Ford, GM and Chrysler cash in on posh pickups

Watched a movie last nite and almost choked on the Buffalo Wing
Reminded me of this thread and how things have changed so much

Movie was 'The Last Holiday' and the one scene that reminded me of
this was where a low rider with 20's showed up. Laughable back then
and is not main stream with so many on this forum...funny reminder
is that, those 20's has spinners on them... :B

Both to die for those who loved low riders and dangle balls :R

Wonder why only 20's have made it to main stream American Drivers
while spinners didn't... :S

BenK wrote:
Another thread on "18or 20 wheels" is what I'm talking about the fashion statement
crowd driving this tread topic..."Ford, GM and Chrysler cash in on posh pickups"

18" vs 20" Wheels

A few have 'tried' to discuss technical aspects..with little effect. Weight rating
of the wheels does get a bit more notice...they do get the higher
cost of these larger dia tires

The affect of greater rotating mass and the resultant effects are lost to most
over there

Am waiting for someone to mention 'chromed alloy' and then wonder if they know
the maintenance they require. More so for the tire tech who might not care or
know HOW2 on an chromed alloy wheel...

I'm looking at fully loaded due to minor cost differences between the trim levels for the same equipment; a 4x4 diesel Silverado LT, equipped with bucket seats, nav, equipment packages and a few odds and ends I want, is north of $62,000; the same truck in a High Country trim, is only $3,000 more, and has better/more functional seats. Would it be worth the extra $3000 to me? Absolutely. If I didn't want or need most of the extras, I could find a much better deal, but I want what I want. Comfort is just as important as capability.

Just like IB ,i will not buy unless loaded,just the way ive always been.When i go to sell them ,they have a lot of miles and in Mint condition for the age,Usually first buyer and gone.Have always really enjoyed my Baby,s.

BenK wrote:
Folks...what I'm saying is that there is nothing wrong with buying what you wish
and can afford...but my beef is that now my choices are being limited...even
eliminated

Know that the marketing surveys and actual sales determine the option mixes. Plus
what the service division reports back on both warranty and what the users broke
because they didn't know HOW2 use it

Along with whatever they 'try' as a guess will improve their sales over the competition

A guy who went to grade school with is about to retire from corporate GM
marketing. We still talk about this, often and know how I'm in such a minuscule
voice in the scheme of options offered

My Poly Sci 101 professor said to remember "the masses are ()sses" in how they shape and modify tastes and policy. Bought the 2012 VW Passat in a TDI turbo diesel, in a 6 manual. Salesman thought I was nuts. Love it in everything except rush hour traffic, then it's no fun. It was very hard to find that 6 speed manual, but I say without doubt, it was totally worth the effort to hunt it down and buy it.

Folks...what I'm saying is that there is nothing wrong with buying what you wish
and can afford...but my beef is that now my choices are being limited...even
eliminated

Know that the marketing surveys and actual sales determine the option mixes. Plus
what the service division reports back on both warranty and what the users broke
because they didn't know HOW2 use it

Along with whatever they 'try' as a guess will improve their sales over the competition

A guy who went to grade school with is about to retire from corporate GM
marketing. We still talk about this, often and know how I'm in such a minuscule
voice in the scheme of options offered

I bought a fully loaded rig that is, leather lined, heated seat and steering wheel equipped, with an 11 speaker audio system, a sunroof, cooled seats, heated rear seats, power sliding rear window, and more. I make no apologies for it either.

I wanted it, I can afford it, so I bought it. It's also my first new truck.

We bought the wife's jeep cherokee trailhawk same way - every option box checked.

You hit the nail on the head with "specific to each individual", though I'd say "specific to each use".

For example, I agree with your comment about airing down for better traction - for my rock crawler, 20's wouldn't work well, so I run 17's. But my tow rig is never going rock crawling, and the 20's air down plenty to pull the trailers out into the sand in Pismo or Glamis.

As far as HIDs, I've never heard that complaint before - interesting thought. Are you talking about the after-market guys who run the higher temp HIDs that are much more blue than OEM, or factory HIDs? For aftermarket HIDs there's a right way & a wrong way to do them, both in terms of cutoff lenses, light output patterns, and color temp. But I've consistently seen HIDs produce a lot more light than halogens. I've recenlty upgraded one of my trucks to LEDs, and they're even better than HIDs, in my opinion.


All of this is to say, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to most of these topics.

Like you, I prefer a manual transmission as well, but I think market forces are driving them out of existence, or at least toward minimum levels...

