I remember when a pickup was a light duty work vehicle. Now a pickup is a prestige symbol. :confused2:
In 1978 I ordered a new Chevy pickup. It was a C20 with a manual transmission, rubber floor mats, hand crank windows, and manual door locks. The price when I ordered it was $6,800.00. The dealership never delivered it, said I could order a 1979 model, but the price would be $7,200.00. I told them no thanks, I'd take what they sold me the first time, but they weren't going to squeeze another $400 out of me.
I priced a new Dodge 3500 4x4 in 2004. They were going to charge me extra to have rubber floor mats, hand crank windows, and manual door locks. They said it would have to be special ordered, no one doesn't want carpet, and power everything. :confused2:
I've never owned a new vehicle in my life, and at these prices, never will. I buy used, and let the original purchaser take the hit on depreciation. I drove my 1998 Dodge 3500 for 8 years, and 150,000 miles. I traded it off last year with 250,000 miles, on an 05 Dodge 3500. We'll see if it will go 8 years pulling what I pull.
In answer to the original question. There is no way an $80,000 + pickup can ever pay for itself. But someone needs to buy them, so guy's like me can enjoy them in a few years for $15,000 and maybe make them pay for themselves. :laughing:
