this post was submitted on 12 Aug 2023
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Fuck Cars

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Honestly this is absurd. These death machines shouldn't be legal in europe. That thing doesn't even fit in the parking space, even though the parking lot has the biggest spaces in the whole city. The ~~Golf~~ Polo is so small in comparison, it could even hide in front of the engine hood of the truck.

EDIT: It's a Polo and not a Golf, I don't know my cars, sorry for that!

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[–] Stinkywinks@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago (4 children)

I understand not liking unnecessary large trucks with giant wheels that have never seen dirt in their lives. The same guys that like to rev their engine anytime they leave. But this just looks like a standard work truck. Maybe the back is full of tools? Maybe he's going camping. Camping is dope.

[–] Hallainzil@startrek.website 26 points 1 year ago (4 children)

This isn't standard. Nothing about that vehicle is standard.

If it's for lugging tools, get a van. They're safer and better for the job.

If it's for camping, get a van.

These trucks make no sense, other than financially to car companies.

[–] lennybird@lemmy.world 7 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Trucks have a higher towing capacity than vans, generally.

Trucks can fit awkwardly sized stuff in the bed, unlike vans. I'd love to have seen my dad drop a welded heat exchanger he worked on for an industrial boiler into a van with a bobcat.

Work trucks absolutely make sense.

[–] Excrubulent 7 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

The bed in that thing is probably about the same size as the bed of a kei truck. Most pickup trucks in the US typically have beds about that size. If you really need to tow something enormous you're better off getting something designed for the purpose. People everywhere else in the world get around all the time with car-sized pickups like the older Hilux.

Only the US has such big pickups, and it's because the EPA allows less stringent emmissions standards the larger the vehicle is, so I guess it works out cheaper to just make the truck bigger and not bother dealing with tight standards. So ironically the EPA's regulation is creating more emmissions.

I'm afraid it's not because there's a good, rational reason to want a truck like that. It's basically a side effect of lobbying and anticompetitive behaviour.

EDIT: Not Just Bikes has done a pretty good breakdown of the problem with oversized SUVs & pickups here: https://youtu.be/jN7mSXMruEo

[–] PersnickityPenguin@lemm.ee 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Kei trucks can’t go very fast, and their load capacity isn’t nearly as much as a truck like this. They are really awesome though!

[–] Excrubulent 2 points 1 year ago

The bed in that thing is tiny compared to its size, and they are incredibly unsafe at speed. You don't want them to go fast, especially not in the middle of a city.

[–] sassocity@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Vans... Have like 100mm clearance. All work vehicles suck gass, but a single truck doesn't scream "fuckcars" to me. The right tool for the job and such.

Whereas the hottest month in human history definitely screams "fuckcars" to me.

[–] Hallainzil@startrek.website 4 points 1 year ago

Only Americans ever think these are the right tool for the job. If you guys want to keep your trucks that kill people at an incredibly outsized rate, fire away. But they are a plague that most Europeans rightly want to keep out.

[–] Bread3290@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

My former boss I knew well owned a truck like this. He was the boss of an electrician company and used his vehicle for a great many roles, towing stuff, bringing electrical and repair equipment that was pretty large, and taking the family for vacation. So the only reason a person should be looking at a vehicle like this is if you have a lot of different things to do with it

[–] Hallainzil@startrek.website 2 points 1 year ago

In Europe, there is no good reason to own this. It doesn't fit anywhere. There are other, better options in every single circumstance. Including pickup trucks that are designed for and fit our roads. These trucks are simply too big, they're a menace.

[–] PersnickityPenguin@lemm.ee 2 points 1 year ago

In America, many trades do use trucks to transport things. Farmers may use a pick up truck like this to haul hay or feed in the back. Construction companies and contractors will use trucks to move small loads of dirt or gravel. Lumber and plywood. Concrete blocks. Building supplies, scrap metal or machinery.

The open bed does make it easier to load and unload stuff in the back that does not need to be covered, and can allow you to use a forklift. But at a certain point if you’re moving a lot of heavy stuff a flatbed truck is it going to be more effective.

Still, way too many people buy trucks and never use them. They are very expensive and a lot of people go heavily in debt in buying these fancy overpriced vanity trucks. I think they cost between $75,000-$100,000 these days!

[–] Thadrax@lemmy.world 12 points 1 year ago

But this just looks like a standard work truck. Maybe the back is full of tools? Maybe he’s going camping. Camping is dope.

Sure. Two issues though.

  • Small trucks like they used to build a while ago would be better at pretty much all of those use cases than the monsters that get build today
  • big trucks have become the default for people that never do any of those things

So as a result, there are way more way bigger vehicles on the road endangering all road users and wasting resources for no benefit besides lining the pockets of the manufacturers.

[–] JaN0h4ck@feddit.de 3 points 1 year ago

It's in germany and parked at a train station with no company logos on the vehicle. I only see it on workdays so it's sadly most likely a commuter.

Also standard work trucks in Germany are Vans, most people get a Mercedes Sprinter (or similar vans) for that. Plus you can customise your Sprinter to have a truck bed. Neat!

[–] Reverendender@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

Yeah, my truck is great when I want to buy some furniture at ikea.