The price of new trucks is beyond comprehension!

[BobsYourUncle]

It was 42 years ago today, seems so long ago, yet still a strong memory in my head, a milestone I reached in my humble beginnings into the home renovation industry building solariums and such.

Yes, it was on this day, October ten, nineteen seventy eight when I had been only 4 years into my lifetime career when I worked my way to being able to purchase my first brand new truck!

Yup, 10-10-78 I drove off the lot of Phillips Chev - Olds in Penticton BC driving my nice shiny new 78 Chev 3/4 Ton Camper Special.

As I pulled out of the lot and turned left on to Westminster Ave and headed east towards home, I though I had lost my marbles, that I am a total idiot.

Who in their right mind would pay $7714. For a new truck. All taxes, fees, dealer prep and all the rest of the junk in came to $8,109.70 out the door...... Bob, you are out of your mind! I kept saying to myself. Financed it on the never never plan I did. How will I ever pay for it? I was barely 24 years old.

It was a great truck, I had it for 26 years and about 527,000K on the odometer when I retired it, still in decent shape.

Hmmmmm......

42 years later, my 2007 truck in sig is getting worn out. 408,800K on the clock and I am eyeing the shiny new trucks on the lot.

92 grand $$$$$$$ for something similar with a few more bells and whistles.

No, just no! That's what, about a dozen times the price I paid back then?
Gosh how can they justify that?

Wow! Just wow. Amazing how expensive pickups have become. All these fancy gizzmobops they have, someone has to pay for all that I guess..

Guess I'll just keep fixing what I have. It was $1423.77 yesterday for a water pump and a U-joint. Expensive!

Oh well, that's life! 🙂

My story of the day.

[ShinerBock]

dodge guy wrote:
At 50 years old, I still have never bought a new car. I always buy 3-4 years old. I just can’t comprehend paying all that money and losing 50% in the first couple years!

You don't loose that much with diesels. The MSRP on my truck was $64k back in 2014 and was its trade in value was $50k in 2016 with 30k miles in it which is what I actually paid for it.

[dodge_guy]

At 50 years old, I still have never bought a new car. I always buy 3-4 years old. I just can’t comprehend paying all that money and losing 50% in the first couple years!

[fj12ryder]

Wha'?

[Grit_dog]

What a couple guys alluded to, but not specifically, is aside from inflation, you’re buying twice the vehicle now compared to say, the 80s.
Power capability, technology, comfort, features etc etc.
too many “want it all, now” people. Older folks too.
Want to bitsch about the price of your new LTZ duramax dually crew cab?
Compare it to a stripped down gasser new work truck for starters and then add how much more capable, powerful and comfortable that is even compared to the top of the line 80s rig and then do the math instead of thinking luxuries should be free.
Helll, we already get huge discounts on luxuries compared to previous years and it’s all relative.

[willald]

$92k for a pickup truck?! Wow. I realize that's Canadian, and is a truck with tons of bells and whistles, including the extremely expensive diesel option, but...Wow.

My 36' Class A Motorhome with full body paint and numerous other options (see signature), bought brand new in 2012, did not cost that much!

If pickups are that expensive and will only get worse.....Welllll, makes me that much happier that we'll most likely never need to own one again.

[Groover]

NJRVer wrote:
Back to OP's original title:

Back in November 1984 I ordered a brand new 1985 Dodge D-150 with stereo, A/C, 318V8, and 4sp od.

Price...$10,000.

I thought WHAT!!!! $10,000 for a pickup truck!!!! OMG!!!!

Just to keep it in perspective.

As I recall I paid $18,100 for my 1991 F250 Lariet extended cab with gas engine and 2wd, otherwise fully loaded. I still remember my neighbor marveling over the luxury of a leather steering wheel in a pickup. It had 230hp from its 460 engine, gave 12mpg on the highway empty and had rear wheel ABS. The definition of luxury, safety, power and fuel economy have all changed significantly since then.

[4x4ord]

^^^ And so long as you don’t mind a little Rusty.

