# When did pickup trucks get so expensive? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 14, 2019, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-pickup-trucks-get-so-expensive/829554 "2019-02-14T20:59:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2019, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-pickup-trucks-get-so-expensive/829554/41 "2019-02-16T20:52:24Z")
Our pickup is truly an anomaly - a 2008 Chevy Silverado with an 8’ bed and that’s about it. The windows have hand cranks. It doesn’t have power locks or bluetooth, tho it does have AM/FM/CD. The seats are cloth, the flooring is plastic. We bought it used with about 10K miles on it for (I think) $13K, including our tradein. Ten years later, I think it’s got about 65K miles on it, so around 5K miles a year. We will keep it till it dies. It has served us well. ---
**Author:** ![excavating\_for\_a\_mind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e8c25b/32.png) [@excavating\_for\_a\_mind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/excavating_for_a_mind)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2019, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-pickup-trucks-get-so-expensive/829554/42 "2019-02-16T21:08:36Z")
When I was in high school, just starting driving (1974 or 75), I remember my brother making a comment, “How do people afford a new pickup? You see them all over the place, but those things have to cost at least $5000, or more! How do they afford it?” This ain’t nothin’ new. ---
**Author:** ![Cumberdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@Cumberdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cumberdale)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2019, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-pickup-trucks-get-so-expensive/829554/43 "2019-02-17T01:35:39Z")
My pickup is over 10 years old and has manual transmission, windows, locks and a crappy after market radio and I love it. I dread the day I have to get rid of it and get a new car or truck. Finding something similar is getting more and more difficult. I am a firm believer in what Scotty said in Star Trek III : The Search for Spock, “_The more they overthink the plumbing, the easier it is to stop up the drain._” Just give me a basic, manual auto and I am fine. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2019, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-pickup-trucks-get-so-expensive/829554/44 "2019-02-17T03:23:23Z")
> [@nightshadea](#): > > too many foreign soccer moms buying them , among the Asian and Latina women around here its there idea of an suv used to be only the men drove them because of the construction and landscaping trades > > but an odd trend started when little Juana or mei ling got her first job out of high school she wanted the truck she remembered daddy having only with upgrades and when she married she traded up for one she could cart the rugrats around in the local dealers even call certain styles “mommobiles” > > hence that’s why a lot pf them are decked out like suvs and minivans ……… and if you see them trying to park a full sized ram or f-150 for 20 minutes and then see a tiny barley 5 ft 98 pound girl pop out with 3 kids in tow…….its a shock the first 3 or 3 times > one well known lady was advised to sell hers after her 3rd near miss because sitting on 3 phone books to see over the dash wasn’t considered safe……. Lovely. I’m sorry but I’m neither a “Juana” nor a “Mei Ling”, but I find your statement horribly offensive. StG ---
**Author:** ![Cumberdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@Cumberdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cumberdale)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2019, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-pickup-trucks-get-so-expensive/829554/45 "2019-02-17T03:53:49Z")
> [@StGermain](#): > > Lovely. > > I’m sorry but I’m neither a “Juana” nor a “Mei Ling”, but I find your statement horribly offensive. > > StG I agree. FU nightshadea. ---
**Author:** ![phxjcc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8491ac/32.png) [@phxjcc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phxjcc)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2019, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-pickup-trucks-get-so-expensive/829554/46 "2019-02-17T05:33:44Z")
To answer the OP’s question…the Super plutonium Platinum High Country King Ranch Lariat 1592 trims are huge money makers for the industry. You can get a mid level (e.g. XLT in Ford World) trim for ok money. 20 years ago that was top spec. options. Also be aware that what used to be 3/4 & 1 ton diesel towing specs are now 1/2 ton gas spec’s. You want to tow 12,000 with your F150? No problem. 20 years ago that would have been suicidal. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2019, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-pickup-trucks-get-so-expensive/829554/47 "2019-02-17T06:09:20Z")
Be care with tires too. They have to be rated for the weight your truck carries. I hired a landscaper to put in a raised flowerbed. I went with him to get the landscape blocks, topsoil, plants, mulch etc. There had to be 800 to 900 lbs in that 3/4 ton truck. He was very worried the cheap tires would pop. They were squashed down and I was glad we made it back home without a break down. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2019, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-pickup-trucks-get-so-expensive/829554/48 "2019-02-17T07:48:53Z")
**Moderator Note** > [@nightshadea](#): > > too many foreign soccer moms buying them , among the Asian and Latina women around here its there idea of an suv used to be only the men drove them because of the construction and landscaping trades > > but an odd trend started when little Juana or mei ling got her first job out of high school she wanted the truck she remembered daddy having only with upgrades and when she married she traded up for one she could cart the rugrats around in the local dealers even call certain styles “mommobiles” > > hence that’s why a lot pf them are decked out like suvs and minivans ……… and if you see them trying to park a full sized ram or f-150 for 20 minutes and then see a tiny barley 5 ft 98 pound girl pop out with 3 kids in tow…….its a shock the first 3 or 3 times > one well known lady was advised to sell hers after her 3rd near miss because sitting on 3 phone books to see over the dash wasn’t considered safe……. I’m not sure what this is, other than a weird rant using offensive stereotypes, to make, um… some kind of point, I guess. Let’s not do it again in IMHO. > [@Cumberdale](#): > > I agree. FU nightshadea. Take the FUs to the Pit, please. ---
