[Erik Latranyi]

That's a lot to infer from a survey someone else took.

It's entirely possible that the questions were purposely phrased that way to get a resounding "no", but there's absolutely no way to know unless you designed that survey yourself.

As with statistics, anything is provable by a poll, especially if you know the answer you want before asking the question.

I took the survey.

The questions were designed to gauge acceptance of Italian, Indian and Chinese assembled vehicles.

 

[SheltonBreeden]

I took the survey.

The questions were designed to gauge acceptance of Italian, Indian and Chinese assembled vehicles.

Yes. That's the point of a survey. But you don't know why that data was being collected.
For all we know, someone could be pushing for a result that supports not outsourcing production.

 

[abgwin]

Yes. That's the point of a survey. But you don't know why that data was being collected.
For all we know, someone could be pushing for a result that supports not outsourcing production.

Precisely my point.

For all we know, that survey was commissioned by the UAW.

As previously stated, had they really wanted to know if or at what pricepoint North Americans would buy an Indian or Chinese built car, they would have asked questions like "if two examples of the same vehicle with the same quality assurances and warrantycoverage were for sale, but one was priced 30% below the other, would it matter if that car was built in India?"

Same basic question, very different outcome, and for an entirely different position to prove.

 

[Dave Z]

I agree about the question wording. I am not saying it should have been as-rewritten but it probably should have been different.

 

[rkmdogs]

I'm surprised at the short memories. Does anyone remember the Dodge D-50,
made by Mitzubishi, with a DIESEL engine?
They go forever! Try to find one today/ Look at the world market -- small trucks sell,
because their size allows greater manueverability!
That is what makes them great, along with their versatility!
I won't give up my second-gen S-10 sized, Sonoma until somebody shows me
something in that size range!
I was looking at a Nissan Frontier until they gave it a bowtox treatment!
(Pardon my bad spelling)

 

[MoparNorm]

I'm surprised at the short memories. Does anyone remember the Dodge D-50,made by Mitzubishi, with a DIESEL engine?They go forever! Try to find one today/ Look at the world market -- small trucks sell,because their size allows greater manueverability!That is what makes them great, along with their versatility!I won't give up my second-gen S-10 sized, Sonoma until somebody shows mesomething in that size range!I was looking at a Nissan Frontier until they gave it a bowtox treatment!(Pardon my bad spelling)

The short memories are in Detroit.
They keep making these trucks bigger and bigger and more and more costly and then wonder why they don't sell.

 

[scott cornett]

A new report brings grim tidings for midsize pickup fans: Ram doesn’t have any immediate plans to field a successor to the Dakota.

As recently as last summer, Chrysler had suggested that it might seek to lure in younger buyers with an inexpensive, fuel-efficient small pickup marketed under its Ram truck division. The automaker was rumored to be considering a unibody platform as the basis for the new truck.

However, Ram CEO Reid Bigland revealed in a recent interview with Car and Driver that the brand isn’t currently moving to develop a smaller sibling for the Ram 1500.

Though he voiced praise for the “theory” behind mid-size pickups, Bigland stated that the business case for developing a modern example with significantly better mileage than today’s increasingly fuel-thrifty full-size trucks simply doesn’t add up, especially factoring in the necessity of a base price below $22,000.

In the course of the wide-ranging interview, Bigland also touched on several new details pertaining to Ram’s upcoming ProMaster City compact van. Because the brand is currently focusing on several critical product launches – including its full-size ProMaster Van, its HD pickups and the Ram 1500 diesel – the ProMaster City won’t arrive in dealerships for another 18-24 months.

When it does finally make it to these shores, the Fiat Doblo-based van will be offered as a passenger hauler in addition to the previously-announced commercial model – which makes good sense, as all ProMaster City be imported to the U.S. with rear seats to avoid being hit with the “chicken tax.”
Read more at http://www.leftlanenews.com/new-midsize-pickup-not-in-rams-plans.html#6zfrZRjATPKBD7U7.99

 

[Dave Z]

And yet there's one in the product plan.

