Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Toyotas and Terrorists: "Why are ISIS's trucks better than ours?" (2023)

airuniversity.af.edu

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

41–50 of 135 posts

Re: Toyotas and Terrorists: "Why are ISIS's trucks better than ours?" (2023)

#41

Post by downut »

AndrewKemendo wrote: post #13

Glad to see my alma mater represented here doing good research. I served in Iraq as an AF commander. My 2001 Tundra is still going strong ;)

So is mine (2001TRD bought new). Searched all over AZ looking for manual everything and I got it, except for the trans. It replaced an fj60 Landcruiser. Beautiful machine I worked on a lot (5spd trans, lift, exhaust, gas tank) but it needed more power. The FJ-60 replaced an absolutely bottom basic 4cyl 4wd 5spd manual Toy "Pickup", better than a jeep 'cause you could carry shit off road, that the child outgrew sitting in the middle behind the stick.

The only thing I dislike about the Tundra is the gas mileage. I thought I would hate the auto trans but then I did some largish sandy-ish steps uphill and fuck me that was easy. Ah, there is another annoying thing: anti-lock brakes make sandy steep downhills with exposure much more interesting than they should be.

When I die I want to be buried in it.

God the new gigantic Tundras look awful. I think I'm seeing a lot more newish Tacomas these days, and they still look decent. They definitely look easier to park.

Re: Toyotas and Terrorists: "Why are ISIS's trucks better than ours?" (2023)

#43

Post by Tade0 »

hnav wrote: post #27
taniks1618 wrote: post #2

I wish it was easy and simple to buy the Hilux in America. Many amazing foreign vehicles have been banned or heavily taxed by the Federal Government to prevent competition.

Even vehicles that are largely the same as those we get here are banned from being brought in. All because Mercedes didn't like being undercut by gray market imports and lobbied the government.

There's a similar thing currently going on in some parts of Europe, but the imported cars are for the Chinese market.

In one high-profile case a Berlin-based VW dealership was importing the VW ID.6, which is a model exclusive to China:

https://www.shop4ev.com/en/blogs/news/verkaufsverbot-id-6-bl...

Re: Toyotas and Terrorists: "Why are ISIS's trucks better than ours?" (2023)

#44

Post by neom »

testing22321 wrote: post #5

Because the chicken tax keeps out great vehicles so the US automakers don’t have to compete. The hilux and 79 landcruiser are run of the mill workhorses in virtually every country in the world except the US and Canada. They run rings around the Tacoma and tundra. Tariffs and old world protectionism like the chicken tax are keeping the US automakers on life support, but they’re all doomed - they’re not even trying to…

Fingers crossed Carney changes for us Canadians, I was in Mexico for a month and rented a BYD Seal, fantastic car.

Re: Toyotas and Terrorists: "Why are ISIS's trucks better than ours?" (2023)

#45

Post by NDizzle »

testing22321 wrote: post #5

Because the chicken tax keeps out great vehicles so the US automakers don’t have to compete. The hilux and 79 landcruiser are run of the mill workhorses in virtually every country in the world except the US and Canada. They run rings around the Tacoma and tundra. Tariffs and old world protectionism like the chicken tax are keeping the US automakers on life support, but they’re all doomed - they’re not even trying to…

I, too, am waiting to execute my master plan to import a 70 series Land Cruiser. Late 90s/early 00s model. It's almost time. Last car I'll ever need to buy.

Re: Toyotas and Terrorists: "Why are ISIS's trucks better than ours?" (2023)

#46

Post by robotnikman »

testing22321 wrote: post #5

Because the chicken tax keeps out great vehicles so the US automakers don’t have to compete. The hilux and 79 landcruiser are run of the mill workhorses in virtually every country in the world except the US and Canada. They run rings around the Tacoma and tundra. Tariffs and old world protectionism like the chicken tax are keeping the US automakers on life support, but they’re all doomed - they’re not even trying to…

I wish we could get the Hilux here. Had to settle for a Tacoma instead.

Re: Toyotas and Terrorists: "Why are ISIS's trucks better than ours?" (2023)

#47

Post by hinkley »

pavel_lishin wrote: post #3

> It is also a very robust vehicle capable of withstanding elemental and physical extremities, as shown on the British TV show “Top Gear.”[6] If you haven't ever watched Top Gear, this is definitely one of the standout bits they did - putting that truck through absolute hell, and watching it continue to start up. I highly recommend it, even if you don't think of yourself as a Car Guy. It's basically a comedy show tha…

https://wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_Gear%3A_Polar_Special Top Gear drives a heavily modified Toyota Hilux to the North Pole.

Re: Toyotas and Terrorists: "Why are ISIS's trucks better than ours?" (2023)

#48

Post by cosmic_cheese »

taniks1618 wrote: post #2

I wish it was easy and simple to buy the Hilux in America. Many amazing foreign vehicles have been banned or heavily taxed by the Federal Government to prevent competition.

Imagine how much nicer driving around in the suburbs would be if the majority of vehicles were town cars like Honda Fits, mini-mini-vans like Honda Freed, pre-2003 Tacomas, and kei trucks/vans instead of the usual mix of unreasonably tall and boxy crossovers/SUVs and brodozer trucks.

Re: Toyotas and Terrorists: "Why are ISIS's trucks better than ours?" (2023)

#49

Post by tamimio »

What’s better than Hilux is the Land Cruiser 70 or 75 series, more reliable and bigger payload. That being said, you can never go wrong with Toyota, reliable yet simple, if you open the Hilux engine hood you can literally see your feet through the engine area because only few components are in there, compare this to say a german car, and you need a manual on just where to find the engine oil stick.

Re: Toyotas and Terrorists: "Why are ISIS's trucks better than ours?" (2023)

#50

Post by conductr »

the__alchemist wrote: post #26
netsharc wrote: post #17

Seems like the question is never answered. There's a lot of how the trucks get there, but not why they're better. (I skimmed it, the writing has too much emotional bait of "Look how evil they are! Don't forget, we're the good guys!"). Maybe it's survivor bias, the ones that are crap have been blown up by a Hellfire shot by a drone..

- Cheap + reliable - Parts for maintenance easy to come by - Strong enough to mount an 50 cal in the back You might have a mix of government owned vehicles, and ones rented from the local economy. You might be driving Hiluxes to work, and observing ISIS or partner forces using the same model as fighting vehicles.

Is the mounting problem even real? I’ve shot a 50 cal rifle unmounted and I’d venture to say it could be mounted to anything. It’s mainly for ergonomic / accuracy / rapid fire stability and doesn’t need significant structural support. You could probably mount it to an ATV if you wanted to.
Post reply on HN