Do trucks make sense economically anymore?

I'm just thinking back on my purchase history. for the last 20 years.

2nd Gen: I bought a used 2007 with 60K miles for 12K in 2010. RWD, Standard Cab and Standard transmission. My income at the time was about 48K per year. I kept it until 200K miles, and I believe it's still on the road now.


3rd Gen: 2017 Brand New. Standard Transmission. TRD Off Road for 35K. My income was 146K at the time. Not a super high income but enough to afford what I thought was a very expensive truck.


Now I see the prices of the 4th gens and they are going from 49K to 55K. My income is far above 6 figures now. However, I feel that these prices are outrageous. How does this make sense? Aren't mid-size trucks supposed to be modest vehicles for lower to middle class individuals?

I remember a time when mid-size trucks usually were driven by young single guys or small business owners. Can anyone in these demographics afford a mid-size truck anymore?

55K for a SR5? Are there no more sub 30K trucks anymore?

 

Corolla Cross goes for almost 50k here. It's not really fair to say tacoma is expensive. Everything is.

I agree though, simple barebones vehicles would make a killing if they could make them reliable.

 

Not mid-sized. At least not for me.
I'll being going with a full size before I pay $50k for mid-size.

I do actually tow with my truck. I have a trailer and multiple pieces of mowing equipment.
I could use a larger truck, as I would kind of like to expand my equipment and capabilities.

 

146k in 2017 is absolutely a high income wtf lol

 

The 30k truck is called a maverick or a stripped down work truck version of a Colorado, ranger, or Tacoma. 50k+ for a nicely equipped midsize is what they cost these days.

 

This whole thread seems like a humble brag. That’s more than a doctor would get paid in Canada.

 

in the Bay Area? that's not a lot a money at all. That's where I lived at the time.

 

Out of touch… also, trucks aren’t made for the lower and middle class, they are made to make money and a lot of it. Looking at inflation, my 48k or is actually cheaper than your 35k ‘17… that’s using this: https://data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/cpicalc.pl …
I just don’t buy the hype, people need to normalize their brains to the cost of goods

 

I’m with you OP. I paid $27k for my ‘09 in 2011. Thought it was a lot of $$ for a vehicle then. Kept it all this time. Now that it is time to move on to a larger family vehicle. Looking at full size SUVs, new or 2 yrs old, you can’t find too much under $60k. Somehow my brain stopped adjusting to inflation 3-4 yrs ago.

 

Where do you live that $146k isn’t considered a high income? I’m guessing a metropolitan area… It seems to me spending $50k on a vehicle that should reasonably go 10+ years with minimal problems would be well within budgetary parameters if you earn at that level.

 

Only people really well off and don’t care about money are buying these right now. There is zero value in spending $50,000 on a Tacoma, 0% interest + massive discounts are coming soon

 

This is one of many statements in this thread that are out of touch with reality. Inflation has been this way for a long time. I bought my first truck (a 30 year old VW Rabbit pickup) in 2011 for $3500. I actually paid more than the original sticker price of $3200 from 1981. So yes, inflation is real and is a real (unseen) tax the government uses to keep deficit spending. Choose to ignore it at your own peril.

 

Low volume high demand, such is the times.

 

Buying a new vehicle is not a good financial proposition for all people. Spending $50k on a Tacoma is a good idea for some people but maybe not you. My local dealership received their first three 2024 models a few weeks ago and they are all sold already. Keep on dreaming bud.

 

Discounts, yes, I got 2500 off my ‘24 already but 0% on a Tacoma isn’t happening any time soon. 4.9 is probably what we’ll see similar to tundra

 

3rd gens jumped in price from mid 30s to mid 40s not long after 2017. 4th gens are now mid 50s and up. It's a chunk, but inflation is high too.

50k is about the going rate for a new vehicle. They go up from there.

 

Which is just fine for what I'd need/want in a truck. Bought my 2010 in 2012 and it's served me well. I have long said when the time comes to replace it, I'll be forced to get an access cab most likely which I don't really need.

Mine has power nothing and I don't care, I prefer that.

I recently rented a 22 Offroad DCSB Tacoma. Nice vehicle and has some fun stuff but way more than I'll ever have use of. Pay 40 something K for it? Nope.

 

No. But most Americans shop by fear of the other larger vehicle, “pride”, “manliness” and so on, so the larger and larger truck persists.

 

Weird flex to tell people your income on a truck forum.

 

do trucks make economical sense? for those of us that need a truck, yes. the cost of fuel and insurance is kinda crazy. many full-size trucks cost more than i paid for my first house.

i recently built and priced basic full size 3/4 ton trucks with the gas v8 and they can still be had for $50-$55K. in today's world, that is not too bad.

paying $50K+ for a tacoma or tundra is completely out of the question, for me. neither does truck things very well. if i were to consider another tacoma it would be a stripped SR or SR5, assuming those could be had with the long bed.