[Greenbuilding] Small diesel pickups-- was What car do you suggest?

[Reuben Deumling]

> Alan,
> you're of course correct that today you can't find any new "small" pickups
> with diesel engines, but then you also can't find and new *small* pickups. I
> mention this only because the mileage that the pickups we used to import and
> that were both *small* and offered with diesel engines are still around, and
> if you try an engine swap into a newer model such as yours you're only
> getting the diesel not the *small*. As you likely know, *small* diesel
> pickups from the period 1980-85 are hot commodities in the US now. I sold a
> low mileage 1982 Datsun diesel pickup for $3,400 two years ago, and some
> that were much more fussed over were selling for twice that on Ebay.  I got
> about 35 mpg in it on the highway, which isn't dramatic, but surely a lot
> better than you can get with most pickups today. It weighed about 2,900 lbs.
>
> Reuben Deumling
>
>
> On Fri, May 2, 2008 at 4:50 AM, Alan Abrams <alan at abramsdesignbuild.com>
> wrote:
>
> > Rhetorical question:
> >
> > Why haven't manufacturers given us similar options for economical light
> > trucks?  Why are no small diesels (readily available in EU countries) on
> > the
> > market here?  Why is there no open bed version of the Escape hybrid,
> > just
> > big enough for a rack that could haul a few dozen studs?  I've got a
> > 2000
> > Mazda B3000 (aka Ford Ranger) with a good body and frame--and horrible
> > engine which gets wretched mileage (and has a low end knock)--but would
> > be
> > perfect for a little 4-banger diesel--anyone out there have experience
> > with
> > engine swaps?
> >
> > -AA
> >
> >
> >
> >
>