All an opinion and specific to each individual

HID's don't have enough red for my tastes. Yes, loved how they throw a
much more even spread, but with that too high a temp color...washes out
to my eyeballs. Okay on my sedans, but not my off roader...driven
others and they wash out for my eyes. The 'ex' got the two lux sedans
and I might have HID's again with my mext lux sedan

20's is something that won't work for the places I like to go to. Airing
down will not provide the traction that a higher aspect ratio 'apparent'
dia (over 8 feet). Do go slow, but the rims would contact too often for
my kind of off roading. Why should I be saddled with them because the
majority drives the OEM to only offer these larger dia rims?

Have told a few to actually lift a 16" and a 20" alloy wheel. Amazed
how much more a 20" weighs, but their main complaint was how dirty
they got... :R They didn't want to hear about how the larger rotating
mass affects braking, MPG, etc.

Ditto things like dash 4x4 switches. I like/want floor mounted and
two levers, not one for the transfer case. Can't find them today because
the majority prefers dash mounted buttons. I like to be able to shift
into/out of 4x4, lock, low, etc on the fly. Can't do that with a button
that tells the computer to slam it into gear.

I want a manual tranny, but can NOT order one because the majority
of the buyers don't know HOW2 manage a manual. So they don't order
them. So the OEM has dropped that from their offerings for most of
the trucks I would order

Had a discussion with a guy I know in the parking lot of a local
hardware (when they carried cool and nifty stuff...no more, as the
majority doesn't buy serious hardware anymore). We've gone on the
Rubicon together, often. He was waiting for LandRover Club members
who wanted to claim 'Rubicon'. When they showed up with their lux 4x4's

Asked them if they were willing to scratch their 2 stage paint jobs
from the head lights all the way to their tail lights? Why would I
want to do that? was their collective response...buddy thought about
that a second and then confirmed that was highly likely out on there
in a Rubicon type of terrain.

Told them why I like single stage white...the scratches don't show
up well and showed them some of them...explained why having the claim
of making it through the 'Rubicon' has real meaning...they canceled
their tip...

Know I'm in the vast minority and do voice my opinion on that...often
Why I refer to them as the fashion statement herd...

There is nothing wrong with wanting what you want and liking them...but
I've been affected in a negative way by those folks

NinerBikes wrote:


I'd say yes, when form follows function, versus appearance, or being a poseur or all hat and no cattle.

There is no way I would argue against HID's, unless they are poorly aimed or problematic and blinding to on coming traffic. For these old eyes, on the Touareg, with self aiming feature, they are a Godsend for night visibility.

I completely agree about the HIDs, when properly aimed. But like all things, there's a right way and a wrong way to do them. Unfortunately, there are a lot of people around here that have added HIDs to the factory housings, which lack the proper cutoff lense to prevent them from blinding oncoming traffic.

I've have HIDs on my BMWs, and have added proper HID fixtures to my trucks, and LEDs to my Jeep, all with the proper cut-offs and focusing. I've become so accustomed to proper lighting that I miss it when driving someone else's vehicle.

MPond wrote:
BenK - no disrespect intended, but I've got a question I have to ask:

The term "fashion statement crowd" is regularly tossed around on this forum, and it as if people either have to be on one side or the other. Isn't there some middle-ground here that is being ignored?

I would argue that there is a 3rd group - those that do like the fashion and styles that others here object to, but fully use their trucks for towing, off-reading, etc... In my case, I have 20" rims & tires, custom paint, upgraded headlights & tail lights, and all the trimmings. But my rims and tires are fully rated to tow more than my 3/4-ton Suburban's or my 1-ton Silverado's capabilities, my all terrain tires work well off road, etc... All my upgrades are fully functional - my towing capacity isn't limited, my HID headlights are DOT approved (not the Chinese knock-offs that blind oncoming traffic), and my trucks work quite well for towing, hauling, and playing in the dirt. And many of the changes have improved performance, such as the upgraded headlights on dark mountain roads.

And the things I've modified are for me - because I like them and because I enjoy my trucks. They are not, and never have been, a fashion statement.

But every time the subject of 20" wheels or "the fashion statement crowd" comes up, it seems like everyone who likes these looks is lumped in with the mall-crawlers who never tow, never go off-road, and really don't need a truck at all.

Isn't there room for some middle ground here?

I'd say yes, when form follows function, versus appearance, or being a poseur or all hat and no cattle.

There is no way I would argue against HID's, unless they are poorly aimed or problematic and blinding to on coming traffic. For these old eyes, on the Touareg, with self aiming feature, they are a Godsend for night visibility.