This doesn't surprise me too much. Those little trucks are so much more useful than those giant monstrosities that are made for the domestic market. The article mentioned that they are great for...
This doesn't surprise me too much. Those little trucks are so much more useful than those giant monstrosities that are made for the domestic market. The article mentioned that they are great for maneuverability, but the simple fact that the bed is relatively low to the ground saves a lot of effort, and they also typically have completely flat beds so they can carry a lot more than you would think. With the length of US trucks being eaten up by ever extending cabs, kei trucks might actually offer more hauling capacity. They are usually very simple and lightweight with few frills, if any, and they also tend to get pretty decent fuel efficiency as Japan has legal restrictions on things like engine size for that category of vehicle.
Beside all of that, they're cute to boot.
On the other hand, to compare them to US trucks, they aren't going to go as fast or have as much torque. But that's not necessarily a bad thing since most US trucks have monster overkill engines anyways.
This article appeared in the United States section of the print edition under the headline "What a Kei-motion"
It just drives me nuts that trucks the size of the 90s/00s Ford Ranger (or equivalent from other makers) don't exist anymore. The new ranger is certainly smaller than an F150, but not by much. The...
It just drives me nuts that trucks the size of the 90s/00s Ford Ranger (or equivalent from other makers) don't exist anymore. The new ranger is certainly smaller than an F150, but not by much. The thing still sits super high off the ground and is massive compared most non-truck things on the road. I was behind one at a traffic light yesterday and couldn't believe it was the modern equivalent of my neighbor's old ranger.
Given how expensive importing can be, there's clearly a market for folks like me who just want a sanely sized truck to haul trash, move furniture, grab lumber for home projects, etc. Just large items that don't fit in a car, but don't necessitate a MASSIVE engine to move around. Hell, bring back the El Camino, because that would basically be perfect for my limited needs.
I'm still holding out hope for getting a Maverick eventually, if Ford can ever actually match production to demand on them. They've been popping up all over in my area, but are still waitlisted at...
I'm still holding out hope for getting a Maverick eventually, if Ford can ever actually match production to demand on them. They've been popping up all over in my area, but are still waitlisted at dealers. Now that's a perfectly sized truck that feels like the '00 Ranger I drove in high school and college.
I know they're still gigantic relative to these kei trucks, but it's still a step back in the right direction for compact pickups.
Yeah I had a Chevy S10 from that time period and it was the perfect size. I really miss that little truck sometimes. Anything that has to have a built in step just to get in is too damn big in my...
Yeah I had a Chevy S10 from that time period and it was the perfect size. I really miss that little truck sometimes. Anything that has to have a built in step just to get in is too damn big in my opinion.
I've been pretty happy with our Honda Odyssey minivan, which we originally got solely for the purpose of hauling the kids around. However, we've found that it fits full-size sheets of drywall in...
I've been pretty happy with our Honda Odyssey minivan, which we originally got solely for the purpose of hauling the kids around. However, we've found that it fits full-size sheets of drywall in the back when the seats are removed; and with both the seats removed and racks on top, it's an incredibly practical vehicle. I've even worked with contractors who have built frames into the back with space on the bottom for drywall and pull-out racks above for their tools and other materials. But even this is still overkill compared with those more minimalist Japanese mini-trucks.
The GuysTM and I were looking to import some of these for us to play around with and use as a truck since we have no interest in modern monstrosities called "pickups" and actual compact pickups...
The GuysTM and I were looking to import some of these for us to play around with and use as a truck since we have no interest in modern monstrosities called "pickups" and actual compact pickups that are fun are unnecessarily expensive. Ideas were dashed when we found out that kei trucks run in a gray area of legality in Texas for on road use. Some people manage to get them titled as pickups or antiques (being over 25 years old), some get the side-by-side "Unique Vehicle" registration, while some get told a flat "no" because it's not on Texas' list. Just depends on your luck. The $7,500 ones you saw probably have all import paperwork and are fully titled and registered. The $2,000 one in the article is likely an off-road only model that the owner isn't interested in getting road legal (or lives somewhere it's easy).
My wife's hopes were dashed as well as she would love us to have a kei truck for hardware store/gardening center trips, zero interest in huge pickups, and drove my F350 dually only once before swearing off doing it ever again.
That is a solid callout. I no longer own it. It was an early 90's F350 dually (it was still huge). I had recently purchased a house and between things needed for the house, my various...
I had recently purchased a house and between things needed for the house, my various projects/cars/machinery, being between running (read: not projects) cars, and friends that were also in need of pickup truck services it was a smart buy for the moment.
When I was done with the projects/needs that necessitated it's purchase, I sold it for the same amount I purchased it. Had it for about 18 months.
AFAIK it's actually legal to import the newer ones, but it would be somewhat pointless because you would not be able to drive them on roads. You might want to look into NV/NEVs - Neighborhood...
AFAIK it's actually legal to import the newer ones, but it would be somewhat pointless because you would not be able to drive them on roads.
You might want to look into NV/NEVs - Neighborhood (Electric) Vehicles. They are road legal, but they are limited to roads with a speed limit of 35mph or less. That's because they can't drive any faster than 25mph. Which is why they are also called LSVs - Low Speed Vehicles. If you haven't inferred it yet, they're basically glorified golf carts that can go a little bit faster. You do need a license to drive them, though. I hear that GEM makes some decent models.
