Are Modern Truck Buyers Asking for Too Much Luxury?

[rbattelle]

*I* think all those areas on my truck are pretty much what I would expect in a truck in this weight and price class

Me too! And that's my point exactly... some people expect too much, like the ride, comfort, and quietness of a Lexus in a $40000 work truck.

 

[amsoilman]

My first Dodge Truck was bought new in 1968 as a 1969 Model, and I certainly can tell you, the 03' Dodge that I now own is 10 times the truck the 1969 model was, even though I pulled a travel trailer with the 69' truck which had a 383 ci. 4 barrel Carburator. The truck was not at all "plush" and the ride was certainly not nearly as good as the 03'! I will say the truck was built very tough, and lasted for many years!



Wayne

amsoilman

 

[Jgoldsberry]

Exactly What I use it for

I went to a diesel mainly for milage I put on it - Being a manager in the construction industry, I am placing around 1k miles per week on the truck. I do tow back hoes, track hoes, and other trailers and equipment between job sites but I could always use a company truck for the hauling... .



I often visit general contractors and take them to lunch etc. and quite often their assistants and secretaries, etc come along and it is nice to be able to tote them around in a nice vehicle with all the trimmings - maybe it is an ego/sales thing but I can put on that professional image - right after digging some trenches or hanging lights... .



Also being on the road all the time - a little comfort is nice - being able to whip out the lappie and do office work on the road is also a plus -



4 wheel drive is a necessity as early job sites are often sandy, muddy, or just plain nasty - (and I enjoy pulling others out of their stucky situations - ego again :-laf )



So over all, having the truck being able to do what it is made to do AND be able to do it with a bit of flare, is not too much to ask - especially for 45k



Oh yeah and dont forget that being able to look good AND blow those ricers away with an 8000# truck is a wonderful feeling of satisfaction... .

 

[DEickhoff]

Mine is a catch-22. I love the way my truck handles, smells and sounds. It is after all a TRUCK!!!! I have not owned any cars but one and that was a long time ago. Since then I have only owned trucks. We as a family own one of each (Ford 350, a Chevy S10 (15+ yrs old) and my Dodge) all three trucks drive like trucks. All three were daily drivers and weekend haulers (whatever we wanted). IMHO I think people are getting trucks to make a statement and not use the trucks as working vehicles. Thus they want all the options that a car would have. That is there right just as it is our right to not purchase the additional options that are available.



dawna

 

[FATCAT]

When I first heard you could get leather seats in a pickup truck I couldn't believe it! Who the F*** would want leather in a pickup truck 'cept some city slicker wana be.



Boy, I hope when I buy another truck in 2007/08 that I still can get manual windows, manual locks, rubber floor (no carpet), and manual mirrors. My only request is cloth seats and air-conditioning. All that other stuff belongs in cars.



You want leather seats, cruse control, plush carpet, inside/outside thermometers/GPS/satilite tracking and all that crazy stuff ... . get a friggen car. Keep the trucks simple and put the extras in to better frames, axles, drivelines and brakes.



Man, this country is getting soft as grapes!

 

[Chipstien]

When I first heard you could get leather seats in a pickup truck I couldn't believe it! Who the F*** would want leather in a pickup truck 'cept some city slicker wana be.



Boy, I hope when I buy another truck in 2007/08 that I still can get manual windows, manual locks, rubber floor (no carpet), and manual mirrors. My only request is cloth seats and air-conditioning. All that other stuff belongs in cars.



You want leather seats, cruse control, plush carpet, inside/outside thermometers/GPS/satilite tracking and all that crazy stuff ... . get a friggen car. Keep the trucks simple and put the extras in to better frames, axles, drivelines and brakes.



Man, this country is getting soft as grapes!

I guess I must be a city slicker wanna-be. I got my truck as loaded as I could get (with the exception of the snow plow package). My thinking is if I am going to have this as a daily driver then why not be comfortable. Sure I don't NEED all the options but when you really sit down and compare the prices you find that you get more bang for the buck if you get it loaded. Apparently I am a big fat pussie for wanting to be comfortable when I hitch up to the trailer and travel cross country with the wife and two kids. Oh and your right, leather... . what a joke. It is so much better when the kids spill a pop in the back and have it soak into the cloth seat then just to take a rag and wipe it off the leather. No what is a joke is cloth seat in a work truck. You complain about leather when it should be cloth. Now if the options were vinyl and leather then I could see you point.



If I could not have gotten all the options this truck has I would not have wasted 40G's on a new truck when I could just go spend 5000 on a 92 or 93 Cummins and got the job done. Hell I am still waiting for the dual zone climate control and heads up display. Why not offer these to those that want it. Save those options for us whining little pussies while you Manly men go suffer with the manual windows and no AC. Good luck, I will be a pussie.

 

[Chipstien]

You want leather seats, cruse control, plush carpet, inside/outside thermometers/GPS/satilite tracking and all that crazy stuff ... . get a friggen car.

