Toyotas and Terrorists: "Why are ISIS's trucks better than ours?" (2023)

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Hilux, Tacomas, and the US Market

  • Multiple comments wish the Hilux were easily purchasable in the US, arguing many “workhorse” vehicles are effectively excluded by tariffs, emission/crash rules, and legacy protectionism (e.g., chicken tax).
  • Others counter that the Hilux isn’t banned; Toyota could federalize or build it in North America but chooses Tacoma/Tundra because that’s where profit and demand are.
  • Debate over whether Americans “don’t want” small pickups vs. automakers shaping demand through marketing, incentives, and limited financing on small cars.
  • Some note the current Hilux is similar in size to a Tacoma; key differences are in configuration, payload, diesel options, and “built as work truck” vs. “passenger truck.”

Vehicle Size, Safety, and Urban Form

  • One thread contrasts small cars/kei trucks with tall SUVs and pickups, arguing smaller vehicles improve visibility and pedestrian safety.
  • Pushback: the main problem is suburban layout and zoning; fix that and vehicle sizes would shrink naturally.
  • Another angle: buyers like bigger vehicles for space and comfort, especially where parking and street width aren’t constraints.

Ruggedness and Why Armed Groups Favor Toyotas

  • Several comments frame Hiluxes/Land Cruisers as global-standard workhorses: simple, durable, easy to repair, plentiful parts, stable design over decades.
  • Comparisons to AK‑47s and Casio F‑91W: cheap, reliable, standardized, ideal when supply lines are fragile.
  • Technical use: body-on-frame trucks make it easy to mount heavy weapons; car unibodies or ATVs are less convenient structurally and ergonomically.

Policy, Protectionism, and Military Procurement

  • Disagreement over whether US protectionism is primarily about safety/emissions vs. openly supporting domestic industry for strategic/“wartime supply chain” reasons.
  • Some argue CAFE and category rules inadvertently incentivized giant SUVs/trucks and killed off small pickups; others note CAFE fines are often negligible.
  • Discussion that the US military could easily afford tariffs but is institutionally inclined to buy domestically to maintain industrial capacity.

Terrorism, Causes, and Narratives

  • A side discussion questions focusing on trucks instead of root causes of terrorism; replies range from “not simple” to claims about past US support for various militant groups.
  • Several see the article’s tone as one-sided Air Force narrative with moral signaling; calls for more perspectives from “the other side.”
  • Others emphasize that disrupting material supply chains (including vehicles) still matters, even if causes are complex.

Miscellaneous

  • Pop‑culture references to Top Gear’s Hilux abuse segments, with reminders these shows are staged entertainment.
  • Brief complaint about the article’s poor typography and readability.