agreed, just making a point about greed, inflation, etc.Minimum wage is a factor of the govt (not saying lobbying has no effect though), and honestly increasing minimum wage is a bit of a fool's errand from an economic standpoint.
My first Jeep was a ‘78 CJ5 that I bought in ‘88. It had less than 80k miles on it and took tuning every 3-5k and got 8mpg with street tires and 6 with my off road tires. I loved it. But my modern trucks and Jeeps get much better fuel economy (current Jeep gets 24-25) and need very little servicing and can go 200k easily.I've driven enough old cars to remember when seat belts and the passenger side mirror were options. My first car had an AM radio with a single speaker, and that was an option. Compared to the truck I have now, it was barely a step up from a covered wagon.
I think one of the reasons I like to travel to historical sites, from Graceland to Crusades era castles, is because it reminds me "this is as good as you could do then." It didn't matter how much money or influence you had or how connected you were, *that* was the tops in that day...and a modern lower middle class family has it better in pretty much every way materially.
Of course we've lost some things, too. You probably don't have serfs to work your garden and you can't beg, borrow, or steal a new car with t-tops. But all in all, technology has enriched our lives a lot, even if people don't like to admit it. We may lie to ourselves and others we'd still like to have "the good ol' days" trucks, but if we really wanted to have one as a daily driver we could. They still exist, you can still buy one, still keep one running, and daily it if you want. I loved my Scout, but I've gotten used to having AC now .
I think one of the reasons I like to travel to historical sites, from Graceland to Crusades era castles, is because it reminds me "this is as good as you could do then." It didn't matter how much money or influence you had or how connected you were, *that* was the tops in that day...and a modern lower middle class family has it better in pretty much every way materially.
It has nothing to do with "greed". It is basic economics. Vehicles are priced at the point that people are willing to pay and suppliers are willing to supply them. Manufacturers aren't in the charity business. They sell vehicles to make money.agreed, just making a point about greed, inflation, etc.
lol yeah, easy to keep them forever when you don't drive them.It should last at 1700 mile per year, lol.
It has nothing to do with "greed". It is basic economics. Vehicles are priced at the point that people are willing to pay and suppliers are willing to supply them. Manufacturers aren't in the charity business. They sell vehicles to make money.
Yea. 59.900 here. Just for that reason truck prices freak me out. I bought used and still paid 38kMy first home that I bought was $56k for reference.
That would have been a $1000 truck a couple years ago.I am looking for a truck for my grandson, I stopped the other day to look at a used 2003 chevy truck. It had 203,000 miles, extended cab, 2 wheel drive and lots of bondo in the lower part of the body. The price, 7500.00. No thanks.
Oh, I forgot a pretty important point.It's tough getting an accurate idea of anything by comparing trucks just looking at price then vs. price now and using an inflation calculator.
I sold used trucks from 1992-1995, most GM.
Being that we sold used trucks, I had a lot of experience with mid to late '80s trucks. The /late 70s trucks would be even more primitive with less equipment. The highest end 1/2 ton mid-'80s Chevy was a K-10 Silverado trim. The equivalent GMC was a High Sierra (or Sierra Classic, depending upon year).
-No fuel injection until '87, and then it was throttle body
-No power seats available
-No automatic climate control
-No true shift on the fly (there were auto hubs, but they were fragile)
-No leather seats available
-No extended cabs
-No 1/2 ton crew cabs
-Best audio- AM/FM with cassette, 4 speakers
-Most powerful engine ('85)- 350 4 barrel with 175 hp, 275 ft/lbs tq, in '87, that was up to 210 hp and 300 ft lbs.
I don't know what the towing capacity was then, but it's a lot less than now and the mileage back then was abysmal expect with the 6.2L NA diesel which had a grand 135 hp.
I haven't even gotten to the government mandated stuff yet...and yes, that adds weight and cost...and saves lives and adds some amount of value.
I'm just not smart enough to correct for all the differences and improvements over the years.
I am sure that truck prices, even correcting for content additions, have outpaced inflation, but it's not by as much as it first seems.
Just in interior comforts, I'll bet the lowest end fleet "stripper" is more luxurious than anything from '85, rides better, has more power, is more comfortable over all and gets better mileage.
...But as simplistic as it sounds, they charge what they charge because people buy them.
This^^^It's tough getting an accurate idea of anything by comparing trucks just looking at price then vs. price now and using an inflation calculator.
I sold used trucks from 1992-1995, most GM.
Being that we sold used trucks, I had a lot of experience with mid to late '80s trucks. The /late 70s trucks would be even more primitive with less equipment. The highest end 1/2 ton mid-'80s Chevy was a K-10 Silverado trim. The equivalent GMC was a High Sierra (or Sierra Classic, depending upon year).
-No fuel injection until '87, and then it was throttle body
-No power seats available
-No automatic climate control
-No true shift on the fly (there were auto hubs, but they were fragile)
-No leather seats available
-No extended cabs
-No 1/2 ton crew cabs
-Best audio- AM/FM with cassette, 4 speakers
-Most powerful engine ('85)- 350 4 barrel with 175 hp, 275 ft/lbs tq, in '87, that was up to 210 hp and 300 ft lbs.
I don't know what the towing capacity was then, but it's a lot less than now and the mileage back then was abysmal expect with the 6.2L NA diesel which had a grand 135 hp.
I haven't even gotten to the government mandated stuff yet...and yes, that adds weight and cost...and saves lives and adds some amount of value.
I'm just not smart enough to correct for all the differences and improvements over the years.
I am sure that truck prices, even correcting for content additions, have outpaced inflation, but it's not by as much as it first seems.
Just in interior comforts, I'll bet the lowest end fleet "stripper" is more luxurious than anything from '85, rides better, has more power, is more comfortable over all and gets better mileage.
...But as simplistic as it sounds, they charge what they charge because people buy them.
Do you know what adjusted for inflation is? Todays trucks are 233% more than adjusted for inflation. Not just just higher, exponentially higher…It's funny when people complain about the price of new trucks compared to trucks 40 and 50 years old. Yeah trucks and houses and everything else was cheaper back then but the income was also a lot lower back then.
How are you adjusting for inflation when the things you are comparing are so different?Do you know what adjusted for inflation is? Todays trucks are 233% more than adjusted for inflation. Not just just higher, exponentially higher…
Did you read the link in the original post? They did inflation adjustments for all the options.How are you adjusting for inflation when the things you are comparing are so different?
If you are using a average priced truck from the 70's-80's and comparing to a new truck with considerably more safety and standard options then it isn't accurately adjusted for inflation. IMO
If my math is right a loaded 1978 K20 Silverado could be had for under $7500, and adjusted for inflation that truck is under $30,000.
This is an interesting site with a lot of articles on various vehicles and how to as well.
All I know is that in 1978 I was making about $5.00 a hour in a factory and if I was still working today I would be making around $40 a hour with bonuses at the place I retired from.Did you read the link in the original post? They did inflation adjustments for all the options.
Nice you have your own system.That's my adjusted for inflation formula and you can use whatever formula you need to to make your point.
Yeah and it been working great for me for many years.Nice you have your own system.