I don't like spending money any more than most people and I keep reading comments that some people want cheap, simple pickups but the people actually putting their money down seem to have a different attitude. Article: http://www.fool.com/investing/2016/12/19/why-fords-new-2017-super-duty-pickups-are-booking.aspx?source=yahoo-2&utm_campaign=article&utm_medium=feed&utm_source=yahoo-2&yptr=yahooInteresting excerpts:Average transaction prices for the new Super Duty at retail are up about $10,000 over the outgoing models. total sales of the new-for-2017 Super Duty models were up 24% in November from a year ago -- and retail sales were up 33% the top three trim lines -- Lariat, King Ranch, and Platinum -- accounted for 71% of retail Super Duty sales in Novemberoptions like an $8,000 diesel engine package can take that price over $70,000. (That may sound like an expensive diesel, but Ford said that about 80% of retail Super Duty buyers have opted for the diesel Manufacturers are going to follow the money so I expect the other brands to follow suit. In fairness, I love the features on the 2016 fully loaded Lariet even though it did cost a lot. At least if the other manufacturers do follow Ford's lead on tech that will eventually drive down the price for all of us to have these things.

Kind of a flawed experiment you are running here... Those that want cheap/need cheap trucks aren't the one's going out and buying the new loaded trucks. They are buying used trucks, which is what they can afford.I bought a used bottom of the line Ram last year. I didn't need the bells and whistles and couldn't afford them if I wanted them.

I think with the Ford there was a ton of pent up demand since 2016 and earlier Super Duty trucks were so dated, primarily with respect to the chassis (kind of a fundamental part of the truck). As far as the trim levels go, it always amazes me how much people are willing to spend on stuff that's so unimportant. The amount you spend on luxury features over the base level trucks is almost pure profit to the manufacturers.

In 1971 I bought my first house for 1/4 of what they want for the new trucks. It was a fairly nice house. I won't pay that much for a new truck. I may have to have enough money to live a few years longer.Mike

I went cheap. Guess I'm cheap. I wanted the diesel option in a Ram. so I opted for an ST model that has the chrome package, carpet and other semi important features. After rebates it was $36,000 and change OTD. I could've got a pretty nice gasser for the $46,000 MSRP in 2012, but I wanted the diesel. I'd love to have a loaded Lariat or Big Horn Laramie type truck, but just didn't have another $15-20,000 OTD chunk of change to use. Kudos to those that have that kind of money to either pay cash or make ginormous payments.

Unfortunately, the trend to only sell the most popular items and discontinue those that are less popular isn't confined to trucks. Whatever happened to catering to a niche market and making a business from that? As spoon059 has said, many of us can't afford and don't want big fancy trucks with all kinds of bells and whistles. We keep our trucks for a long time and all that fancy stuff just breaks and costs a fortune to fix. I bought a used 3/4 Dodge with what I needed, tow package, heavy duty alternator and battery, transmission cooler. It didn't have power windows, power mirrors, heated seats, cameras, high end stereo, or any of the extras I didn't want. I hope it lasts me for a long, long time because I'm not sure they even make good, basic trucks anymore.

Who says that we need cheap pickups? | Good Sam Community

We_ll_See
Explorer
Dec 29, 2016
Leather seats are worth the money. So are power windows and power locks. Keyless entry, backup camera etc. are worth it too. As is a moonroof...
CKNSLS
Explorer
Dec 29, 2016
blt2ski wrote:
Bedlams comments on ordering have occurred to me too. In 88 when the new body style GM came out, I could not find an 8 lug ext cab. Dealer ordered it for me, in process, going from a cheyanne to a scottsdale pkg cost me $75 or some such number, but got a $600 rebate. So the higer trim was a better deal.
Then when I traded in in 96 for a crew cab. I went with a base silverado as I added just enough options that it too was cheaper than a scottsdale, but I could not get the carper delete due to the diesel. The 350/454 options would have gotten me vinyl seats. But the carpet was mandatory as it had better noise insulation. I was probably the ONLY 5 sp manual silverado crew cab around for many years!

