Scout by... Volkswagen ?!?!?!? Electric, no less.

[California]

I went to some of the links posted above and read how 'Scout' is because IH brand names are now owned by VW. WTH???

The early Scouts were just Jeep running gear with IH tin. I had an axle break with wheel fell of on the freeway, scary. That quarter ton rating was very real. I don't think I was much over that, if at all. Ford Bronco was 30 years more sophisticated when those became available. For anyone who remembers the original Scout, 'Scout' for this new VW isn't inspiring.

And - way off topic - one of those links led me down this rabbithole: A $50 rusty AMC Eagle joins Jeep Club Offroad Day and does reasonably well! (Nostalgic! I owned one back in the day and put it through stuff nearly as bad as this, but more gently).

 

[5030]

You just have to work out the process. How do I know? I'm 6-1, 72 years old and have an MG Midget.

My age and probably as stiff in the morning as I am....lol I owned 2 Midgets way back when, a red one with steel wheels and a blue one with wire wheels and tan interior. Man can they corner too. I fondly remember way back then I wad riving on West Virginia's Route 7 from the Ohio River and some West Virginian passed me in a pickup truck and being the daring type (back then I passed him on a sweeping curve) and the chase was on. The road got tighter and tighter and try as he could, there was no way that pickup could hang with the Midget. He finally gave up when he spun out. I never even squealed the tires. Great little car. Actually about the same size as my 14 Focus hatchback but the Focus has way more power and while it don't corner quite as well, it still corners pretty decent and it's a 5 speed too. I love a standard transmission. Problem is, I cannot take it anywhere to be serviced so I do it myself. The younger set today don't know how to drive a 5 speed. Has to be a slush box or they are lost.

I not so fondly remember the Lucas electrics and the funky lever shocks. When people referred to Lucas 'Prince of Darkness', I fully understood.

Can you even buy an American car today with a standard transmission?

 

[tacticalturnip]

A car, yes, but not a single pickup so far as I understand.

The Mustang, Challenger, Camaro, and I presume Corvette.

 

[WVH1977]

My age and probably as stiff in the morning as I am....lol I owned 2 Midgets way back when, a red one with steel wheels and a blue one with wire wheels and tan interior. Man can they corner too. I fondly remember way back then I wad riving on West Virginia's Route 7 from the Ohio River and some West Virginian passed me in a pickup truck and being the daring type (back then I passed him on a sweeping curve) and the chase was on. The road got tighter and tighter and try as he could, there was no way that pickup could hang with the Midget. He finally gave up when he spun out. I never even squealed the tires. Great little car. Actually about the same size as my 14 Focus hatchback but the Focus has way more power and while it don't corner quite as well, it still corners pretty decent and it's a 5 speed too. I love a standard transmission. Problem is, I cannot take it anywhere to be serviced so I do it myself. The younger set today don't know how to drive a 5 speed. Has to be a slush box or they are lost.

I not so fondly remember the Lucas electrics and the funky lever shocks. When people referred to Lucas 'Prince of Darkness', I fully understood.

Can you even buy an American car today with a standard transmission?

Would love to have a brand new regular cab, 4 x 4, 3/4 ton, 8ft bed, manual transmission.

 

[Jstpssng]

My age and probably as stiff in the morning as I am....lol I owned 2 Midgets way back when, a red one with steel wheels and a blue one with wire wheels and tan interior. Man can they corner too. I fondly remember way back then I wad riving on West Virginia's Route 7 from the Ohio River and some West Virginian passed me in a pickup truck and being the daring type (back then I passed him on a sweeping curve) and the chase was on. The road got tighter and tighter and try as he could, there was no way that pickup could hang with the Midget. He finally gave up when he spun out. I never even squealed the tires. Great little car. Actually about the same size as my 14 Focus hatchback but the Focus has way more power and while it don't corner quite as well, it still corners pretty decent and it's a 5 speed too. I love a standard transmission. Problem is, I cannot take it anywhere to be serviced so I do it myself. The younger set today don't know how to drive a 5 speed. Has to be a slush box or they are lost.

I not so fondly remember the Lucas electrics and the funky lever shocks. When people referred to Lucas 'Prince of Darkness', I fully understood.

Can you even buy an American car today with a standard transmission?

Stick with the Model A. I'm still waiting to see you buy one.

 

[Jstpssng]

Would love to have a brand new regular cab, 4 x 4, 3/4 ton, 8ft bed, manual transmission.

So would I. The truth is though, the new automatics are a lot better transmissions in a lot of ways. I just don't see them lasting 30 years. At this point though, I don't care as I don't expect to last that long either.

 

[5030]

Buddy's kid has a real tricked out late model Camaro. Another car I'd have an issue getting in or out of. It's stupid fast bit I don't believe as quick as a Z01 Vette. I'm lusting and I have the funds but it's the ingress and egress that stops me from buying one. Something about having the big V8 behind my head I find interesting. That and being hounded by every cop that passes me.

If I had unlimited funds or a death wish with a credit company, I'd spring for a Bugatti Veyron instead. You could buy 5 Vettes compared to what one Bugatti costs and that is the stripped base model.

My dad had a 65 Stingray Convertible with a 427/390 horse and a 4 speed and I got to borrow it (rarely). That car was a hoot and a chick magnet too. Chicks loved to go for a ride with the top down. Those were the days. Going an honest 150 on the freeway with the top down was quite an experience. My need for speed has lessened with my age and loss of hair.

Now, I'm old and grey and married 37 years. My chick went from a redhead to a grey head and got a bit plump too. Oh well, always nice to take a jog down memory lane.

 

[5030]

So would I. The truth is though, the new automatics are a lot better transmissions in a lot of ways. I just don't see them lasting 30 years. At this point though, I don't care as I don't expect to last that long either.

I will tell you something, that 10 speed slush box that Ford's has now, I was told by my brother in law to avoid it and he ought to know as he as one of the engineers in the design phase.

My wife bought a newer off lease Chevy Suburban LTZ just before gas went sky high and it's in the garage presently. Costs a buck thirty to fill it. Nice ride, big V8 and a pig. Oh well. First thing I did was delete the sequential valve actuation, another GM bad dream. V8's are supposed to run like a V8, not a neutered 4 cylinder. I guess she wanted to look 'Presidential' as it's triple black with grey leather interior and triple tint on the windows. Even has a TV for the second and third row seating. Huge sunroof and more options that neither of us can figure out how they work. Air suspension and it's a 4x4 as well. GM calls it accutrak. I call it expensive to fix. Nice ride for someone with deep pockets or a President who don't buy gas anyway. Hers, not mine. Don't even want to drive it actually.

 

[KennyG]

I will tell you something, that 10 speed slush box that Ford's has now, I was told by my brother in law to avoid it and he ought to know as he as one of the engineers in the design phase.

I don't think there is much basis for this. I haven't seen any significant concerns over the 10 speed and they've been out there for years now. I've had mine for over 5 years and it's better than a manual in every respect except fun.

 

[Oaktree]

I'm not for or against electric vehicles, but I think the Market should decide on them, and Manufactures should supply a product that people want. Currently, the cost of oil is forcing people to buy vehicles that they wouldn't buy if our government wasn't causing the price of oil to increase.

Happens every time fuel prices take a jump...people dump perfectly good vehicles for some sort of econobox that they don't really want or like, but solely because it's better on gas. When prices go back down (and they will), most will go back to larger, more comfortable/useful vehicles again.
Petroleum prices are a commodity, and price is market driven. Our government has very little to do with it.

I can't see how people don't see this as the social engineering it is.

Yet, how many TBN'ers have smartphones? You don't see THAT as social engineering?