EVs - New Hampshire gets it right

[deadheadskier]

That's absolutely the case. It's a last 30'ish years or so phenomena, and I completely fail to understand it. A weird macho thing? I mean, it is mostly men, and it's 100% fact that "many" (I'd say a majority) rarely if ever use the bed, so WTH is the point? An SUV or other class is a far better pragmatic choice for the majority.

Yup. As a kid, the only families in the neighborhood who had trucks either had fathers who worked in the trades or they had something they needed to tow. Heck my family despite being skiers were somewhat late adopters to SUVs even. We would just pack my dad's Accords with snow tires to the gills. The first SUV they bought wasn't until 1996 when I was in college.

Granted they also didn't really have luxury or 5 seater trucks back then. Most trucks were regular cabs with bench seats for 3.

But, I agree, it makes little sense how popular pickups are today, especially with the gas prices and the interest rates.

 

[BenedictGomez]

Yup. As a kid, the only families in the neighborhood who had trucks either had fathers who worked in the trades or they had something they needed to tow.......... But, I agree, it makes little sense how popular pickups are today, especially with the gas prices and the interest rates.

Yeah, and the reason I think I'm so aware of the explosion is when I was a kid we had 2 pick-up trucks, and it was somewhat uncommon versus sedans and station wagons etc...., but we also had a farm and those beds got heavy use. By the early 90s I'd estimate, I first started seeing people who were like accountants or teachers or something with pick-up trucks, and it seemed somewhat odd. Now it's beyond common to the point I'd say probably 20% of vehicles I see are pickups!

And with that demand pickups went from affordable work beasts to expensive luxury vehicles with leather interior. It still seems ridiculous to me.

 

[cdskier]

I drive a truck because I like a truck. I don't understand the appeal of sports cars personally...but if that's what people want...so be it. It is their money. I'm not going to tell others what to do.

FWIW, I don't have a leather interior in my current truck either (although I did in my previous truck, but that was more because at the time the only way to get the rear-view camera and larger display with nav system was to get a higher level package that included leather seats).

 

[2Planker]

I drive a truck because I like a truck. I don't understand the appeal of sports cars personally...but if that's what people want...so be it. It is their money. I'm not going to tell others what to do.

FWIW, I don't have a leather interior in my current truck either (although I did in my previous truck, but that was more because at the time the only way to get the rear-view camera and larger display with nav system was to get a higher level package that included leather seats).

All of my sports cars cost $10-20K less than my neighbors new truck, that he doesn't need or use as a work truck. $82K

 

[cdskier]

All of my sports cars cost $10-20K less than my neighbors new truck

Ok...and? Again, why do people care how others spend their money so much? My brother and his wife have 2 SUVs that each cost probably $15-30k more than my truck did. Again...their money though so that was their choice.

 

[ss20]

Skiing is the only sport I can think of where the bottom 20% of participants drive 20 year old shit boxes worth less than $3k and the top 20% drive $60k+ trucks...or SUV's...or sports cars.

 

[2Planker]

Skiing is the only sport I can think of where the bottom 20% of participants drive 20 year old shit boxes worth less than $3k and the top 20% drive $60k+ trucks...or SUV's...or sports cars.

I still play hockey and virtually everyone drives a junker w/ at least 150K miles

 

[Hawk]

Skiing is the only sport I can think of where the bottom 20% of participants drive 20 year old shit boxes worth less than $3k and the top 20% drive $60k+ trucks...or SUV's...or sports cars.

I don't know where you ski but really don't see many low worth cars like what you are talking about where I ski.

 

[Smellytele]

I don't know where you ski but really don't see many low worth cars like what you are talking about where I ski.

You ski at sugarbush…
Mic dropped

 

[Hawk]

Sugarbush, killington, Stowe, Jay, Mad River, Sunday River, etc. I don't really buy the 20% statistic. Sorry.

 

[deadheadskier]

Ok...and? Again, why do people care how others spend their money so much? My brother and his wife have 2 SUVs that each cost probably $15-30k more than my truck did. Again...their money though so that was their choice.

Oh I certainly don't care what other people buy.

I was mainly commenting on how trucks used to only primarily be purchased for utility where now that's not really the case. And the fact that they aren't being used for utility is maybe part of the reason why Ford thinks the market is there for their electric truck.

Is it the styling you prefer compared to say a Tahoe? It doesn't really matter either way. People like what they like.

Your sports car analogy doesn't really apply for a couple of reasons. For one, (anecdotal I know) virtually everyone I know who owns a sports car owns one as a second car; a toy. The second reason is there is a utility reason behind that purchase. The utility being performance. They want a fast car that handles well.

 

[1dog]

Oh I certainly don't care what other people buy.

I was mainly commenting on how trucks used to only primarily be purchased for utility where now that's not really the case. And the fact that they aren't being used for utility is maybe part of the reason why Ford thinks the market is there for their electric truck.

Is it the styling you prefer compared to say a Tahoe? It doesn't really matter either way. People like what they like.

Your sports car analogy doesn't really apply for a couple of reasons. For one, (anecdotal I know) virtually everyone I know who owns a sports car owns one as a second car; a toy. The second reason is there is a utility reason behind that purchase. The utility being performance. They want a fast car that handles well.

Pick ups - like boats, the best ones are those your friend owns. . . . . and these days, w Turo, for $30 a day, you can use your neighbors.

