Pickups - Diesel Forum

**SmokeyWren** · 07-21-2008, 08:59 AM

Two blurbs from this morning's Automotive News e-mail:

Truck for the times? Oklahoma pickup gets 37 mpg
Call it the first pickup for $4-a-gallon fuel. The Tiger Champ gets 37 mpg with a three-cylinder diesel engine from Caterpillar Inc. It is assembled in Oklahoma and available at 70 dealerships nationwide. Of course, a few strings are attached: Outside of Oklahoma, you can't drive it on public roads. It's slow. And it does not meet federal safety standards. FULL STORY is available at Automotive News -- In-depth coverage of the automotive industry with special features for subscribers. The diesel model is not included on Tiger's website, so it must be a new model not yet for sale to the public. The gas model claims only 32 MPG. Tiger Truck - Tiger Champ 4500

Big-pickup production will plunge
Full-sized pickup truck production will fall off a cliff in the second half of 2008 and likely end the year nearly 1 million units lower than in 2007. Forecasters at J.D. Power and Associates expect North American output from July through December to be little more than half of what it was in the same period last year. FULL STORY is available at Automotive News -- In-depth coverage of the automotive industry with special features for subscribers

roofeditor · 07-21-2008, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SmokeyWren

Two blurbs from this morning's Automotive News e-mail:

Truck for the times? Oklahoma pickup gets 37 mpg
Call it the first pickup for $4-a-gallon fuel. The Tiger Champ gets 37 mpg with a three-cylinder diesel engine from Caterpillar Inc. It is assembled in Oklahoma and available at 70 dealerships nationwide. Of course, a few strings are attached: Outside of Oklahoma, you can't drive it on public roads. It's slow. And it does not meet federal safety standards. FULL STORY is available at Automotive News -- In-depth coverage of the automotive industry with special features for subscribers. The diesel model is not included on Tiger's website, so it must be a new model not yet for sale to the public. The gas model claims only 32 MPG. Tiger Truck - Tiger Champ 4500

Big-pickup production will plunge
Full-sized pickup truck production will fall off a cliff in the second half of 2008 and likely end the year nearly 1 million units lower than in 2007. Forecasters at J.D. Power and Associates expect North American output from July through December to be little more than half of what it was in the same period last year. FULL STORY is available at Automotive News -- In-depth coverage of the automotive industry with special features for subscribers

You are correct large PU's ands large SUV's are done and long overdue in my opinion. The entire wold laughs at us for this nonsense.

We can't overnight drive 10 million F-150's in the ocean but the transition will happen.

I can't believe Detriot could not see this writing on the wall, and and am even more surprised Toyoa fell for hook line and sinker with the Tundra and Sequoia.

Makes Honda guys look like they had a crystal ball!!!

**KINGTUT** · 07-21-2008, 05:20 PM

I predict that there will as close to zero as possible consumers buying pick-up trucks unless they ABSOLUTELY, MUST have one for their needs. I think the PU market is dead for the next few years maybe longer. My local Ford dealer sold 4 F-150's last month, yes I said 4. Granted it's a small dealer but a couple of years ago he was doing 35-40 a month. They can't keep the Focus on the lot. He said he could sell everyone he could get his hands on. I run the interstates a bunch and have been playing a little game trying to spot new PU's with drive off tags. Have only seen 3 in the last month. Bad times for PU's and to make matters worse their used value is so far in the tank that you can't reach it. My 07 GMC Sierra loaded cost me 41k last April 07 worth today 24.5K IF you can find someone who would buy it.

roofeditor · 07-21-2008, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KINGTUT

I predict that there will as close to zero as possible consumers buying pick-up trucks unless they ABSOLUTELY, MUST have one for their needs. I think the PU market is dead for the next few years maybe longer. My local Ford dealer sold 4 F-150's last month, yes I said 4. Granted it's a small dealer but a couple of years ago he was doing 35-40 a month. They can't keep the Focus on the lot. He said he could sell everyone he could get his hands on. I run the interstates a bunch and have been playing a little game trying to spot new PU's with drive off tags. Have only seen 3 in the last month. Bad times for PU's and to make matters worse their used value is so far in the tank that you can't reach it. My 07 GMC Sierra loaded cost me 41k last April 07 worth today 24.5K IF you can find someone who would buy it.

When you trade for your Honda Diesel. BTW: I E-mailed my dealer and put my name in for an 09 Accord Diesel. Couldn't let you one up me!!!

I do like my decked out accord though. It's not a Ls-460 but it's darn close and it didn't cost $70K

.....I got $3K off sticker so it was about $27 out the door with everything other than NAV.

pigdog · 07-21-2008, 11:27 PM

I'm waitiing to see how this Mihandra Truck will do once it's released. Sized like a Toyota Tacoma, diesel powered, available in two or four door cab configurations. Supposed to get between 20-30 mpg and they have announced plans to release a diesel hybrid in 2010 that's supposed to get close ro 40mpg.

checkthisout · 07-22-2008, 01:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roofeditor

When you trade for your Honda Diesel. BTW: I E-mailed my dealer and put my name in for an 09 Accord Diesel. Couldn't let you one up me!!!

I do like my decked out accord though. It's not a Ls-460 but it's darn close and it didn't cost $70K

.....I got $3K off sticker so it was about $27 out the door with everything other than NAV.

VS your LEXUS.

checkthisout · 07-22-2008, 01:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pigdog

I'm waitiing to see how this Mihandra Truck will do once it's released. Sized like a Toyota Tacoma, diesel powered, available in two or four door cab configurations. Supposed to get between 20-30 mpg and they have announced plans to release a diesel hybrid in 2010 that's supposed to get close ro 40mpg.

To become a Mahindra Dealer.

However, when looking at Pictures of the truck especially the interior, it looks as though they bunch of old Toyota or Nissan patents and just copied them?

butchcassidy1 · 07-22-2008, 05:32 AM

Smokey,

Both good articles. There will always be a market (all thou smaller)for full sized pickups. Contractors, tradespeople, farmers, Rvers will be needing them.

The big 3 domestic automakers are now playing (trying) to play catch up. If they went out of business - serves them right for not giving consumers the products they need - better miles per gallon in a good quality vehicle.

butchcassidy1

greenskeeper79 · 07-22-2008, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Call it the first pickup for $4-a-gallon fuel. The Tiger Champ gets 37 mpg with a three-cylinder diesel engine from Caterpillar Inc.

If you're using it as a truck for what a truck is for it's not going to get 37mpg. If you're using as a car (basic transportation) a Jetta TDI gets 50+mpgs.