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My salary hasn't gone up and our hay at the ranch costs what it did about ten years ago but if you want a new truck now get ready to take out a second mortgage on the house. We were looking for a new truck for out at the ranch. They want close ot $50k for a semi loaded out diesel 4x4 3/4 ton!

I just can't see how people can afford these trucks!

How much are they for a not so semi loaded one? If it's a work truck all I would need is a/c and FM radio. I would rather it didn't even have carpet.

I priced a Chevrolet 2500 4x4 gasser ext cab with the work truck package. All it has was power windows and door locks. They wanted $33k! My buddy just got one except it was LT so it had all the power features but still cloth seats and he has the vinyl flooring. It was $39k!

I paid $32k for a fully loaded 2002 Dodge 2500 Diesel quad cab! Now I understand that was about eight years ago but the price of hay has stayed the same and the price of grain and beef has gone down. People's salaries haven't gone up a lot so how the heck are you supposed to afford a decent truck anymore!?

Oh and if you want a fully loaded 1 ton diesel 4x4 4-door. $60k plus!

Was that 33k for the Chevy sticker or after they came off? Or do they come off on those? I know it's not the same thing you're needing but they came off $8000 , from 34000 sticker to 26000 on my Z-71 . I guess because it was the end of Dec. 07. I've heard that's not that unusual depending on what kind of demand there is on the kind of truck you want. I realize it's apples and oranges comparing what you need to my 1/2 ton 4x4. I bought this one in Sour Lake and no place in Houston even came close hard to believe as that is. I don't know bout the Fords and Dodges but Chev has a web sight that you put in what you're lookin for and it finds all the close matches.

A good work truck will cost you both your legs before you get out of the dealership. As prices have become more outrageous, they have started offering 7 year financing plans to keep the monthly payments reasonable and, of course, to rack up interest. You were correct when you said they are like taking out mortgages. All the guys I know in the market for an F-350 or F-450 type truck, are choosing to fix their old trucks rather than buy new. At today's prices, that is the only option for a lot of us blue collar guys.

supply and demand?

glbedd53 wrote:Was that 33k for the Chevy sticker or after they came off? Or do they come off on those?

That was after they came off. They pick and choose when they come off. For instance right now if you take a rebate you don't get any off the sticker except for maybe a grand or two. If you take the rebates you don't get 0% interest. I don't like financing trucks for 5 years let alone 7. I always thought when they started financing for 6 that was way too long. The half tons they will come off of more. I guess because more people buy them then the heavier duty 3/4 and 1 tons. Once again though I think I'll still go for a slightly used one.

gregthehand wrote:My salary hasn't gone up and our hay at the ranch costs what it did about ten years ago but if you want a new truck now get ready to take out a second mortgage on the house. We were looking for a new truck for out at the ranch. They want close ot $50k for a semi loaded out diesel 4x4 3/4 ton!

I just can't see how people can afford these trucks!

Many are probably bought by businesses because most people don't need a 350 to sit in rush hour traffic. So the dealers are probably doing the same thing as airlines and squeezing businesses because they're traditionally less sensitive to price because it's a need instead of a want. Businesses also traditionally pay extra for professional grade hardware. Compare a 1 TB hard drive at best buy to a commercial grade 1TB drive.

Bart wrote:

gregthehand wrote:My salary hasn't gone up and our hay at the ranch costs what it did about ten years ago but if you want a new truck now get ready to take out a second mortgage on the house. We were looking for a new truck for out at the ranch. They want close ot $50k for a semi loaded out diesel 4x4 3/4 ton!

I just can't see how people can afford these trucks!

Many are probably bought by businesses because most people don't need a 350 to sit in rush hour traffic. So the dealers are probably doing the same thing as airlines and squeezing businesses because they're traditionally less sensitive to price because it's a need instead of a want. Businesses also traditionally pay extra for professional grade hardware. Compare a 1 TB hard drive at best buy to a commercial grade 1TB drive.

Whats the Diff between a Non-Commercial Grade Drive and a Commercial Grade drive btw?

P.S. to OP
I see you are one of the FEW people who have a REAL USE for a Truck, Cant you do the same with an SUV for Hauling the same as a Truck? Same engine right?

SUV is ok most of the time. When I appreciate a truck is when I gotta haul something really nasty or oil or gasoline. I'll be honest though. This is Texas and in Texas MEN drive TRUCKS. I've been driving trucks so long now that I feel kinda feminine when I'm driving anything else. Look what you see driving SUV's, WOMEN.

An SUV won't haul our gooseneck trailers. We have two round bail haulers, two floats, and two low boys. Additionally if you go price out a 3/4 ton Suburban I'm sure it's going to be way higher than a truck.

Yeah, I considered buying an F-150, then went and looked at the prices.

What happened to them? You used to be able to buy a no-frills basic F-150 for like 13K. It didn't have anything extra, but it was a truck. Looking at the local dealer today, the most rock-bottom option-free F150 is over 25K. Who buys these things?

As for me, I've got a '98 Ranger lined up from a relative next week. It's all the truck I can afford these days.

Post subject: What's with the price of trucks?

Obama and Government Motors?

Seriously though, some of the increase has got to do with fuel prices being lower for a while, and trucks being more attractive to buyers because of it. There were some great deals on trucks not that long ago... ...when gas was selling for $4.00+ per gallon. Price of gas goes down >> trucks become more desirable >> price of trucks goes up.

Just wait until you can't afford the gas for one any longer, and you'll be able to find a good price on one.

Yeah, never have bought a car new. There's not been a model of new car that I liked enough to really want, except for the F-150, and I ain't buying one at today's prices.

I really don't understand the auto industry. I just want a reliable and functional car at a reasonable price. In most cases the industry fails to deliver either. In others, you only get one of the two. I wonder how much of the price of a car goes to pay for marketing.

NcongruNt wrote:I wonder how much of the price of a car goes to pay for the expenses of employing union workers

FYP