Jump to content
Create New...

Industry News: Increasing Pickup Truck Prices Are Leaving Average Buyers Out


William Maley

Recommended Posts

Prices on new pickup trucks have been steadily increasing as more people are choosing them as their family vehicle and in turn are wanting more luxury features. But this rise in prices has been making it harder for the average buyer to afford one.

Data from Edmunds shows through September, the average transaction price for a full-size pickup is $48,377; a 48 percent increase when compared to 10 years ago and 19 percent increased when compared to 2013.

"A 48-percent increase in price is the highest price increase for that time period out of all vehicle categories. Even at $45,000, it prices a lot of people out," said Ivan Drury, senior analyst at Edmunds to the Detroit Free Press.

"There are consumers who can afford the bare bones basic vehicles at $30,000, but once you're shown an option like a ventilated seat versus a cloth seat and it's 90 degrees outside, it becomes a very compelling argument to say yes. Ten years ago, comfort packages weren't offered on trucks. People are saying, 'I want those even if those vehicles are used to haul mulch.' "

A very telling sign that truck prices are beginning to push people out is the massive difference between the expected and the actually average transactional price. Cox Automotive reports that buyers of a full-size pickup expected to pay an average of $38,529 through the month August. The actual average transaction price through August was $47,987 according to Cox.

Also seeing a rise is the average income of truck buyers. Alexander Edwards, president of consultancy Strategic Vision tells the Free Press  that the median household income of a truck buyer has risen form $76,660 in 2009 to $100,305 in 2018. More telling is that the truck buyer has a higher income than a car buyer ($95,355).

Some are beginning to worry that pickup trucks are becoming a bit too expensive.

"In 1988, I sold my first pickup at $20,000 and I thought, 'Man, who could ever afford this?' Now, they're $60,000, $70,000, $80,000. ... I'm not sure everybody wants all that technology, but we're adding all of it. We're actually in the luxury business at those prices," said Charlie Gilchrist, owner of Gilchrist Automotive in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

A survey done by CarGurus correlates Gilchrist's view. Asking 203 current pickup owners from their user panel, CarGurus reports that owners would call paying $35,000 on a truck a good deal. But increase it to the average price of $45,200 and its too much. Respondents also said they would be willing to give up such features as a automatic open-close tailgate and Wi-Fi hotspot for a lower price.

“This survey showed that pickup truck owners believe some of the new technology is nice to have, but not essential and not worth the price. We’re at an interesting time in the pickup truck category where many people are using their pickup trucks for more than just work. Those looking for a truck purely for work purposes don’t need all of the new luxury features, and those looking for a truck for commuting or leisure don’t need all of the new work features,” said Madison Gross, CarGurus' senior manager of customer insights.

Source: Detroit Free Press


View full article

  • Thanks 1
  • Agree 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

33 minutes ago, A Horse With No Name said:

I can really see this. Lotta coin for the new trucks!

So true, the majority of truck buyers do not need or want all the bells and whistles. Yet the dealerships order them this way and as such you end up with Truck Envy and Luxury truck over a practical daily driving truck. Prices need to drop by half.

  • Agree 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

9 minutes ago, dfelt said:

So true, the majority of truck buyers do not need or want all the bells and whistles. Yet the dealerships order them this way and as such you end up with Truck Envy and Luxury truck over a practical daily driving truck. Prices need to drop by half.

Considering that in 1956 a new F series Ford was the equal of something like 16 grand in todays coin...yes.

That being said....the product. OMG.  Colorado or Canyon with a mild lift would look so damned good in my driveway!

Would take a Silverado or Ram also.

Especially a Cummins dually....yeah!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

48% price increase in 10 years is crazy.  But this is where leases and 8 year car loans come in.  New car dealerships sell monthly payments, not vehicle prices.   The higher the prices go, the longer the loan terms get, and you'll see the auto manufacture finance arms offering 10 year car loans one day.  Which sounds like a recipe for disaster for consumers but people will sign up for it.

Edited by smk4565
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Full size pickups have become the modern BOF full size family sedan..available in a variety of trim levels, with a variety of trunk sizes.:)    And full size SUVs are the BOF full size wagons of today (they need the fake woodgrain side trim option, IMO).  

One bit of random related weirdness--on eBay today I'm seeing an ad for the new Ram..in Spanish.   Deja Tus Limites Atras..La Nueva Ram 1500.

Edited by Cubical-aka-Moltar
  • Agree 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, A Horse With No Name said:

Considering that in 1956 a new F series Ford was the equal of something like 16 grand in todays coin...yes.

