"Cute" "Little" truck?

[JBL14]

You have to be a little older to remember the first little truck that became a hit in the US back in the 60's and 70's, the Datsun pickup. Datsun pickups were actually first introduced in 1959. The parent company, Nissan, dropped the Datsun name in 1986. As I recall, the little Datson pickups were smaller than the Maverick is now.

"Datsun! DATSUN! WE'VE GOT DATSUN HERE!!"

I tried to find a pic of Datsun next to a Mav, no go.

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[Chance301]

I sure this has been covered elsewhere, but I couldn't find it, so here goes.

"Cute?" Miatas are cute. The similar Honda S2000 is cute. My mid-1960s Sunbeam Alpine was cute. Maybe the Mini Cooper. But the 2022 Ford Maverick? Nah, I don't think so.

So, "Little?" I did some limited, non-rigorous, searching into the early versions if small pickups. (Feel free to check my work.) The examples I chose were 2 wheel drive, short beds and extra cabs when I could find them. The examples I used were: 1. first generation Ford Ranger Supercab, 1983-1988(?), 2. 1995 Toyata Tacoma, 3. 1995 Chevy S-10.

The Maverick is heavier and wider than any of them. The Maverick spec. is several inches taller than any of them, but I think that includes the antenna. Taking the height to the roofline, i'm calling it a wash. The Maverick is longer than the Ranger, near equal to the Toyota, and a few inches shorter than the S-10. So it's really only "little" compared to the newer behemoths we've become accustomed to commute back and forth to work in.

So why am I writing this!? 'Cos' I'm tired and bored with the reviewers comments about the Maverick being a "cute, little truck." I guess it was supposed to be a "cute" thing to say. It wasn't. Still isn't.
[/QUOTE
Couldn’t help but grin a bit about your examples of “ cute” cars…have a 1990 Miata, owned a Sunbeam Alpine and an “original “ Mini back in the day. They’re all cute and a blast to drive. You’re right, the Maverick is definitely not cute!

 

[Nomadikhan]

The wife says it's cute and little, yet she can't seem to stop taking my key and driving it on the weekend...

 

[dalola]

Well, I mean, it IS a cute little truck, given the current truck market.

Considering what it *could* be called, little & cute ain't so bad.

 

[NJBob]

I sure this has been covered elsewhere, but I couldn't find it, so here goes.

"Cute?" Miatas are cute. The similar Honda S2000 is cute. My mid-1960s Sunbeam Alpine was cute. Maybe the Mini Cooper. But the 2022 Ford Maverick? Nah, I don't think so.

So, "Little?" I did some limited, non-rigorous, searching into the early versions if small pickups. (Feel free to check my work.) The examples I chose were 2 wheel drive, short beds and extra cabs when I could find them. The examples I used were: 1. first generation Ford Ranger Supercab, 1983-1988(?), 2. 1995 Toyata Tacoma, 3. 1995 Chevy S-10.

The Maverick is heavier and wider than any of them. The Maverick spec. is several inches taller than any of them, but I think that includes the antenna. Taking the height to the roofline, i'm calling it a wash. The Maverick is longer than the Ranger, near equal to the Toyota, and a few inches shorter than the S-10. So it's really only "little" compared to the newer behemoths we've become accustomed to commute back and forth to work in.

So why am I writing this!? 'Cos' I'm tired and bored with the reviewers comments about the Maverick being a "cute, little truck." I guess it was supposed to be a "cute" thing to say. It wasn't. Still isn't.

After having a 1980 Chevy LUV, 1988 Toyota pickup, 1998 S10, all with standard Cabs. I now am driving a 2011 F150 crew cab. I can't wait for my Mav. It's not that the Mav it's small, it's that the others are to big.

 

[DannyP]

I sure this has been covered elsewhere, but I couldn't find it, so here goes.

"Cute?" Miatas are cute. The similar Honda S2000 is cute. My mid-1960s Sunbeam Alpine was cute. Maybe the Mini Cooper. But the 2022 Ford Maverick? Nah, I don't think so.

So, "Little?" I did some limited, non-rigorous, searching into the early versions if small pickups. (Feel free to check my work.) The examples I chose were 2 wheel drive, short beds and extra cabs when I could find them. The examples I used were: 1. first generation Ford Ranger Supercab, 1983-1988(?), 2. 1995 Toyata Tacoma, 3. 1995 Chevy S-10.

The Maverick is heavier and wider than any of them. The Maverick spec. is several inches taller than any of them, but I think that includes the antenna. Taking the height to the roofline, i'm calling it a wash. The Maverick is longer than the Ranger, near equal to the Toyota, and a few inches shorter than the S-10. So it's really only "little" compared to the newer behemoths we've become accustomed to commute back and forth to work in.

So why am I writing this!? 'Cos' I'm tired and bored with the reviewers comments about the Maverick being a "cute, little truck." I guess it was supposed to be a "cute" thing to say. It wasn't. Still isn't.

I had a girlfriend once that said I had a cute little motorcycle.
I told her you never tell a guy anything he has is “cute” or “little”.

 

[Samus L. Jackson]

Assuming I get my Mav, I kind of doubt I'll get upset if someone calls it cute. Pretty sure I'm gonna be happy with it, so really, screw all the noise.

 

[Hoagus]

The designers did a great job of making it look like a truck. It doesn’t have any “cute” design cues. I’ve read a bunch of the reviews, and don’t recall seeing “cute” mentioned. Maybe we’re just being overly defensive here.

 

[JBL14]

But it is a little truck. Sure you can compare to trucks who are so old most people on this forum weren't even alive or driving (broad brush I know I know) but objectively of anything on the road that is a truck it IS little, that's the point.

Your right to compare to current vehicles, but some of us older guys remember the itsy bitsy trucks and find it all amusing.
You should vote in the age poll here on the forum. Search Age poll.
50 years and older is the majority at the moment.
A poll in this forum is suspect because of small sample size, I know I know...

 

[Stealth Raccoon]

The other day I pulled into a parking spot, and the hood of my S10 barely cleared the LOWEST spot on the bumper of the newer Silverado that was opposite of me (it did appear to have a small lift or larger tires).

The Maverick isn’t “small”, it’s just that modern full-size trucks are freaking massive beasts.

 

[Hack]

Chance301. You had a Sunbeam Alpine, too! How cool! It wasn't a great car, but I loved it.

 

[troynm]

I had a 60's Sunbeam Alpine back in college in the early 70's. Neat little car.

 

[NJ Pinelands]

Cousins wife hit me with that “who’s little truck is this? It’s cute.”
It’s alright, people have gotten used to large trucks because small trucks haven’t been made in a while

Roll the clock to 2025 or 2026. A bunch of companies will have joined the “small truck” category again. Chevy and Dodge/Ram for sure. Probably Toyota and Mazda, Nissan, etc. on deck.

 

[Mav Max]

This thread needs pictures, so here's me parked next to a second gen, non pre-runner Tacoma double cab (4 door)

i agree, photos needed. here is mine when i took delivery at the dealer, it was parked next to a new 22 Ranger. maverick appears to be about 2 to 3 inches shorter.

 

[Maverickman74]

Its longer, wider, taller, and heavier than the last 4 door Maverick.

Next to an F-series.

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