[free_radical]

You can stil have low cost truck
If you dont mind doing some wrenching :B

https://youtu.be/c_fZXyaX0l4

[4x4ord]

My '93 GMC crew cab 4x4 turbo diesel was 28k plus 4k in aftermarket accessories. That truck is actually coming to see me tonight .... the 4 wheel drive isn't working for some reason.

28k in 1993 is equivalent to 45000 CAD in 2020. A similarly equipped truck to that old '93 would be a 2020 Ford F350 XLT and the the MSRP on one of those is about 73000 CAD. Sale price might be about about 61k.

[colliehauler]

NJRVer wrote:
Back to OP's original title:

Back in November 1984 I ordered a brand new 1985 Dodge D-150 with stereo, A/C, 318V8, and 4sp od.

Price...$10,000.

I thought WHAT!!!! $10,000 for a pickup truck!!!! OMG!!!!

Just to keep it in perspective.

You got a better deal then me. My 84 Dodge was closer to 12k. Top pkg with automatic. Funny thing is I still see it running around town. My 98 Dodge 150 was 22k and sold it to my neighbor who is still driving it as well. My 94 1500 GMC was 15k.

Not only inflation but you also have to take into account all the safety features mandated by the government as well.

[ShinerBock]

$10k in 1984 is $25k in 2020 adjusted for inflation. That is not too far off from the base price of a 2020 Ram 1500 Tradesman with a Pentastar that cost $29k. Although the 2020 V6 has 305hp/269lb-ft with an 8-speed versus the 120hp/245lb-ft and 4-speed of the old 318. It probably gets 50-75% better fuel economy too. Not only that, but it has government mandated things like air bags, reverse cameras, stability control, anti-lock brakes, and crush resistant pillars to name a few.

So I will say that is about even given the added stuff you get since a $29k vehicle in 2020 is equivalent to an $11.5k vehicle in 1984. I bet a lot of people would have paid that back then to get all of the added features stated above.

People often forget about inflation even though them wanting raises and more money at their job every year for doing the same work is part of the reason why a dollar cannot buy the same thing today as it did 30 years ago.

[BobsYourUncle]

NJRVer wrote:
Back to OP's original title:

Back in November 1984 I ordered a brand new 1985 Dodge D-150 with stereo, A/C, 318V8, and 4sp od.

Price...$10,000.

I thought WHAT!!!! $10,000 for a pickup truck!!!! OMG!!!!

Just to keep it in perspective.

Like my 78 I paid 8G for...

Don't we all wish we could pay that now for a new truck!

[BobsYourUncle]

Crespro wrote:

BobsYourUncle wrote:

Crespro wrote:
Hello,

Interesting thread. I have taught Dave Ramsey FPU for ten years. He has good advice on personal finances.

Now, do you remember what he called a lease?

Dave Ramsey does not like a lease, for good reason.

Dave Ramsey refers to a lease as a "Fleece" I remember chuckling on numerous occasions as I listened to his talks.

[NJRVer]

Back to OP's original title:

Back in November 1984 I ordered a brand new 1985 Dodge D-150 with stereo, A/C, 318V8, and 4sp od.

Price...$10,000.

I thought WHAT!!!! $10,000 for a pickup truck!!!! OMG!!!!

Just to keep it in perspective.

[Crespro]

BobsYourUncle wrote:

Crespro wrote:
Hello,

Interesting thread. I have taught Dave Ramsey FPU for ten years. He has good advice on personal finances.

Interesting you mention teaching Dave Ramsey FPU. I used to listen with great fascination to his spot on Siruis years ago. Channel 151? I forget now. I learned a lot, even though I didnt always agree with some concepts, he had the credentials, so I knew he was right and I was wrong. Wonderful teacher!
And he was very much against leasing a vehicle.

Now, do you remember what he called a lease?

Dave Ramsey does not like a lease, for good reason. He also likes buying used. We have bought DD's off a three year lease return for a good price. We bought the F250 new because that was the only way to have the 7.3L, 4.30, ten speed and LB in one truck. So far so good. This is a keeper!