• DogMuffins@discuss.tchncs.de
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        1 year ago

        We seem to have been invaded by them in the last 2 years or so. I don't see why regular utes and 4wds have been fine until now, but suddenly every tradesman needs one of these.

        • IHaveTwoCows@lemm.ee
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          1 year ago

          Fun Fact: it's because of US CAFE standards imposed on auto makers. It's not that people don't want small and mid-sized trucks; it's that it has been illegal to make them since 2012, the last year of the actual Ford Ranger.

        • joelfromaus@aussie.zone
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          1 year ago

          I seen a comment that they were covered by the instant tax right-off and so their dealers were pushing them to business owners and tradies who were more than happy to buy 2-ton codpieces oversized vehicles. Seems to check out from my experience with them.

          • DogMuffins@discuss.tchncs.de
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            1 year ago

            I'm a registered tax agent. This isn't really true - but, it's exactly what someone needing a 2-ton codpiece would say.

            If you use a passenger vehicle exclusively for work / business, then you can claim depreciation on it's total cost up to a maximum of ~$66k (last year… this limit is indexed each year).

            Vehicles with a carrying capacity of > 1 tonne are not subject to this limit as they're "commercial" vehicles rather than passenger vehicles.

            So if you had a $100k to spend on a new car, then a landcruiser wagon / SUV will be less tax effective than a RAM ute because you can't claim a deduction for the entire cost of the ute.

            That said, no one actually chooses between those types of vehicles on the basis of the tax deduction available - you either want a ute or you don't. The choice is always between a hilux size ute and a ram size ute. Additionally, I don't have a list but I've heard tell that very few of the bigger utes actually have a carrying capacity of > 1 tonne once you subtract the potential weight of passengers.

          • m3t00🌎@lemmy.world
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            1 year ago

            there is one guy in town with a big "Miss me yet" tRump flag mounted on the porch next to an american flag. Only one I've seen around here. Probably his mom's house. drive by it about every day. that's dedication or something. has a big red truck too. I am so tempted to steal it but won't risk getting shot. maniacs. I just flip the bird like a good citizen and follow court proceedings.

      • m3t00🌎@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        they were a thing when I lived in Texas in the late 70s. A guy I worked with had a big yellow Ford with 5' high tires. Everyone had pickups. I had a Datsun pickup with DOHC sounded like it would blow up at 60 but smoothed out again at 70. commutes were wild