Creditline ONE Blog

We all know that buying a vehicle can be a daunting task. Aside from having a plethora of options available on the market, there’s a diverse selection of types such as pickups, SUV’s, sedans, coupes, compact and sub-compact. It’s no wonder people are having a hard time deciding on a vehicle which truly suits their wants and needs.  If you happen to be in the decision-making phase regarding purchasing a car or truck, you should definitely continue reading.

Our goal in this post is to help you with some of the pros and cons of both cars and trucks to aid in determining the vehicle that perfectly fits your lifestyle.

Truly a comparison of apples and oranges, where trucks are generally larger and offer a number of features that cars don’t and cars being smaller, more compact and fuel efficient. Trucks are a good option for people who enjoy off-roading and who do a lot of hauling and/or towing.  Cars, on the other hand, are more suitable for people who are looking for daily commuting and fuel efficiency. As we touched on above, there are a number of brands available. They range in shape, size, type and all having different trim levels which in turn offers different options and features.

TRUCKS

THE PROS

• Power –9 times out of 10, the main reasons people purchase a truck rather than a car is due to the engine. Trucks are more powerful compared to cars. The fuel economy of a truck might not be the greatest, but when you’re in the driver’s seat and step on the gas pedal, you feel the power and it’s simply amazing.
• Hauling –This is a big factor as to why pickups are different than any other vehicle. As I’m sure you already know, the entire back of the truck is made up of what’s referred to as a bed or box. It’s generally flat and accessed easily to haul all types of objects and materials of different weights and sizes. Example:  wood, top soil, gravel, furniture, and appliances, to name a few.  A car can’t do that.
• Durability –Hands down the most durable vehicle on the road. Because they are built to be rugged, box is intentionally separated from the cab to allow more flex in the chassis, thus allowing trucks to tow, pull and haul easily.
• Towing –If you need to pull a boat, trailer, camper, or other vehicles, then your best bet is a truck  They can do it quite easily. They are a rugged and strong piece of machinery built for work.

THE CONS

• Maneuverability –Due to their size compared to cars, it can sometimes be difficult to maneuver.
• Fuel Economy –Even though there have been breakthroughs in the effort to minimize fuel consumption in trucks, they are still not nearly as efficient as cars are.
• Expense – More times than not, trucks cost more to purchase than cars and maintenance costs over their lifetime is usually higher for a truck. Transmissions, axels and drivelines cost more to replace or fix.

CARS

THE PROS

• Drivability –This one is pretty straight forward.  Cars are easier to drive in the city compared to trucks. Low ground clearance coupled with their overall size gives cars the edge in this category.
• Fuel Economy – If gas mileage matters to you, then there can be nothing better than a car. Pickup trucks usually come equipped with larger engines which consume a lot of gas. Where cars can give 30 to 40 MPG in the city, trucks can hardly give 20 to 25 MPG.
• Overall Quantity –Because there are so many options when buying a car as compared to trucks, there is a better chance of getting a good deal.
• Parking –As Plain and simple, cars are easier to park. Considering that trucks are bigger, you’re more likely to fit a car in spots that trucks can’t.

THE CONS

• Visibility – Being lower to the ground, the drivers view is more easily obstructed. Add that to the fact there are more blind spots in a car, and you have a visibility issue.
• Space –Even though a car may have some cargo space, when it comes to a place to load up stuff, trucks take first place.  Definitely no comparison here.
• Towing –Due to smaller engines and limited torque, cars are usually not built to handle the rigors of pulling too much behind them.  Since trucks are built for power, it just makes sense that they can tow more than a car.

In the end, deciding between a car or truck depends on your personal preferences.  If you are looking for a family vehicle, it may be better to opt for a full sized sedan. However, if you are looking for something more powerful which can provide comfort on off-road trips, while hauling and towing, a truck is most likely your best option. If you are still struggling with deciding which way to go, we recommend that you speak with one of the qualified agents at Creditline ONE. We can help guide you to the vehicle that makes the most sense to you.