Why don't you invent a car that can pull a 35 foot Fiver... . Awe hell, they probably can now if our sissy girlie trucks can pull one. HMMmm, can you tell I am slightly offended.

 

[thejeepdude]

Why don't you invent a car that can pull a 35 foot Fiver... . Awe hell, they probably can now if our sissy girlie trucks can pull one. HMMmm, can you tell I am slightly offended.

Don't worry about it chips... I'm with you. . if I gotta spend 30K on a truck to pull my toys anyways, then I might as well spend 40K and make it my daily driver! Besides, I just like driving a truck, AND I like being comfortable!



To you other guys... "ya might be a redneck if... " ya gotta be cheap and uncomfortable to prove your manliness.

 

[Chipstien]

:-laf :-laf

 

[Forrest Nearing]

I don't get it, what's so uncomfortable about them?



if you don't like the creature comforts and ride of a $35k Dodge diesel, go drop $50k on a Duramax... or spend the difference on making the Dodge ride to your satisfaction.



are people asking too much? some are/some aren't... a little tweak here and there, sure, but I think the new CTD's are a HELL of a value for the dollar!!!



Forrest

 

[Chipstien]

I don't think anyone was saying that they were not uncomfortable. Trust me, if luxury and options were number 1 then the Dodge would have been last on my list. Both the Ford and Chevys offer much more features then Dodge did. However since the Cummins was number 1 I figured I might as well get it as loaded as possible.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

If I gotta spend 30K on a truck to pull my toys anyways, then I might as well spend 40K and make it my daily driver! Besides, I just like driving a truck, AND I like being comfortable!



To you other guys... "ya might be a redneck if... " ya gotta be cheap and uncomfortable to prove your manliness.

AMEN!



With 2 back surgeries, and having made a few cross the US trips. I very much appreciate the AC, and good music from the CD/cassette player out where there's no radio sigs available - made the first of those trips with the old '91, and believe me, the FAR greater ride and creature comforts provided by the '02 were VERY evident! Last thing *I* need, is to arrive at my destination at the end of the day all battered and bruised from travel - especially when I'm faced with doing it all over again TOMORROW!



I, for one, appreciate the advances in style, comfort and increased power handling my newer truck provides - and now, faced with about 3 1000 mile round trips as we move out of wacky California, I can assure you I will appreciate them even MORE~



Sure, guys wanting a truck ONLY for farm use, hauling hay and manure short distances - I can see why they would prefer something simpler and less expensive - but unfortunately for them, they are in the minority, and the manufacturers definitely play to the greater masses with different wants and needs.



I've got comfort, power and style - and I'm glad of it!

 

[thejeepdude]

I don't get it, what's so uncomfortable about them?



if you don't like the creature comforts and ride of a $35k Dodge diesel, go drop $50k on a Duramax... or spend the difference on making the Dodge ride to your satisfaction.

One, they aren't UNcomfortable ANYMORE. That's the whole point. Ever ridden in an old 70's or 80's truck of any brand? You get tired of the coil springs you can feel through the seat pokin you in the arse! I agree that even a stripped ST model is years ahead of where we used to be, but by the sounds of the original post, it sounds like some people would rather be in the stone ages. I will never complain about them adding "too many" luxury features. . AS LONG AS they don't sacrifice the basics, like the competition did with IFS. Give me a solid axle forever please!



Two, if I'm going o buy a truck, first and foremost I want the toughest, most reliable, most mechanically sound truck there is. IMO, that's the CTD and RAM combo! I hate they way the chebby's feel. Who wants a car with a bed on the back? Some people do! But that's just not me. But there's a difference between wanting a car/truck and wanting a REAL MANS TRUCK with as many amenities tacked on as you can get. I ordered the Laramie package because I want Leather with suede inserts. I want the fancy chrome crap. I want my MANS truck to be as nice as it can be for what it is... a TRUCK. However I got the J package instead of H package because I want the manual 4x4 lever, but I don't knock those who would rather have a switch. The only thing that peeves me is I can't get the heated seats with the J. Does that make me a sissy? No! It gives me a warm butt on the ride home after spending 6 hours snowboarding in the dark at 10 degrees F! I see no reason to live in the stone ages to prove what a stud I am. It's not the truck that makes the man, it's the man that makes the truck!

 

[Rob Thomas]

It gives me a warm butt on the ride home after spending 6 hours snowboarding in the dark at 10 degrees F! I see no reason to live in the stone ages to prove what a stud I am. It's not the truck that makes the man, it's the man that makes the truck!

I agree, not that I snowboard, but I do live in Michigan where the winters are chilly, nothing like the heated seats in January! Any rumors when the A/C seats will be put into the Rams for the hot summers? I still wish they'd offer a power sliding FACTORY sunroof, maybe even a convertable roof, didn't they do this on the Dakota's a few years ago?



If they offer any option I want it, except for carpet (carpet in a salt infested MI work truck is insane IMO), I'll take the rubber floor anyday!



