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There is more than a little exaggeration going on here.

People using a car-based van (e.g. Nissan NV200 or Prius V) aren't going to be using it for scrap metal hauling or similarly super-dense loads, precisely because it will overload the vehicle, and any warranty damage claim will be denied when its obvious that the vehicle was grossly overloaded far beyond OEM specifications. IOW, if you're stupid enough to destroy your vehicle this way, it comes entirely out of your pocket, so you only do it once. That isn't to say that there aren't stupid people, but when it comes to losing 5-figure sums of money, people get a bit adverse to that.

OEMs make a range of vehicles, which is why Ford sells "medium duty" trucks like the F-450/550 along with lighter things like the Ranger to supplement the "light duty" F-150/250/350.

Also, most cars don't share GVWR, just curb weight. That said, they all reasonably carry 200+ lbs per passenger seat (including cargo) so that the car may reasonably transport people as designed. That's why things like a Chevy Malibu / Toyota Camry do just fine as a taxicab carrying 5 passengers and all their luggage from the airport.

 Elbows wrote:
In America you'll find people abuse even the strongest and biggest truck beds (look up YouTube videos of people putting 2,000 lb. snowmobiles into truck beds and them collapsing, etc.). Lots of companies use them for hauling dozens of bags of concrete, thousands of bricks, etc. If the bed can carry 1750 lbs...they'll put 1750 lbs. into it (or 850 kilos for you folks).

An average car (probably more for the wagon and smaller van types) can carry around 600-700 lbs internally (including passengers). In fact some cars are not rated for more than two fat people (around 500 lbs). We use loads of small vans and car-based vehicles for business needs as well, but many companies use large pick-up trucks as actual heavy movers (often beyond their limitations).

The Aussie utes typically had capacities of 500 to 800 kg-ish. If you needed more you’d get a 1 tonner, which raises the suspension a bit higher and threw a steel bed on the back.

But you can’t buy utes here anymore, with Holden and Ford closing up shop on manufacturing the utes disappeared and have mostly been replaced by Ford Rangers.

I'm in Mexico for work and have seen several of these:

VW Saveiro

 bbb wrote:
I'm in Mexico for work and have seen several of these:

VW Saveiro

I saw something similar (ish) in a VW magazine I buy on occasion. . . Only, the bloke is from AZ, and he chopped up a Mk V or VI Jetta to turn it into a Ute. . . . it looked similar to what you posted, but with a more obvious Jetta stance (ie, the rear end wasn't up in the air)

A few bags of cement and tools in the back will level that out, I'd think. That photo is just showing it empty.

Also while in Mexico I've seen a few of these:

Chevrolet Tornado

 bbb wrote:
I'm in Mexico for work and have seen several of these:

VW Saveiro

I love that look. I had to do a little research after seeing that picture. Depending on where in the world you are, that mini-pickup is called either a Tornado or Montana.

As it happens, as of last year General Motors has secured the rights to the name "Montana" in the US. That's a good sign that they could be importing it to the US. If they did they'd likely have to change out the engine and transmission to something more marketable in the US. Something like an 8-speed automatic transmission and a 270HP turbo 4 cylinder.

Also of note, I found a picture of a 4-door version with a mini bed that looks promising. Apparently the load capacity of this thing is 1660 pounds. That's WAY more than I'd have expected for this little truck. Keeping my fingers crossed that this makes it to the US market.

No love for the Ford Ranchero?



Eh, El Caminos had their niche, but it was a small one. The old S-10 could basically fill that slot effortlessly now.


What we REALLY need back are the actual Saturn models. Like the SL-1. The one I owned had almost 300,000 miles on her and I was the original owner. They just don't build 'em like Evelyn anymore...

 Just Tony wrote:
No love for the Ford Ranchero?

What we REALLY need back are the actual Saturn models.

You mean the non-desirable wannabe Elky? Nope, not really.

GM lost enough money spinning the next-gen Olds off into a division that didn't need to be, so GM shouldn't do that again. Toyota copied that idea with Scion, and that's done. Benz "Smart" is done in the USA. About the only "entry" range that's holding on is Mini, and those are not cheap. Besides, the Saturn cars themselves were still basic GM product, just sold really very friendly.

Not the first gens, but I agree that the rebranded GM cars as Saturns were junk. VUE, RELAY, SKYY, all garbage. The SL and SC series cars still run very well, and were cut of a different cloth. THOSE are the ones I'm talking about needing to come back.

Yeah, my Saturn SC was the best car I ever owned. Had it for 12 years with no issues whatsoever, but it finally gave out in the southwestern hellscape, years after they made the mistake of killing the company.

Someone did this to a Dodge Magnum which I thought was a nice vehicle vs a minivan or SUV. I'm not sure what the market would be, but I like it.

That Dodge is not a bad echo of an El Camino SS. They did a good job with the rear to remove the doors; however, it would have looked a whole lot better with a thicker C pillar.

I just found out that Ford authorized the 1966 Mustang to be made into an El Camino ripoff. The number that made it to the public were very few, and very coveted now.

 cuda1179 wrote:
I just found out that Ford authorized the 1966 Mustang to be made into an El Camino ripoff. The number that made it to the public were very few, and very coveted now.

True Story....

That looks horrible. I had pictures “Mustang Ute” as looking a lot nicer than that, but the rear window and pillars just don’t look right.