Originally Posted by 2002 Maxima SE
Originally Posted by hatt
Originally Posted by 14Accent
Originally Posted by JohnnyJohnson
They wanted to start building $50,000 dollar trucks.
That's not even it, though. $50k doesn't buy you much when it comes to a new truck. I just spent 15 minutes quickly configuring base trim, regular cab, 8' box 1500 trucks from the Big 3. All 4x4, all with the V8 engine option. I added what I thought were the most basic options (power windows and locks, carpet, cloth seats, and maybe an appearance package). I spec'd the Ram with the larger, touch screen audio option (as the Silverado has it standard), it was unavailable in the Ford. On all 3, I added a locking or LS differential. Here's what I came up with:
2020 Ford F-150 XL: $40,350 MSRP
2020 Chevrolet Silverado WT: $38,995 MSRP
2019 Ram 1500 Classic (the new ram is N/A with a regular cab, in any trim): $37,735
And there's your issue. You used to be able to load a regular cab truck to the gills, and lots of guys wanted that. Now, everyone is replacing SUV's with $80k pickups. It's a fad. Since these trucks are being used as family haulers more and more, they need more seats.
The teeny tiny market for regular cab trucks just isn't worth the effort for the companies that build them.
Just for reference, I built the same 3 trucks but basically maxed them out. Not 100%, but maybe 95%. All were crew-cab long box trucks. Here's what I got:
2020 Ford F-150 Platinum - $66,220
2020 Chevrolet SIlverado High Country - $69,240
And the value leader of the group, with what is arguably the nicest interior and the nicest looks:
2020 Ram 1500 Limited: $67,855. With current incentives, $10k off that. A little good haggling, maybe $13k off. Money is cheap right now, people in the market would rather have the big boy truck.
Adjusted for inflation, what did a comparable truck cost 30 years ago? Today's lower level truck is more decked out that the top trim level trucks back in the day. Never mind much more powerful and capable. Price out an 80s K30 Silverado with a 454. That's more comparable to today's 1/2 ton lower end pickup.
I had a 1997 Ford F-150 Flareside 4X4 in regular cab. Cloth seats, automatic 4X4, AC (was pretty standard at that time) fog lights, class iv towing with the 4.6L V8 for $26K. In 1997 there were three engine choices: 4.2L V6, 4.6L V8 and 5.4L V8. Priced out at Ford.com for 2020 Ford F-150 with that same trim level and features (with the mid-line engine: 2.7L V6) is $40,275.
This is not my truck, but mine looked exactly like it in black:
$26000 in 1997 is almost $42000 today. And no one pays sticker for F150s.