auto motif: The truck - The ultimate utility vehicle
Jeremy "Car Tsar" Sally, Associate Staff Writer
With winter fast approaching, students will soon be cramming their gear and their friends into small cars and making the trek up to Whistler. It sucks to be sitting in a Civic with a ski pole lodged in your neck for two hours, so if you are looking at a used vehicle and you enjoy heading to the mountains, a truck may be the answer. A truck lets you carry loads of gear, and it can haul ass in comfort.
American companies have a decent selection of engines, but in most cases only one or two V6s, the rest being big V8s. Those who are worried about gas prices should consider a V6 or a smaller Japanese truck, while those of you who have extra cash to spare should pick a V8, or for even more power, a Diesel V8. Consider selectable 4WD if you trek to the mountains often. When buying, consider the box size - after all, parking a truck isn't too easy in Vancouver. The short boxes that are about six feet hold tonnes of cargo. If you drive lots of people around, find an extended cab that will accommodate more people; the roomiest are from Dodge and GM/Chevrolet.