GM pickup truck plant announcement yesterday

Industrial Toys · Jun 4, 2019

My uncle worked at Ford in Germany his whole life. I found it hysterical back around 85, when he opened his garage, grabbed the car by the bumper and pulled it outside. It has some, one point something litre engine.

I wanted to buy a Diesel Smart Car to avoid driving my Duramax. The Insurance Company wanted to DOUBLE my insurance. Made no sense financially at all.

aczlan · Jun 4, 2019

Industrial Toys said:
I wanted to buy a Diesel Smart Car to avoid driving my Duramax. The Insurance Company wanted to DOUBLE my insurance. Made no sense financially at all.

Out of courisity, what was the ratio of liability vs comprehensive premium for the Smart vs your Duramax?
I was looking at a couple of cars and ran the numbers on insurance and it was interesting how much some added to the liability side (ie: added risk of me hitting someone else) vs to the comprehensive or medical side (risk of me getting hit or injured by someone else).

Aaron Z

Industrial Toys · Jun 4, 2019

Sorry, I don't remember. Here, the liability is the big one in general. But the Smart Car was expensive to repair as I recall.

It was annoying, because I wa only able to drive one vehicle at a time, but I guess you can't prove that and the insurance companies know people try and get away with anything they can. Basically, get a second insured vehicle, and let some uninsurable person (like a GFs 17 year old Son for intance) drive it. If something happens, just say it was a one time thing.

Oaktree · Jun 4, 2019

gojira said:
Ford is phasing out all cars except for the Mustang and something called a Focus Focus Active, which is a Focus hatchback with a suspension lift; I'd guess it's to compete with the Subaru Crosstrek.

Well, that's a bit inaccurate, many of the vehicles marketed as SUVs are really just station wagons. I don't consider anything Suburu makes to be an SUV, they're station wagons.

Renze said:
In Europe nobody buys a pickup (or any light commercial vehicle for that matter) for commuting. Weight based tax and insurance, and gas at 1.45 euro per liter, make you think twice before spending your money.

So yes, the statement is true: Americans love to drive a light commercial vehicle for personal transport, and accept the poor fuel economy compared to a midsized sedan s European drives to work.

Apples and oranges. Most European countries are much more urban than the U.S. with narrower streets making large vehicles impractical.
We Americans love our cars to be sure.

Industrial Toys · Jun 4, 2019

YET, if you are RICH, you will buy a GERMAN car! Funny!

Btown · Jun 5, 2019

Industrial Toys said:
My uncle worked at Ford in Germany his whole life. I found it hysterical back around 85, when he opened his garage, grabbed the car by the bumper and pulled it outside. It has some, one point something litre engine.

I wanted to buy a Diesel Smart Car to avoid driving my Duramax. The Insurance Company wanted to DOUBLE my insurance. Made no sense financially at all.

Ask your insurance company what your bill would be for a Tesla. The diesel smart car would be a bargain.

gojira · Jun 5, 2019

Oaktree said:
Well, that's a bit inaccurate, many of the vehicles marketed as SUVs are really just station wagons. I don't consider anything Suburu makes to be an SUV, they're station wagons..

Well no but that's what sells these days -- jacked up station wagons.

Station wagons are still my favorite vehicle; it's what I drive when I'm not driving the pickup.

MoMower · Jun 6, 2019

gojira said:
Well no but that's what sells these days -- jacked up station wagons.

Station wagons are still my favorite vehicle; it's what I drive when I'm not driving the pickup.

Long live the long roof!