I'm a volunteer gougee. Just ordered my 2019 F150 STX/FX4. Can't wait for my build date and time when I can sign on the dotted line to get shafted. I'll be the happiest shaftee when it comes in.

 

I guess I'm one of those too

 

I saw a couple of recent articles about the cost and luxury now associated with full size pickup trucks. A lot of ink given to the rising cost, and that the manufacturers are actually struggling to keep up with the demand. let me tell you, if they are struggling to keep up with the demand, there is not a lot of incentive to reduce prices. One dealer commented that a > $100,000 pickup leaves the lot almost monthly now.

 

 

Trucks are as big as our cars of the 1970's. The 1960's cars were much bigger. The 1968 Cadillac Coupe de Ville.,.. the coupe with only two doors was only 2 inches shorter in length but with similar width compared to the Ford Excursion.

I love my F-150, handles like my grandpappy's 1977 Cadillac Eldorado with the 8.2-litre V-8 motor. I was never big on sporty cars, I did that in the past but never fully appreciated robust handling or tight suspension you see in today's family cars. None of the current cars are like the cars of the 1970's, soft suspension, immense trunk space, spacious interior, etc.

It would be nice if we could get the 1977 Lincoln Town Car with the 3.5L Ecoboost with 10 speed transmission. Is that even possible? That's probably the only way to get me back in cars instead of trucks. With cars getting smaller and smaller, more of us are moving to trucks and getting shafted. And even if we had cars similar in size to trucks, they'd still cost the same as trucks anyway.

 

One thing puzzles me about the expense of these things, the average working Joe and how they deal with these things. I'm not talking about the good earner corporate or professional dude who wants a truck for...whatever(?) but the Joe who might be a carpenter, farming type, landscaper, et al.

I'm in construction and have used them for years for work and up until recently they were priced within reach or practical reach for us working schleps. It's never really been an issue most of my life, put down some $$, take out a loan, pay it off, drive into the ground, get a new one. Now the working stiff is faced with a $60,000 nut to crack to work his business...crazy. I know for a fact that incomes in those fields have not taken off to that degree, not even close. My sheetrock subcontractor bought a F350 for $60k and has a loan for 6 years, truck might be junk at that point. It's getting difficult to give it a go these days.

To that point we're getting shafted...but Ford is no worse than the other companies.

Personally I have other work vehicles and don't have a big need for a truck anymore, hence my reason for a new F150, a little more comfortable ride than my other trucks and can still write it off and make it work occasionally.

 

Your contractor could have spent significantly less and would have gotten a truck capable of the job. The working man, and most other people, don't need all of the options that are available on these trucks.

People get caught up in the whole "upgrade" vs "downgrade" idea. And the concept of resale. If you spend less, resale is less. Pretty simple.

A new XL F150 can be bought for under $30K. An new Super Duty gasser can be bought in the low $30s, and a diesel for around $40K.

I used to want a King Ranch truck years ago. Never got one. Now I doubt I ever will. Hell, my XLT is over optioned with crap I never use.

 

In 1995, the F-250 cost $15,152.. had only 148 hp with towing capacity of 8,200 pounds.

In 2019, the F-250 costs $40,736.. have 385 hp with towing capacity of 18,000 pounds.

I ran the inflation calculator.. $15,152 back in 1995 would be $25,098. So, yes, you're correct, $40,000 is well above inflation. Looking at the specs, today's F-150 is similar to the 1995 F-250 and a new one can be bought for $25,000 (if you knew where to look).

The 1980 intermediate-sized Honda Accord is the same in size to the 1995 Honda Civic. Now, the smallest Honda Fit is the same in size as the 1995 Civic. Cars are getting bigger and better.

 

 

Could have gone higher easily too. It's his daily driver also so it isn't stripped down, but it's not Lariat or KR either.
You have good prices down there too, I was looking at trucks in TX because of the prices but settled for one in NC (I live in CT).

 

Reps sent for the laugh and congrats to both!!

 

I agree, autos/trucks are very dependable today, if my 250 hadn't rusted I'd still be in it after 140,000mi. However, when something goes wrong it's electronic much of the time and you're left with a trip to the dealer which is a PItA. Too much technology IMO.

 

If all you need is a truck for your business, a 4WD F150 XL regular cab with an 8' bed can be had for $33K sticker (probably less at a dealership since I see brand new STX's going for that price). I don't think that's impractical at all.

 

It`s funny when people start to complain about the price of F150`s, they automatically use the price of a higher end Lariat and up trim level F150 as their basis or measuring stick for their complaint.

 

Remember when things like leather wasn't even an option?