Are Modern Truck Buyers Asking for Too Much Luxury?

[SHobbs]

I just wish that I could get a new one with what I want in it. Just a simple loaded truck with out all the fu fu b. s that adds to the cost. Carpet, cloth seats, ps/pb, cruise, pwr windows/locks, intermittent wipers. I am very simple and some things I like to add myself with out adding to the cost of the vehicle. There a few items on the newer trucks that I dont want but I have to take them cause it's part of the package. Just give me a great power train, great towing capabilities and dependability at a great price without all the bells and whistles.



Would be nice if the manufacturers built these vehicles with the fully loaded wiring harnesses. Pick what you want in the vehicle and if you wanted to add something later then there would be a power connection there for it. No cutting splicing or anything else, call it a consumer friendly vehicle. Follow me here, just say you didn't want power seats at the time of purchase but, chose to add them later yourself then there would be a power connection there.

 

[BILLVO]

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.

Ever seen the Chris Ledoux video "Horse trailer on a Cadilac"? It used to be a common sight around here until gas prices went up. My Grandma even has a 74 Caddy with a 500 CI engine that has tugged bigger trailers than a lot of Dodge Cummins will ever see. Might be a bit of a challenge to get a 5er on it though :-laf .

 

[Tumbler]

I guess I must be a city slicker wanna-be. ... 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.

I was thinking the same thing when reading the point that was made about leather and city slickers. The main reason why I'd like leather is because its much easier to clean up a kid's mess or any mess for that matter.



In my eyes Dodge trucks have been improving in more ways than one over the years. The addition of owners whether they're city slickers or red necks can only help Dodge beat the competition.

 

[wcaldwell]

I have a good friend with a '65 Chevy 1/2 ton long bed. I drove that thing about 5 miles to my house so I could replace the '3-on-a-tree' transmission. That poor thing (although in fantastic condition for its age) was one pathetic lightweight truck - loud, rattley, unstable, wandered all over the road, etc, etc. Sure cured my nostalgia for the 'old and easier to maintain' trucks. I'll take my Ram over something like that any day of the week.



Wayne

 

[RustyJC]

Why don't you invent a car that can pull a 35 foot Fiver... .

You hit the nail on the head. There's a market out there for the RV toters. If you ask my wife, in many ways she liked our 1996 3500 V-10/47RE much more than the current truck. If a manufacturer wanted to please her, they would have to build a truck that was furnished, rode, drove and sounded like a Lincoln Town Car yet could pull a 20K 5th wheel.



Rusty

 

[AMink]

I think the technology is here to give truck buyers what they want. I don't mind the "rough" ride, though my Mega is pretty plush compared to 1 tons of 10-15 years ago. I don't mind that the engine is a little loud, but relatively quiet compared to my 97. However, simple things like A/C should work when you plop down $$$ for any vehicle. As noted, the A/C-blower in the newer trucks absolutely stinks! I don't think that should be put under the "well, it is a truck" catagory. It should be put in the "Dodge screwed up catagory".



If you take the baseline ST model for under $30K and the loaded Laramie for over $50K, is there a difference of $20K+ in options? I don't think so. So if I'm dropping $50K, the truck should be "luxurious" and be a capable work vehicle. My . 04

 

[testraub]

I don't buy for comfort, I buy for use. I don't mind that the seats are more comfortable. I don't need a SAT radio or bluetooth for my phone. I don't need a lot of the things I got or have added to my truck... BUT! I sure don't mind having them :-laf

 

[Mel Swanson]

I will take all the comfort that I can afford in my CTD. I am not real big on which truck I would buy or who’s tag is on the hood, well maybe not cheevy. I buy the pick-up or Kenworth tractor because it has a Cummins. I do remember when trucking outfits would not spend the money for air ride seats, air conditioning, or radios. When I was no longer at the mercy of the cheap employer I paid for these so called luxuries’. I believe such accessories provides comfort to the driver on several levels. Whether your unit is a daily ride or a money maker, comfort my friends can lead to a safer operator. Works for me.

 

[Mel Swanson]

Less package, more customer choice.

I will take all the comfort that I can afford in my CTD. I am not real big on which truck I would buy or who’s tag is on the hood, well maybe not cheevy. I buy the pick-up or Kenworth tractor because it has a Cummins. I do remember when cheap unmerciful trucking outfits would not spend the money for air ride seats, air conditioning, or radios. When I was no longer at the mercy of the cheap unmerciful employers, I paid for these so called luxuries’. In fact such accessories provides comfort to the driver on several levels. Now there were items on the truck I just ordered which came in the form of a “Package”, forced buy, i. e. , Satellite radio, or sliding rear window which is a wast of my dollar. My preference would have been a larger fuel tank, a bed cargo tie down system or a stouter front bumper. Whether your unit is a daily ride or a money maker, comfort my friends can lead to a safer operator. Providing he is awake. Works for me.