Originally Posted By: Cujet
I've gone from truck to car a couple of times now in the last 30 years. Most recently in 2006-7 when gas went crazy.
When it comes down to it, I don't like mid sized cars for family use. We need a bit more room than the common car today. Simple tasks like bringing a ladder home from work become a real problem. And road trips are an exercise in annoyance with the dog, mama and me. As there is no room for the things that make trips nice. Like coolers, DVD players, iPads, inverters, mama's large purse, coffee cups, GPS, etc.
It gets to be a junkyard within hours when the cabin is too small.
Now, a real full sized car would be another story, but those days are gone. Even the new Taurus and Impala have "cocoon" drivers compartments. Very comfortable, but there is no room for anything but people.
My current set of trucks, a 2009 F150 4x4 Lariat and a 2011 F150 Ecoboost (both supercrews) are amazingly comfortable and capable machines. The EB can achieve 21MPG if I drive exactly the limit.
Hard to argue with a roomy 4 door pickup if you're packed to the gills, but a compact or midsize hatchback/wagon can solve a lot of those problems too. My wife and I have done plenty of trips with a week's worth of clothes and other luggage, plus some food and our 85 lb dog and his food, travel crate, etc. in my WRX and while I probably wouldn't want anything smaller, there's plenty of room. Granted you do have to be a bit more creative in packing arrangements, and with the seats folded down for the dog you're not carrying any other passengers.
If space and versatility were a concern going from a truck to a car, I would definitely go for a wagon (or minivan if that counts) over a sedan. But I do think the best option is to keep the truck and add to the fleet if it's workable.