In the mid 80's my Dad bought his very first brand new truck, a 1985 Chevrolet C10, black pickup which I thought was the sharpest vehicle I had ever driven. He paid just under $7,500 for it. It was a ½ ton truck equipped with an 8 cylinder engine, automatic transmission and 8 foot box with power steering. I was happy with just the AM/FM radio. GPS, USB ports, CD player or anything of the sort weren't even a thought then. Now that auto manufacturers have added decades worth of new technology and creature comforts, have the prices come to a point where they are not all that affordable?
Has the addition of all these new items jacked the price of your average pickup to a level that is
creating a bigger interest in used trucks, as opposed to brand new? Leasing has always been a strong incentive to having a new pickup instead of a used one while some dealerships offer rebates and other marketing tools to lure truck lovers into that bright shiny new one with lots of bells and whistles. Advertisements on TV display gorgeous brand new pickups using their looks, power and suggestion that it is the best truck on the market so that you will buy it. The price they show is usually a base price, which can be deceptive, when in reality it's very pricey after just a couple of add-on packages.
As a consumer, one would question whether your pickup really needs the extra creature comforts that drive the price higher than it needs to be. Folks who can afford all of the newest and best options are always going to shop with their eyes before their wallets. You can't have champagne taste with a beer income, so where does that leave the average consumer? It is best to have a plan for the things you cannot live without and reconsider packages that offer lots of new tech features you don't need. When did we forget how to use rear view windows and mirrors that we now need all of these sensors and navigation devices to make sure we don't back into something? Most cell phones have GPS systems on them, so is it really needed in your truck as well?
Certain things that definitely affect the price of a new truck are custom finishes (pearls tri color, heavy metallic, etc),
situs gacor special trim packages, custom interior appointments, leather power seating and wrapped steering wheels, and a center console. Most trucks are equipped standard with A/C, power windows, cruise control AM/FM, Multi CD/DVD changer/players, and Satellite Radio. Four wheel drive shift on the fly is now available for those that need it as a standard offering. If you add available in-stock options (at most dealers now) including GPS, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi connections, overhead display, moon roof, oversize wheels, custom tires, towing options, and off-road packages, you will pay more, but not as much as special ordering something not in stock at the dealership.
If you get custom built-in tool storage, power tail gates and more, multiple additions of things you may not use often or even need will add to the price as well. As an alternative option, you can always add aftermarket parts later and keep the sale price down. That way you can personalize your pickup the way you want it, a little at a time without the payment skyrocketing. Competition between manufacturers also plays heavy in vehicle cost, with each company attempting to out-do the other in price with model performance and MPG claims. Some buyers are equally as competitive and will be tempted to be the first one on the block to have a bigger, better, faster, harder working, and sharpest truck, but you will pay handsomely for it.
It is interesting to note that the average median household income in 1985 was $23,620, so the price for a brand new truck being $7500.00 may have seemed like a lot, considering it was roughly 32% of a man's income. Yet the average income today is $53, 657, and the average basic no-frills truck costs $28-30,000. If you do the math, we are spending way more than we did 3 decades ago without our incomes doubling. Of course manufacturing prices have gone up but you can see where I am going with these figures. Don't overbuy or spend money that isn't necessary to get yourself a nice pickup truck, unless of course, money is no object. Few of us can claim that.
If you are willing to wait a bit instead of having the dealership overcharge for your wish list of pickup toys, browse some nice truck add-on items at Truck World Accessories and spend less in the long run. You can have the truck of your dreams and it will be more affordable, so in my book, that's a win-win situation.
I am a NYS licensed Auto Damage Appraiser, CSE certified, I-Car Certified, and have worked in the automotive industry for decades. I've had the opportunity to teach auto body repair to misled kids in a classroom setting, giving them a chance to have a trade for a viable income. I found this very rewarding. Previously, I was all about the American muscle cars of the 60's. Now, I find pickup trucks and the way they have evolved to be my fascination and focus. I truly enjoy hearing from fellow pickup truck enthusiasts, so stop in to website and leave a comment on my website or any of my truck blogs or articles.
