Truck shopping is depressing right now

[Urban_Warrior]

I need to replace my old beater, so I went to dealerships this weekend. Everything's $50K minimum! when did trucks get so expensive?

 

[ProCarryNAustin]

Guns… trucks… food… had to replace a hard drive in a laptop and what was $200 last year is now $350. My rule is, if the next morning I have a slight remorse then I spent just enough.

 

[Mike6158]

I need to replace my old beater, so I went to dealerships this weekend. Everything's $50K minimum! when did trucks get so expensive?

Did it have tires and a windshield at that price? My GMC is 2 years old, has 102,874 miles on it (got it with under 20miles), not all that fancy, and it was well above 50. I wouldn't spend that again. I'll drive it through 250k+ unless it bites the dirt. Commuting 90 miles one way into Houston every day takes a toll on vehicles.

 

[GeeBee]

same here
I was flabbergasted by the price of a Ram 1500 the other day
what really irks me is how much unnecessary options they stuff in these vehicles and how impossible they are to fix
So we decided to look for something from the 90s that can be fixed with regular tools
I shudder to think what the autonomous vehicles are going to be like. the dumbing down of the consumer will be complete. at least, hopefully, stupid drivers swerving on lanes because they are scrolling on their phones wont be a menace

 

[Mike6158]

how much unnecessary options they stuff in these vehicles and how impossible they are to fix

Or find the right button to use to make it work.
Last week I found out that my intermittent wipers no longer work because I had to replace the windshield and it wasn't a "GMC windshield". Apparently the rain sensor is in the windshield and to get that fixed I have to go back to the place I bought the windshield. Makes me want to use bad language.

 

[RF2650]

I bought a 2000 escalade (the last of the GMT400) for $2500 about 3 years ago. I am a mechanic. I carry a toolbox and a cell phone. Watching youtube videos I can be like an expert on any repair.
If I had a spare $50,000 it would be used to pay off the house.
Those $100,000+ trucks are useless status symbols and it is foolish to use it like a truck and get it all scratched up.

 

[Raven]

The electronics content in modern vehicles is staggering. In the late 90's you could count on your fingers the number of IC's (Integrated circuits) that were in the most advanced vehicles. Fast forward to the last two years, typical non luxury vehicles average 1500, luxury vehicles average 3500 or more. EV's......as high as three times that. This is what has driven the price through the roof. Some of the safety features are truly awesome and life saving. Many are just convenience. The cost of the engineering and integration is putting these vehicles out of reach for a lot of people.

Back to the Op's question, when COVID crippled the Semiconductor market in 2020, the effect was instant and sticky on prices. The auto manufacturers always had an upper hand on the suppliers. Until they didn't. Parts prices went up as the Auto companies fought over supply to keep their lines running.

 

[Wendell Reich]

January 2020 - 2017 King Ranch 3/4 ton 27k miles - $50k.

January 2024 - 2017 King Ranch 3/4 ton 127k miles - $50k.

Apparently, the China virus made everything hold its value or appreciate.

 

[Raven]

January 2020 - 2017 King Ranch 3/4 ton 27k miles - $50k.

January 2024 - 2017 King Ranch 3/4 ton 127k miles - $50k.

Apparently, the China virus made everything hold its value or appreciate.

Spot on. An 8 year old truck with 127K miles and still worth $50k, sums it up.

 

[LDB]

Paid $39,900 new for my 2024 Honda Ridgeline RTL 54 weeks ago tomorrow. Best vehicle I've bought in at least a decade. Won't be foolishly trading after a year as I've been doing for a long time. Might even be the last vehicle I buy. Best dealer and sales guy in Texas. That helps.

 

[Deleted member 153]

My 2003 f250 double cab super duty with the 6.0L Diesel was $35k…They say it’s a junk engine but mine has pulled loaded cattle trailers all over the state and then we pulled a 35’ RV all over the country and Canada it still runs great doesn’t use or leak oil. She is banged up but a bit but still does just fine. Everything still works even cruise control. I feel very lucky and hopefully I didn’t just jinx myself.
2 years ago I went looking at a new trucks and was shocked a stripped down non-diesel work truck was over 60k. At what a new truck cost I could have mine completely restored and still have a better truck.

 

[Wendell Reich]

Spot on. An 8 year old truck with 127K miles and still worth $50k, sums it up.

Yep. That was my truck I bought in 2020. In 2024, I needed another one.

There was not much inventory out there under 50k miles that was at all reasonable. I looked for a month. I was a bit picky at first, got less picky as I went on.

Depreciation on a new F-250 seemed almost nonexistent! I saw two with very low miles, that were higher than new truck pricing.

 

[Deleted member 153]

I noticed the same thing I guess they are counting on someone that is dumber than dirt and or can only get in house financing due to their credit.

 

[RF2650]

Stang has an excellent point about financing. The asking price of a house or truck is not as important as the monthly payments.

 

[BrotherHubb]

If you’re not looking for bells and whistles, Ram 1500 Tradesman trucks can be had for under $40k, 2026 and’25’s for even less. I don’t see other manufacturers selling their trucks for that and interest rates are sometimes zero or very low. I bought a new F150 in’90 for $9k and kept until Clinton got elected and I was convinced that gas was going to go through the roof and sold it. Wish I had it today.