For what it's worth, CAT is trying to get in the game too.

 

international did pickups before and even tryed to go after the the big pepol mover with the travelall they were ugly then and now

 

Color me suspicious, I think the salesman is delusional with those numbers.

 

Same here...
I don't think the average guy wants to spend 100k+ on a truck.
The international sales guys told me the terrastar 4x4 will be competitive or slightly higher than big 3 diesel hd pickups.

 

Cat doesn't make any vehicles that I know of ??

 

CAT has been working with Navistar the past few years to develop a CAT chassis with a CAT engine. There are a few concept pictures out there, and most CAT dealers have one on their yard.

 

I didn't see that coming...especially since they basically told the EPA to shove it regarding over the road emissions regulations. I thought that CAT was getting out of the 'over the road' business entirely. They have vanished as a potential option on the F-650/750 models so now the only diesel engine available in those trucks is the 6.7....but not Ford's version, it's a Cummins instead.

 

God Bless International and their 7.3 in my F250. And that's in the Bible!!

 

I'm no expert, so I don't know.

I will tell you that it is different in many ways to a ford pickup, and that I think they could really steal a good chunk of market share. They are not as refined, but they are tougher.
They are like mini semi's, you can open the hood right up, and it seems like it should be way easier to replace several parts than the 6.4 in our trucks.

There are a couple things to consider....

Big pickups are still popular despite fuel prices.
International has way more experience than ford building and selling medium duty trucks.
The terrastar is bigger, so to a lot of people, it will automatically be better. If they truly do get close to current big 3 prices, I can see a ton of guys jumping ship.

My wife already wants one, she says it's like a baby semi and it looks cute.

 

All I could find was a giant 5 ton style daycab truck.

 

International TerraStar Walk-Around - YouTube

A little walkaround. ....

 

It's a thing now.

 

^^^^Hmmm....looks like a Mack and a Volvo sneaked off behind a woodshed somewhere and made this.

 

I work for Sullair, 4th largest portable and stationary air compressor company in the world and we used cat motors in our portable air compressors. We actually almost lost the contract with them because of the stricter EPA regs. Government is going nuts over emissions these days...

 

Those cat trucks are larger work trucks, not nearly the same class as pickups. Maybe if they work out good for several years, CAT might have something.

Cat had a name in equipment and industrial and marine engines...
OTR cat engines never really made any huge advances to write home about, IMHO.
From what I have heard, understood, been told, etc, international and detroit diesel have bee the most economical engines to run in large fleet vehicles.