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Would Another El Camino Be Doomed?
GM Holden introduces new Holden UTE; US buyers wait with baited breath the headline read,or maybe not.

Last week Holden released details on the much discussed VE series UTE, putting to bed rumors it may not return. Every time the UTE is mentioned on an American car enthusiast forum/website, someone is destined to mention how it would make an awesome El Camino and GM needs it here NOW. I am a car enthusiast at heart and can understand people's afflictions with strange cars. I know a guy who has a thing for 70's Ford Granada's which are beastly in my opinion. I personally love the Fox body Ford T-bird from 1987-88 (Especially the Turbo Coupe). That being said, ever since I was little I always kind of scratched my head when I saw an El Camino on the road. It just never made sense to me that someone would rip out most of the usable passenger space in a car, and throw in a truck bed. A truck bed mind you, that is still attached to a light duty car platform and cannot seriously haul. Keep in mind, I grew in the 80's, so to me the El Camino kind of looked like a Monte Carlo with a serious birth defect. While I am certain there are people who love the El Camino with a passion, they are in much smaller numbers than you typical enthusiast cars (Camaro, Corvette, GTO, Chevelle for example).

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Would Another El Camino Be Doomed?



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SteedPubSteedPub - 9/6/2007 3:35:57 PM
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There may be a market for a car based truck but a high dollar RWD import from Australia is not it. Chrysler had limited success with the Rampage in the 1980's for a while as VW did with the Rabbit pick up. But as Lee Iacocca remarked, "Every pool guy and exterminator who needed one bought one, then we didn't sell any more"

Subaru dabbled with a car truck a couple years back but it flopped miserably. But, it was a Subaru, they have pretty much locked themselves into the "sisterhood" market anyway.

I think that while nostalgic and dreamy, the appeal of a modern day ElCamino based on the Holden model is limited and niche like. It just would not pencil.

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ShredmoShredmo - 9/6/2007 5:17:21 PM
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Great write-up! The author is right on. The UTE is a good car, but not compelling enough. Regarding the GTO, my wife put her foot down on that purchase merely because the seats did not move far enough forward to put a child in the back. I ended up with a "sisterhood" car that is nearly as fast as that old goat, but more user friendly.

As the ad goes, "Two female life partners (pc) and a cocker spaniel just wasted the mighty 350Z".

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PorschinatorPorschinator - 9/6/2007 6:13:00 PM
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There actually would be a need now. Would be good timing with todays fuel prices and its only nearest competitor would be the Honda Ridgeline.

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ilmorilmor - 9/6/2007 6:21:59 PM
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That looks like a VW Rabbit! Is this a remake of the VW Rabbit truck from long ago?

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vvelezvvelez - 9/6/2007 6:59:27 PM
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with the announcement i was skeptical but looking at the design it looks like a sporty truck rather than a car with a bed it could sell

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Bmw8terBmw8ter - 9/6/2007 8:37:33 PM
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This will be a nice vehicle that nobody wants, just like the Subaru Baja.

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AirlinerAirliner - 9/6/2007 8:47:39 PM
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Too small a segment... Didn't Chevy learn anything with their SSR venture?

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M53RM53R - 9/7/2007 2:27:50 AMView My AgentSpace
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A lumina station! haha..

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tecnopolistecnopolis - 9/7/2007 3:58:59 AM
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I think this idea deserves a second look. An SS El Camino wouln't be that hard to do.

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truckmentruckmen - 9/7/2007 4:22:18 AM
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The chev already makes car/trucks! Could imagine trying to drive any full size (car)trucks off road? I don't mean a gravel road! Chev will probably put some off road stickers on this car and tell us all it is a 4x4 king!

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XYZZXYZZ - 9/7/2007 7:57:16 AM
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it is eminently SENSIBLE to have light duty haulers that have great gas mileage.

many OTHER countries have 'em. one of the early ford rancheros was based on the compact falcon. there used to be 6-cylinder el caminos and rancheros.

the original datsun/nissan and toyota compact trucks were based on the same idea; they just were not as STYLISH as caminos and rancheros. they've also gotten fat and porky over the years, and are no longer as economical.

if this Holden ute based car-truck gets more than 30 mpg (as my '94 toyota truck does), i'm sure there will be a market for it.



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truckmentruckmen - 9/8/2007 12:18:02 AM
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30mpg? Is your toy a 4x4? How big is the gallon? Imperial? The best I have ever achieved from my 1993 4-runner (4x4 with 31x10.5 tires)is 10L/100km.


XYZZXYZZ - 9/9/2007 5:35:55 AM
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...


pnsb24apnsb24a - 9/7/2007 6:42:55 PM
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The ssr was a flop. Initially to little power and who would haul anything in a vehicle like that. However, if they get the styling correct and give it some real power, then YEA

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indoctrin8edindoctrin8ed - 9/7/2007 8:08:36 PM
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I would think it would be doomed.

BUT,

I would have though that about the Subaru Brat, the HHR, the PT Cruiser...


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XYZZXYZZ - 9/9/2007 9:21:29 AM
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truckmen:

"30mpg? Is your toy a 4x4? How big is the gallon? Imperial? The best I have ever achieved from my 1993 4-runner (4x4 with 31x10.5 tires)is 10L/100km."


it's a 4x2. regular american gallon. stock tire size. 4x4s definitely burn more gas. 4Runners EVEN MORE.

i also have my special gas miser techniques. got nearly the same mileage figures with an '86 nissan truck i had earlier. people who also had '86 nissans only got in the high teens, low twenties, but they had 4x4s.

another friend favors 4x2s too. he tried to buy a new tacoma, only to find the local dealer doesn't even stock 4x2s anymore. he had to get one from out-of-state.

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truckmentruckmen - 9/11/2007 11:26:22 AM
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Impressive!


XYZZXYZZ - 9/12/2007 9:04:49 AM
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the biggest of my special gas miser tricks: "rocket science driving!"

whenever possible, engine "burns" are only to get to optimal speed. followed by coastdowns in neutral to anticipated curve, stop sign (treated as just Yeild), or signal. saves brake pads as well as gas.

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XYZZXYZZ - 9/12/2007 9:10:32 AM
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works best in light to moderate traffic, but can sometimes be used in denser traffic too.

and this is NOT NECESSARILY a slow driving method. i often go to 15 - 20+ mph over the limit before coasting down. this also prevents traffic from backing up behind me.

"hyper milers" use similar tricks to get about 110 mpg with stock priuses.



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