In all fairness, we know there is a designer out there who felt his or her work met the requirements for the design brief: Keep it simple, stupido. The obvious emphasis of this Brazilian appliance is to haul stuff in a no-frills manner. The Troller Pantanal is a functional full-size pickup that does look rugged enough to get almost any job done. With an International 3.0-liter common-rail turbodiesel underhood and dent-resistant plastic panels all around, it definitely screams function over form, which is what you want in a cheap utility vehicle like a pickup truck. And yet, there appears to be some attempt at making it look a little flashier than just the basics, and that's where things seem to go wrong. The extra bits of style slapped on might actually keep people away from this decent truck, which seems a little counterintuitive if you are trying to sell them. Perhaps it's just a clever theft-deterrent system.
[Source: Winding Road]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
SPG @ Aug 23rd 2007 7:45PM
I think it's unique enough to be cool.
Think Subaru's of the 60's.
If it was sold in North America quite a few fleet sales companies would buy this thrifty no-frills truck. And I'm sure it would spawn a bit of a following.
As that will probably never happen I can still look and the pictures and dream. Or maybe just laugh.
Stephen @ Aug 23rd 2007 7:56PM
Uglier things sell really well in America and are considered cool.
ddrhero @ Aug 23rd 2007 11:15PM
we do have our limits.
Pontiac Aztek
Rob @ Aug 23rd 2007 7:59PM
Roy, I hope you die of gonorrhea.
PS - I want one of these trucks.
Guenther @ Aug 23rd 2007 8:06PM
The greenhouse is shaped much like the last 70Series landcruiser pick-up. I could be wrong, but it would make perfect sense to license a sturdy, simple platform like that.
Nick @ Aug 23rd 2007 8:13PM
Folks, remember that at the end of last year/beginning of this year, Troller was purchased by Ford....So who knows if some of this will be improved upon or not...
Daniel Cowan @ Aug 23rd 2007 8:22PM
That truck looks like a cross between a Jeep Commander and a Ford Ranger. I mistakened, upon first glance, for a Ford Ranger pickup. Not to diss anyone.
bathtub gin @ Aug 24th 2007 12:40AM
You might be thinking about a Jeep Comanche pickup from the '80's. I have a Ranger, and I see a lot more Comanche in the Troller. Except the grille/headlight combo, which looks like I-don't-know-what.
Daniel Cowan @ Aug 24th 2007 2:57PM
Bathtub Gin,
Interesting name. What I meant was the Jeep Commander, without all of the SUVness in it. In other words, the Commander with two rows and that part of the roof cut off.
What I meant by the Ranger was all of the round edges which make up the car.
Also, Bathtub, I could see a little bit of International CXT in those doors. Correct me if I am wrong, because Mike UK on another post caught me. Just look at the window design and you might agree.
1337 @ Aug 23rd 2007 8:26PM
If it is really built for form, it will offer great mileage, a long-lasting diesel engine, and low pricing. I'll take one. When it rusts out, I'll buy an other.
SPG @ Aug 23rd 2007 8:40PM
"When it rusts out, I'll buy an other."
Plastic body pannels. Just the things that take many many decades to rust out are metal on this one.
1337 @ Aug 23rd 2007 8:44PM
Even better! I'll just keep it forever. And with the money that I would spend on servicing/replacing a Ford Ranger, I could just about buy a G35.
cowboy bob @ Aug 23rd 2007 9:28PM
Diesel economy and power, cheap, non-rusting plastic body panels......."Domestics, can you hear me now?"
whofan @ Aug 23rd 2007 8:34PM
Ford needs to offer a cheap stripped down version of its Ranger. Trucks now are so plush people who buy a truck to really use it as a truck have to pay for all the bells and whistles they really dont need.
We will see these trucks here if they`re cheap and reliable.
I remember back in the early 80`s you could get a Ford Ranger with a 2.0 engine manual transmission no radio nothing else for $9000 maybe less.
If Ford could do it again for $12000 or $13000 I bet they would sell.
Tired @ Aug 24th 2007 12:29AM
I see Rangers as loss leaders in my Sunday paper every
week for 12k. The price isn't the issue, the fact that Ford has let it die on the vine due to a lack of updating its underpinnings is.
It's too bad, it was a solid truck, and I think there's a market for smaller trucks for people who don't need or want a full size.
whofan @ Aug 23rd 2007 8:41PM
This truck looks like something Isuzu would have built. Isuzu styling is apparent here?
Bill @ Aug 23rd 2007 9:09PM
I was in Brazil for a few months about two years ago. It seemed like these Trollers were everywhere. They are nice vehicles for messing around but you wouldn't actually want one as a daily driver. Riding in one of these makes a Wrangler feel like a Land Rover. I would never take one on an American highway. Ford Rangers are really popular in Brazil. A friend of mine there had a bitch'n crew cab ranger (not an explorer sport like we have here in the states) It was an actual Ranger with two extra doors and a 6cyl diesel. It was a perfect off road setup. Ford already knows how to make a good diesel engine. That’s not why they're interested in Troller. Sorry these things are NEVER coming to the US.
Fosterdad @ Aug 23rd 2007 9:11PM
I'm trying to decide which is worse, the grill or the headlights.
Bill @ Aug 23rd 2007 9:22PM
Heres the Ford of Brazil website. Check out the sweet four door Ranger with the 3.0 diesel.
https://www.ford.com.br/Default.asp#inicio
Bill @ Aug 23rd 2007 9:24PM
You'll see Ford even has a Natural Gas powered Ranger on that same site. You see people it's not that FORD doesn't have the technology it's that they don't implement it here in the states. They already have all of the things you wan't its just regulations and poor domestic market forcasting.