Poor truck, you know, some auto badges just don't belong on certain vehicles, case and point. I saw this picture and first reaction is whaaaaaa? Then it morphs into this crappy "ahhh,uurgh, I think I'm gonna blow chunks." VW, stick to those herbies and euro compacts your so good at, hell, bring the microbus back. But this is just....wrong. Its like some bastard retard from VW getting together with the toyota tundra thinking they can make something better than a F-150 truck. Just stop while your ahead, spare this poor autistic truck.
Of course, all VW knows is little euro compacts. Because, you know, it's not like they also own Scania, MAN or Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. That's right, keep telling yourself that.
VW's Department of Naming Products Division needs a reshuffle. They've gone from simple, fun names like "Golf" (ok, that makes no sense, bad example) to "Jetta" (very cool)-- even "Westfalia"-- but then we get "Toe-Rag"--and even though their own ads made fun of it, people still refrained from saying it. Toe-Rag. Tour-Egg. Tor-egg. Turrr-ig.
And so now we get Amarok. Which is clearly trying to copy "Tundra" -- which is another stupid vehicle name (giant, open, frozen wasteland?).
You have got to be kidding me. How on Earth did VW think that there was a market for VW pickup? Especially in today's economy and rising gas prices. Trucks are passe, especially luxury trucks.
@Skullbussa: You did notice the "Europe and South America" part, where there is virtually no market for a big truck like the Super Doodie or Silverado HD, and in fact they need something smaller and more mobile, more fuel efficient. I suspect there is a market for this.
And, uh, if you think "trucks are passe, especially luxury trucks", can I invite you to visit pretty much any part of Western Canada, where, for example, the Lincoln Mark LT is still selling like hotcakes?
If you can put an engine block in the back and not destroy it, and it comes as a diesel, it may be a replacement for my Tacoma when the time comes. Of course, it is really really hard to get to the end of the useful life of a Toyota truck, so that may be a while...
@boosted-lego-wagon -> now boosted to 350hp: While you know I love you, Mr. Wagon, I have to disagree, having lived in the North for the last 10 years: Prince George was the furthest south I lived before now. Prince George and Prince Rupert had a fair-sized Inuit population, and UNBC has a lot of Inuit students. "Eskimo" was apparently a derogatory term for the Inuit, used by the Dene First Nations. They took quite a bit of offense to the term "Eskimo", and I was told that the n-word would be the equivalent in their mind.
@boosted-lego-wagon -> now boosted to 350hp: PS: My parents moved directly from Belfast to Prince Rupert in '69 and lived there for many years. I've spent a lot of time in Kitimat, Terrace, PG and Fort St John.
@Pete Gaines: Pete, that's Alaska. Palin territory? That's kinda like saying, "There's nothing wrong with marrying your cousin, they do it all the time in Alabama."
@Deartháir wishes engineerd a Happy Birthday!: Been to Terrace and Rupert once. It's a stunningly beautiful area, as is much of BC, but I gotta tell you, Rupert has to be the *most* aromatic place I've ever been. (and I work next to a brewery)
Seriously, it's a fishing town with a paper mill. Not a fragrance you'll ever forget.
@Zandr: Ahh, see the paper mill had been gone for years by the time I got there, and the fish processing plant was operating at such a low capacity, you maybe got that smell, what, once, twice a season? Now, all you get is that amazing smell of sea air, mixed with the musty smell of decay from the rainforests on the other side of the island.
@mzs: Thanks for pointing that out. Clearly no offense was intended, and I'm not trying to raise a stink for that reason, just wanted to point that out so it was acknowledged, and we don't offend anyone.
"Adirondacks" were named by enemies, it means "bark eater" meaning they couldn't hunt well enough to feed themselves. Cherokees never called themselves "Cherokee" etc etc.
I'm just trying to make sure I'm in the right place.
Lighten up everybody.
I've been offended by some posts as well- I just IGNORE them. I'm also fairly sure that I've offended some people just by posting (that's to you Pete)- let alone what I actually wrote.
Some people are just ignorant, some people mean to be funny, but end up appearing mean-spirited.
I far as I knew, this place was supposed to be like talking in a garage- amongst the men (no offense Leeeena and other female commenters). If we can't talk junk and make fun of each other for our differences- it will become very boring. It is this type of kidding and joking around that enables us all to enjoy each other's comments so much.
In this case, someone was just informing Dearthair that Eskimo was a derogatory term, which he didn't know.
@leavethegun-takethecannoli: Actually it was myself who was pointing it out, but you're right -- and if you read it again, I think most of the thread is pretty light-hearted and tongue-in-cheek. I don't think any of us are offended, we're just discussing that the word is considered to be an offensive one, which fits in to your garage-chat analogy. "Hey, did y'all know that word is offensive to the Inuit?"
@Deartháir wishes engineerd a Happy Birthday!: I know this post is light-hearted- and I was taken away from it in the middle of reading it- so I lost my train of thought, but didn't let that stop me- mea culpa
I just think that we're becoming too sensitive. If something is mean-spirited or purposely offensive- it should be disemvoweled or whatever- but that most people are so quick-witted and most commenters knock each other around a little is the reason why a lot of people come here.