 

[scott cornett]

And yet there's one in the product plan.

Really/....i thought that was the Wrangler truck?

 

[Jeepnut]

And yet there's one in the product plan.

Yes but we all know how reliable those product plans are :lol:

 

[scott cornett]

Without directly ruling out a mid-size Ram, the CEO goes on to explain how building a modern mid-size truck, complete with all of the safety gear required and enough of a fuel-economy improvement relative to full-size rigs, and to price it below $22,000, is extremely difficult. Mix in the fact that Ram doesn’t readily have access to a small- or mid-size pickup platform—at least not one that’s U.S.-friendly—and the company won’t be fielding such a vehicle anytime soon.



What the hell?? if toyota can do it i know ram can... hell a reg cab 2wd tacoma starts off at 18k and gets 24-25 mpg

 

[jerseyjoe]

Dakota was not a small, light truck. Ranger is much smaller. My 1992 Dakota with aluminum cap tips the scales at the landfill at 4420 lbs, and the newer Dakotas were about 1,000 lbs more than that. The 92 Dakota was capable of 20-23 mpg depending on drivetrain. It wasn't poor gas mileage that did it in. But bloating up over the years might have adversely affected sales by taking it out of its niche.

For me to be interested in a pickup it needs to fit easily in a New Jersey strip mall parking space and get LX type fuel economy. I don't see that out there anywhere.

 

[barracudafett]

For me to be interested in a pickup it needs to fit easily in a New Jersey strip mall parking space and get LX type fuel economy. I don't see that out there anywhwew.

that used to be a magnum

 

[jerseyjoe]

I really liked the Magnum, I rented one for a week and found parking was similar to a pickup truck, got into it and instantly knew the boundaries. Issues were marketing, poor usage of cargo space and every one that dealers tried to sell me was the loaded to the gills 3.5 4 wheel drive cars that cost a fortune and had worse fuel economy then the Hemi. One guy didn't understand how I could refuse such an "economical Mercedes clone. You get marched passed the car you asked about. That kind of treatment drove me away from the show room for years,Some of attitude is still around.

Magnum towing is listed at 2000 lbs one data sheet I found, not enough. Even the lowest rated pickup has more.

 

[UN4GTBL]

A new report brings grim tidings for midsize pickup fans: Ram doesn’t have any immediate plans to field a successor to the Dakota.

As recently as last summer, Chrysler had suggested that it might seek to lure in younger buyers with an inexpensive, fuel-efficient small pickup marketed under its Ram truck division. The automaker was rumored to be considering a unibody platform as the basis for the new truck.

However, Ram CEO Reid Bigland revealed in a recent interview with Car and Driver that the brand isn’t currently moving to develop a smaller sibling for the Ram 1500.

Though he voiced praise for the “theory” behind mid-size pickups, Bigland stated that the business case for developing a modern example with significantly better mileage than today’s increasingly fuel-thrifty full-size trucks simply doesn’t add up, especially factoring in the necessity of a base price below $22,000.

In the course of the wide-ranging interview, Bigland also touched on several new details pertaining to Ram’s upcoming ProMaster City compact van. Because the brand is currently focusing on several critical product launches – including its full-size ProMaster Van, its HD pickups and the Ram 1500 diesel – the ProMaster City won’t arrive in dealerships for another 18-24 months.

When it does finally make it to these shores, the Fiat Doblo-based van will be offered as a passenger hauler in addition to the previously-announced commercial model – which makes good sense, as all ProMaster City be imported to the U.S. with rear seats to avoid being hit with the “chicken tax.”
[background=transparent]Read more at http://www.leftlanenews.com/new-midsize-pickup-not-in-rams-plans.html#6zfrZRjATPKBD7U7.99[/background]

People that want a small/medium pickup truck are not interested in the $22k Ram. Of course there will be price overlap, but for $22k in a Ram you are getting a base 2wd regular cab truck I assume, and that's not useful or appealing to me at all.