How would it be more useless than a golf?
Hauls shit, instead of people. It is almost always braking and suspension that are limiting factors in towing before the engine is, so if a TDI golf can tow, clearly an S-10 with the same drivetrain could do a much better job.
Something like this is actually what 90% of American truck owners should have, they just don’t want to admit it. So many guys I work with drive full size trucks to the parking lot of a factory, or the grocery store haha. If you only need to tow or use the bed here and there, and you are hauling light loads, why not get something that gets 30mp. Instead they want to be able to tow 10k pounds even though they never will, even if it means getting 12mpg.
---------- Post added at 03:32 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:29 PM ----------
A four banger S-10 5sp could be close if you tuned it for economy and stuck long gears in it, but it would probably feel like a CRX trying to start with a trailer hooked up. Which is why a 4 cylinder diesal swap would actually make sense. Get the mpg and still be useful.
I think a duramax powered S-10 would meet the needs and wants of most americans. crazy power when you want it and great mpg
A project like this I feel should be done proper i.e newman or cougarspeed type build. lol