Why have the cost of Tacomas skyrocketed lately?

I was paging through a 1971 Outdoor life magazine one day and came across an ad for a Toyota Landcruiser for 3,200. Now granted it probably didn't even come with a heater/defroster or a am radio, but you could get one with all the options they offered for 3,600.

 

Ask yourself, what hasn’t doubled in price since 10 years ago.

 

Toyota also refuses to make the kind of bare-bones Tacoma they used to, contributing to higher prices. This is partially due to laws/requirements but also just a general trend in the auto industry.

 

You would need to blame your fellow citizens for that. The companies only make what they see demand for.

And this is what the people seem to want nowadays. The scary thing is if these existed, people who could get financing WOULD buy them.

 

Yeah I agree, wasn't blaming Toyota for making what sells. Obviously if there was sufficient demand for a no-frills truck, it would exist. The shift in perception of trucks as utility vehicles to family haulers has contributed to the trend as well.

 

I blame suburban dads.

 

Indian or Chinese makers will fill the gap for cheap no frills vehicles, if they can get past the jingoism/protectionism of the big 3 makers (and that stupid chicken tax that LBJ signed into law).

 

Can't argue that, I remember the days of the old S10 pickups, the regular cab Tacoma, etc..

That's just it. People are still surprised to learn that mine is a regular cab, I'm sure most of them were sold for fleet use.

That has as well. Plus in general, vehicles have more stuffs now anyway.

I'm a total minimalist with that stuff, especially since I've owned so many vehicles that were around the age power stuff starts to break when I would acquire them. I rented a 2022 Tacoma OffRoad while my truck was getting fixed this year and yeah it was a nice ride, lot of gadgets (some of which I'd never need or use like the crawl control), overall way more truck than I'll ever use even occasionally.

 

As a childless suburban cat dad, I didn't do it! Haha

That's true on both fronts, I do love my Toyota but if I was in the market to buy something and another maker fit the bill better I'd be a fool to not at least consider the possibility. I'd probably look at it as my last vehicle purchase to be honest.

 

Chinese and Indian vehicles have nothing resembling crash protection. if we remove all the federally mandated shit, domestic and import trucks could be as cheap as well.

 

100%
Everyone's gotta have a truck they can't park these days... with a double shot of unloaded bed and trailer hitch that's never been used

But for that matter, I also blame our roads. I love my Golf, but that thing is low and I'm constantly worried about poor road conditions (or debris) that are going to hurt to hit or damage it. Hopping in my truck after a while is a relief because I can drive over anything and not worry about it

 

Hey man, if my tire could spontaneously morph into a tractor like that you wouldn't be laughing

 

Marijuana. I still get the same amount for the same price as when prescribed in 2008. Shits a hell of a lot better now too.

 

Bah, my wife just grows her own instead.