I absolutly love the steering wheel radio controls, as much as I switch channels this saves the right side of the seat and console from being worn out from leaning to reach the radio (like all my old trucks have done in the past). I don't have many complaints about my '01's interior (if any) I love the lay-out, it's a good cross between work, and luxury, without being too girly. It gets the job done with, and in, style.



From my first truck I ever bought that only had a key and heater (no power steering with 36" tires, ugg), and rode like a brick, trucks have come along way, IMO there's no reason to be uncomfortable while being in a work truck.



Although, I would most likey have a different opinion if I had an '03+, they are a touch too "minivan-y" for my tastes, Plus the lack of the 4x4 floor shifter on the well equiped models, electric operated engagement is asking for trouble IMO.



To answer your question, "Are we asking to much"? IMO, nope.





Rob

 

[thejeepdude]

I still wish they'd offer a power sliding FACTORY sunroof, maybe even a convertable roof, didn't they do this on the Dakota's a few years ago?

Um, that IS available on 2005 models. I ordered one.

 

[FATCAT]

Heated Seats!!!!

You want heated seats! When your in the driver's seat, break some wind and light it with a match!



Problem with all these option packages is that, people like me who want a basic truck with A/C only can't get one anymore! And I can't afford 45+K for a work truck!



Electric window and lock always break, every car I've ever had that had electric windows/locks have broke. Even my little '03 Jetta's driver electric window only works in toll booth mode all the way down or all the way up and I'm out of warrenty.



Leather cracks in the winter and burns you butt in the summer ... and it rips easy.



You can have your "girly" trucks, but the problem is you folks price us regular truck guys out of the market! :{



And now you say you can't get a manual 4X4 shifter! Thats a money maker for Dodge ... in hundreds of thousands of repairs!

 

[thejeepdude]

You want heated seats! When your in the driver's seat, break some wind and light it with a match!



Problem with all these option packages is that, people like me who want a basic truck with A/C only can't get one anymore! And I can't afford 45+K for a work truck!



Electric window and lock always break, every car I've ever had that had electric windows/locks have broke. Even my little '03 Jetta's driver electric window only works in toll booth mode all the way down or all the way up and I'm out of warrenty.



Leather cracks in the winter and burns you butt in the summer ... and it rips easy.



You can have your "girly" trucks, but the problem is you folks price us regular truck guys out of the market! :{



And now you say you can't get a manual 4X4 shifter! Thats a money maker for Dodge ... in hundreds of thousands of repairs!

1. I tried that and the woman doesn't like it... then she starts farting too like it's some sort of competition.



2. Yes you can. That's what the ST model is for, and they don't cost $45K



3. If you would rather crank the windows, go for it. . see #2. I get my workouts at the gym, not in my truck.



4. Leather doesn't crack if you take care of it, and if it does you can get new leather for under 800 bux.



5. I don't see how the toughest truck on the market is made "girlie" by adding some creature comforts, and we didn't price you out of the market... see #2.



so there

 

[DBrickel]

All I want is a truck that is capable of carrying the loads I require of it, being fairly quite in the cab and an engine that rattles. (Can you say cummins?) the Dodge fills those needs but it is a TRUCK not a Cadilac and I don't expect it to be. --------Although the airconditioning is----nice, then there is the stereo ,heated seats that are soft on the tush, AND MORE POWER!!! Oo.



Think that is reasonable or too much

 

[blacksmoke10]

gm airconditioning in dodge truck

I wish dodge would offer a option to have gm airconditioning installed on a dodge truck. The mega cab cant even keep up with the arizona heat. The ford and chevy trucks do not even have a problem cooling down the cab on the hottest summer day in arizona. My mega cab trucks have the very worst airconditioning system out of every vehicle I have owned. My backhoes have better a/c systems. On a hot summer day I had some workers waiting at a job site in the middle of the day it was very hot. I pulled up to the job site and three grown men were sitting in a backhoe with the a/c on. I asked them why they were not sitting in the mega cab and they said the a/c works better in the backhoe. I was getting diesel the other day and a mega cab pulled up to fill up 4 guys got out of the front of the cab. I asked why they were not in the back seat and they said it was to hot back there.

 

[JStrasser]

Hey FATCAT,



I agree with you but I did something about it. 6 months ago we bought an '06 2500 CTD quad cab 4x4 LB G56 ST. Under $30k.



While others may want all the options, it has what we want in a truck. No leather, no phoney PLASTIC wood (IMHO-THAT has to be the most ridiculous stuff on earth- does anyone look at it and really think it is wood??), no DVD surround theater system, etc... Just one small step above work truck trim. Cloth seats, A/C, cruise and cd player. Does the job and is comfortable on long trips. Our only concession was to add on an aftermarket XM radio because of our location.



What's next, a vehicle that parks itself? Oh wait, they do have those now. I will leave that for a different rant on another day.



John