Uber expensive pickups...how much of a trend ?

High volume is suppose to equal lower price. Yet this simple law of economics has no place in the truck and SUV business apparently! In this category, high volume = higher prices.

Pick-up trucks in particular are a hot trend over the last few years that shows no sign of declining and prices continue to increase significantly.

OEM's are raking in the cash on these high margin sales...make no mistake about it.

And there is no stopping the trend...until fuel hits $4-5 per gallon.

We just had some work done on the rental and the contractor was sporting a new 350 King Raunch long bed 4x4 4 door. I told him... nice truck. I asked him about the price and his reply was... it's a business expense, 2 years and it's gone...

I'm a farmer myself but I'd rather put my money into farm equipment or land and they are both business expenses / write off's too.

According to my commercial salesman, largely the only people that walk in and buy a 70K plus diesel pickup are farmers (on the good years) and contractors. The average person making an average wage with average credit are buying used. There is no question that the prices have over shot the rise in wages.

I understand Caddy is thinking about the pick up market , price north of $100,000 . bet they sell out the first week . 3/4 ton loaded diesels are already approaching $100,000 taxes in, up here in Canada.

harmanrk wrote:

SidecarFlip wrote:
My mint 1997 7.3 OBS 4x4, 4 door long bed is worth around 20K today and appreciating all the time. I take goooood care of it too. Never seen snow and I live in snow country. I seldom take it out in the rain, unless I have to.

KBB would argue with that. Without knowing all the details of your truck, but going on the above, and figuring 10,000 miles a year (200,000 on a 20 year old truck) and using the standard options. KBB puts the trade value at only 6-8k, and the private sale value at a few dollars over 9k.

Nope, every option available in 1997 and 97K miles total or less than 5 a year. KBB value means nothing on my truck. It's the demand for the pre tier 4 engine with no emissions ****, the fact that it's an OBS and the fact that it's a 1 ton 4x4. Been offered 20 cash and turned it down.

2 years ago I had a guy approach me in a parking lot and wanted to trade even up, his Hummer for the truck. I looked at him like he was insane. I have as much use for a Hummer as I do for another wife...

KBB only reflects market value, not collectable value. I happen to own a very desireable and collectable truck. In fact, I insure it with a collectable insurance company for actual replacement value, not what KBB says.

6 more years an it gets 'Historical Vehicle' plates too.

SidecarFlip wrote:
My mint 1997 7.3 OBS 4x4, 4 door long bed is worth around 20K today and appreciating all the time. I take goooood care of it too. Never seen snow and I live in snow country. I seldom take it out in the rain, unless I have to.

KBB would argue with that. Without knowing all the details of your truck, but going on the above, and figuring 10,000 miles a year (200,000 on a 20 year old truck) and using the standard options. KBB puts the trade value at only 6-8k, and the private sale value at a few dollars over 9k.

ShinerBock wrote:

Grit dog wrote:


How much should a new truck cost in your world? And what kind of truck should it be for however much you think it's worth?

I'm not disagreeing with the fact that they are expensive, but relatively speaking they were just as expensive in the past.
And you get more than you used to. Just use 10 years as an example.
Sticker on my 07 was around $50k. A comparable Mega today stickers for about $64k
To get mine to perform like a new one, asthetics and noise aside I have or wood have to add:
Exhaust brake $2k installed
Tune/programmer:$500
Bluetooth touch stereo backup cam and all that goes with it. :$1000 min
Other interior niceties not on the 07 :$1-2k
Better brakes: $1000min
All the fix it parts to get rest of the drivetrain comparable : Another couple thousand.

Point being, factor in all that and inflation and the cost in today's dollar is getting real close. The good economy pushes the rest of the demanded price.

Yeah, and you also have all of the government mandated stuff that has been required since then. Like electronic stability control that was mandated on all 2012 and up vehicles or all the added air bags for new safety requirements. Then then there is the increased use of costly high strength steel on the a-pillars due to rollover regulations requiring a vehicle to hold its own weight. The stability control alone requires all sorts of sensors and valves to operate on top of some sort of yaw control module.

....and this is not even including the cost of the government mandated emission controls on diesels since then.

If Rudolph Diesel was alive today and saw how the government bastardized his engine design, he'd roll over in his grave....

Grit dog wrote:


How much should a new truck cost in your world? And what kind of truck should it be for however much you think it's worth?

I'm not disagreeing with the fact that they are expensive, but relatively speaking they were just as expensive in the past.
And you get more than you used to. Just use 10 years as an example.
Sticker on my 07 was around $50k. A comparable Mega today stickers for about $64k
To get mine to perform like a new one, asthetics and noise aside I have or wood have to add:
Exhaust brake $2k installed
Tune/programmer:$500
Bluetooth touch stereo backup cam and all that goes with it. :$1000 min
Other interior niceties not on the 07 :$1-2k
Better brakes: $1000min
All the fix it parts to get rest of the drivetrain comparable : Another couple thousand.

Point being, factor in all that and inflation and the cost in today's dollar is getting real close. The good economy pushes the rest of the demanded price.

Yeah, and you also have all of the government mandated stuff that has been required since then. Like electronic stability control that was mandated on all 2012 and up vehicles or all the added air bags for new safety requirements. Then then there is the increased use of costly high strength steel on the a-pillars due to rollover regulations requiring a vehicle to hold its own weight. The stability control alone requires all sorts of sensors and valves to operate on top of some sort of yaw control module.

....and this is not even including the cost of the government mandated emission controls on diesels since then.

gbopp wrote:
I can see 80-100K+ trucks being the norm in the not too distance future. JMO :(

The the economy takes a dump and bang, auto companies get another bailout.

I won't be buying one. I'm planning on my 1997 to be my last truck and they way it's going, when I sell it, I'll at least get what I paid for it in 1997. Too bad the money isn't worth 1997 dollars.

My mint 1997 7.3 OBS 4x4, 4 door long bed is worth around 20K today and appreciating all the time. I take goooood care of it too. Never seen snow and I live in snow country. I seldom take it out in the rain, unless I have to.

Just about time for it to hibernate for the winter. Just did an oil change with all filters, topped off both tanks and added bio cide to the fuel Soon, it will be in the garage with a battery tender on the batteries. I have to oil the wheel wells yet and grease all the zerk fittings.

Bought it in 97 and paid it off in 2001.

I can see 80-100K+ trucks being the norm in the not too distance future. JMO :(