| |
Anyone using the UK's roads will have become aware of the increase in popularity of those big 4 x 4 pick up vehicles that have until recently been commonly associated with ‘red neck' American trailer parks, tradesmen and farmers. These days however you are just as likely to see one of these shiny black and chrome monsters parked on the driveways of smart, urban housing estates as bouncing across a muddy field laden with straw for the sheep.
| Apart from anything else, one of the main reasons for this upsurge in the popularity of this type of vehicle is the fact that they are categorised as commercial vehicles and are taxed accordingly (much to the Chancellor of the Exchequer's annoyance) and are therefore much less expensive to put on the road.
Manufacturers of pick up vehicles have been quick to cash in on this phenomenon and the past years have seen huge changes in the way these vehicles are equipped and marketed.
|
 |
Instead of bare metal and plastic utility finishes, the average pick up is now as luxurious and high tec as its conventional brother vehicles and comes with a specification that is going to include all the fruit (and more) normally found in a quality saloon car. Anyone buying a pick up these days is going find sat nav units, top range music players, leather upholstery, air con or climate control, electric windows and mirrors and of course a full range of safety features such as air bags, ABS and side impact protection.
|
There is a social cachet now in owning such a vehicle, whether or not you ever intend to use the load bed or even leave the town. The recent popularity of US imported programmes such as ‘Pimp my Ride' has led to a big increase in interest in customising these vehicles and let's face it; these gleaming beasts with mega macho names like ‘Warrior' and ‘Animal' are status symbols that send out all the signals that you won't transmit from your ordinary company car or your family saloon. |
All this gloss aside, it would be wrong to forget that these vehicles are not just pretty, ‘boys' toys' (or even ‘girls' toys' for that matter). Pick ups are serious, powerful vehicles that have been designed for a job of work. They are often designed for off road use and most models will have limited slip differential and are commonly equipped with excellent body shielding to protect them against damage from rough terrain.
The payloads can also be impressive and are capable of shifting and carrying extraordinary loads. They are ideal for small tradesmen and for family camping excursions alike and are equally at home carrying pigs to market or the children to school. After all, they have been around for a long time and have simply been given a new suit of clothes.
|
