Never understood Rancheros or El Caminos until owning my Maverick

[K5Blazer]

I totally get it now.

Growing up with trucks I dismissed anything that wasn’t a “real” pickup truck. I really didn’t consider any 2WD as a viable truck either.

Later on the Chevy Avalanche, Explorer Sport Trac and even the weird Subaru Brat/Baja completely puzzled me as to why anyone would buy something like that.

I understand the draw now, especially the Ranchero/El Camino genre.
A reasonably comfortable, well handling vehicle for the road that can still haul things impossible to fit in a car or SUV and maybe even haul a** when unloaded.

For several decades I almost always had a 4x4 truck and a (smaller), sportier, car all the time and could pick and choose whichever suited my needs for that day.

Now, being in a position where having two vehicles is not a viable option, a vehicle like the Maverick is wonderful.

Next time I see a Ranchero or Camino I’m gonna see it through completely different eyes.

I love my Maverick.

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[NJBob]

Sometimes it takes years for a good idea to be adopted by the masses. Always liked those vehicles. Even the little VW pickup. A big impediment to small trucks is the chicken tax. US companies did not want to make them and the tax made it so they could not import them either. I would love it if these new small trucks came in different cab configurations. An extended cab with a longer bed would be nice. And/or a mid gate for the longer items.

 

[K5Blazer]

Ah yes, the Rabbit pickups!

 

[LSchicago]

I totally get it now.

Growing up with trucks I dismissed anything that wasn’t a “real” pickup truck. I really didn’t consider any 2WD as a viable truck either.

Later on the Chevy Avalanche, Explorer Sport Trac and even the weird Subaru Brat/Baja completely puzzled me as to why anyone would buy something like that.

I understand the draw now, especially the Ranchero/El Camino genre.
A reasonably comfortable, well handling vehicle for the road that can still haul things impossible to fit in a car or SUV and maybe even haul a** when unloaded.

For several decades I almost always had a 4x4 truck and a (smaller), sportier, car all the time and could pick and choose whichever suited my needs for that day.

Now, being in a position where having two vehicles is not a viable option, a vehicle like the Maverick is wonderful.

Next time I see a Ranchero or Camino I’m gonna see it through completely different eyes.

I love my Maverick.

My dad had exactly one 4X4 truck out of the dozens of trucks he ever owned. It was a plow truck. Every work truck he ever owned for hauling was 2wd.

 

[LSchicago]

Sometimes it takes years for a good idea to be adopted by the masses. Always liked those vehicles. Even the little VW pickup. A big impediment to small trucks is the chicken tax. US companies did not want to make them and the tax made it so they could not import them either. I would love it if these new small trucks came in different cab configurations. An extended cab with a longer bed would be nice. And/or a midgets for the longer items.

Not small, bit Mid-sized, the 2024 Tacoma will be available in an extended cab. No back seat now, will be a 2 seater with a 6' bed.

 

[rivermaverick]

Owned El Caminos in the '70s and 80s, criticism was always it's a lousy car and a lousy truck, my feeling was 'it's a better truck then a car and a better car than a truck.
I think the same applies to the Maverick.

 

[rknrbt]

I owned 3 '70's El Caminos and loved everyone of them.

 

[K5Blazer]

Rumor is that Chevy is dropping the Camaro and bringing back the El Camino.

Should sell like hotcakes, if they can make enough of them, or, at all.

Should be available about the time of the new Toyota Stout.

2025-20neverish.

 

[NJBob]

Not small, bit Mid-sized, the 2024 Tacoma will be available in an extended cab. No back seat now, will be a 2 seater with a 6' bed.

Yes had a 85 Toyota pickup was great! Before they got big. The Tacoma is just to big. Had an S10 and Chevy Luv, perfect size. Also a Dakota extended cab that was not to bad Used to have a pickup and a car so I do need the back seat for occasional use. But I have had my Mav for 6 months and never had rear passengers. So I am starting to wonder if I even need that. One reason I got the Mav is the bed is 6 inches longer than the Santa Cruz. In a small bed that counts!

 

[Maverickman74]

Rumor is that Chevy is dropping the Camaro and bringing back the El Camino.

Should sell like hotcakes, if they can make enough of them, or, at all.

Should be available about the time of the new Toyota Stout.

2025-20neverish.

Ya know Im not a gm guy, but my brother is. He has a late model Camaro and a Cadillac ATS. I borrowed the Caddy a couple times while visiting. Its a 2.0t AWD and has some decent punch. The first time I assumed it was a FWD based setup, but was shocked when he told me it rode on the same platform as the Camaro. Then I started thinking about why there isnt a AWD Camaro. Now you say Elcamino is coming back? RWD/AWD turbo 4cyl base model, Maybe a long front door and a rear suicide door reveealing a fair enough for kids back seat. Give it decent lines and a 5ft bed and that could be a serious machine. Offering V8 and turbo6 options for hi-po setups and it really makes sense.

 

[K5Blazer]

I’ll believe it when I see it.

 

[Brumby]

traded a perfectly good Tundra for Maverick. Mainly so I could keep it in garage. Got tired of digging walnut shells from around engine. Darn squirrels!!

 

[NJBob]

GM just ain't making cars anymore. Any EL Camino will be a equinox with a bed. If that even happens.

 

[Old Hickory Trojan]

Yes had a 85 Toyota pickup was great! Before they got big. The Tacoma is just to big. Had an S10 and Chevy Luv, perfect size. Also a Dakota extended cab that was not to bad Used to have a pickup and a car so I do need the back seat for occasional use. But I have had my Mav for 6 months and never had rear passengers. So I am starting to wonder if I even need that. One reason I got the Mav is the bed is 6 inches longer than the Santa Cruz. In a small bed that counts!

Correction: the bed is 3'"longer than the SC with a closed tailgate at the floor. Both vehicles are 6' long with the tailgate down.

 

[NJBob]

Everything I ever read shows the Santa Cruz bed at 48 inches and Mav at 54 inches. Mybe the way they are measured is different.

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