5 Trucks That Would Convince Me to Ditch My Car
For my whole life, I’ve been a car guy. It started with my first sedan and has continued on year after year. To me, there are few things better than cruising down the highway in your Mustang on a beautiful summer or fall day, windows down, breeze blowing through your hair, music cranked up.
Though many of my friends have moved on to SUVs (how else do you haul kids around?) and trucks, I’ve remained loyally by the side of my cars for decades. But let me let you in on a little secret: I’m not entirely anti-truck. Believe it or not, if I had all the money in the world and could buy any vehicles I wished, I very well might decide to fill up a few slots in my garage with trucks.
But rest assured, these wouldn’t be any old trucks. These would be trucks that are so beautiful and so powerful that your head would spin.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at five trucks that could very well convince me to ditch my car and begin driving higher off the ground in the near future:
- 1978 Dodge Lil’ Red Express
When this bad boy made it onto the market in the late 1970s, it was the fastest-accelerating American motor vehicle on the road, able to get from zero to 100 quicker than any other cars made in the U.S. Skirting some EPA rules, Dodge’s engineers figured out how to modify the Lil’ Red Express engine quite a bit. The end result? A more powerful car that wasn’t too hard on the eyes, either. It didn’t even require a catalytic converter, either. The truck featured a V8 engine powered by 255 ponies at 2,250 rpm. Since it’s a bit older, it needs a few spare parts, but this thing is a beast and won’t cost you much after that.
I know, I know. This truck’s just come out of its shrink wrap and already I’m adding it to a best-of-all-time list. But really, who could say no to a 360 hp V8 engine, 17” steel wheels, a six-speed transmission and more special features than you know what to do with? You already know I love Ford; this makes me love it even more.
Two Fords in a row coming from a guy who likes Ford and Mustangs? Who would have thunk it? Truth be told, however, the Lightning is quick as they come. With the ability to travel 0 to 60 mph in 5.2 seconds and a maximum speed of 147 mph, what’s not to like? Ford, if you’re reading this, it’s time to release a new Lightning model!
- 2005 Toyota Tacoma X-Runner
A sporty truck that handles like you wouldn’t believe, the 2005 Toyota Tacoma X-Runner is a great, sturdy, reliable machine that can get you from Point A to Point B in the blink of an eye. Well, not that quickly, but you get the point. The X-Runner’s V6 engine can handle 305 hp, and because it’s a Toyota, it’s got great resale value.
Fewer than 3,000 of these bad boys ever rolled off the line. With available upgrades, this car could be powered by 280 hp and 350 foot-lb. of torque. When these machines first appeared on the road, they were faster than Ferrari 348s. Enough said.
When it boils down to it, I’m still a car guy at heart. But there sure is something about these five trucks, isn’t there?
