Went to the auto show today

[LRutigliano]

Went to the auto show (work related) to see what the new designs look like...



Spent time looking at the Ram, Powerstroke and Duramax and got very discouraged... All three are very nice trucks, but they were priced at $56k, $60k and $58k, respectively for top of the line 3/4 tons.



Sobering thoughts were that I WILL NEVER be able to afford a new truck ever again and I need to make the '03 last forever. I bought it BC (before children) with the Chrysler employee program.



Now with two kids, less income and a terrible economy, I don't think we'll ever be able to recover and afford another new car/truck, except maybe a Kia or a Tata (when they get here... )



Seriously, who has $40k to $60k for a new car/truck?? Corvette ZR1 was $74k !! and the 6. 1 Challenger was $48k !!



Made me feel really good about the 92' Corolla I use for a daily driver that I was blessed for getting it for free.



I'm getting old...

 

[Wooter]

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ prices $$$$$$$$$$$$$

Isn't that a "bad joke"!!!!! I looked at a Ford 1/2 ton on display in a shopping mall, it looked nice and "only" $43 thousand: What a bargain!! My guess, is that 75% of the population in this country can't afford 20 thousand for any type of a vehicle (if they actually do their math) and that leaves only 25% to look at the 54/60k price tags and that % of the population drops considerably when it comes to 40k. I know I can't afford a new one!!!!



JUST MY THOUGHTS BUT I DONT THINK I'M VERY FAR OFF

 

[AMink]

My guess is that if they want to move these vehicles, the actual "out the door" price is going to have to be <$35,000-38,000 for a nicely equipped truck and not over $40,000 by much for the fully loaded. Otherwise, they will have a bunch of trucks sitting on lots for a long time. Even the folks who overspent in their last purchases are wising up now.

 

[EGroeneveld]

Don't give up, the high MSRP is only the 1st offer by the dealer. I have seen some of the 2010 Dodge 2500/3500 purchased at 80-85% of MSRP. The Ford Dealer here is advertising $ 11,000 off for fully loaded SuperDuties. You also, I guess, looked at fully loaded trucks. Not marking powered, heated, leather seats, dvd players etc... also makes a huge differnce. These rigs also hit the used market with plenty of life left for a lot less in 2 or 3 years. I do plan on picking up a new DOdge 3500 dually in the next 6 months to a year, but I have been lucky during this down economy (at my office right now).

 

[AMink]

I guess I find it annoying that we still have to play the "what does it really cost" game in these tough times. We don't have to screw around and negotiate a price with most other commodities, why should we have to do it with cars and trucks? That's why I really liked dealing with Chuck Gilleys at Carson Dodge, though he is no longer there. I went in, he knew I knew, and we traded money for trucks.

 

[RankRam]

Yeah Chuck was a great salesman! The good news for me is that I plan to keep this 06 forever!

 

[AMink]

Yeah Chuck was a great salesman! The good news for me is that I plan to keep this 06 forever!

I asked the service guy if he left on his own or got canned. Couldn't get an answer.

 

[Regcabguy]

I couldn't get a straight price out of Carson Dodge so I used Dave Smith. I had a very knowledgeable salesguy and a super sales manager. I didn't know about Chuck or Carson might of got a sale. Special ordering assures the exact truck you can afford and relieves the dealership of interest and floor costs. My salesguy is gone now at DSM also. This will be my last new truck. They are expensive to insure and super expensive to register here in Ca.

 

[rscurtis]

I think Saturn had the right idea on pricing- this is the price- take it or leave it. Manufacturers have to get away from the horse trading pricing strategy if they ever hope to become profitable again. Another concept that will hopefully be learned someday is to not flood the market with product and then have to give it away just to get rid of it- the "Home Depot" syndrome.

 

[Gene Heck]

Saturn

It was a good idea in concept but they forgot that they were charging the same price for their non-union built cars that the others union built were charging. Since they felt they didn't need to lower their prices any why should the consumer feel any different?



About a year and a half ago my wife and I stopped in the local Saturn dealer and the salesman came running out (oh no) and proceeded to tell us that we better grab one because they were selling them faster that they could be delivered!! Well by now you know what happened with that. At least I don't have to worry about sourcing Saturn parts.



