Brazilian Brawl: Battle of the Mighty Mini Pickups

Having some time on my hands, I ventured out again into cardealershipland. Wanted to get my hands on the mini mites that inhabit many an urban Brazilian cowboy’s dream. You know, the call of the sertão (that’s what you think we call the pampas.) In the left corner, all the way from Italy, but made in Brazil, the long-time favorite and market leader Fiat Strada Adventure Locker. In the right corner, the Teutonic tiny titan, the all new VW Saveiro Cross. As the long names suggest, these are the top of the line offerings from each maker. Both offer cheaper, less equipped versions for the daily grind and/or work routine. So hold your cavalos, vaqueiro, I mean, hold your horses, cowboy! Which one comes out on top?

Read more
  • Shipwright As my Avatar shows I had an '08 GT 500, Grabber Orange convertible. I now own a '12 GT 500 Kona Blue coupe.
  • ArialATOMV8 I tend to prefer more amusing colors when picking out a car (if possible). My 2017 Lexus RX is painted in a Nightfall Mica (Dark Blue) and I really dig the look. In the dealership it stands out compared to the regular tame blacks, silvers and whites. Soon I may be at the point to afford a new car and when I do, I'll do my part and spec/hunt for an allocation of a vibrant color.
  • Tassos Tim is not that good with colors.The bright "pink" is not pink, but FUCHSIA. Both colors may look good on a woman's sweater, but not on steel panels.
  • Tassos While I was a very satisfied owner of a much earlier Accord COupe 5 speed (a 1990 I owned from 1994 to 2016), I don't like the exterior styling of this one so much, in fact the 2017 sedan looks better. Or maybe it sucks in white. The interior of my 1990 was very high quality, this one looks so-so. The 157 k miles were probably easy highway miles. Still, Hondas are not Toyotas, and I remember the same service (like timing belt replacement) back then cost TWICE for an Accord than for a Camry. Add to this that it has the accursed CVT, and it's a no. Not that I am in the market for a cheap econobox anyway.
  • 3-On-The-Tree My 2009 C6 corvette in black looks great when it’s all washed and waxed but after driving down my 1.3 mile long dirt road it’s a dust magnet. I like white because dust doesn’t how up easily. Both my current 2021 Tundra and previous 2014 Ford F-150 3.5L Ecobomb are white