2016FordF150

Today there are endless options available on a pickup truck that would qualify it as a luxury vehicle. Unfortunately the pricing has quickly risen towards luxury levels as well. In the current market it is difficult to locate a truck that is equipped similar to what was near the top of the line pickup around the late 1990s early 2000s. Power windows / locks, CD with 8 speaker sound system / steering mounted controls, cruise control, remote start and a few others were enough to consider a truck well equipped. Yes,... things like the CD player are quickly fading and change is inevitable but when did we as a society come to think we need a truck that costs upwards of 20% - 30% the price of an American home with all the fancy bells and whistles? As Americans we are all about freedom but from my point of view when I stand back I see average pickup truck payments nearing $700 per month (Edmunds) that somewhat steals away an individuals short and long term options in life. In ways the American society has adopted an unhealthy version of consumerism (keeping up with the Joneses) that has robbed us of what we originally fought for but on a different front. So I have to ask could we be better off saving and buying the more basic pickups but be more satisfied with additional fiscal stability that gives us more freedom? This is just a thought...

(I base this on most truck buyers of today take out 60 - 84 month loans on trucks with payments that are sky high but yet are working longer hours for less money. I am guilty by not being in complete need of a truck... we all have wants)

jeffinthebag

Pickups use to be a tool of the tradesman. Plain and simple used as a tool. So they were cheap and inexpensive. But today most truck owners want all the bells and whistles available on the luxury car level. So of course it will have to cost more. That's why I purchased a XLT. I can't see having heated/cooled seats, heated steering wheel, sunroof and all that in my truck. That's what luxury cars are for. My truck is for truck uses.

2016FordF150

I could not agree more with your reasoning... the XLT is a good trim and well balanced for needs.

RLXXI

You could also buy mid trim levels like I did and then modify to ones liking. I paid $29,900 out the door for my well equipped XLT in 2013. I then commenced to making it more to my style. I stopped counting at $10,000 in mods. Sound system alone was $3,000+

Could have bought a Limited to begin with but I knew I wanted to personalize it my self, not let some dweeb on a drawing board design everything LOL.
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HeathMc

I think what happened is that women started driving trucks. So they started building them for luxury instead a practicality.

RLXXI

You find your truck impractical?
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77Ranger460

To me, AC and a FM radio used to be luxury.

marshallr

There are still such trucks available,and at reasonable prices that are no more expensive than trucks cost 20-30 years ago. WITH INFLATION FACTORED IN The median income today is over $60,000/year. It was in the $25,000/year range in the 1990's so the same truck should cost 2 1/2 X as much. FWIW, I paid $10,500 for a very basic regular cab 4X4 with the 4.9 I6 engine and a 4 speed manual in 1985. Other than 4X4 the only option was AC. Even had rubber floor mats. I feel quite confident that I could find a better equipped new regular cab 4X4 truck for around $30,000 today. I can get a pretty well equipped Supercab 4X4 with a V8 and automatic transmission today in the low $40,000 range.

A $700 truck payment today would have been about $365 in 1990. A truck that sells new today for $44,000 would have sold for $23,000 in 1990. You also have to remember that the prime interest rate on a loan in 1990 was about 10%. Today you can borrow money at 2% or less with good credit.

The fact is that today we have to work fewer hours to afford comparable goods than at almost any time in history. Trucks included.

PHolder

Yep. My first truck didn't have power steering or a radio. It had dealer installed AC and I added the stereo myself.

MustangAndy

SXT for me. No chrome, power everything except seat (which i prefer over a power seat), AC. I made the radio better myself via the aftermarket. I don't need heated wheel, I have heated seats in my 1990 BMW and rarely use them so it not something I need in my truck. Supercab so there's room for six people if i get desperate - had a SCREW for a rental and didnt really see the need for me anyway to have four full doors plus I have a true 6' bed unlike a SCREW.


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