It is what makes America different. We like to drive. In Europe, not so much. ( $3 a liter does deter) Drove Saab 900s for years- with snows and some know-how- unstoppable except when over 15"-20". Now large SUV's get close to 20 MPG on highways, and hold friggen everything.

My favorite was coming up on one late on a Friday night on I89 in NH- dual screens, rear and third row, 6 guys. . . . ripping porn. hope they took them out before the kiddies got back in. . . . . . ridic.

Have a successful friend who just nabbed a Benz conversion van - picked it up in Vegas to avoid CA sales tax. Dealer met him there. $200K before its tricked out.

Open the hood, and the name and personal cell phone of the German engineer contact if you need anything. I'm certain he ( or she) logs in and diagnosis' the issue remotely. Crazy word. Snowed on some peaks last night.

 

[Smellytele]

Pick ups - like boats, the best ones are those your friend owns. . . . . and these days, w Turo, for $30 a day, you can use your neighbors.

It is what makes America different. We like to drive. In Europe, not so much. ( $3 a liter does deter) Drove Saab 900s for years- with snows and some know-how- unstoppable except when over 15"-20". Now large SUV's get close to 20 MPG on highways, and hold friggen everything.

My favorite was coming up on one late on a Friday night on I89 in NH- dual screens, rear and third row, 6 guys. . . . ripping porn. hope they took them out before the kiddies got back in. . . . . . ridic.

Have a successful friend who just nabbed a Benz conversion van - picked it up in Vegas to avoid CA sales tax. Dealer met him there. $200K before its tricked out.

Open the hood, and the name and personal cell phone of the German engineer contact if you need anything. I'm certain he ( or she) logs in and diagnosis' the issue remotely. Crazy word. Snowed on some peaks last night.

I thought the sales tax is applied when you register the vehicle?

 

[cdskier]

Oh I certainly don't care what other people buy.

I was mainly commenting on how trucks used to only primarily be purchased for utility where now that's not really the case. And the fact that they aren't being used for utility is maybe part of the reason why Ford thinks the market is there for their electric truck.

Is it the styling you prefer compared to say a Tahoe? It doesn't really matter either way. People like what they like.

Your sports car analogy doesn't really apply for a couple of reasons. For one, (anecdotal I know) virtually everyone I know who owns a sports car owns one as a second car; a toy. The second reason is there is a utility reason behind that purchase. The utility being performance. They want a fast car that handles well.

I know a number of people that have/had sports cars that don't drive them that way (case in point would be my brother again lol who had a sports car years ago when he was younger and used it primarily for commuting/local driving). He had no need for an actual "performance" car. Let's face it, in the suburbs anywhere in the northeast, where do you really get to take advantage of a "fast car"? Pretty much any new vehicle on the road has no problems going the speeds you can really drive on any roads around here. But again, if that's what people want, fine with me. I just don't think you can really say they're actually taking advantage of the "performance" feature of a sports car any more so than most pick-up drivers use their vehicles for "truck" stuff.

As for styling, yea, the Tahoe would probably be the SUV I'd lean towards if I went the SUV route. But I can get a Silverado with the options I'd want for cheaper than I could get a Tahoe with the same options. And I like the way a Silverado looks more than the way a Tahoe looks. I haven't compared measurements, but I'm guessing the Silverado in terms of size is actually a bit closer to the Suburban (which is insanely priced).

 

[deadheadskier]

We will have to agree to disagree on sports car. I don't think it's an equal comparison for the two reasons I gave, but also because they are a miniscule portion of the country's auto fleet where as the top three vehicles by far are F150, Silverado and Ram. I'd be curious what the split is there between work vehicles vs personal.

Again, I really don't care what other people drive and why they do. I was thinking of the angle as to why Ford believes what they do about market appetite for the Lightening. And that's the one that makes the most sense to me. That a majority of truck drivers these days don't care about utility.

 

[deadheadskier]

Hubba hubba though

 

[Smellytele]

Wish actual work trucks were still be made. Just want a stripped down 4x4. Don’t need a fucking computer screen, heated seats/steering wheel, remote start, cameras, lane departure, auto headlights, power seats, WiFi or …

 

[kbroderick]

Wish actual work trucks were still be made. Just want a stripped down 4x4. Don’t need a fucking computer screen, heated seats/steering wheel, remote start, cameras, lane departure, auto headlights, power seats, WiFi or …

I don't need heated seats, a heated steering wheel, and remote start, but all three are damned nice to have getting to and from ski areas in the middle of winter.

Heck, coming off the hill at Sugarloaf after a race and having a warm truck during the 20-21 ("no lodge for you") winter was worth a fair bit of the incremental cost for those features.

 

[Hawk]

Wish actual work trucks were still be made. Just want a stripped down 4x4. Don’t need a fucking computer screen, heated seats/steering wheel, remote start, cameras, lane departure, auto headlights, power seats, WiFi or …

This is why used trucks are nearly impossible go find now a days. Several of my tradesman friends have been looking so they don't have to spend a mint to destroy a nice truck with all the amenities.

 

[1dog]

Back to EV viability - I'm one of these, kinda - have plug in- leaving to go ICE or hybrid non-plug in.

Nearly 50% of EV owners chose ICE vehicle for subsequent purchase, S&P Global Mobility study shows

Nearly half of households with non-Tesla electric vehicles (EVs) made an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle their next auto purchase, according to a new analysis. It doesn’t necessarily…

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