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Volkswagen bringing back Scout brand truck as electric vehicle made in America

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Re: Volkswagen bringing back Scout brand truck as electric vehicle made in America

#91

Post by yencabulator »

bluGill wrote: post #41
corrral wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> There's a subset of contexts where they make sense although I think for _most_ people they're infrequent enough that it's way more sensible to use a cargo van or a sedan and then just rent a truck during the minority of times when you actually need one. Even a minivan can tow a small trailer for occasional lumber store runs or towing a jet ski or two. Or just use the roof rack and some tie-downs. Or take the seats…

If you need a truck even 5% of the time it is overall cheapest to just own a truck. Insurance, car payments, and other fixed costs are too high to make a second car worth it, and renting a car is not cheap, not to mention rental rules often mean you can't use the truck as a truck. (I've been looking for a place to rent a truck so I can replace mine, a couple times a year I do something that no rental truck will let m…

> renting a car is not cheap

U-Haul pickups are $19.95 + mileage. For me personally, I think that'd come to something like $50 for a single hardware store trip, plus inconvenience. So far I haven't had to do that, so I can't vouch for that number to be accurate.

Re: Volkswagen bringing back Scout brand truck as electric vehicle made in America

#92

Post by rasz »

jagger27 wrote: post #38
ThePhysicist wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Startup life has ruined me, so I'll never be able to believe such an origin story anymore and always assume it's something that PR/marketing has made up.

The most believable part of the story is that the exec didn’t know Volkwagen Group had the rights to the name. The company is absolutely gargantuan. It’s a great move. Of the main VW brands I can’t think of one that I would associate with rugged vehicles. SUVs, sure, but not pickup trucks.

what about kubelwagen and schwimmwagen? too soon? :)

Re: Volkswagen bringing back Scout brand truck as electric vehicle made in America

#93

Post by itsoktocry »

balls187 wrote: post #39
browningstreet wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I bought VWs & Audis in 3 states and had no issues. I also had zero problems with any of my cars... including A6s and my last VW product was a VW CC. But after that, the cars were always out of step with what they were competing with. VW started making "VWs cars for Americans in America", like the Atlas. I bought a Highlander because the Atlas was bigger than I wanted, had less tech (at the beginning, not true at the…

> I wanted an R as my last ICE vehicle, couldn't get one to save my life, and I tried. Some how I got a 2016 R (manual) on launch; it's my current vehicle, and I cannot bear the idea of parting with it, but I will most likely be selling it to by a EUV.

I had a 2018 Golf R (automatic). Loved it. Unfortunately, my family outgrew it, and I had trade it in for a Tiguan. The Tiguan is..okay. A bit underpowered, but it's slightly larger than other SUVs in this class.

As far as the reputation of VW dealers: they are the same as any other car company. Some are good, some are bad. My dealer is fine.

Re: Volkswagen bringing back Scout brand truck as electric vehicle made in America

#94

Post by EricE »

dieselgate wrote: post #82
EricE wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And if you are as frustrated by the lack of true mini-pickups as I am, search the 'net and read about the chicken tax. Which was aimed at locking VW out of the US market quite a while ago, has lingered on way past it's prime and has bit even American manufacturers in the butt as more manufacturing has shifted outside of the US. Gotta love unintended consequences - ha!

Ya it’s insane and unfortunate how the chicken tax wrecked trucks. Was it really directed towards VW though? I thought it was more against Japanese auto makes.

Nope, VW around WWII (I think just before - need to go re-read)

EDIT: It was post WWII. And VW Type 2 is profiled in the wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicken_tax

Re: Volkswagen bringing back Scout brand truck as electric vehicle made in America

#95

Post by EricE »

kevin_thibedeau wrote: post #68
EricE wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Both the Hyundai Santa Cruz and Ford Ranger have tail gates that will partially lower to the same level as the tops of the wheel wells, providing a perfect platform for 4x8 sheets of plywood. I have a friend with a Ranger and we have hauled plywood and other larger objects with no issues. Would I want to do it routinely? Probably not - but for casual hauling they work well enough. I would expect the Scout to be desig…

The other problem with the short beds is that they are "compensated" for by raising the belt line to make the bed deeper. This compromises rear visibility. Then the long beds suffer because they also get a deep bed to integrate with the cab. On old Rangers you used to be able to walk up and just reach into the bed to get stuff. That isn't possible on any current midsize and up pickups.

Yup. The old Ranger died because it was a partnership between Mazda and Ford - and it expired.

With the chicken tax squelching real competition and the fact that they can charge more for larger vehicles - whelp, you end up with the current American market where there are truly no more mini pickups. It sucks!

