lets talk about STICKER SHOCK
02-27-2007 | 03:49 PM
#31
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 90
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From: Up State NY
its just rediculous now. $$60k for a pickup truck??!! i know my first house will cost less than that. but ya know what...people will keep buying them. i live near a college and you wouldnt believe the kids who live in the dorms and drive 1 ton duallies back and forth to school, and leave them parked in the schools parking lot all week. In the last 5 years, the number of kids driving big diesel trucks has grown 10 fold. granted a few number of these kids might come from farm and use the truck when home, but someone who is from long island and lives in suberbs just drives the truck as a status symbol, and will never use the truck for its intended purpose, yet those are the poeple who will buy a $50k pickup truck.
Im happy for that! Gotta get a little dirt on your hands
02-27-2007 | 03:51 PM
#32
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,958
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From: Dixon, IL
02-27-2007 | 03:52 PM
#33
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 424
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From: Victoria,TX
Well I was raised the same way!! It teaches you skills and the value of a $$$BUCK$$$
02-27-2007 | 03:55 PM
#34
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 424
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From: Victoria,TX
Oh because I checked it out and it still shows an Isuzu/Gm partnership. Isuzu developed and builds the engine for them. As well as the large inline duramax for the med duty truck as well!!
Now the engine in that big CXT is an international engine not duramax. I forget which one dt 460 or 466 I cant memeber off the top of my head.
02-27-2007 | 04:41 PM
#39
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 874
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From: West Virginia
Saturday I spent a few hours behind the wheel of my little brother's restored 1976 GMC 1/2 ton 4x4 regular cab pickup helping him move. Really nice truck, for it's age. But that's the point. I couldn't believe the difference when it came time to drive mine again. Every system in the 2003 Dodge is FAR SUPERIOR to the 1976 GMC. 
. Not only does my 2003 Dodge have way more power, but it is far more comfortable, quieter, safer, fuel efficient and reliable. It goes without saying, there is not one category (except nostalgia) where the '76 would beat my '03. It's just a totally unfair comparison.
So here's my point: I'm guessing that '76 cost around $8,000 new. Just out of curiosity, I checked the government inflation calculator and guess what? $8,000 in 1976 was worth $26,000 in 2003 when I bought my truck, and I paid about $28,000 for it. Comparing apples to apples, a regular-cab long bed gasser would've been around $20k new. So......not to rain on this parade, but I think we are definitely getting more bang for your buck when it comes to buying a new truck these days.
. Not only does my 2003 Dodge have way more power, but it is far more comfortable, quieter, safer, fuel efficient and reliable. It goes without saying, there is not one category (except nostalgia) where the '76 would beat my '03. It's just a totally unfair comparison. So here's my point: I'm guessing that '76 cost around $8,000 new. Just out of curiosity, I checked the government inflation calculator and guess what? $8,000 in 1976 was worth $26,000 in 2003 when I bought my truck, and I paid about $28,000 for it. Comparing apples to apples, a regular-cab long bed gasser would've been around $20k new. So......not to rain on this parade, but I think we are definitely getting more bang for your buck when it comes to buying a new truck these days.
I also got some of his pay stubs. He was making 200 bucks a week in a plant job. So some where around 10,000 a year with OT. So his pay was double the cost of a new truck -it dont add up. He retired fron the plant this past year and he was making 40,000 with OT. The truck wasnt half what he was making. Plus that 74 still runs and was as dependable as any truck around.
02-27-2007 | 05:31 PM
#41
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 8,372
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From: Streator Illinois
Actually I have my Dads bank note on a 1974 Power Wagon 3/4 ton, 318, 4 speed, Dual exhaust, air. It was a whopping $4,800. Now my 2003 5 speed, 3/4 ton was 35,500. It dont add up. It does the same darn thing as the 74 truck - it works hard. I didnt want a truck for anything else -just work hard.
I also got some of his pay stubs. He was making 200 bucks a week in a plant job. So some where around 10,000 a year with OT. So his pay was double the cost of a new truck -it dont add up. He retired fron the plant this past year and he was making 40,000 with OT. The truck wasnt half what he was making. Plus that 74 still runs and was as dependable as any truck around.
I also got some of his pay stubs. He was making 200 bucks a week in a plant job. So some where around 10,000 a year with OT. So his pay was double the cost of a new truck -it dont add up. He retired fron the plant this past year and he was making 40,000 with OT. The truck wasnt half what he was making. Plus that 74 still runs and was as dependable as any truck around.
Look, while I would LOVE to buy a new vehicle just once in my life, between the tax burden we face, the cost of medical, and the cost of housing, I cant JUSTIFY spending even half of my annual income for a vehicle. Sad as it is, sometimes you just have to be an adult.........at least until the dealerships offer them for 10-12K off, but then you gotta ask yourself just how long a car company can stay in business losing that kind of money.
02-27-2007 | 05:41 PM
#42
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 424
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From: Victoria,TX
You have just hit the nail on the head........ Thats why there are cars and trucks stacking up at dealerships.
Look, while I would LOVE to buy a new vehicle just once in my life, between the tax burden we face, the cost of medical, and the cost of housing, I cant JUSTIFY spending even half of my annual income for a vehicle. Sad as it is, sometimes you just have to be an adult.........at least until the dealerships offer them for 10-12K off, but then you gotta ask yourself just how long a car company can stay in business losing that kind of money.
Look, while I would LOVE to buy a new vehicle just once in my life, between the tax burden we face, the cost of medical, and the cost of housing, I cant JUSTIFY spending even half of my annual income for a vehicle. Sad as it is, sometimes you just have to be an adult.........at least until the dealerships offer them for 10-12K off, but then you gotta ask yourself just how long a car company can stay in business losing that kind of money.
Oh there not losing money with 10-12k off! between rebates and holdback and governtment breaks there not losing money by a long shot!! If you are ever so lucky to see the real cost of any vehicle it will make you mad to know how much you have been over paying all these years! The way they make money is volume the guys that sell at sticker wont have the volume and wont get the big checks from DODGE at the end of the year, but they made good money per unit.
I do agree it is unreal asking price seems like the guys that need these trucks can't afford to get them, and has become a yuppie status symbol. It looks bigger and better than his neighbors hummer!!!
02-27-2007 | 05:50 PM
#43
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,280
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From: Udaho
A 2003 regular cab gasser SL 4X4 with a manual (in other words, the equivalent truck) would've been right around $20k and had better brakes, airbags, less NVH, etc. than the '74. Your Dad's wages increased four-fold, in the past ~30 years, as did the price of a similar truck. Point is, even an '03gasser is better in just about every way than the '74 and really don't pay that much more for it when you adjust for inflation.
02-27-2007 | 08:40 PM
#44
Administrator ........ DTR's puttin fires out and workin on big trucks admin
Joined: May 2006
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02-27-2007 | 08:43 PM
#45
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 424
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From: Victoria,TX
Oh I know you wernt knockin me! because I am not the one that said it I just provided the information to the person that did to show there was no connection, his buddy told him wrong!