That being said....the product. OMG.  Colorado or Canyon with a mild lift would look so damned good in my driveway!

Would take a Silverado or Ram also.

Especially a Cummins dually....yeah!

So you would be happy with this in your Driveway!

See the source image

Link to comment
Share on other sites

49 minutes ago, ccap41 said:

Stereotypical "Bro" wheels look like trash. 

How about Blackout edition?

See the source image

Course I have mixed feelings on adding more fender flares like they did on this.

See the source image

Chevy has nice flares but Meh nose for me.

See the source image

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Course the big plastic on the bottom also looks like Shit. @ocnblu did it right on his truck when he removed it.

See the source image

Course the ZR2 is not bad looking. Would like this package on the GMC.

See the source image

  • Agree 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2019 Chevrolet Silverado Custom Trail Boss Double Cab, with only two options:

5.3L V8

Spray-in bedliner

$42,885 (this pricing is according to the NADA website)

I would order mine just like this, it already comes with a good amount of kit... but I would need about $8000 in incentives/discounts.

GM Accessories catalog has part numbers for a remote start kit (necessary for me since I would need to park it outside my garage) and a foglight kit, I would have those installed by the dealer at time of sale.

Edited by ocnblu
  • Agree 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

A '19 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 w/ Hemi, brown w/ two tone brown/beige leather buckets, UConnect w/ nav, CD player, 20 inch wheels came out to over $53k.  Alas, it wouldn't fit in my garage, so at the price range I'd go for a Grand Cherokee..

Link to comment
Share on other sites

31 minutes ago, ocnblu said:

2019 Chevrolet Silverado Custom Trail Boss Double Cab, with only two options:

5.3L V8

Spray-in bedliner

$42,885

I would order mine just like this, it already comes with a good amount of kit... but I would need about $8000 in incentives/discounts.

GM Accessories catalog has part numbers for a remote start kit (necessary for me since I would need to park it outside my garage) and a foglight kit, I would have those installed by the dealer at time of sale.

I could see you rocking this.

2 minutes ago, Cubical-aka-Moltar said:

A '19 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 w/ Hemi, brown w/ two tone brown/beige leather buckets, UConnect w/ nav, CD player, 20 inch wheels came out to over $53k.  Alas, it wouldn't fit in my garage, so at the price range I'd go for a Grand Cherokee..

I would rather have the diesel. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

15 hours ago, dfelt said:

How about Blackout edition?

See the source image

Course I have mixed feelings on adding more fender flares like they did on this.

See the source image

Chevy has nice flares but Meh nose for me.

See the source image

Those are all much better! I cannot stand that 95% of aftermarket wheels on trucks and Wranglers are black with silver machined holes and fake bead locks. 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I miss my 1969 Ford Camper Special Pickup. It was an awesome truck that just always ran and never gave me any problems. Yet career took off and I had to move out of state, so extra auto's were sold.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

14 hours ago, riviera74 said:

. . . . . . .  and you wonder why the Colorado/Canyon and other midsize trucks sell so well.

They are a damned nice product. I park near a white one every day at work....it is really a nice truck. Very impressed, and I am pretty jaded from an automotive/truck point of view.

11 minutes ago, dfelt said:

I miss my 1969 Ford Camper Special Pickup. It was an awesome truck that just always ran and never gave me any problems. Yet career took off and I had to move out of state, so extra auto's were sold.

That Era of Ford gets nothing but love from me. I have a friend who has an early 70's Camper special. Red and white.  He lives in California.....it's rust free and has a 460. He keeps threatening to sell it. If I didn't have a wood shop in my garage, I could see that truck finding a very loving home in Ohio....living a life of luxury under a car cover.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, dfelt said:

I miss my 1969 Ford Camper Special Pickup. It was an awesome truck that just always ran and never gave me any problems. Yet career took off and I had to move out of state, so extra auto's were sold.

Cool...the '67-72 'bump side' and '73-79 'dent side' Ford F-series were great looking trucks, have a lot of charm, IMO.. 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.



×
×
  • Create New...

Hey there, we noticed you're using an ad-blocker. We're a small site that is supported by ads or subscriptions. We rely on these to pay for server costs and vehicle reviews.  Please consider whitelisting us in your ad-blocker, or if you really like what you see, you can pick up one of our subscriptions for just $1.75 a month or $15 a year. It may not seem like a lot, but it goes a long way to help support real, honest content, that isn't generated by an AI bot.

See you out there.

Drew
Editor-in-Chief

Write what you are looking for and press enter or click the search icon to begin your search