Hauling in Style
My family recently moved, well recently being last December, but our house is still in boxes! Most of them have been sorted through but, OK in this case most means a few. When I announced that the Mazda B-Series truck was coming my way for a week, my mom immediately designated me to pick up furniture, drop of boxes of clothing at my church's redistribution center, and just more or less do all the errands that would not be possible with a sports car, sedan or even a station wagon.
I was excited with all the tasks that lay ahead because they meant I could put the truck to practical purposes in the city. I'm not saying trucks aren't practical city vehicles; it's just nice to put all that bed space to work.
In the process of driving, loading, hauling, unloading and driving back I started to appreciate Mazda's B4000 for more than just its ability at running abnormally-sized errands. Driving in the city was a blast! Wait, did I just say that? Well it's not everyday that I tower over adjacent drivers. Usually I'm in a car that is pretty "grounded," so to speak. Not so with the B4000, due to its raised 4x4 package. I enjoyed being taller than most cars, and even some SUVs. I could see a lot farther ahead than usual as I was above most cars in visual range.
Enhancing my "highness" were as set of 16-inch 3-spoke aluminum alloy wheels on 245/75R16 OWL rubber, that proved sticky enough for decent handling provided I kept in mind that height plus speed plus 90-degree angles can equal multiple rollovers - a sobering thought that some overenthusiastic SUV and pickup drivers might want to consider before driving up to the ski slopes this holiday season.
To reel such enthusiasm back in the truck also comes standard with front ventilated disc and rear drum brakes, plus a standard 4-wheel antilock braking system (ABS) in optional SE trim. The brakes brought the compact truck to a halt quickly, that is quickly considering its 1,667 kg (3,704 lbs) may be less than its distant cousin F-150 but still more than a Mazda3.
My family recently moved, well recently being last December, but our house is still in boxes! Most of them have been sorted through but, OK in this case most means a few. When I announced that the Mazda B-Series truck was coming my way for a week, my mom immediately designated me to pick up furniture, drop of boxes of clothing at my church's redistribution center, and just more or less do all the errands that would not be possible with a sports car, sedan or even a station wagon.
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| My week long test drive of a Mazda B-Series pickup truck couldn't have come at a better time, and was put to good use. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, Canadian Auto Press) |
In the process of driving, loading, hauling, unloading and driving back I started to appreciate Mazda's B4000 for more than just its ability at running abnormally-sized errands. Driving in the city was a blast! Wait, did I just say that? Well it's not everyday that I tower over adjacent drivers. Usually I'm in a car that is pretty "grounded," so to speak. Not so with the B4000, due to its raised 4x4 package. I enjoyed being taller than most cars, and even some SUVs. I could see a lot farther ahead than usual as I was above most cars in visual range.
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| Aside from being great for hauling around furniture, the Mazda B4000 was also a blast to drive in the city. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, Canadian Auto Press) |
To reel such enthusiasm back in the truck also comes standard with front ventilated disc and rear drum brakes, plus a standard 4-wheel antilock braking system (ABS) in optional SE trim. The brakes brought the compact truck to a halt quickly, that is quickly considering its 1,667 kg (3,704 lbs) may be less than its distant cousin F-150 but still more than a Mazda3.