Built like a Mercedes 3677

Yes, you find it funny, I find it sad. In general, an Asian designed vehicle will last maybe five years without major needs. Used to be that inside of three years, an Asian made vehicle would rust badly, which is to say, holes through the metal. Perhaps now that they are built here, that is solved. European vehicles fare a bit better, but by seven years, can become cantankerous if not costly to maintain due to nickel and dime stuff that costs ten times as much because its Euro design.

Well, then you must be fairly ignorant on load capacity of vehicles.

No, long distances are not easier. Quite the opposite, they create another type of hazard to longevity, that of heat and wear. Thus our larger engines tend to do better than the smaller engines from elsewhere. Your freeways are driven at like speeds to ours. This is not to say that our vehicles are better or worse than any other, simply that design follows use. Thus, cars designed in the country where the designer uses them, will fare better in that country.

Have you seen where we drive here? I guarantee imports won't survive the same type of road here in the states. I know, because we've done our share of driving "other" stuff, and it just doesn't do as well as american iron when it comes to rough roads. I see far more 1980's Chrysler 2.2 powered stuff than I do any other maker's 1980's vintage stuff. A rough second place would be Chevy Cavaliers. The only other that would place would be the Toyota 22R engine, mostly in Celicas. However, lately those are rare too. Too bad, I actually liked those.

You cast aside how many vehicles it takes to go that distance, let alone which ones actually make it that far.

I don't think there are many pickups sold in Europe, but feel free to cite proven statistics. In the States, a pickup isn't built above the one ton level. I'll bet its the same in Europe.

-- Max

"There are four boxes to be used in defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury, and ammo. Please use in that order." -Ed Howdershelt (Author)