Drew Dowdell

That's what their websites said. Only 17" size available is a Michelin ice & snow tire. If I had the 18" tires of the GT/GXP, then they have my size available. Uh.... I'm coming up with 16 tires for the 17" G6 on Costco's website. http://tires2.costco...f1-b5b1cc265de0 Shows just one for 225/50-17... what am I doing wrong compared to you? Go by tire size... not by Model/Year... For some reason they only show snow tires for 2008 Pontiac G6. If you flip it to 2007 (the exact same tire size), you get the 16 variants I mentioned. You should always search for tires by the recommended size and NOT the Year/Model method. You don't know if their database is exactly correct.... but a 225/50-17 will fit a 225/50-17 every time.

That's what their websites said. Only 17" size available is a Michelin ice & snow tire. If I had the 18" tires of the GT/GXP, then they have my size available. Uh.... I'm coming up with 16 tires for the 17" G6 on Costco's website.

FWIW Ram Trademan - 5.7-liter V8 with 390 horsepower and 370 pound-feet of torque / five-speed automatic transmission. Starting at $22,780 But I agree there is room for good compact trucks. Problem is most aren't good and aren't cheap either, as they end up running into full size pricing. As they should.... but a standard cab 4x2 full size isn't going to be the same kind of truck that a crew cab 4x4 with leather, heated seats, roof etc mid-size is going to be for the same price. That's fine, but consider the Dakota: Ram 1500 msrp* starting at $20,810 Dakota msrp* starting at $23,110 Dakota Laramie Starting at $33,535 Dodge Ram Sport Starting at $32,355 but with intensives: $30,740 and if I'm reading the incentives correctly, a Laramie can be had for $36,880 Dakota seems to be a different animal since it's the largest of the mid-sizers. I am looking more at the Ranger, Colorado, Tacomoa and Frontier which all start in the $16k - $17k range.

How is the build quality on the Kizashi? They seem very well put together on the show floor, but that isn't always the best place to judge something like that because they could have been gone over. The XL7's interior looks great in photographs but then the build quality has been horrid in person the few times I've been in one.

FWIW Ram Trademan - 5.7-liter V8 with 390 horsepower and 370 pound-feet of torque / five-speed automatic transmission. Starting at $22,780 But I agree there is room for good compact trucks. Problem is most aren't good and aren't cheap either, as they end up running into full size pricing. As they should.... but a standard cab 4x2 full size isn't going to be the same kind of truck that a crew cab 4x4 with leather, heated seats, roof etc mid-size is going to be for the same price.

I was going by the current pricing listed for 2011.... but yeah.. Remember guys, that's still a no frills other than the hemi.

All the new ones here are Freightliner now.

and Freightliner

I'm thinking that the $35k base price for the Sprinter... a full $10k more than a new base Savanna.. has more to do with the Sprinter's limited adoption rates by contractors than any "perceived manliness issue"

Cool... let me know. I have my finger on the ban button.

A Silverado 1500 4x2 regular cab that isn't a stripped out Work Truck bases at $27,9.... for the V6. A Ford F-150 4x2 regular cab that isn't a stripped out work truck bases at $26,5 for an admittedly much better V6 A Ram 1500.... well you get the picture... is $26k but has a 4.7 liter V8. Even after discounts, there is room under those trucks for a mid-size pickup starting at $17,7k like the Colorado does today.

Im not saying you can't, but there is a big up charge for a Duramax or PowerStroke. Neither are full economy minded either but are all about power.

Sync sounds great on paper.... it's less functional in real life. It has a hard time understanding me... and those of you who've met me know I speac vewy cweeerly.

No tires available for a G6?

Gosh... we spent less than $500 installed on a set of 4 Michelins at Costco for the CRV. I'll spend less than $600 on a set of custom width wide whites for the Toronado.

Seriously, it's a box.

It is an indicator of it's abilities. If the Ducato provides for better fuel economy and/or better ride and/or a good out the door price.... it will sell. It's not just another Econoline... and that's it's advantage. Lots of "ifs" in there. It will be the comparison to Sprinter that will tell the tale. If it can do any one of them, it will have a leg up on the market. The Econoline rides rough. Even an Express is a luxury cruiser compared to the Ford. The Econoline's best available fuel economy is about 12 city/17 highway because you can't get the V6 anymore. The Ducato gets up to 32mpg highway in it's most basic form with a diesel and 5-speed. Even if that were to drop to 25mpg with an automatic, that's a BIG difference over the Ford or GM counterparts. Base MSRP for the Econoline is $26,055. The cheapest GMC Savanna is $25,600 with the weezy 4.3 V6. You can't even TOUCH a Freightliner Sprinter for less than $35,000. There is room in the market for the Ducato. Get it in around $27k with the diesel as the base engine and they'll sell every one they can import.

