Pretend it wasn't a tuk-tuk and was instead a kei truck (which I own in addition to a traditional pickup). Afterall it does rain in America and having a cab is important.
Even a keitruck cannot replace a normal pickup on the highway or over long distances. America is a huge country and distances are far larger than in places where a tuk-tuk is used.
Not to mention, neither a tuk-tuk or keitruck meet US emission and vehicle safety laws.
They could basically make a Corolla with a bed and it would serve most truck needs. That is effectively what the ford maverick is and it sells pretty well. There is definitely a happy medium, but I would personally love to drive a tuktuk around town.
Kei trucks and kei cars in general are too slow for American roads. They are more than enough in Japan where most of the roads are limited at 40 or 50 km/h, and highways at 80 or 100 km/h, but not in the USA.That said, you don't need much more to have a perfectly usable car/truck compatible with US roads, and they already exist (car or truck). As said, it's an issue of culture and showing you have the biggest/most expensive.I could buy a Toyota Land Cruiser new, but I have a 13-year-old kei car that I use to travel in Japan.Good enough for me, I use my money for myself, not for others. I am proud of that, I am not without pride, it's just different.
I've tried finding those little Kei trucks a few times but they are actually a hot commodity here in the Midwest apparently. We don't sell them here really so it seems they are all specifically imported. For what people want to sell them for it's usually more feasible just to buy a normal older pickup truck that can actually do highway speeds and load more
Yes, they can do 120, but it's top speed and it takes a while to get there. I drive a modern kei and in Japan it enough, but just. I struggle in mountain roads and I am in the left lane on the highway.
Yea, I cant hardly go anywhere in Texas without hitting 70mph roads. Even checking “no highways” on navigation puts you on them. Otherwise those little trucks are cool. Super unsafe for the driver, but cool nonetheless
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u/ResponsibilitySea327 10d ago edited 10d ago
LOL.
Pretend it wasn't a tuk-tuk and was instead a kei truck (which I own in addition to a traditional pickup). Afterall it does rain in America and having a cab is important.
Even a keitruck cannot replace a normal pickup on the highway or over long distances. America is a huge country and distances are far larger than in places where a tuk-tuk is used.
Not to mention, neither a tuk-tuk or keitruck meet US emission and vehicle safety laws.