Huge, pricey pickups

[EdColorado]

An interesting article about the popularity, and profitability, in big pickups.

$70,000 usd and you too, can travel in style.


https://www.reuters.com/article/us-u...-idUSKCN1PU1E4

[davidmurphy02]

That sure seems to be the trend in pickups. When I started shopping last year to replace our 1998 Ram I was appalled at first, but upon further checking found that I was able to order a 2019 Ram that, while basic by today's standards, has every feature I need for towing and feels quite luxurious even at a lower trim level for half the cost of the top of the line highly optioned luxury trucks. Same engine, same body, just fewer bells and whistles.

[steve dunham]

I understand the pricey part but I fail to see the “huge “ .

[arniesea]

Originally Posted by steve dunham

I understand the pricey part but I fail to see the “huge “ .

The article focused on "Heavy Duty Trucks" and based on the models quoted, they were all bigger than the 1/2 ton "Light Duty" trucks most Escape owners use.

[steve dunham]

Originally Posted by arniesea

The article focused on "Heavy Duty Trucks" and based on the models quoted, they were all bigger than the 1/2 ton "Light Duty" trucks most Escape

The 2020 Ford F-250 looks like a nice truck and a dandy tow vehicle IMHO !
I don’t like the feeling of being on the edge with my current 1/2 ton truck towing my 21 ft trailer .

[Iowa Dave]

I was in Fort Wayne Indiana last week and drove past the GMC pickup and Chevy Pickup assembly plant a couple times. They sure had a lot of nice looking pickups in the lots there. It’s quite an operation with almost 5,000 employees, turning out a thousand trucks a day and humming right along. Just think, they make enough pickups in two or three days to pull all the Escapes ever made. Whether you’re a GM fan or not, you can’t help but marvel at operations of this size. I’m sure there are other plants doing same volumes for different manufacturers. No wonder cities compete so hard for truck and auto plants.
Iowa Dave

[oldwave]

We began shopping for a replacement for our 2000 tundra that the frame was rotting away and the recall was over. After looking at 100000 mileage pickups that were still nearly 20000, I found an immaculate 2004 ford with a tow package for 12000. GAs mileage isn’t as good but it ties the 21 just fine. It labored a bit over the Rocky Mountain pass
But gets close to 12 towing
Given the price of new pickups 30000 buys a lot of gas.
Was tempted to pull the trigger on a 2018 f150 for 35000 but my better sense kicked in .
50 to 70000 for a new truck is pretty crazy since the profit is all in trim. I suspect the truck bubble will burst like all at some point.

[Patandlinda]

Originally Posted by oldwave

We began shopping for a replacement for our 2000 tundra that the frame was rotting away and the recall was over. After looking at 100000 mileage pickups that were still nearly 20000, I found an immaculate 2004 ford with a tow package for 12000. GAs mileage isn’t as good but it ties the 21 just fine. It labored a bit over the Rocky Mountain pass
But gets close to 12 towing
Given the price of new pickups 30000 buys a lot of gas.
Was tempted to pull the trigger on a 2018 f150 for 35000 but my better sense kicked in .
50 to 70000 for a new truck is pretty crazy since the profit is all in trim. I suspect the truck bubble will burst like all at some point.

Exactly our thinking too ! Pat

[stratos175]

If you look at the over all cost of most style cars they have all gone up a good percentage in the last several years. I have a family member who has been in the car business his whole life and all of that was with Nissan until recently, he said one of the industries biggest challenges today is making cars to good that last too long, average age of car on road in the US is now 11 1/2 years.
Trucks and SUV's are what a lot of people are in the market for these days so higher demand higher price, let gas prices go up say over $3.50 a gallon and the value of that SUV and or truck will suffer from it.
He also would also say (well would not tell a customer this) unless you are going to keep a car at least 7 years you are better off buying a 2 year old version of what you like. Problem with that and he admits since people are holding there cars longer harder to find certain type cars, SUV's and trucks would be harder to find.


Enjoy the journey.

Steve

[Randy in Maine]

Originally Posted by oldwave

We began shopping for a replacement for our 2000 tundra that the frame was rotting away and the recall was over. After looking at 100000 mileage pickups that were still nearly 20000, I found an immaculate 2004 ford with a tow package for 12000. GAs mileage isn’t as good but it ties the 21 just fine. It labored a bit over the Rocky Mountain pass
But gets close to 12 towing
Given the price of new pickups 30000 buys a lot of gas.
Was tempted to pull the trigger on a 2018 f150 for 35000 but my better sense kicked in .
50 to 70000 for a new truck is pretty crazy since the profit is all in trim. I suspect the truck bubble will burst like all at some point.

I am with you. I will be using my 2002 Tundra (with a new frame) and 165K miles for my towing needs. You can buy a lot of gas for 30 grand.