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Comment by justinator | Hacker News Reader

Where is this desire rooted in?

All I can really say is I want one because from the moment I saw one on the road, I just knew I had to drive it. I really love the appearance. I've never been interested in cars, but I can't help myself looking at pickups on the road driving by -- especially RAMs. Maybe I'm just a big kid, I've always liked big stuff.

Still... I know they aren't good for the environment, which means I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I just drove one without greatly reducing or eliminating it's impact.

Rent one every few months, drive it for the weekend. Cheaper on every front, scratches that itch, and minimal effect on the environment.

I do that with my wife for convertibles. She loves them, so any time we're on vacation and need a car I try to get one. It's just a couple hundred more for a week's vacation, at the time we'd get the most enjoyment out of it.

I never thought of doing that, thank you!

You can also check whether your area has carsharing. I have access to lots of standard cars of different sizes (some hybrids too), a convertible, an upper-standard BMW and a couple of vans all within walking distance.

If you're ever in the Austin Texas area look me up and you can drive my Ram 2500 diesel around. It's a highly over-rated experience, IMHO.

I might have to take you up on that offer. It's been too long since I visited Texas.

Look me up when you make to Austin. I live and work about 25 miles east at the place that runs the power grid for Texas.

Visiting the place the runs the grid sounds much more fun than driving a Ram.

I like mine, but I only drive it when I have to. I don't understand people who commute in a pickup.

I totally agree. I got my truck when I had a ranch with livestock, a tractor and all the work that goes with all that stuff. I'm now living in town about two miles from work and really don't need the truck but they're more easily acquired than gotten rid of. Most days I leave the truck in the driveway and drive the wife's Subaru.

As far as grid operations, it's not really that exciting to see in person. Access is tightly controlled and it's pretty much like any other enterprise application shop.

The control room is pretty cool, though: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KatQ9Q_IQk

Kinda interesting. Could you see this desire being rooted in the advertising of the truck you've been shown for years upon years? Ads for these types of vehicles show dirty, hard-working men doing hyper-masculine things[0]

[0] https://www.ispot.tv/ad/7uYI/ram-trucks-just-the-facts-faste...

That's a good guess -- and may explain it for a number of people, but in my case it's extremely unlikely. I live in the UK, where RAM doesn't really sell vehicles here, so I've never seen any of their adverts before, and had never even heard of the brand until I saw a few on the road. When I have seen them in person, they've always been left hand drive (rather than the usual right hand drive), so pretty much always imported.

I do think love at first sight is a better explanation.

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