A friend of mine had a Acty-like van many years ago (I think it was a Toyota, can't remember the exact model). Fantastic little vehicle, not just cheap to run and spacious enough for almost...
A friend of mine had a Acty-like van many years ago (I think it was a Toyota, can't remember the exact model). Fantastic little vehicle, not just cheap to run and spacious enough for almost anything, but it was fun to drive. Wheel at each corner and enough engine to make it feel nippy around town.
Sort of related to this, the veteran UK manufacturer Morris have a new commercial vehicle coming out soon which falls into the same class as these little Japanese things. Space in the back for a full sheet (2.4x1.2m/8x4ft) and who really needs more than that? Also, while I do like the look of the little Japanese ones, the Morris JE is gorgeous. Here's a video review
This doesn't surprise me too much. Those little trucks are so much more useful than those giant monstrosities that are made for the domestic market. The article mentioned that they are great for maneuverability, but the simple fact that the bed is relatively low to the ground saves a lot of effort, and they also typically have completely flat beds so they can carry a lot more than you would think. With the length of US trucks being eaten up by ever extending cabs, kei trucks might actually offer more hauling capacity. They are usually very simple and lightweight with few frills, if any, and they also tend to get pretty decent fuel efficiency as Japan has legal restrictions on things like engine size for that category of vehicle.
Beside all of that, they're cute to boot.
On the other hand, to compare them to US trucks, they aren't going to go as fast or have as much torque. But that's not necessarily a bad thing since most US trucks have monster overkill engines anyways.
That was just horrible.
It just drives me nuts that trucks the size of the 90s/00s Ford Ranger (or equivalent from other makers) don't exist anymore. The new ranger is certainly smaller than an F150, but not by much. The thing still sits super high off the ground and is massive compared most non-truck things on the road. I was behind one at a traffic light yesterday and couldn't believe it was the modern equivalent of my neighbor's old ranger.
Given how expensive importing can be, there's clearly a market for folks like me who just want a sanely sized truck to haul trash, move furniture, grab lumber for home projects, etc. Just large items that don't fit in a car, but don't necessitate a MASSIVE engine to move around. Hell, bring back the El Camino, because that would basically be perfect for my limited needs.
I'm still holding out hope for getting a Maverick eventually, if Ford can ever actually match production to demand on them. They've been popping up all over in my area, but are still waitlisted at dealers. Now that's a perfectly sized truck that feels like the '00 Ranger I drove in high school and college.
I know they're still gigantic relative to these kei trucks, but it's still a step back in the right direction for compact pickups.
Yeah I had a Chevy S10 from that time period and it was the perfect size. I really miss that little truck sometimes. Anything that has to have a built in step just to get in is too damn big in my opinion.
I've been pretty happy with our Honda Odyssey minivan, which we originally got solely for the purpose of hauling the kids around. However, we've found that it fits full-size sheets of drywall in the back when the seats are removed; and with both the seats removed and racks on top, it's an incredibly practical vehicle. I've even worked with contractors who have built frames into the back with space on the bottom for drywall and pull-out racks above for their tools and other materials. But even this is still overkill compared with those more minimalist Japanese mini-trucks.
The GuysTM and I were looking to import some of these for us to play around with and use as a truck since we have no interest in modern monstrosities called "pickups" and actual compact pickups that are fun are unnecessarily expensive. Ideas were dashed when we found out that kei trucks run in a gray area of legality in Texas for on road use. Some people manage to get them titled as pickups or antiques (being over 25 years old), some get the side-by-side "Unique Vehicle" registration, while some get told a flat "no" because it's not on Texas' list. Just depends on your luck. The $7,500 ones you saw probably have all import paperwork and are fully titled and registered. The $2,000 one in the article is likely an off-road only model that the owner isn't interested in getting road legal (or lives somewhere it's easy).
My wife's hopes were dashed as well as she would love us to have a kei truck for hardware store/gardening center trips, zero interest in huge pickups, and drove my F350 dually only once before swearing off doing it ever again.
That is a solid callout.
AFAIK it's actually legal to import the newer ones, but it would be somewhat pointless because you would not be able to drive them on roads.
You might want to look into NV/NEVs - Neighborhood (Electric) Vehicles. They are road legal, but they are limited to roads with a speed limit of 35mph or less. That's because they can't drive any faster than 25mph. Which is why they are also called LSVs - Low Speed Vehicles. If you haven't inferred it yet, they're basically glorified golf carts that can go a little bit faster. You do need a license to drive them, though. I hear that GEM makes some decent models.
A friend of mine had a Acty-like van many years ago (I think it was a Toyota, can't remember the exact model). Fantastic little vehicle, not just cheap to run and spacious enough for almost anything, but it was fun to drive. Wheel at each corner and enough engine to make it feel nippy around town.
Sort of related to this, the veteran UK manufacturer Morris have a new commercial vehicle coming out soon which falls into the same class as these little Japanese things. Space in the back for a full sheet (2.4x1.2m/8x4ft) and who really needs more than that? Also, while I do like the look of the little Japanese ones, the Morris JE is gorgeous. Here's a video review
I don’t if it’s quite as small, but vw makes a very practical option. Of course, not available in US.