>> she can’t really unhitch and drive to the grocery store if necessary, as you can
Well, I can’t either, really; after I buy diesel, I ain’t got no money left for luxuries like food. :-)
Americans really get the short end of the stick with NO small diesel trucks. I am looking at an F250 or F350 crew cab - way more truck than I want or need - just because I want a diesel. I have never ONCE hauled more than a ton of anything. Really, it’s a rip-off of the people by the gov’t, auto companies, and the CAFE standards mess. Drive a HILUX some time: it’s a pity these kick-ass small diesels are not available to the general public. What I’d really like is a long-bed crew cab F150 with a nice little high-torque diesel, alas - “no.”