Ford F-series pickups were the top-selling vehicles in America in 2008, the 27th consecutive year that the F-series has held that title. Still, Ford shouldn't be celebrating too heartily. It's looking increasingly likely that its amazing streak won't last another year....
The problem with a truck-based empire is that gas doesn't always stay cheap. As prices spiked above $4 per gallon in May and June, the F-150 was overtaken on the monthly sales charts by a bunch of puny sedans with good fuel economy: the Toyota Corolla, Toyota Camry, and Honda Civic.
[From Is the Ford F-series' 27-year reign at the top of America's sales charts about to end? - By Josh Levin - Slate Magazine ]
Decades ago, I wrote this headline: The best-selling car in the world is a truck. I thought it was rather clever, and it had the added benefit of being true. And for 27 years, the Ford F-150 has been king of the hill. But here comes Camry, the unstoppable soon-to-be champ. Just a matter of time, and the price of gas.
We've owned both. We've had two Camrys, and put more than 100,000 miles on each. And they were both solid, dependable cars. Fantastic value for the money. We still own one. We also have a 2001 Ford F-250 Super Duty Giant Cab Diesel Lariat Kick-Ass Truck with 120,000 miles on the odometer and going strong. We've owned a lot of cars and trucks over the years, and this will go down as our all-time favorite.
Yeah, I know, it's not the same as the F-150 with its puny gas V-8s, but it's a brother, or first cousin, or something. And it's a fantastic piece of engineering. It seats six comfortably, with a plush leather interior. It has the smooth ride of a sedan. Yet it is a serious workhorse of a truck with four-wheel drive and the capacity to carry whatever you've got. I plan to drive it for another 100,000 miles, even though Diesel prices are $1 a gallon more than they should be (what's up with that?)
I'll understand when Camry becomes No. 1. It's a great car, and it has been great for almost as long as the F-150 has been on top. It will be a very sad day when the king is dethroned. But I'll still be driving Diesel Dan.
Got anything you need towed?
-Paul Knue
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