[V8] SUV? I don't think so....

[Roger M. Woodbury]

My partner has a company vehicle.  It is a Chevy 1/2 ton 4X4 pickup and it
has sat out this season with a kaput braking system.  Now restored, I have
just reclaimed my plow truck, which is a 1992 Ford F150 shorty 4X4.  

I was looking it over yesterday and pondering the new Audi Q7, or whatever
it is called.  I think my Ford F150 is a better deal.

My truck came from Arizona and New Mexico, and has "enjoyed" only two Maine
winters.  It now has around 125,000 miles on it, and runs like a top.
Unfortunately, life as a plow truck isn't kind, and the rear end has met a
couple of little oak trees while plowing my neighbors dirt road here.  The
rear has no bumper, but has a fiberglass finish piece which is now minus a
piece on one corner, and is gouged and nicked in the other.  Sigh.  When the
truck arrived here it looked like new.  Now it looks...well, like an off
road truck that hasn't been trashed, but has definitely been off road.

Then Audi now introduces an huge SUV, precisely when fuel prices are at an
all time high and not likely to come down a whole lot in the near future..or
ever.  It is big, it is ugly and it will probably go off road as well as the
"all road", or as most of the other so called SUV's.

But my Ford shorty 4X4, that represents a whopping $4500 or so to me, will
go off road in pretty good style.  It will also plow snow like fury, mostly
I think because it has really good balance due to the short wheelbase, AND
when it has a little impact with a small, but stubborn oak tree, if I chose
to repair the nick or scratch, it will likely cost far less than a month's
payment on the new fugly Audi Overstatment.

Oh, yes.  My Ford shorty only gets around 14 miles per gallon going down
hill with a tailwind, and the three speed plus overdrive transmission is
something to be annoyed with as an auto anachronism out of the 1950's, but
comparing it with the new Audi Q7, I think my truck is a far better deal.  

And it isn't nearly as ugly.

Roger

I kind of hope the Q7 appears with a turbo diesel....I might forgive its
ugliness if that happens.