As I remember, towards the end they were trying to offer discounts on their cars to sell them.



I wonder where that dumb ***** is working now.

 

[MVenditti]

Went to the auto show (work related) to see what the new designs look like...



Spent time looking at the Ram, Powerstroke and Duramax and got very discouraged... All three are very nice trucks, but they were priced at $56k, $60k and $58k, respectively for top of the line 3/4 tons.



Sobering thoughts were that I WILL NEVER be able to afford a new truck ever again and I need to make the '03 last forever. I bought it BC (before children) with the Chrysler employee program.



Now with two kids, less income and a terrible economy, I don't think we'll ever be able to recover and afford another new car/truck, except maybe a Kia or a Tata (when they get here... )



Seriously, who has $40k to $60k for a new car/truck?? Corvette ZR1 was $74k !! and the 6. 1 Challenger was $48k !!



Made me feel really good about the 92' Corolla I use for a daily driver that I was blessed for getting it for free.



I'm getting old...

It's crazy, My grandparents bought their ranch house in NY for less in the late 50's.

 

[zb39]

Very few people pay MSRP for a vehicle. Buy used, you will save thousands. Wait untill end of model year, deals can be found. i personally love dealing on cars and trucks. I have fun negotiating, of course i do it for a living. Horse Trading is an American tradition. I LOVE IT! Of course some people think I"m different. LOL

 

[Grizzly]

It's crazy, My grandparents bought their ranch house in NY for less in the late 50's.

In the 50's, that was 60 years ago. A brand new Dodge truck only cost about $1500 in the 50's. Don't forget, there is such a thing as inflation. An average annual salary in the 50's was about $2000 to $3000. What's an average salary today? It's all relative.



In addition, a Dodge in the 50's didn't have a diesel engine with a 6 speed transmission and the capacity to haul a 40' 5th wheel. The didn't have air conditioning and sophisticated stereos. They didn't have plush leather seats and a rear seat on a crew cab.



The high price of a new truck is only relative to today personal income and our life style. Of course, we do have a choice, we can drive a 1950 Dodge, Ford or Chevy for our daily commute and hope it will haul our monstrous 5th wheels.

 

[bheiting]

I don't know about you, but I like the looks of the 3rd gens. over the new ones.
I like them even more when I consider the better mileage and lack of pollution
hardware on the 5. 9s. That new vehicle novelty doesn't last very long.

 

[Grizzly]

I don't know about you, but I like the looks of the 3rd gens. over the new ones.

I like them even more when I consider the better mileage and lack of pollution

hardware on the 5. 9s. That new vehicle novelty doesn't last very long.

I agree. A 3rd gen is hard to beat with a tried and proven 5. 9, 24v, Cummins.

 

[LRutigliano]

I agree. A 3rd gen is hard to beat with a tried and proven 5. 9, 24v, Cummins.

AND... its been paid for a very long time...

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

I don't know about you, but I like the looks of the 3rd gens. over the new ones.

I like them even more when I consider the better mileage and lack of pollution

hardware on the 5. 9s. That new vehicle novelty doesn't last very long.

Any 12Valvers want to say Deja Vu :-laf

 

[Hammer]

Any 12Valvers want to say Deja Vu

LOL!... .



HOWEVER,I will say this... .

I am one who likes the look of the new trucks.

What I do not like is the cost and the recent car show here has made me realize that I am a lucky man that my old 12ver has been paid for a long time now. The one I looked at from the local dealership was stickered well over 50k and that to me in this economy is flat out ridiculous. I could find me a old beater for a couple of grand and then rebuild my truck from the ground up for less than half of the current cost of a new truck. So I guess with 230k on my old ride I will run her some more unitl the body rusts off the chassis... ... . Andy

 

[CStringer]

i love the quote someone has in their sig (cant remember if its on TDR or cumminsforum) it says "if only I could keep the Dodge from rusting off the Cummins!"

lool

I love the new trucks as well. and of the 3 I have, 2 are paid for, and working on the 3rd. I want a new 5500 with the new body style, but as of right now, I got alot more miles to put on the 07 first... .

 

[hammersley]

Count me in as a Nay Sayer......

I guess I'm really getting to be an Old Cogger... because I do not like the sissified new look..... with all the crap that one doesn't need... ...