To quote Luke Skywalker....
 

"What a piece of junk!"

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wLvJd6V7HTo

To paraphrase, "She's not my sister!"

imo, ford's been doing an excellent job lately of making cars that are visually and aesthetically desirable, but cut every mechanical corner they can, making for something that makes me wish for a crappy but reliable 1990 ford tempo instead...

Chrysler started that back in the 60's. Look at them now.......oh yeah, they're a sub company of Stelantis now.

You'd think every other car maker would learn from Chrysler's mistakes.

chrysler should have died in the 1980's. they've been on life support ever since. managed to either convince the government to give them money, or convince some other automaker to buy them up ever since.

it's somewhat impressive.

It's OK, but not something I would buy. I don't off-road so I would want a Touring version of it, then would consider. That is WAAAYY too much plastic for a potentially $60K vehicle.

I do like the roof (I would never remove the doors).

I don't like the tailgate. The fact that you have to open the bottom half to open the top half is exactly opposite of how I use a split gate like that. You want to be able to open the top half so the "stuff" in the bottom half doesn't fall out if you are reaching in for something (or adding some small items on top of the load).

By the way, anyone know what car that is Doug is standing in front of at about 0:30 when he is promoting his website? It's a UTE/Truck kind of thing and I'm sure I'll go "oh yea" but I can't figure out what it is.

Hyundai Santa Cruz, IIRC its arriving in showrooms soon.

hyundai santa cruze.

concept
https://www.hyundainews.com/assets/i...UCKCONCEPT.jpg
http://picolio.auto123.com/auto123-m...conceptfr.jpeg

reality
https://cdn.motor1.com/images/mgl/kv...gle-desert.jpg


for reasons that entirely escape me now, i was infatuated with the concept. signed up for the forum as soon as i could, watched every leak of info for news of when i could put money down on a preorder...

but now, i dunno, it's just a honda ridgeline/suv in a transformers halloween costume.

A full rear door didn't do it any favors.

Yea, as I said in my question "oh right...I remember now".

It definitely looks better as a two door but likely would not have sold in that format. If they are only doing one design, which it appears they are from the Hyundai website they would have to do the four door, which ultimately in the end is the one I would have purchased.

I love a UTE type vehicle, but the Maverick is a better truck and the top of the line configuration is less expensive than the top of the line Santa Cruz configuration. Despite the fact I hate that Ford bastardized the Maverick name, I believe I'd have to get the Maverick.

The concept had a hidden second door like the new Ford Ranger Super Cab.


https://www.inwheeltime.com/wp-conte...922_112131.jpg

https://www.inwheeltime.com/wp-conte...922_112419.jpg