For Those Lamenting "Rising Truck Prices"

[Snakebitten]

I'm near 70.
I've had a fair share of trucks.
I don't remember disliking any of them particularly and never had a lemon.

But my current special order KingRanch Powerboost is coming up on 4 years old and I don't have any memory of any truck having nearly as long of a honeymoon period. I still enjoy this truck as much as I did when it rolled off the long awaited transport truck.

And I think it might be the only vehicle I have ever had that 5 or 6 years into production of the generation, nobody, including the same manufacturer, has answered with a "better" version of the same. How much longer do I have to wait for a new improved "Powerboost" truck? (A Hybrid with native ProPower)

Sponsored

 

[mostater]

Loved those old connectors that the seat belts clipped into and were made of metal. Would burn your skin on a hot summer's day. Good times...

 

[Buyer2021]

I'm near 70.
I've had a fair share of trucks.
I don't remember disliking any of them particularly and never had a lemon.

But my current special order KingRanch Powerboost is coming up on 4 years old and I don't have any memory of any truck having nearly as long of a honeymoon period. I still enjoy this truck as much as I did when it rolled off the long awaited transport truck.

With you 100%, Bruce (though I'm on the high-side of 70). Every one of the F150, 250, and 350 trucks I've owned, each for its own purpose in my evolving life-needs, has served me well; nary a lemon in the bunch.

Now 42 months into life with my special order Lariat SuperCab and I can honestly say that every time I drive it is just as supremely satisfying as the day I drove it off Granger's lot.

Dollar price / inflation notwithstanding, IMO the real-world value for current F150 owners is as great as it's ever been, if not better.

 

[Davexxxx]

I found the dealer brochure for my 1990 XLT. 507A, the highest trim level at the time, along with some notes.
RCLB, 4WD, 5 liter, 5 speed manual, manual hubs (the electric hubs weren't reliable yet), twin tanks, 2 tone paint.

Engine HP was 185, with 270 lb'. It got 16 MPG all around, BTW.

GVWR = 6250 and with the payload package (that mine didn't have) a potential max payload of 2240.

It was a good truck. I recall new hubs once, a clutch a pair of fuel pumps and rear axle bearings. Got rid of it at something over 300K miles, when I bought the 2001.

MSRP was $17,893.

In today's dollars = $44,465

Current MSRP of a 25 XLT, starts at $45,695, tossing in a Super Cab, because the XLT doesn't come in RC, all the other goodies and a 50% increase in MPGs.

New trucks, are a relative bargain.

Also from my notes, interest rates were 11%+

 

[Snakebitten]

With you 100%, Bruce (though I'm on the high-side of 70). Every one of the F150, 250, and 350 trucks I've owned, each for its own purpose in my evolving life-needs, has served me well; nary a lemon in the bunch.

Now 42 months into life with my special order Lariat SuperCab and I can honestly say that every time I drive it is just as supremely satisfying as the day I drove it off Granger's lot.

Dollar price / inflation notwithstanding, IMO the real-world value for current F150 owners is as great as it's ever been.

Well there's at least 2 Ole geezers that are grinning about the good fortune of today's good life, while still appreciating the past for what was deserving, as well.

 

[Buyer2021]

Also from my notes, interest rates were 11%+

I guess just good karma / luck of timing .... both my 2005 XLT and my 2022 Lariat were bought with 0%APR financing by Ford Credit.

 

[Lead Foot PowerBoost]

Cpi says $10,000 today is almost $52,000. So, top of the line truck today should be $52,000?
Just an observation. I still like my truck.

Apples and oranges I think. Yesteryear's Lariat is probably totally stripped down compared to today's Lariat. Compare it to today's XLT and you're still getting a far better truck today for $52k.

 

[Old Hat]

ahhh, the good old days.

I don't miss the whistling they did.

Those of us old enough know that some of these vent windows sealed fine, others just required a nickel wedged in the latch!

 

[Buyer2021]

Those of us old enough know that some of these vent windows sealed fine, others just required a nickel wedged in the latch!

It only took a penny to quieten my old F250's vent windows. Apparently, though, the penny is soon to be just as obsolete as those vent windows!

 

[My 2ND Ford]

Well there's at least 2 Ole geezers that are grinning about the good fortune of today's good life, while still appreciating the past for what was deserving, as well.

Make that 3 old guys, I’m 70 as well and I still love my 21 Platinum. Just returned from our twice yearly trip down south with the truck and I still want to just get in and drive!

 

[js312]

Loved those old connectors that the seat belts clipped into and were made of metal. Would burn your skin on a hot summer's day. Good times...

I also remember the era of powered seat belts.

My father had old Subaru wagons that had them. Those things had no frills beyond the electronically selectable 4WD and it was so slow it was kind of hysterical, but they went through the trouble to put motors in for those seat belts!

 

[DEEPDOWN]

ahhh, the good old days.

Ah yes the exterior ash tray! (back when I smoked)!

 

[DT444T]

I also remember the era of powered seat belts.

My father had old Subaru wagons that had them. Those things had no frills beyond the electronically selectable 4WD and it was so slow it was kind of hysterical, but they went through the trouble to put motors in for those seat belts!

My 1991 Nissan 300zx had the compliant "automatic" seatbelts. They were fully attached to the door and not the body of the car itself. You were meant to click the seatbelt in and LEAVE it there, sneaking out between the belt and seat with the door open. But otherwise they worked just like normal seatbelts. The annoying this was that if the PASSENGER seatbelt was unbuckled, even with nobody in the seat, the light would come on in the gauges. All you had to do was unhook the plug under the seat to make it go away.

(LOL at "Biblically Accurate")

 

[tmark]

I love these "From The Archive" reviews on caranddriver.com. Really puts things in perspective I think. Here's a review of a 2002 Ram Quad Cab (supercab equivalent). 235hp V8, 8.8sec 0-60, pretty much no tech. All for the low low sticker price of $28,775. BUT when you convert to 2025 dollars that's $51,952!

The sticker price for a new F-150 XLT Supercab with 5.0L V8 is a little less than that at $50,325. So for roughly the same money today you get a truck with all of today's safety features and a far superior powertrain and driving dynamics. That's progress!

Tested: 2002 Dodge Ram 1500 Quad Cab Is Ahead of Its Time

We have a lot to lament. My bestie in 1971 bought a bare bones Chevrolet 1500. Three on the tree, V8, no a/c. Manual windows, rubber mats, blah, blah. IIRC he paid $2800. That is $22,500 in 2025. The starting price for that truck on Chev’s build and buy site for a 2025 is over $39K, near double. Of course, the ‘25 is a lot more truck in terms of tech and safety, but not THAT much more. My F150 from 21’ to ‘25 is around $10k more. Same truck.

 

[Old Hat]

We have a lot to lament. My bestie in 1971 bought a bare bones Chevrolet 1500. Three on the tree, V8, no a/c. Manual windows, rubber mats, blah, blah. IIRC he paid $2800. That is $22,500 in 2025. The starting price for that truck on Chev’s build and buy site for a 2025 is over $39K, near double. Of course, the ‘25 is a lot more truck in terms of tech and safety, but not THAT much more. My F150 from 21’ to ‘25 is around $10k more. Same truck.

But the modern truck will eventually close the $$ gap with fuel savings and longer life/more miles. I love the old times and vehicles but We're not going back!

Sponsored