@leavethegun-takethecannoli: I hear what you're saying, but at the same time I think it's healthy to take a mature look at things that DO offend people so we know our community's boundaries. Let's face it, Jalopnik tends to gain a lot of new commenters when something cool happens, and the last thing I want to see happen is to have a bunch of asshole n00bs come charging in, demanding to know why we're not being disemvoweled for saying the same things, and generally wrecking the awesome atmosphere we've built here. I'm attempting to have a discussion, not to raise a shit-storm about it.
You have a valid point, and you make your case. I just like the atmosphere- and don't want it to change too much. I also don't want to see blatantly offensive comments.
The Inuit are a proud people, surviving in unbelievably harsh conditions using traditional skills passed down through the ages. In their language, Inuktitut, there are over twenty words for snow. Soon, they will have over thirty words for "electrical problem".
@Deartháir wishes engineerd a Happy Birthday!: These all work better if read in the style of "Hinterland's Who's Who", or in David Suzuki's voice, like a Nature of Things special.
@Alfisted: That read more like David Attenborough... "you wouldn't think to find a Volkswagen here, among the frigid wastelands. But, as you can see, this isn't the usual sort of Volkswagen."
@leavethegun-takethecannoli: It's Mike Oldfield. You may know him as the writer of "Tubular Bells", which you may know as the theme from The Exorcist. He released that in 1973, at 19, the first album ever on Virgin Records.
His first few albums were friggin' awesome, everything he made in the '80s was utter shit, and then Amarok, released in 1990 as a "Fuck you" to Virgin and to Richard Branson. It is excellent.
@A strolling player is uncomfortably excited: Oh, c'mon! You don't like "Earth Moving"? "To France"? There were some good Mike Oldfield songs in the 1980s...there just weren't many!
I've heard every variation on this truck, from it being a competitor for the Honda... whateverthefuckit'scalled thing, to it being a three-quarter-ton work-horse with an 800lb-ft diesel V10.
Anybody know what the latest is? If it came in as a proper half-ton or greater with a diesel, I'd probably want it.
06/04/09
VW, stick to those herbies and euro compacts your so good at, hell, bring the microbus back. But this is just....wrong.
Its like some bastard retard from VW getting together with the toyota tundra thinking they can make something better than a F-150 truck. Just stop while your ahead, spare this poor autistic truck.
06/04/09
Of course, all VW knows is little euro compacts. Because, you know, it's not like they also own Scania, MAN or Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. That's right, keep telling yourself that.
06/04/09
And so now we get Amarok. Which is clearly trying to copy "Tundra" -- which is another stupid vehicle name (giant, open, frozen wasteland?).
Ja, Ja. Inuit.
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And, uh, if you think "trucks are passe, especially luxury trucks", can I invite you to visit pretty much any part of Western Canada, where, for example, the Lincoln Mark LT is still selling like hotcakes?
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They should call this one Das Hoot.
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The Inuit language is Inuktitut.
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[en.wikipedia.org]
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Alaskan: "Ah don't unnerstand what yore problem is there Shaft. Yew rap guys call each uther that awl the tahme!"
06/04/09
You know, in the two-and-a-bit years I lived in Rupert, I never once made it to Kitimat. I feel a little bad about that... but only a little.
06/04/09
Seriously, it's a fishing town with a paper mill. Not a fragrance you'll ever forget.
06/04/09
@mzs: Thanks for pointing that out. Clearly no offense was intended, and I'm not trying to raise a stink for that reason, just wanted to point that out so it was acknowledged, and we don't offend anyone.
06/04/09
"Adirondacks" were named by enemies, it means "bark eater" meaning they couldn't hunt well enough to feed themselves. Cherokees never called themselves "Cherokee" etc etc.
Strange, how that works.
06/04/09
I'm just trying to make sure I'm in the right place.
Lighten up everybody.
I've been offended by some posts as well- I just IGNORE them. I'm also fairly sure that I've offended some people just by posting (that's to you Pete)- let alone what I actually wrote.
Some people are just ignorant, some people mean to be funny, but end up appearing mean-spirited.
I far as I knew, this place was supposed to be like talking in a garage- amongst the men (no offense Leeeena and other female commenters). If we can't talk junk and make fun of each other for our differences- it will become very boring. It is this type of kidding and joking around that enables us all to enjoy each other's comments so much.
In this case, someone was just informing Dearthair that Eskimo was a derogatory term, which he didn't know.
06/04/09
I meant: is this the....
06/04/09
Do I need to start handing out hugs again?
06/04/09
I just think that we're becoming too sensitive. If something is mean-spirited or purposely offensive- it should be disemvoweled or whatever- but that most people are so quick-witted and most commenters knock each other around a little is the reason why a lot of people come here.
And no, I don't need a hug-
06/04/09
And I think you do. C'mere, big guy.
06/04/09
You have a valid point, and you make your case. I just like the atmosphere- and don't want it to change too much. I also don't want to see blatantly offensive comments.
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Amarok, nosink ever got to me...
Amarok...
Ooooh ooooh Amarok
Now all they need to do is buy advertising on sprokets.
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In their language, Inuktitut, there are over twenty words for snow. Soon, they will have over thirty words for "electrical problem".
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This album is tight as hell. I think I'm in the market for a German truck.
06/04/09
Looks like Balki from "Perfect Strangers."
06/04/09
His first few albums were friggin' awesome, everything he made in the '80s was utter shit, and then Amarok, released in 1990 as a "Fuck you" to Virgin and to Richard Branson. It is excellent.
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Anybody know what the latest is? If it came in as a proper half-ton or greater with a diesel, I'd probably want it.