[SunRescue] OT: CA: It's Our Turn

[Chris Byrne]

David Cantrell
Sent: Wednesday, April 04, 2001 03:45
>> SS2 - 1979 Ford F150
>
>Not knowing what an F150 is - it that a good thing or a bad thing? :-)

The F150 is a "light" truck, commonly referred to as a pickup truck. It's
between 16 and 20 feet long with either a six foot, or eight foot bed
(uncovered cargo area), and two or four full size doors. Many 2 door models
have 2 half doors for rear seat access. It's about six and a half feet wide,
and weighs between 4000 and 5500 lbs empty depending on equipment.

It has a towing capacity of up to 8800 lbs, and a cargo capacity of 1000
lbs, however legally speaking in order to be a light truck and not require a
special drivers license, the truck, trailer, and cargo together cannot weigh
more than 10,500 lbs if they are travelling on public roads.

The ford F-150 is the best selling vehicle in US history, and is currently
the best selling single model of any kind of vehicle. It outsells the toyota
camry, honda accord, and ford taurus (the three leading cars) by as much as
three to one some years.

Note: this is the second smallest of fords "light" trucks. The largest is
the excursion I mentioned earlier at 7500 lbs. The pickup truck version of
that monster, the F-350 Super Duty, has a 2,000lb cargo capacity, and can
tow up to 14,500 lbs. Many companies use them to pull long haul over the
road trailers around parking lots or loading docks. THey are alsu used as
tow trucks for buses or long haul trucks.

In the US light trucks are exempt form most emissions, safety, and fuel
economy regulations, so every truck they sell counts far less against the
companys  CAFE (corporate average fuel economy)

Even better. Ford estimates the total cost to them as a manufacturer of one
of these super-trucks is something around $10,000 USD. The highest end
models sell for around $50,000 USD these day. That's a very very nice profit
margin.

The Automakers margins on SUV's and light trucks are up to five times what
they are on cars. Is it any wonder why all major manufactures now have
SUV's, even if they have to rebadge someone elses as their own (honda uses
ISUZU), or that the majors heavily push SUV and light truck sales?

Chris Byrne
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The eyes may be the windows on the soul
But the word is the doorway to the mind
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