International XT trucks victims of own excess
Apparently, all the celebrities that wanted one got one, and so production of International's line of consumer-grade "Extreme Trucks" is coming to an end. Sadly, owners with a need to transport four of their closest friends or family members, along with about twenty tons of their belongings, will need to look elsewhere. Oh, and good luck finding another vehicle with a 25,999 lb. GVWR. So long, sad to see you go. Don't let the door hit you on your way out. Anyway, the reasons for the truck's demise are clear: high fuel prices and a slow economy. Can you imagine how much it costs to fill the 70 gallon tank, especially considering that the 8 miles per gallon or so this beast gets requires you to repeat that process rather often? Seriously, there are hardly less practical people-movers than those ridiculously large and cumbersome vehicles. Military vehicles like the company's MXT-MV and the International's Lone Star commercial line will continue on.
[Source: Kicking Tires]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
as2k 4:50PM (9/27/2008)
Rot In Pieces.
What a perfect example of gross excess for no other reason than excess.
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GoodCheer 5:00PM (9/27/2008)
My understanding is that you need a special license to tow more than 10,000 #, meaning that for most buyers, use of much of the capacity of these vehicles would be illegal. Does anybody know this for sure?
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CXT Owner 1:27AM (4/11/2009)
Hey GoodCheer- do your homework before you spout your lack of knowledge. My Ford F-350 is licensed at 18,000 to pull my horse trailers. Many 3/4 and 1 ton trucks are and are driven by people without CDL's (Commercial Drivers Licenses for those who obviously don't know what those are)
and everyone else-
-You DO NOT need a CDL to drive this truck even pulling a 24' enclosed race car trailer
-Speaking of JOBS for the truck and uses it has many. It will pull anything anywhere. We use one to haul a farm tractor, trailer loads of mulch, trailers of boulders, etc. etc. etc.
-We have also camped out in it in inclement weather at our farm. The back seat folds into a comfy bed. Yes- we camp. We just don't like freezing or getting soaked.
-I don't know ANYONE who would use this as a commercial or fleet vehicle. They would be impractical and way to cost prohibitive for that.
No I do not think you speak out because you are jealous; I think you speak out on this because you have too much time on your hands and instead of focusing on things you CAN CHANGE you prefer to rail on things you can't. Lots of people spend way too much money on ridiculous things. If that makes them happy and they have come by the money honestly what is your problem? Because they aren't Green? They are no less green than the beater car we parked next to at dinner tonight that was spewing smoke and toxins so bad we could hardly breathe. Have you followed a city bus lately? When will they all run on Biodiesel and when can I buy Biodiesel in major metro areas.
Enough said. I have to go set up the rain barrels I just brought home in the bed of the CXT.
JDred 3:43PM (9/28/2008)
as2K, don't like it, don't buy one not that you probably could anyway.
GoodCheer, for the GCVW a person would need to have a Commercial D/L to drive it with a trailer. It wasn't intended to be a "people mover" or otherwise. And only one Celeb that I know of had bought one. It was built for heavy 5th wheel applications in the commercial market.
If some schmoe wanted one to show off, so what? It's his money, let him/her burn it for all I care.
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as2k 8:30PM (9/28/2008)
Why is the response to criticism of such wastefulness that the one doing the criticism is too poor and therefore jealous? It's a ridiculously ignorant argument.
It's a wasteful excess with no justifiable purpose. Would you buy a commercial truck as a daily driver? At least supercars and something like the H1 have PURPOSE beyond getting groceries.
Anyone buying one is certainly free to and is saying a lot about themselves. Yes, let them "show off" but that doesn't insulate such buyers from valid criticism of their wastefulness.
This IS a blog about green auto technology, isn't it?
Nobody will miss this example of pointless waste.
JDred 12:10AM (9/29/2008)
No, mre often than not it is usually the case. Otherwise it's self-appointed busy bodies that seem to believe that they are the arbiters of what and how people should drive. That would be you, BTW.
Damn few people have bought one of these as a "Daily driver" as you seem to think. As I stated, these have a use for Commercial/Fleet vehicles. Not to mention they are equiped with air brakes. And for that, you need a Commercial or Class "A" license to even operate it on the road.
Yes, this is a blog about green automotive technology. I really enjoy reading about potential alternatives to conventional motor vehicles. I think things like trying to tax and regulate someone's "carbon footprint" is pure Socialist garbage. And "Global warming" oh, sorry! "Climate change" are not man made threats but natural cycles that ebb and flow. But they are being used by some to try and regiment how everyone else lives their lives. But the self-righteousness that some have over how much more "green" they think than everyone else is does get irritating.
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as2k 1:12AM (9/29/2008)
These DON'T have a use as a commercial vehicle. That's entirely the point. Not in this garb. Setup as an ambulance or tow truck, sure. But not as a pickup truck.
And I'd appreciate it if you didn't tell me what I think or believe. I said this vehicle is a wasteful excess for no reason other than ego. I stand by that statement. I'd think you would agree with me as you stated the same about most large SUVs in a previous post ("they're a status symbol").
I never once said nobody should be able to buy this. I don't believe that people SHOULD drive this vehicle but they're free to. I don't think people should ride a bicycle without a helmet, but they're free to do that, as well. They're also free to be on the receiving end of criticism, whether or not YOU think it's valid.
As far as your rabid screed about the big bad socialists and climate change... That has nothing to do with anything I said.
I was talking about waste. This vehicle exemplifies pointless waste.