To pickup or not - was [ Vol 1 #4723 - Trucks!]

[ben swann]

To own a pickup or not?

We'll here is my personal opinion.  I have had some pickups that I
bought for pulling boat and hauling stuff.  I hated them, especially
for daily driving.

What has worked for me exceptionally well - Type 44 avant with a
hitch.  Can fit most stuff even without the trailer.  Most recently, I
managed to bring home queen sized bed with daughter in backseat/child
seat and wife in passenger front. This was in the '91 200 20v which
does not yet have hitch installed.  The mattress was strapped to the
luggage rack - just had to drive a little slower to keep from taking
off - that was the most difficult thing driving slower than everyone
else .  I have been able to carry most of what my dear dad can get into
his GM's, although I admit his new Envoy is impressive, but it should
be for what he paid.

When I need to get big stuff like 4x8 sheets of drywall, taking stuff
to the dump, etc I hitch up my trailer - Harbor Freight DIY special.
The handling IMO is still better with the fully loaded trailer than
you'll get out of a pickup.  Downside is you need a place to keep the
trailer, but the one I got actually breaks in two and stand up against
a wall when not in use.

You get the best of pickup truck yet still have performance and luxury,
and you don't need to haul around all that extra weight all the time.
Furthermore, I paid well under $10k for everything, incl. the trailer.
If it were the older 5000 tqa that was wrecked, you can drop that value
down further, if you don't count all the extra stuff I did that was not
necessary.

I have also pulled some pretty big stuff with our '85 4kq that I
installed a hitch on long before I got the wagon.  So ever since I
dumped my Blazer, I have not needed a pickup.  The only reason I can
see getting one again is if I end up getting a boat that is
larger/heavier than the car - but my wifes '85 4000Q towed the 20'
Beretta (2 tons) up steep ramp better as well or better than the '90
Blazer 4x4.

It always amazes peaple when they see how much I can stuff into the
avant at Home Depot - with or with the trailer.

Ben
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bhatti, Mohammed" <Mohammed.Bhatti at si-intl.com>
Date: Monday, March 17, 2003 11:57 am
Subject: RE: quattro digest, Vol 1 #4723 - Trucks!

> appreciate the input Ben.  Now leaning towards a toyota but also
> seriously considering another q.  I need to spend some time
> thinking this through.
> really enjoy the audi experience.  I'll see how things turn out
> over the> next few days.
>
> thanks
>
> mohammed
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: ben swann
> To: Mohammed.Bhatti at si-intl.com
> Cc: l.leung at juno.com
> Sent: 3/17/2003 11:03 AM
> Subject: Re: quattro digest, Vol 1 #4723 - Trucks!
>
> I've had several Chevy S-10 based vehicles.  All were good,
> reliable,
> cheap to own and maintain.  All were relatively noisy, terrible
> handling(at least compared to any Audi I've owned).  They pull
> like a truck even with 4.2 l V6.
>
> I concur with staying away from 2.8l V6 and forget any 4 cyl.  The
> 4.3l  Vortec found in S-10/Blazer and GMC Jimmy is a nice easy to
> maintain  and smoother than the earlier 4.3l which does not have that
> "balanced"  feel.  Overall, if you go the Chevy route, you'll find
them to be  easy  to own and drive, just don't try slinging them around
any curves.
>
> I am sure you can find a nice one in your price range, as my
> family has found several of them.  I am the Audi nut and my dad who
turned me  onto VAG has reverted back to his Chevy preference of his
youth, so  have  some relative experience to draw from with them
personally and in the family.
>
> Ben
>
> To: quattro at audifans.com
> Date: Sun, 16 Mar 2003 19:31:59 -0500
> Subject: Re: quattro digest, Vol 1 #4723 - Trucks!
> From: Larry C Leung <l.leung at juno.com>
>
> > From: "Bhatti, Mohammed" <Mohammed.Bhatti at si-intl.com>
> > To: "'quattro at audifans.com'" <quattro at audifans.com>
> > Date: Sun, 16 Mar 2003 12:21:01 -0500
> > Subject: NAC: Opinions - Trucks
> >
> > Gotta a question that's NAC.  Hope you folks will indulge.
> >
> > Thinking of dumping my 88 80q for a 4x4 Ranger/S10/etc type pickmeup
> > truck.> Been looking for something in the less than $5k range
> and have seen> some> that are about 7-10 years old with an average of
> 150K miles.  I've> heard> that these things are fairly reliable and
> robust.
> What's the list> opinion?
> >
> > Thanks
> >
> > mohammed
> > 88 80q]