Just don’t call it Mahindra…

Coming to the US next summer, this small Indian diesel rig.  Looks kind of fun…reminds me of the late 70′s Datsun pickups.

According to Pickuptruck.com,  they are still searching for an American-friendly name.  Ideas?

My vote is GR1 – Ghandi’s Rig

[pickuptruck.com] 

Well, as promised for most of our adult lives, we are finally starting to feel the pain of “petrol” prices the way Europeans and Canadians have for a long time. 

With the national average at $4 and rising, it seems likely we are witnessing a tipping point in American use, consumption, and perception of automobiles.  I know I’m preaching to the choir here, but I feel the need to air it out a bit…

Here are some general informational tidbits to frame the conversation.  These are taken from the CNET.com Car Tech Podcasts, and other sources: 

• The Toyota Camry and Corolla each outsold the iconic F150 last month.  Why is this significant?  It’s the first time a passenger car has outsold the F150 since October of 1991.
• Ford has now introduced employee pricing combined with cash incentives to move F150′s.  Desperate measures by Ford, shorty after it appeared they were starting to turn the corner financially.
• GM is shutting down 4 factories that build Full Size Pickups and Large SUV’s, and is shopping the Hummer brand to potential buyers (not sure who that would be).
• GM’s Truck to Car mix, currently 50/50, is expected to be 60/40 within 3 years.

What’s the point?  Apparently $4 is the point.  This is the magic number where the wheels seem to have come off for trucks (pun intended).

So why am I droning on about gas prices and the state of the automotive economy, when I’m supposed to be talking about mud, beer, and bikinis?  Because this is a good oppootunity to revisit the discussion of the ideal vehicle solution for our beloved off road hobby…

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When I first spotted this headline from Autoweek, I prepared to post a scathing rant on the heresy of comparing the new FJ Cruiser to the legendary (and temporarily extinct) cornerstone of Ford’s off-road heritage.  The headline caused me to have the instant, highly offended recoil any redneck Ford fan.  How dare they…?

Then I actually read the article and decided to change my tune a bit.  The article draws a comparison between the new supercharged FJ and the V8 square body broncos of the 60′s-70′s.  From that point of view, I guess it makes sense.  Small, nimle, capable, off road vehicles with some HP to spare. I guess I can see the value in that…

Ultimately, I would say this article is a complement to both vehicles.  I now know several people with FJ’s and they all love them.  Some are street driven and some see real off road duty and I haven’t heard a complaint yet.  Would I consider buying one?  Yes.  Would I buy an equally capable new Bronco first?  Yes.  (Ford, are you listening?)

Strange that there aren’t more comparison’s between the new FJ and the FJ40 that lived side by side with the Bronco.  Is that because the original FJ required a GM 350 engine swap to produce the juice necessary to really do proper damage? 

[AutoWeek] 

[4wdandSportUtility]