Today in the parking lot I saw...

[Morris Minor]

... a brand new unadorned base F150 XL: regular cab, short bed, cloth seats, plain metallic silver, steel wheels... zero add-ons as far as I could see. It didn't even have a bed liner.
It got my attention far more than the ubiquitous chrome-laden high trim level ones... because it's so rare & unusual. Quite honest and refreshing. And I'll bet the proud owner had to go a few rounds with the dealer's sales weasels to extract a base model... that they'd probably hidden round the back next to a dumpster.


I'd like one, but I'd want 4WD, and would get the windows done in a tint shop.

[CaminoRacer]

Just tried to configure a nice Silverado. You can't get the 6.2L with a regular cab.

[Laconian]

I wish cheap compact trucks were still a thing.

[giant_mtb]

I wish cheap compact trucks were still a thing.

Me too.  The "small" trucks are anything but these days.

[SVT_Power]

I wish cheap compact trucks were still a thing.

Would you buy one?

[CaminoRacer]

I wish cheap compact trucks were still a thing.

I'll sell you my El Camino for 10% less than a new stripper F-150.

[Laconian]

Would you buy one?

It'd be redundant with the Outback, but if we lived in a more rural area with more landscaping needs (bark, gravel, etc. etc. ) I would consider it.

[shp4man]

If I were buying a new truck, it would be the base model. With the F150, base includes A/C, auto trans, intermittent wipers, power steering and brakes, ABS and other stuff the older trucks didn't have standard.
The engine would be the 3.7 NA V6, as the block and internals are the same as the turbo motor. Durability.
The grill, bumpers and trim are satin black and there's a dark grey paint color that would look nice. Or maybe light grey, not sure.
Stock wheels are silver steelies, might paint those satin black.
About 25K with my dealer employee discount.

[Morris Minor]

It's worth watching Australian TV series just to get the odd glimpse of the utes they are blessed to be able to buy.

[MX793]

I I were buying a new truck, it would be the base model. With the F150, base includes A/C, auto trans, intermittent wipers, power steering and brakes, ABS and other stuff the older trucks didn't have standard.
The engine would be the 3.7 NA V6, as the block and internals are the same as the turbo motor. Durability.
The grill, bumpers and trim are satin black and there's a dark grey paint color that would look nice. Or maybe light grey, not sure.
Stock wheels are silver steelies, might paint those satin black.
About 25K with my dealer employee discount.

They discontinued the 3.7L.  The new base model is a 3.3L V6.

[Morris Minor]

They discontinued the 3.7L.  The new base model is a 3.3L V6.

Yup 290 horsepowers and 265 torques.

[MX793]

Yup 290 horsepowers and 265 torques.

Impressive what they got out of it with DI.  The 3.7 was actually dropped a couple of years ago in favor of the 3.5.  The 3.3 replaced the 3.5 this year.  It basically splits the difference in terms of power and torque between the weaker 3.5 and the old 3.7.  I'd imagine the 3.7 would have been at ~325 hp and nearly 300 lbs-ft if they'd given it DI.

[Soup DeVille]

... a brand new unadorned base F150 XL: regular cab, short bed, cloth seats, plain metallic silver, steel wheels... zero add-ons as far as I could see. It didn't even have a bed liner.
It got my attention far more than the ubiquitous chrome-laden high trim level ones... because it's so rare & unusual. Quite honest and refreshing. And I'll bet the proud owner had to go a few rounds with the dealer's sales weasels to extract a base model... that they'd probably hidden round the back next to a dumpster.


I'd like one, but I'd want 4WD, and would get the windows done in a tint shop.

I would assume this was part of a fleet order actually.

[MexicoCityM3]

Thoughts on the new RAM?

[giant_mtb]

Thoughts on the new RAM?

They're fine. Some of the better lookin trucks out today.  But that FCA reliability...

[shp4man]

Went through the colors- black looks best.

[MX793]

They're fine. Some of the better lookin trucks out today.  But that FCA reliability...

Horror stories I've heard of post-FCA RAMs and QC issues...  Granted, the pre-FCA era RAMs were probably the most problematic of the Big 3 to begin with...

[giant_mtb]

Can never go wrong with a Silverado.  I'd rank them as Silverado > F150 > RAM, with the GM and Ford being pretty close and the RAM a more distant 3rd just because it's a Chryzler product.

[Speed_Racer]

Gotta love an honest pickup truck these days.

[Morris Minor]

Gotta love an honest pickup truck these days.

More regular cab honesty, complete with the patina of worn paint and not-quite-rust that you see in the South: sandwiched between a modern crossover and an FCA luxury offering.

[Speed_Racer]

More regular cab honesty, complete with the patina of worn paint and not-quite-rust that you see in the South: sandwiched between a modern crossover and an FCA luxury offering.

Love reg cabs. I'll take one of these, please.

[shp4man]

Love reg cabs. I'll take one of these, please.

Square bodies are getting popular these days.

[2o6]

I've always thought a coupe-utility could have a market here in the US. They're all over border towns in the US; it seems like every contractor I saw in Tuscon, AZ used a Saviero or it's shitty Dodge/Fiat equivalent.

[Soup DeVille]

A modern Dodge Rampage?

[2o6]

A modern Dodge Rampage?

Yeah, but with a better frame and more HP.

[shp4man]

I'd roll it as a DD.

[veeman]

Nissan makes a basic single cab truck with a V8 undercutting both the F150 and Silverado in price.

https://www.caranddriver.com/nissan/titan

[12,000 RPM]

A regular cab short bed 4x4 V8 truck sounds like a low key good time.

[Morris Minor]

A regular cab short bed 4x4 V8 truck sounds like a low key good time.

IMO there are two camps of truck buyers:
1. Those who go for chrome, leather & luxury
2. Those who like work trucks.

I'm in group 2: cloth seats, rubber floor mats, steel wheels.