• Caboose12000@lemmy.world
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    5 months ago

    Aren’t those illigal to drive in most of the US? Besides that, they also cap at like 60mph, right? That really limits thier usefulness in a lot of the US, these are mostly good for cities, right?

    Don’t get me wrong I love kei trucks, but I think having small regular pickups would help a ton too.

    • BlitzoTheOisSilent@lemmy.world
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      5 months ago

      They’re illegal for road use in a lot of states, yes, but not private use. So in most states, if you need something for around your property, you’re still allowed to buy one. Some states will let you register them for road use though.

      The bigger issues are 1. To be imported, they have to be at least 25 years old, so the current ones are from the late 90s. Thus, they have the tech to go with it, limiting their speed.

      And 2. They’re built and designed for Japanese roads and regulations, not American ones. Speed limits are different there, and as you said, they’re better for city use, I’d say non-highway use.

      They’re legal in my state, and I want one when I can afford one, but I’m also less than a mile from a major home improvement store, and the other two stores I would need to visit are within 20 minutes driving by backroads. But I’m a fringe case, but I’d say for most people who live reasonably close to a Lowes or whatever and are only going to use it for weekend projects would be perfect candidates for a kei truck.

      Beyond that, yeah, they’re limited :/

      • turmacar@lemmy.world
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        5 months ago

        I think they’re awesome but yeah, unfortunately limited in most bigger cities due to how everything is laid out.

        Their use case is basically “never need to go on the freeway”. Going over 50 mph is maybe possible, with a tailwind, downhill, but would be terrifying.

      • Caboose12000@lemmy.world
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        5 months ago

        Oh for sure, I’m not trying to defend the status quo, if anything g I’m saying we need kei trucks and stricter regulation making regular pickups smaller and more efficient. No one who doesn’t actually need a massive hauling truck should have one imo

    • Rakonat@lemmy.world
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      5 months ago

      Only on high ways. They have all the required features (lights, seatbelts, indicators) to be legal on roads, only two states have official bans on their use for roads with speed limits faster than 55mph. But I don’t think any sane person is buying these things for long distance commutes, those that would would just buy a smart car instead.