Huge, pricey trucks haul jobs and profits for the Detroit Three

Reuters ^ | February 5, 2019 | Nick Carey and Joseph White

[wally_bert]

My 16 Tacoma sticker price new was 33k.

It is plenty of truck for me.

The manual transmission was cheaper.

[cableguymn]

all the Yodas around here from the 80s, and really the 90s all rusted away..

some the frames taco’d on as well (rusted away and folded up like a taco)

my back up truck is a 82 F-250 with a 460-4V.. Only thing that truck stops for?

gas stations.. every single one of them.

[wally_bert]

My dad bought an S10 the first year they came out.

It withstood a couple decades of abuse running all over America on construction jobs.

300k of hard mileage.

[wally_bert]

I’d like to have a Chevy LUV.

[Uncle Miltie]

My 2004 Toyota Tundra still drives like the Lexus that was built on the same chassis with the same engine.

[BobL]

Detroit is DAMN LUCKY that the Japanese didn’t go after that market. They almost did, but then got scared off by Obama tightening the screws on gas mileage.

[Mariner]

I cannot fathom $69k for a pick-up.
Even if I could afford it.

I’d buy a $40k (plain) truck and a $29k Accord. Or some other nice sedan.

Use each as intended.

[SamAdams76]

I know somebody that bought a brand new Ford F150 with all the bells and whistles. He would never use it to haul anything and kept the truck bed waxed and spotless. For the money he spent, he could have had a luxury car. But he wanted to project that “real man” image while he was actually a fussy neatness freak who never got his hands dirty.

[TexasGator]

“The Ford 5.4 litre engine in trucks is one of the worst on the planet. “

Hater posting fake news alert!

[Responsibility2nd]

Where I live, Texas, I see plenty of trucks that never get dirty.

Jeep wranglers too. Especially the Wranglers with $10-$15,000 worth of optional wheels, tires, lifts and all of the bling you can afford. And do they ever go off road? No way.

Still, they could buy a BMW or Mercedes which would be a bigger waste of money. So as I always say, to each his own.

[Blood of Tyrants]

And fewer have long beds. The short 5 foot beds are practically useless.

[wally_bert]

My Tacoma stays in a somewhat unwashed state.

My CJs have either white spoke wagon type wheels or powder coated chrome originals. Basic and basic AT radials.

[DFG]

When I was growing up, my Dad had a 1963 Dodge Crew Cab like the one in this picture. Don't remember seeing many other crew cab pickup trucks growing up. I was born in 1963 so I was the same as the truck. In 1971, towing a 19 foot trailer, our family of 5 took a 6 week trip from Northern California to Anchorage Alaska on the Alcan highway when it was still gravel. We took other trips from California to Oskkosh (EAA airshow), North Carolina, Texas, and Yellowstone, and many trips to Los Angeles. I drove this truck to high school a few times and my Dad sold it in the late 1980's.

[wally_bert]

I’ve seen a handful of old 4 door dodge like those but not since the 80s.

One Dodge truck I always loved was the Rick Simon Power Wagon.

[dp0622]

For him it is practical.

Life is to enjoy sometimes.

I LOVE my Challenger and don’t give a #### about the monthly payments or how much it will decline in value (actually not dropping too badly).

For your reasoning, why EVER eat an expensive meal or spend money on non essentials.

Maybe you don’t and you’re rich :)

In which case it’s not a bad idea after all and I wasted all that money on a Challenger.

I just killed my own argument.

[Don@VB]

I have a 1997 Ford Ranger with 240,000 miles. Original everything. Still runs like a top. Bought it 5 yrs used for $2000 :-)

[dragnet2]

I know somebody that bought a brand new Ford F150 with all the bells and whistles. He would never use it to haul anything and kept the truck bed waxed and spotless. For the money he spent, he could have had a luxury car. But he wanted to project that “real man” image

What do you do with a luxury car beside try to impress the neighbors? One can do way more with a truck than some luxury car with bells and whistles that most never use anyway. And looking at the condition of the streets/highways in CA and other venues, a truck will hold up much longer than a luxury car with 4" of ground clearance.

[Dusty Road]

I’ve made my living in the oilfields of west Texas for over 45 years and buy a new truck every 2 to 3 years. I’ve been a big fan of GMC’s and I’m running a 2016 Z-71 with the 6.2. I just hit 100,000 and it’s time for a new one and it will be another Z-71 with the 6.2. 400+ HP and suspension that can handle rough old ranch roads.

[PapaBear3625]

Something struck me maybe five years ago. At one time it was rare to see a pickup with an extended cab. Now I would guess that maybe 90% of the ones passing by have that long cab.

Thank EPA's Corporate Average Fuel Economy Regulations. Pickups go by different standards, which are easier to meet.

So people who used to buy station wagons or mini-vans decades ago, are being steered into pickups.

[ChildOfThe60s]

While it’s not how I would spend my money (I’d have 5 bikes in my garage instead of 1 if I could afford to), I don’t understand why some of the commenters seem to feel that people shouldn’t spend their money any way they like.