I moved to dallas from the east coast, i was quite surprised at how many people view having a pickup truck as some kind of status symbol (southern culture). Nothing like seeing a lifted pickup hurling towards you at 75 mph in your rear view mirror everyday.

Yeah, it's really weird. I've always noticed that the top 3 best seller of vehilcles in the US were pick up trucks. and articles talk about them like their somehow aspirational. I've always thought of them as big, ugly and dorky: about as far away as cool gets.

It is definitely a status thing.

I don’t see many luxury vehicles here, but I see quite a few $80k+ trucks.

I had a coworker that had a $1,200 month truck payment.

Another way to look at it would be - the person is not rich enough to own several types of vehicles therefore owns the most universal one.

Unless they're actually using it for its intended purpose it is almost certainly cheaper to own a small efficient vehicle and simply rent something else if you need it.

I know folks with giant (F250) trucks, but who use a 2007 Honda Civic as a daily commuter.

That's at least not wasting money on fuel efficiency, but it's not like leaving the truck in the garage all the time is a good application of the money used to buy it either.

And it seems every pickup in Texas has a brush guard on the front, making it even bigger.

It depends on where you live in Texas, but you only have to hit a deer once to understand the utility of those ugly brushguards.

My son ran into a deer with our beater Aerostar minivan awhile back it totaled it. Airbag went off and everything.

Meanwhile I hit a deer with my Ram diesel pickup with a Ranchhand guard last week and no damage. So they do have some utility. ;)

I do agree these trucks are ridiculous; if I didn't have a farm and the need to haul a large trailer I probably wouldn't have it. As it is we mostly drive my wife's Subaru when we actually need to go somewhere unladened.

What model RAM?

You can also do this survey in a parking lot. For bonus points, check the bed liner for wear, which is a good indication whether they ever haul anything in their truck. Many are surprisingly pristine.

While you're looking out for laughably low vehicle utilization, count the number of cars that only have a driver and no passengers.

How could I possibly see what's in the bed from the driver seat of my Honda Accord?

You mean you aren't driving your own SUV/truck? Get out of here! /s

Here is another game... Sit outside of a car wash and count how many of these supposed "utility" vehicles go through them. They're almost always spotless both before and after they go through...

What gets me. For a while I owned a van as my only vehicle. I was only driving about 3000 miles a year. Then my company moved and I was driving 12000 miles a year. And I bought a used Prius. Because when I ran the numbers the van would have cost around $10,000/yr. Vs $4000 for the Prius.

I see people commuting in full sized trucks all the time and I don't get it. It's 80 cents a mile when you add everything up.

I'm sure there are alternatives, but If you spend a significant amount of time in your vehicle everyday, the size and comfort of the vehicle does come into play. For one, if you are a big person, either horizontally or vertically, a Prius can become less than comfortable. Also, sciatica and back issues can come into play. I know for me, sitting for too long in a small car keeps me folded a little too tightly to the point that my lower back will start to throb. Where sitting up and stretched out with a high enough seat to keep the bottoms of my thighs supported while feet are flat on the floor or at the petals makes a big difference for back and leg pain.

Exception's gotta be Orlando then, cause every other truck is full of tools and what have you, at least in my morning drives to work.

I haven't driven much the last ten years, but used to find myself behind a lot of sports utes with a driver and at most one passenger. For the rest, they here hauling empty space, and I would fantasize about suggesting that they just get a sedan and a compressed-air tank.

Are we gonna count 5-passenger cars that only have the front row occupied while we're at it?

Not having to use your vehicle to capacity at all times is one of the hallmarks of being at least middle class (at least in the US).

And the lower class, a 4 door 5 seater sedan is what I drove when I didn’t have that much money.

If I’d had more money, I could afford a coupe.

And if I had more money still, I could afford a 2 seater sports car.

An under utilized vehicle may be a hallmark of the middle class, but a desirable vehicle that is only exactly what you need at that moment is a hallmark of the upper class.

On top of being more expensive, it’s also far more likely to be a secondary vehicle.

That 5 passenger car is going to use WAYYYY less gas then the mostly empty giant truck, while also being less of a risk to other drivers and not obstructing other car's view.

Not as much as you think. 2019 f150 is rated 22/30 mpg. 2019 Honda Civic is 32/40. (Side note, a Prius will only get you to about 50)

So you are going to spend 20-30% less on gas which, depending on how much you drive and gas prices, might amount to around $100/month.

Then of course deduct the cost of a rental and the hassle and if you need a truck once a month, you are already about even.

Outside of professional truckers--and we won't count the trip back to the loading dock--who regularly uses his vehicle to capacity at all times?

How do you see into their bed unless you are also in a truck?

If there is anything inside which doesn't stick out above truck sides then it can be carried in a regular medium sedan just as well. So count them as not carrying anything worth buy a truck for.

Pickups are the number one selling vehicle class in the US.

According to what system of vehicle classification? I would have guessed crossovers to sell more, if that's considered a vehicle class.