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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Moderator Note
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.
Take the FUs to the Pit, please.
So that’s why I can’t replace my Ranger. Which is a 4 cylinder with 17 mpg.
My first truck was one of these 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:
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.