Re: Volkswagen bringing back Scout brand truck as electric vehicle made in America

#96

Post by rasz »

renewiltord wrote: post #24

I would absolutely love a pickup truck that I can use in SF. All the modern ones are absolutely humongous. I had a Titan and that thing was enormous . Cost me absolute bags of money to offset the carbon. Ultimately, I just want something with a bed that I can strap my bike down and take somewhere to ride. You can't really do that with the Forester I have now.

>strap my bike down and take somewhere to ride. You can't really do that with the Forester

you mean like $1500 folding Motorcycle trailer? or even cheaper https://www.uhaul.com/Trailers/Motorcycle-Trailer-Rental/MT/

Re: Volkswagen bringing back Scout brand truck as electric vehicle made in America

#97

Post by jagger27 »

rasz wrote: post #92
jagger27 wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The most believable part of the story is that the exec didn’t know Volkwagen Group had the rights to the name. The company is absolutely gargantuan. It’s a great move. Of the main VW brands I can’t think of one that I would associate with rugged vehicles. SUVs, sure, but not pickup trucks.

what about kubelwagen and schwimmwagen? too soon? :)

The VW Type 2 had a few pickup/flatbed models too. :P

Re: Volkswagen bringing back Scout brand truck as electric vehicle made in America

#98

Post by EricE »

waiseristy wrote: post #79
thecrumb wrote: post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They are still huge compared to the original SR-5/Tacoma.

You know that is never coming back right? Safety standards do not allow vehicles of that size and profile. There are multiple references to the 1st gen Tacomas in this thread and I'm having a hard time understanding why it keeps being brought up. It's a 20-25 year old vehicle

It keeps being brought up because there is a pent up demand for them.

Safety standards are BS. If Mazda can and does keep the Miata complaint with safety standards while preserving the bulk of the original Miata soul, then these other manufacturers could do the same with mini trucks.

The real problem is they don't have to. Bigger vehicles have better profit margins, and the chicken tax limits competition. Repeal the chicken tax and you'd see plenty of entrants. Mahindra was even making serious motions of bringing the parts in and assembling here in the US to get around the obnoxious chicken tax but ended up not following through :( They had all the certifications they needed - even from the EPA, so it's far from impossible to have a modern mini truck if the government didn't have their thumb on the market.

Heck Ford has had to do screwy things to try to get around that dumb tariff: https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-ford-tariff-c...

Re: Volkswagen bringing back Scout brand truck as electric vehicle made in America

#99

Post by EricE »

throwaway6734 wrote: post #51
renewiltord wrote: post #24

I would absolutely love a pickup truck that I can use in SF. All the modern ones are absolutely humongous. I had a Titan and that thing was enormous . Cost me absolute bags of money to offset the carbon. Ultimately, I just want something with a bed that I can strap my bike down and take somewhere to ride. You can't really do that with the Forester I have now.

agree. The small pickups of the late 80s/early 90s were perfect. Just make one electric and id buy it in a heartbeat

Start lobbying your congress critter(s) to repeal the chicken tax. Otherwise it will never happen :(

Re: Volkswagen bringing back Scout brand truck as electric vehicle made in America

#100

Post by olyjohn »

bluGill wrote: post #41
corrral wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> There's a subset of contexts where they make sense although I think for _most_ people they're infrequent enough that it's way more sensible to use a cargo van or a sedan and then just rent a truck during the minority of times when you actually need one. Even a minivan can tow a small trailer for occasional lumber store runs or towing a jet ski or two. Or just use the roof rack and some tie-downs. Or take the seats…

If you need a truck even 5% of the time it is overall cheapest to just own a truck. Insurance, car payments, and other fixed costs are too high to make a second car worth it, and renting a car is not cheap, not to mention rental rules often mean you can't use the truck as a truck. (I've been looking for a place to rent a truck so I can replace mine, a couple times a year I do something that no rental truck will let m…

No it's cheaper to just get a utility trailer and hook it to your existing vehicle. Even a compact economy car can do just fine towing one. They can carry up to 1500lbs for the smaller ones, and cost less than $1000. You don't have to pay the same road tax every year, or insurance. You don't have maintenance to do on it other than tires and wheel bearings which are all generic and dirt cheap.

I've been able to do all my house projects for the last 7-8 years towing one behind my Honda Fit. I've picked up motorcycles with it (which is way easier to load than a tall pickup bed). Picked up engines, car parts. I have hauled sheetrock, pavers, plywood, lumber, furniture... I have done countless dump runs... I have moved with it, and helped others move with it. The car + trailer ends up embarrassing the pickups who show up to help move, as they can't carry as much stuff as the car + trailer combo.

And when I'm not hauling things, the car seats 4 comfortably, and we can put stuff in the hatch without worrying about it getting wet... I get mid-30s mpgs.

Anything that's too big or heavy for my trailer... well I have it delivered. Chances are, that load is also too big for your average 1500 pickup.

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