Buying a new truck ? Times have changed.

[lman]

I want a truck. A mid-sized truck with 4WD and an automatic transmission and an iron proof motor and frame. I want NOTHING ELSE that isn't required by law. I want it to be serviceable with common tools, so I CAN FIX IT. I don't even care if it has A/C, or a radio.

This is not how the industry went.

It is obscene to me that the industry went with 30 to 100 thousand dollar trucks filled with options I don't want.

It seems I am a voice in the wind, because the US manufactures just keep adding features no one is asking for.

Ford. Build me a minimal. mid-sized, truck I can work on.
I will buy it.

This one might work for you.

 

[Hay Dude]

People used to buy trucks to use them as trucks, those days are gone. The fact of the matter is that if a dealer had a white two door, 3 speed manual, bench seat, plastic mats with an am radio is a special order nowadays and it would sit on the lot so long it becomes counterproductive from a cost perspective for the dealer.

You can get a Ford F-150/250 XL with all the lowest trim levels and plastic mats but it is special order so be ready to wait.

I buy a truck and only use it as a truck, but I also like the creature comforts that are in newer models. Love the ventilated seats. Navigation is great when going into areas I have never driven. Phone system built into truck is great for keeping in contact with clients. LED lights everywhere great for finding stuff at night. Steering wheel buttons increase safety. Large center console is a quantum leap forward over the useless small middle seat.

It’s not all bad.

 

[ultrarunner]

Overhead garage door contractor always bought basic Fleet pricing but in 2019 opted for a little more comfort to keep employees happy.

Basic package no more A/C and radio delete.

For decades the old man refused radio and A/C.

Automatic has been standard for a very long time as many simply not good at shifting gears.

I must be the last person that likes a work truck without carpet...

Once you have A/C it's hard to not have and no A/C was a huge gripe in the company with 24 trucks

 

[MoMower]

The market appears to be getting slightly better. As in there’s actually trucks on the lot.

Late last year I started to search in earnest. Time to replace the 06’ Chevy K2500 with 240k on the clock that was getting tired. I sent that down the road for $800 more than I paid for it 4 years ago.

Found a 16’ F250 at car max, 24000 on the odometer for just under $40k. Then found the 18’ F250 for the same money with 31000 on the odometer.

The 18’ is what I bought, but did pay about a $6k premium due to the market. Compared to some of the mark ups, this was acceptable.

Everything else had higher mileage for same or more money.

If time was in my side I would have ordered.

 

[mikester]

Vehicles, in general have to be one of the worst investments you can make.

Investments generate income. Vehicles are declining value assets with a high rate of depreciation.

Speculating at a casino isn't considered investing.

 

[bdhsfz6]

I am currently shopping for a new Tacoma. Haven’t purchased a new car in 20 years. Geez, times have changed. No trucks to look at on the lot. You can’t sit in one and kick the tires, only look at pictures of them on-line. I talked to a salesman and told him what I wanted. He told they have an allocation of Tacomas coming in and if one of them fits my needs he’ll call me. I asked him if things will go back to the way it used to be and said absolutely not. Dealers don’t have to have millions of inventory on the lot anymore, don’t have to wash the dirt and pollen off 50 new cars on the lot, don’t have to worry about having too many cars on the lot not being sold. He told me “those days are gone forever”. The model I want costs more then my first house !!!! I’m worried I won’t be able to figure out how to use all the gadgets on a new truck too.

Back in early 2019, I began the ordeal of trying to replace my existing 2012 GMC Sierra 2500HD. The truck was running fine with only 48K on the odometer. I no longer plow snow or pull a heavy trailer so I wanted a lighter duty truck with a better ride and perhaps better gas mileage. I also wanted one with all the bells & whistles which my old work truck lacked.

As you pointed out, there were literally no trucks on any lot within a 100 mile radius. When I went to my local dealership, I parked my very clean 2012 truck on the lot and went inside. Not 15 minutes later, while I was talking to a salesman, someone actually came in and wanted to buy my old truck!

In February, with no stock available, the dealer placed the order for a fully loaded 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 AT4. He warned me there could be a delay due to the computer chip shortage. In March, the factory cancelled the order for that reason. The dealer suggested I wait and reorder a 2021 model which I did. Well that order got cancelled too. A third order was placed for a 2022 model which was finally delivered in April of 2022. It was missing several options I wanted but I'm told they will be retrofitted when parts become available.

Times have indeed changed!

 

[RSKY]

We signed over my deceased mother's (not running for ten years) 1976 Ford pickup to a nephew yesterday. Girl at clerk's office said you would not believe what people were getting for used vehicles. Contractors and businesses who depend on pickups were desperate to find something that was low milage and reliable and could not get new vehicles. Also said anything with four doors was appreciating quickly. I have decided to keep what I have and not even look at new vehicles for a few years.

RSKY

 

[ultrarunner]

Already seeing buyers cancelling so it goes both ways.

The rapid increase in truck and fuel prices sent a shock wave no doubt.

Cheapest gas anywhere here is still $5.

My contractor friend is taking his estimators out of trucks... opting for high mpg passenger cars.

 

[ultrarunner]

We signed over my deceased mother's (not running for ten years) 1976 Ford pickup to a nephew yesterday. Girl at clerk's office said you would not believe what people were getting for used vehicles. Contractors and businesses who depend on pickups were desperate to find something that was low milage and reliable and could not get new vehicles. Also said anything with four doors was appreciating quickly. I have decided to keep what I have and not even look at new vehicles for a few years.

RSKY

Dodge 3/4 with big cab diesel and 23k miles like new has been for sale 4 weeks now... owner said best truck he ever owned and loaded but fuel cost no longer pencil out for his business use.

Diesel still over $6 today.

 

[Dftodd]

We’re you ever able to get rid of the smoke smell? I hear it lasts forever.
Man what a stupid habit. Even affects the value of your cars and your home.

It's still pretty much there. They gave me an ozone pot to set off in the truck.

All that succeeded in doing is giving the truck another weird smell on top of the smoke

A buddy said that the ozone machines work pretty well. Just run an extension cord, plug it in, and leave it on the floor board and close the vehicle up. Let it run for the weekend.

Honestly though. I'm a former smoker. My last truck, I drove it for 5 years as a smoker. Then 3 years after I quit smoking.

The smell really doesn't bother me. I just used it as a tool to beat the salesman up.

Brought up the fact that I quit smoking so now the smell smacks me in the face

Ya know something though, I smoked for many years. But two things I couldn't stand. I never allowed smoking in my house. Either smoke out on the sun porch, or in the garage.

I couldn't stand eating and having cigarette smoke waft into my face.