@radiochief: "Does Mazda still build the B2200 series??" The Mazda B-series trucks have been rebadged Rangers since 1994. They are still on the market.
Mike the Dog is sitting by the door with a pair of cow slippers, and a very sad face. was starred
Mike the Dog is sitting by the door with a pair of cow slippers, and a very sad face. was unstarred
The reason I think that the 2006 Rampage concept would sell, is that it really DOES the functions that lightweight jobbers, cycle enthusiasts, gardening retirees, etc. need a light truck for. Look at it again.
Chrysler can say whatever at this point, They more than likely won't survive the year! El Camino? Sure! Electric lotus?, Why Not! Invisible Robot Fish? We're doin it! Cure for Cancer? We're on it! and all while we're banging Lindsay Lohan! "Chrysler: We just don't give a shit anymore!"
I dont like it. Nice conceptual idea but its NOT a 'camino. It sits way too high and overall is too big to act as a camino; fortunately its NOT the old Rampage tho :)
I don't quite feel the same enthusiasm for this concept as I do for the G8 ST or the Falcon Ute. Mostly because there isn't a single Chrysler vehicle that they could base it on that would make me want it, so they would need to start from scratch. Which means they won't.
Although having said that, if you watch the V8 Supercars in Australia, it's clear Chrysler wants to make a big push there, and present the 300C as a legit competitor to the Falcon and Commodore, but it never will be until there's a Ute version. Maybe that's part of the reason why?
I can't say I'd be opposed to 300Cs joining the V8 Supercar races...
I dont recall that these sold well even back in the day, which makes me wonder why they would bring it back for a second chance. I hope someone does some serious marketing and profit/loss research on it before they really do it.
@Curves: I'm glad somebody gets it. Since this was posted an hour or so ago I have seen at least 5 compact pickups from the 80's go down the road. I can't even recall the last time I saw a Camino/Ranchero/Rampage on the road.
I wish they'd bring back the older Dakota (the 1997-2004 model) with a nice straight six and a good six speed transmission. Mostly just because I had one of those Dakotas and loved it. Nevertheless, I like where the companies are going with these car based pickup trucks...Utes...whatever. Now if they'd just build them...
Refer to comment from G8 ST post. It's like I'm omniscient or something.
OK, "something", but I DID say it! Basically put, I indicated that it would be funny to see Dodge redo the Dakota as a unibody pickup and build one that mirrors the El Camino/Ranchero.
I considered buying a Rampage back in the day, but they were so cheaply made they didn't last long in the real world. Remember the Toyota Hilux and the other Japanese 'mini trucks'from the '70s and '80s? Its time for that type of vehicle to come back.
@biminitwst: "Remember?!" It's in the parking lot right now.
Back in the day IHC cranked out a - brace yourself - 3.2 litre four-banger. Now I bet it rode like bronco - the horse, not the Ford - but if you were heading uphill and/or dragging something heavy...and weren't in a hurry...why, it would get you there. And it's no torque monster, but the 22R under the hood outside has proven reasonably torquey for anything up to a ton of firewood in the bed (yes, that's a serious overload) or a trailer with as much as a ton-and-a-half on the hitch. I know towing capacity is a huge selling point for light trucks in the ?Usa, but really - how many peole do any towing at all? Ever? Of all the people I work with, I'm one of three, and none of us drives the all-out biggest-engine option.
So long as the thing isn't based on the Godforsaken Caliber.
Lessee, other compact no-frills perfectly good pickups: the Toyota Nameless, the Nissan Nameless (eventually the "Hardbody" which considering its history of rust is really very funny), the Ford Ranger, Chevy S10, and the Dodge...hmm...Dodge didn't have one. They slapped a badge on a Mitsu and sold that. That and the Rampage, which was pretty much just a li'l Scamp without the hatch installed.
Well. It's not like it's all that hard to do. Frame rails, engine, tranny. Windows.
Seats.
Oh, right - and a cargo bed that ISN'T A DAMNFOOL WASTE OF TIME AND STEEL. Anything less than six feet long will just annoy the buyers who really use trucks.
C'mon, Dodge - you can do that. Just like the Dakota back in the 80's, with less sport and more utility.
@Elhigh: But, a Calipage might be a half-decent truck (which is good, coming from a terrible car). Plus, there's totally a chance for an SRT4 model then.
@Maymar wishes his car had beach assault capability: Just curious. I've ridden in a Caliber, and apart from the already infamous cheapo interiors, what is really wrong with this car? A bit underpowered and overweight for its class? Yes. But what else?
@timtoolman: I'll be honest, I probably spoke before thinking, I have little experience with it (or the Patriot/Compass), and probably should've said mediocre. Still, the main weaknesses I can think of (lack of refinement, and poor fuel economy for an econocar) aren't so bad for a mini-trucklet.
that really sounds cool, until hard facts hit you:
1) Chrysler a while back announced a haulting in all there operational faculties (to an unknown date). 2) They still havent got their share of the bail-out money! 3) They only have 115-Day supply for their dealers. 4) From what will they do it? 5) We haven't seen a new concept or update since along time from them, suddenly a new car all at once?!
hope i'm worng & that we get a car-based pick-up truck... with neither the falcom nor the el-camino comming, i doubt Chrysler will answer our prayers!
@J-2-da-B: A hault to operations is the perfect time to rethink and retool. It's easier to lick 'n stick a change to a car and make a small truck out of it than to throw out the Dakota and start from the wheels up.
01/09/09
Does Mazda still build the B2200 series??
There has always been a market for small trucks... How come every one else on the planet can own one, but we in the US can't?
I'm not saying it has to be Rampage or mini-El Camino...but please we need something else besides a Ford Ranger for a small truck option.
01/10/09
01/09/09
[jalopnik.com]
01/09/09
01/09/09
Links below...
[en.wikipedia.org]
[www.dodge.com]
[www.dodgetuners.org]
I dont like it. Nice conceptual idea but its NOT a 'camino. It sits way too high and overall is too big to act as a camino; fortunately its NOT the old Rampage tho :)
01/09/09
01/09/09
[jalopnik.com]
I love it, and think it would sell with a 3.0 diesel like hotcakes.
01/09/09
Unless they base it off of the Sebring. Then it is awesome.
01/09/09
01/09/09
also;
[jalopnik.com]
01/09/09
Although having said that, if you watch the V8 Supercars in Australia, it's clear Chrysler wants to make a big push there, and present the 300C as a legit competitor to the Falcon and Commodore, but it never will be until there's a Ute version. Maybe that's part of the reason why?
I can't say I'd be opposed to 300Cs joining the V8 Supercar races...
01/09/09
01/09/09
01/09/09
01/09/09
01/09/09
01/09/09
01/09/09
01/09/09
01/09/09
OK, "something", but I DID say it! Basically put, I indicated that it would be funny to see Dodge redo the Dakota as a unibody pickup and build one that mirrors the El Camino/Ranchero.
01/09/09
01/09/09
Remember the Toyota Hilux and the other Japanese 'mini trucks'from the '70s and '80s?
Its time for that type of vehicle to come back.
01/10/09
Back in the day IHC cranked out a - brace yourself - 3.2 litre four-banger. Now I bet it rode like bronco - the horse, not the Ford - but if you were heading uphill and/or dragging something heavy...and weren't in a hurry...why, it would get you there. And it's no torque monster, but the 22R under the hood outside has proven reasonably torquey for anything up to a ton of firewood in the bed (yes, that's a serious overload) or a trailer with as much as a ton-and-a-half on the hitch. I know towing capacity is a huge selling point for light trucks in the ?Usa, but really - how many peole do any towing at all? Ever? Of all the people I work with, I'm one of three, and none of us drives the all-out biggest-engine option.
01/09/09
Lessee, other compact no-frills perfectly good pickups: the Toyota Nameless, the Nissan Nameless (eventually the "Hardbody" which considering its history of rust is really very funny), the Ford Ranger, Chevy S10, and the Dodge...hmm...Dodge didn't have one. They slapped a badge on a Mitsu and sold that. That and the Rampage, which was pretty much just a li'l Scamp without the hatch installed.
Well. It's not like it's all that hard to do. Frame rails, engine, tranny. Windows.
Seats.
Oh, right - and a cargo bed that ISN'T A DAMNFOOL WASTE OF TIME AND STEEL. Anything less than six feet long will just annoy the buyers who really use trucks.
C'mon, Dodge - you can do that. Just like the Dakota back in the 80's, with less sport and more utility.
01/09/09
Tell that to every idiot that buys a crewcab truck with a 5' bed. There's no shortage of those people.
01/09/09
01/09/09
(A Calipage would be pretty nifty, huh?)
01/09/09
01/09/09
1) Chrysler a while back announced a haulting in all there operational faculties (to an unknown date).
2) They still havent got their share of the bail-out money!
3) They only have 115-Day supply for their dealers.
4) From what will they do it?
5) We haven't seen a new concept or update since along time from them, suddenly a new car all at once?!
hope i'm worng & that we get a car-based pick-up truck... with neither the falcom nor the el-camino comming, i doubt Chrysler will answer our prayers!
01/09/09
01/09/09
Maybe Chrysler should apply this logic to their cars too