this post was submitted on 04 Mar 2024
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That says more about where you spend your time that anything else. Go to a campground or a boat ramp, you'll see them doing what they were built for.
Mate I can't help that I'm a townie, but so many Utes never see an ounce of dirt.
I didn't say they didn't have their uses anyway, just that far too many on our roads are completely pointless. They are strictly worse tradie vehicles and make rubbish everyday cars.
Half of all Ute sales are to former Commodore/Falcon drivers who need a vehicle that is a phallic representation of their manliness.
It doesn't matter if they're Bob from accounting.
"Emotional support ute"
You guys think you're so very clever, don't you?
No, not really. I'm quoting something I saw on reddit and found funny. Feel free to ignore it.
But honestly, a lot of the time people seem to make ute ownership a personality trait. I used to want a ute. Then I grew up, and so now when I needed a work vehicle I got a van.
If it wasn't for the up front cost to buy one, I'd love to have a ute. They're a dream to drive, and have an incredible amount of space in the back, especially with a canopy.
That's your prerogative mate. I just personally don't see the point. Plenty of cars will haul boats, vans have a larger cargo space, etc. In fact, my SUV has as much boot space as my mate's ute, the only difference is he doesn't mind chucking dirt in there, where as I'll use a trailer on the rare occasions I need it.
My whole point of all of this isn't that utes are useless and should be banned or anything, but that they are in most cases not the best vehicle for the job, and people chose them to feel manly or whatever, not because they need one.
So, you drive a big fuckoff SUV, but are having a rage about utes?
Nope, it's large but not "big fuckoff", it's pretty normal. Double cab utes actually don't have that much space, unless they are an enormous American style pickup.
And again, don't mistake disagreement with anger. I'm not raging at you for wanting a ute, I'm voicing my opinion that they are, in most cases, silly.
No, you're definitely angry, otherwise you'd have realised I'm winding you up at this point and done something productive with your time.
But someone is wrong! On the internet! lol
I'm waiting for something to finish at work, this is about as productive as I can be right now.
Utes are a Swiss army knife of a vehicle, they may be worse at one job, but they're good enough at being a trade vehicle and a weekend vehicle that you can just have one to do everything.
Sure, as I said they have their place. But does a mum need one to drop her kids off at school? Does an accountant need one to meet a client?
We aren't talking about tradies or people towing boats (there are better towing vehicles btw), we are talking about all the spotless rangers and hiluxes clogging up city streets.
How do you know they're not towing or hauling camping gear over the holidays? Just because you don't see them doing it, doesn't mean it doesn't happen.
Other vehicles are more comfortable, safer and can haul just as well or more. I personally haul a trailer using my SUV, and it does the job fine. It could haul a boat no problem (I don't have a boat, obviously). There is no reason for a ute to haul a boat.
So, you're part of the problem.
Of having large vehicles on the road? Sure, I never claimed I wasn't. But I tend to only use it for long trips with the kids, hauling a trailer or going somewhere I need AWD. The rest of the time, including to and from work, I drive a hatch back that uses 20% the fuel and easier to park.
How much fuel could you buy for what it costs you to buy, register, and insure another car? How much mileage do you need to do to recoup that cost?
If I had a ute, I wouldn't drive it to work either, so I don't know what your point is.
You didn't answer my question. It costs at least a grand a year to register, WOF and insure a vehicle, plus it takes up space, and that's before things like depreciation etc.
That would buy a lot of fuel for the ute.
I answered what was going to be your followup question.
You are wanting me to answer with some large number, and then you will point out if I had a ute I would save all that money! I could do all the things with one vehicle!
Except I wouldn't. I wouldn't drive a ute to work, because I don't need it and it wastes fuel. It would sit at home just as much as my SUV, and more in fact because they are less comfortable for taking the whole family on a trip. I can't get 7 in a ute, but I can in my SUV.
So my point is, even if a ute could do hauling and commuting, it would cost me just as much because I would still have two vehicles.
I seriously doubt you'd have any experience working out of a vehicle. Besides, they're usually bought and driven because they're both a trade vehicle, and a family wagon.
I know many tradies mate, they all use vans except one, and he complains constantly about his Ute.
I also make deliveries, would never use a Ute. Van is the way to go.
Besides, none of this addresses the point. None of the ones I'm talking about are not trade/family vehicles. I see mum's dropping kids off, bank people and REAs driving to a showing all the time. None of these need a massive fucking Ute that never carries anything or goes off-road.
Oftentimes where it would make sense for the tradie to buy a Van.
Yeah, like when they go hunting or tow a boat. Vehicles with two wheel drive and bugger all ground clearance are awesome like that.
Plenty of tradie vans are 4wd and have decent ground clearance. And their tools won't get nicked out the back.
Oh and don't forget, plenty of places don't allow you to use your work vehicle during the weekend anyway.
First, four wheel drive vans are incredibly rare, and tend to have the same ground clearance as the two wheel drive versions. Second, it's just as easy to break a window in a van as break into a ute canopy.
And if you're self employed, you can do whatever you want with your work vehicle.
I personally know two tradies with 4WD vans, and of the builders who worked on our house back when we were building, half had 4WD vans.
Sure, it's just as easy. But then why have a ute with a canopy when a van can hold more cargo, and has a bigger roof for long items like ladders, pipes and wood? And even if we say a canopy is great, most of the actual tradie utes I see don't have any bed cover. The ones with canopys are invariably white collar workers.
Just today, I saw 5 utes with signwriting on my morning commute. One was a landscaper hauling bark, fair enough. The others were a engineer, an farm insurance company, an electrical wholesalers and a power tool salesman. They sure needed those utes didn't they?
Of course, although you have to be careful about how to claim the gst and tax on fuel etc. You are supposed to track work-related use separately.
Most tradies are not self employed though. I rarely see sparkies, plumbers or builders driving in their company vehicles during the weekend. I have a sparkie mate, and he's the only one in the whole company who is allowed to use his van for personal use, all the others aren't (except the boss of course).
I love how outraged you are about someone else's choice of vehicle.
I'm not outraged mate. I'm capable of having an opinion without being angry.
You definitely seem angry to me.
I'm really not. Typing replies does not mean I'm angry. I think you are pushing your expectations on me here mate.
Because Joe from Joe's plumbing is going to empty the van of all his tools, supplies and parts in order to take it hunting each weekend.
Work vehicles are exactly that.
I know people who do exactly that, smart-ass. Besides, you typically have enough room in a work vehicle to fit weekend gear in without emptying it out.
How many people go hunting on the weekend?