**Author:** ![sps49sd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@sps49sd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sps49sd)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2019, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-pickup-trucks-get-so-expensive/829554/49 "2019-02-18T03:15:43Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > Depends on how used. 90s one would be cheap, but you aren’t saving much on a recent one. Pickups are among the least depreciating models. > > No more small trucks because CAFE: [How CAFE Killed Compact Trucks And Station Wagons | The Truth About Cars](https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2012/10/how-cafe-killed-compact-trucks-and-station-wagons/) So that’s why I can’t replace my Ranger. Which is a 4 cylinder with 17 mpg. ---
**Author:** ![Section\_Maker\_Jupe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/section_maker_jupe/32/1424_2.png) [@Section\_Maker\_Jupe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Section_Maker_Jupe)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2019, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-pickup-trucks-get-so-expensive/829554/50 "2019-02-18T03:57:03Z")
My first truck was one of these [https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1960-datsun-plg221-pickup/](https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1960-datsun-plg221-pickup/) had a setup for hand cranking the little motor. I could jumpstart it walking beside it then hopping in, it could drive down the sidewalk.😃 I was jazzed. 900 bucks used. Several decades and trucks later I still have my 2000 tundra, even though the gas mileage bites. The new Tundras are huge, as are the F150’s. Useless 4 wheel drive for the cities, nav and safety systems, stereos, internet, tvs…etc… its a wonder that they arent 100k… Its when all that stuff needs to be repaired, which is probably will, that you find out the true cost!!:eek: ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2019, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-pickup-trucks-get-so-expensive/829554/51 "2019-02-18T04:19:41Z")
> [@sps49sd](#): > > So that’s why I can’t replace my Ranger. Which is a 4 cylinder with 17 mpg. The new one is just bigger. Mileage all around is better these days, the current Ranger is advertised at 21/26, and I think starts at 4 cyl, though that information appears to be hard to find on their website. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2019, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-pickup-trucks-get-so-expensive/829554/52 "2019-02-18T10:53:53Z")
In Thailand, until recently a decent pickup was cheaper than even a small automobile. (Lower tax was part of the reason, as the pickup is a rural “necessity” while passenger cars are luxuries.) I’m not sure how to compare apples with apples, but even for 2018 a Honda Civic or Honda CRV is much more here than the U.S. prices Google shows; while a Toyota Vios pickup here is much cheaper than a Toyota Tacoma in U.S. A decade or two ago, almost all vehicles in rural Thailand were pickups, while pickups in Bangkok were laughed at! ---
**Author:** ![postpic200](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@postpic200](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/postpic200)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2019, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-pickup-trucks-get-so-expensive/829554/53 "2019-02-19T16:00:02Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > Ever since I’ve owned property I’ve always thought it would be a good, practical thing to own a pickup truck. Over the years I’ve priced new pickup trucks and they are _outrageously_ expensive. These days, a new pickup truck will cost you as much or even much, much more than a luxury sedan. > > When and how did this happen? Who are all of these people buying $65,000 pickup trucks?! That happened when the whole SUV thing started. An SUV at the time was basically a pickup. The nicer SUV’s sold better and given the parts were exchangeable from the SUV and pickups weren’t used for just work people wanted the nicer things in their truck. So people want heated seats, etc the price is going to go way up. If you want a old fashion work truck Chevy makes the Silverado, starting at 28,300, Ford F150 starts at 28,155, Dodge 27,395 you might have to order them, but you can get them. The dealership and car companies don’t make as much money off them the extra make them a LOT of money. ---
**Author:** ![darek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d78d45/32.png) [@darek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/darek)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2019, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-pickup-trucks-get-so-expensive/829554/54 "2019-02-19T19:01:26Z")
I guess during the mid 2000’s, truck companies decided to go with a more luxurious look and interior to increase the price. That’s why many people who use work trucks prefer pre-2007 trucks because of their reliability and low price. ---
**Author:** ![Stuntman\_Mike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stuntman_mike/32/334_2.png) [@Stuntman\_Mike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stuntman_Mike)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-pickup-trucks-get-so-expensive/829554/55 "2019-02-20T17:47:27Z")
The cost, and size, of trucks is outrageous. I keep a 2003 Toyota Tacoma as a third vehicle for the exact reason the OP stated… I’m a property owner, and I sometimes need the flexibility of a pickup. The '03/'04 Tacos are the last of the compacts. It’s a perfect size for homeowner usage. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-pickup-trucks-get-so-expensive/829554/56 "2019-02-20T18:19:12Z")
> [@Stuntman\_Mike](#): > > I keep a 2003 Toyota Tacoma as a third vehicle for the exact reason the OP stated… I’m a property owner, and I sometimes need the flexibility of a pickup. Mrs. L.A. has a 2000 Tacoma Extended Cab she bought new. She loves it. I love it too. It’s a 4-cylinder, 5-speed, which is apparently fairly rare. I used it a lot last summer, but most of my hauling is done. Her new business is off to a very slow start, and she has a 2010 RAV4 that needs to be paid for. So she’s decided she’s going to sell the Tacoma in a couple of months. ☹ She checked online, and they’re going for $4,000 to $7,000. Hers is in exceptional condition – recent paint in the original colour, ‘Rhino’ undercoating and sprayed-on bed liner, new tires… plus the custom hybiscus-pattern seat covers I paid $300 for, for a gift one year. She’s going to try to get $6,000 for it. I wish we could keep it, though. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-pickup-trucks-get-so-expensive/829554.md?page=2)