were going to become aerodynamic. I countered that I considered it unlikely for two reasons. First, the average speed on the EPA highway mpg test is 48mph so aero matters little.

Second, brand researchers have studied why people buy pickups and SUV's instead of more practical minivans. The truck buyers are more concerned with factors like huge grilles and other large truck styling cues.

Note that Chevrolet and Ford don't even make minivans or station wagons for sale in the U.S. anymore, though their "people mover" market share is huge in Europe.

So aerodynamics is a reason to bring in minivans?
:confused2:

 

[MossRoad]

Trust me, as someone who went from a Caravan to a Suburban, looks had nothing to do with it. It had more to do with lower repair bills (nothing like dropping $2500 over the last 3 years on a 2006 Caravan with 140k miles on it) and a vehicle that will hold up for longer (200k miles with no major issues is fairly common).
The 2002 Caravan with ~130k miles that was replaced was starting to have a weird feel to the 2-3 shift and it had 3" wide by 2' long holes in the rocker panels going back from the front wheelwell and forward from the rear wheelwell.
We looked at getting another Caravan, but it wasn't worth the risk of problems and the resale value on a 15-20 year old Suburban with 200-250k miles is a lot better than a 10-15 year old Caravan with 150-200k miles.

Aaron Z

When we got married, we had a car and a pickup truck (single bench seat). We had one child and that was fine, as the three of us could ride in the truck, and we could take grandma and grandpa in the car if going on an outing. Then we had a 2nd child. Car seats 5 and there's 6 of us. Truck seats 3. Someone has to stay home. :laughing:

So we bought a full size van conversion for outings, kept the car for commuting and the truck for hauling the tractor around (the PowerTrac fits in the pickup bed nicely). But that meant 3 vehicles. So we bought a car hauler trailer for hauling and the tractor and towed that with the van and got rid of the truck. Why have three vehicles to maintain, insure etc...?

However, if I just wanted to pick up some plywood or other large items, that meant either pulling the van seats or attaching the trailer. Kind a pain, but still economical.

Then it hit me.... Suburban!

I can seat 5 all day long. If we want to go on an outing, I can throw in the 3rd row seat and take 8. I can fold down the middle seats and fit 4 x 8 sheets of plywood and 10' boards down the middle. I can haul the car hauler trailer and tractor. Its the perfect 2nd vehicle to complement the car. I'm thinking of looking for an older 3/4 ton model in the future, but for now, the 1/2 ton is fine. :thumbsup:

 

[farm boy00]

When we got married, we had a car and a pickup truck (single bench seat). We had one child and that was fine, as the three of us could ride in the truck, and we could take grandma and grandpa in the car if going on an outing. Then we had a 2nd child. Car seats 5 and there's 6 of us. Truck seats 3. Someone has to stay home. :laughing:

So we bought a full size van conversion for outings, kept the car for commuting and the truck for hauling the tractor around (the PowerTrac fits in the pickup bed nicely). But that meant 3 vehicles. So we bought a car hauler trailer for hauling and the tractor and towed that with the van and got rid of the truck. Why have three vehicles to maintain, insure etc...?

However, if I just wanted to pick up some plywood or other large items, that meant either pulling the van seats or attaching the trailer. Kind a pain, but still economical.

Then it hit me.... Suburban!

I can seat 5 all day long. If we want to go on an outing, I can throw in the 3rd row seat and take 8. I can fold down the middle seats and fit 4 x 8 sheets of plywood and 10' boards down the middle. I can haul the car hauler trailer and tractor. Its the perfect 2nd vehicle to complement the car. I'm thinking of looking for an older 3/4 ton model in the future, but for now, the 1/2 ton is fine. :thumbsup:

You can have to many vehicles??? We have a Duramax work truck a Ford explorer sport(the small truck) a 95Ford mud truck and my 79plow truck that hasn't ran the last two winters

 

[dragoneggs]

Second, brand researchers have studied why people buy pickups and SUV's instead of more practical minivans. The truck buyers are more concerned with factors like huge grilles and other large truck styling cues.

Huh? I must be missing something here. I don't think so... I buy PU's instead of 'more practical' minivans so I can haul stuff. Dirt, furniture, gravel, wood, appliances, whatever. Granted I like my grill on my F150 but it surely wasn't a buying decision and surely it didn't persuade me not to opt for a minivan. I am having a problem thinking I am in the minority on this reasoning. Maybe you are referring to a small wedge of yuppie buyers???

 

[MikePA]

Huh? I must be missing something here. I don't think so... I buy PU's instead of 'more practical' minivans so I can haul stuff. Dirt, furniture, gravel, wood, appliances, whatever. Granted I like my grill on my F150 but it surely wasn't a buying decision and surely it didn't persuade me not to opt for a minivan. I am having a problem thinking I am in the minority on this reasoning. Maybe you are referring to a small wedge of yuppie buyers???

I don't put any stock in unnamed, 'brand research studies', particularly where someone else defines what is 'practical'.

 

[Diamondpilot]

When we got married, we had a car and a pickup truck (single bench seat). We had one child and that was fine, as the three of us could ride in the truck, and we could take grandma and grandpa in the car if going on an outing. Then we had a 2nd child. Car seats 5 and there's 6 of us. Truck seats 3. Someone has to stay home. :laughing:

So we bought a full size van conversion for outings, kept the car for commuting and the truck for hauling the tractor around (the PowerTrac fits in the pickup bed nicely). But that meant 3 vehicles. So we bought a car hauler trailer for hauling and the tractor and towed that with the van and got rid of the truck. Why have three vehicles to maintain, insure etc...?

However, if I just wanted to pick up some plywood or other large items, that meant either pulling the van seats or attaching the trailer. Kind a pain, but still economical.

Then it hit me.... Suburban!

I can seat 5 all day long. If we want to go on an outing, I can throw in the 3rd row seat and take 8. I can fold down the middle seats and fit 4 x 8 sheets of plywood and 10' boards down the middle. I can haul the car hauler trailer and tractor. Its the perfect 2nd vehicle to complement the car. I'm thinking of looking for an older 3/4 ton model in the future, but for now, the 1/2 ton is fine. :thumbsup:

Your modern 1/2 ton Suburban is way more truck than a older 3/4 ton. My uncle has a 97 3/4 ton diesel Suburban. My 2007 and later F150's and Nissan Titan will out work it in every catagory including towing. He may slightly win against a gas V8 in mpg but won't win vs my Eco Boost.

Keep what ya got!

Chris

 

[Diamondpilot]

Huh? I must be missing something here. I don't think so... I buy PU's instead of 'more practical' minivans so I can haul stuff. Dirt, furniture, gravel, wood, appliances, whatever. Granted I like my grill on my F150 but it surely wasn't a buying decision and surely it didn't persuade me not to opt for a minivan. I am having a problem thinking I am in the minority on this reasoning. Maybe you are referring to a small wedge of yuppie buyers???

I agree. I wanted a Excursions so bad when they came out but it's just not a truck. My father had 3 Expedition's over the years and my BIL has one now. I bet they borrow my truck for truck work they just can't do 3 to 4 times per year. I have never had to borrow theirs.

Chris

 

[C4Ranch]

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