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Comment by dylan604 | Hacker News Reader

> I’ll take a moment to lament the demise of the light duty pickup that provided a bit of extra utility while still fitting in a normal parking space.

I miss the hell out of my '82 Chevrolet S10 with extended cab and two-tone paint job. The extended cab isn't going to be used for hauling the soccer team, but I could put it was plenty of space for "inside only" cargo. Damn thing threw a rod and cracked the case, and I never could convince my parents to keep it and put a new engine in it. I'd like to think I'd still own it today if they had.

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You could run a single issue presidential campaign on bringing the S10 back (all it would really take is patching some weired emissions regulations mistakes). A better truck from a better time.

That new Slate pickup looks pretty cool.

I have never owned a truck or a new car and I might buy one if they can truly keep the slate under 20knincluding delivery and all taxes and fees.

IIRC the 20k number depended on the 7k federal rebate that recently expired, so it will probably be more like 27k

F-150 Lightning was supposed to start at $39,974 and ended up at $54,780. I'll be surprised to see Slate actually happening under $30k. Having lost the $7,500 rebate, more like $35k.

USA seemingly can't sell small or base trim cars.

My pitch to the people near me who have no connection to the auto industry is that an electric Ranger (90's style) would have been a huge hit. I get the feeling that the Lightning came about because Ford managers don't really know how to make vehicles that regular people want.

Funny thing is that Ford made an electric 90’s Ranger. Sold only in Mexico IIRC. Internally it was referred to as the Ranger Glider.

They were sold in California as well.

A fully-electric Maverick?

A fun-sized six speed pickup with a turbo four banger? Sign me up.

Educate me: How is the Canyon, Ranger, or Frontier not a modern equivalent to the S10? All small(ish) trucks available in a two door or extended cab configuration with basic options.

They're substantially larger in all around size. Like comparable to a Dodge Dakota. A Maverick or Santa Cruz is comparable to a historical Ranger or S10, with the caveat that they're only available in one cab and bed configuration.

The Frontier is massive compared to what it used to be. 90s Frontier was a small pickup truck. 2010s Frontier is the size of a 90s F-150.

Product of mfrs cheating CAFE standards.

Small pickups could be pretty fuel efficient. The problem is not CAFE standards but the fact that zero Americans buy small trucks, because the entire market for new vehicles in the US is people who are financially illiterate and easily marketed to and making them buy $80k brodozers is more profitable than a $30k S10

Half these people still choose to buy the vehicle they do for insane and superficial reasons like "It's got a Hemi", like my uncle, even though Hemispherical combustion chambers haven't been state of the art or even good ICE technology in decades.

Also a lot of contractors consider their vehicle appearance a tax deductible marketing expense.

I'm taking my 1st gen Tacoma 5-spd to the grave

Buy a Ford Maverik hybrid. Similar size, great mileage.

Except it's a Ford and not a Chevy. If you think those things don't matter, you're just fooling yourself.

The 2.5 hybrid in the Maverick is better than any 4 cyl GM could plop into a mini truck at the moment.

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