For a lot of us that are contractors/owners, we like some of the basic nicety stuff, like cruise, tilt wheels, AC etc. BUT we do not want all the other bells and whistles that do not hold up as well, or get destroyed but us sitting in seats with mud etc on us. Or if you have 4 kids like I do.....to say bubble gum, spilled drinks etc will not get on the floors or seats.....that is a far fetched thought! Happens when you least expect it.

Marty

I have seen plenty of small kids in $50,0000.00 SUVs............
blt2ski
Moderator
Dec 29, 2016
Bedlams comments on ordering have occurred to me too. In 88 when the new body style GM came out, I could not find an 8 lug ext cab. Dealer ordered it for me, in process, going from a cheyanne to a scottsdale pkg cost me $75 or some such number, but got a $600 rebate. So the higer trim was a better deal.
Then when I traded in in 96 for a crew cab. I went with a base silverado as I added just enough options that it too was cheaper than a scottsdale, but I could not get the carper delete due to the diesel. The 350/454 options would have gotten me vinyl seats. But the carpet was mandatory as it had better noise insulation. I was probably the ONLY 5 sp manual silverado crew cab around for many years!

For a lot of us that are contractors/owners, we like some of the basic nicety stuff, like cruise, tilt wheels, AC etc. BUT we do not want all the other bells and whistles that do not hold up as well, or get destroyed but us sitting in seats with mud etc on us. Or if you have 4 kids like I do.....to say bubble gum, spilled drinks etc will not get on the floors or seats.....that is a far fetched thought! Happens when you least expect it.

Marty
Bedlam
Moderator
Dec 28, 2016
I suggest anyone ordering a new truck to get information from the commercial/fleet people at the dealership. They should be able to provide you an option list flagged with dependencies. I ran the numbers using the base trim level and the options I wanted verses the next trim level up. If your wants mirror the next trim level, it is a better deal with the upper trim than loading up a lesser trim. As I posted earlier you may have to choose a particular trim level if you are set on an option (for me it was the manual 4wd selection).
transamz9
Explorer
Dec 28, 2016
Bedlam wrote:
Ford used to have a carpet delete option in its XLT trim. I'm not sure if this was only a fleet option or for anyone.

You can delete the carpet in a Ram Laramie.
Bedlam
Moderator
Dec 28, 2016
Ford used to have a carpet delete option in its XLT trim. I'm not sure if this was only a fleet option or for anyone.
spoon059
Explorer II
Dec 28, 2016
blt2ski wrote:
As long as truck does not have carpets and vinyl or leather seats, I'm happy!!!

Marty

Me too. Cloth seats and rubber floors would be perfect. I bought my diesel used, because I couldn't afford a new one. I think that Ram has the option of vinyl floors in the Tradesman (cheapest) package, but my Tradesman came with carpet.
blt2ski
Moderator
Dec 28, 2016
As long as truck does not have carpets and vinyl or leather seats, I'm happy!!!

Sitting.and vinyl or leather on a cold or hot day.is not fun. Nor do they do well wearing wet rubber rain gear on them. Carpets do not like it if you.get in truck with.mud on boots.
If one uses a truck.for work.vs play, they.would still have interiors on par with.the.70's and before.
Now, many buy to pull trailers worth more than first home I bought, so finding true.work trucks is harder today.than in the past.

Marty
brulaz
Explorer
Dec 28, 2016
Bamaman1 wrote:

...
A real world alternative to get the price down somewhat is to go with an XLT diesel instead of a Lariat gas engine as the diesel and the Lariat are about $8K options.
...

This worked ok for us. An SLT Ram 4x4 2500 Cummins but we also decided there was enough space behind the seats in a Reg Cab, so could reduce the price a bit more (and increase the payload).

Still, it's the most expensive vehicle I've ever purchased and quite a bit less luxurious than some of our others. But then farm tractors aren't cheap either these days.
Snowman9000
Explorer
Dec 27, 2016
Yeah, them power windows will never catch on, I tell ya!

Forum Discussion

Who says that we need cheap pickups?

About Travel Trailer Group

Related Content

Would you say anything?

Why a pickup?

Pickup rental?

Tesla pickup ?

Jeep Pickup (Gladiator)