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It is an indicator of it's abilities. If the Ducato provides for better fuel economy and/or better ride and/or a good out the door price.... it will sell. It's not just another Econoline... and that's it's advantage.

So? 1. Businesses are composed of humans. Humans are emotional (even if the emotional response is an unconcious one). Maybe these will sell, maybe they will not, but the emotional aspect will remain. 2. Europe is no indicator for our market. 3. Of course not, but I hope they reduce the ugly before they release these vans. 1. A plumber/electrician/cable t.v. installer doesn't care about the look of the van. Look at how beat up most of them get (with little to no repairs done) in just a few years of service. All they care about is having a nice flat area to have their name painted on. Fleet managers care even less. You think the vehicle buyer at FedEx is going to care? 2. Europe is an indicator of their capabilities.... or do you think they don't have electricians, plumbers, and small package delivery there? (seriously... get out of the woods a bit more) 3. They won't because it doesn't matter to the target market. 1. You are simply mistaken here, contractors do care about how their work trucks look - they take great pride in that. Trust me, I know. Fleet managers are another breed entirely. 2. Again, So? Different markets, different preferences. Sprinter sold based on a distinct interior height advantage, what new thing does this Fiat bring to market? Europe's use of this van is neither a plus nor minus for its market performance here. Completely irrelevant. 3. Put it next to the Sprinter and ask the question again. 1. I see we need a "find the crappiest looking work van" car-spotters. 2. Sprinter also sold based on ability to have a high(er) fuel economy diesel without having to go to an HD. The Ducato isn't even offered in a gasoline version. I expect it will be diesel here as well. As far as the mid-level contractor market (plumbers, electricians, etc.) you have a really distorted view of Europe. For that target market, there is nothing an Econoline can do that a Ducato cannot. 3. The Sprinter isn't a particularly attractive piece itself. Dodge sold 14,600 Sprinters in 2008. If that's the benchmark they have to hit... the Ducato will be fine.

So? 1. Businesses are composed of humans. Humans are emotional (even if the emotional response is an unconcious one). Maybe these will sell, maybe they will not, but the emotional aspect will remain. 2. Europe is no indicator for our market. 3. Of course not, but I hope they reduce the ugly before they release these vans. 1. A plumber/electrician/cable t.v. installer doesn't care about the look of the van. Look at how beat up most of them get (with little to no repairs done) in just a few years of service. All they care about is having a nice flat area to have their name painted on. Fleet managers care even less. You think the vehicle buyer at FedEx is going to care? 2. Europe is an indicator of their capabilities.... or do you think they don't have electricians, plumbers, and small package delivery there? (seriously... get out of the woods a bit more) 3. They won't because it doesn't matter to the target market.

Three things. 1. Businesses are emotional about one thing: money. If these vans provide a good value, are reliable, and are fuel efficient. They'll sell. 2. You can't swing a dead cat in Europe without hitting a Ducato. They are the European version equivalent to the Econoline. They can do the work that most will ask of them. 3. Ram needs something to replace the Sprinter.... or are you suggesting they simply cede these markets to Ford?

Since when do contractor and delivery vans need to be pretty?

It's not a particularly fun car to drive with a manual transmission..... and it's missing a gear when equipped as such.

Have gas prices already started affecting used SUV/Truck pricing? March 6th 2011 - Drew Dowdell - CheersandGears.com According to GasBuddy.com, the national average for gasoline has spiked from $3.12 per gallon to $3.49 per gallon between February 16th and March 6th. As some of you know, I keep an eye on prices for used Chevrolet Avalanches and Oldsmobile Bravadas. I am already noticing a drop in pricing on just these two models. For example, an '05 Avalanche with 63,000 miles and leather near me has an asking price of just $17,999. Six months ago, an Avalanche with that equipment would be over $20k used. Higher mileage examples have fallen from the $17k range to the $13k - $14 range. This 2006 Ford Expedition XLT with 63,000 miles is down to $15,954 Early reports are indicating that consumers are reacting much quicker than before and are already pulling back their spending due to high gasoline prices. So what have you observed in you local area?