patrick.net

I can't imagine spending so much money on a truck; guys who have a business and deduct miles must be the only people buying them.

Prince Harry tidbit: I recently bought a Mexican Nissan Pro 4x for about $39,000 USD; however they threw in some free stuff worth about $1500 (towing setup, roof rack, off road lights on the roof).

Edit: The Frontier has an interesting feature; there are cameras below the side mirrors also front and rear, so I can see a 360 degree view of the truck when I'm parking, like a drone is above the truck. It wasn't an add on by the dealer, I think all the trucks have it.

Are wages keeping up with all these price increases in insurance, food, education, autos etc?

I’ll be the first to admit it, our income has not kept pace with inflation.

Glock-n-Load says

I’ll be the first to admit it, our income has not kept pace with inflation.

Depends on the area. We've somehow demolished inflation personally. Income is up 40% plus since 2020. Hell maybe 60% and I've worked less. The people that didn't leave IL are high income earners. So work has been good. It was the $60k per year families that left for Indiana. Trust me, you don't want to live in Indiana.

Glock-n-Load says

Are wages keeping up with all these price increases in insurance, food, education, autos etc?

It will once we got back to a holistic national industry system, where labor, production, housing, etc. is all in the same vicinity, and in imbalance in one is quickly corrected.

AmericanKulak says

It will once we got back to a holistic national industry system, where labor, production, housing, etc. is all in the same vicinity, and in imbalance in one is quickly corrected.

As crazy as it sounds after 20 years of IL bull shit and even me constantly bitching, it's not as bad as pre-covid. I think the state has turned the corner economically. Not 100% sold on housing. But even with high taxes we have cheap gas outside of TX. Really low nat gas prices. $105 from Dec. 20 to Jan 20. That's insane as it was cold AF and a 1963 insulated house.

Only “extra features” I want on a truck is heated/ventilated seats, backup camera, blind spot awareness, tow package, and a decent sound system. I don’t want an extra $30,000 bullshit “package” with a different name plastered all over vs. an XLT model. Agree with the hybrid being too complex.

ForcedTQ says

Only “extra features” I want on a truck is heated/ventilated seats, backup camera, blind spot awareness, tow package, and a decent sound system. I don’t want an extra $30,000 bullshit “package” with a different name plastered all over vs. an XLT model. Agree with the hybrid being too complex.

Towing and heat I'd agree with. Backup camera is nice with towing, but not necessary if you have 20-30 years on the road.

I don't use my radio, or infotainment system, so I don't care about audio. Though my Armada has a Bose system that sounds good. Too many friends and acquaintances have died from distracted driving. Love music and good sound quality, but I'll do that at a computer chair. Unless my house is moving I know I'm good.

Backup camera is very helpful to see behind the tailgate where mirrors and you cannot otherwise. I don’t use it to backup exclusively, and not when towing, only to check to make sure there isn’t something directly behind me and in parking situations that require close quarters (parallel, etc.)

So listening to music while driving is distracted driving now?

ForcedTQ says

Backup camera is very helpful to see behind the tailgate where mirrors and you cannot otherwise. I don’t use it to backup exclusively, and not when towing, only to check to make sure there isn’t something directly behind me and in parking situations that require close quarters (parallel, etc.)

So listening to music while driving is distracted driving now?

My 2012 Kia Sedona has a very useful backup camera with a beeper. As you get closer to an object (when you are in reverse) as you back up, you hear an intermittent beep. The closer you get to the object, the shorter the interval between beeps, and when you are right up almost touching the object, it's a constant beep.
I didn't trust it at first, but I've grown to rely on it. No need to crane my neck if it's not totally necessary.

Not too bad for a starter home.

You might want these cameras and sensors and buzzers and beepers and driver aids or you might not want them, but this shit should not be mandated. People should have an option to buy a bare bones trim.

brazil66 says

I didn't trust it at first, but I've grown to rely on it.

Doesn't help everyone. Wife hits the neighbors garbage cans every Tuesday to Thursday. I do think she might be trolling them though. They leave them out for days and it won't damage the car so I think she knocks them down. They really should put it on the other side of their driveway. We have no choice on our side otherwise the garbage truck makes the turn and will have to back up to pick it up due to turn radius.

I have never backed into anything. Well one time a school basketball hoop in the middle of the parking lot. Just a silver pole that I don't even think a sensor would pick up. Otherwise I don't need the back up sensor or camera. I think it's like flying, it's time in the vehicle. I've been driving my car forever. Check out surroundings when getting in. I can't stand the wife's 4 runner. It's a shitty drive. Miss the Sequoia though.

RWSGFY says

. People should have an option to buy a bare bones trim.

I agree with this whole heartedly. All these infotainment systems and everyone is just texting and looking at their phone. I'd rather they be having a beer if I'm being honest. I think I've read it's worse than drunk driving to be on your phone.

And no, I don't do that, only in Montana because there are no cops outside of towns and cities and I don't get shit faced. I will use the phone in the car for directions, but use one of those suction cup things and it's right above the steering wheel. Mainly for directions and line of sight. I don't want to look at the middle of the dash and down if there's directions on that screen.

Agreed it's too expensive but that truck has an upgradeable generator with inverter that can get as high as 7.2KW. Very efficient too, nearly as good as a decent diesel. People all over Texas use that truck to power their homes after natural disasters.

clambo says

I can't imagine spending so much money on a truck; guys who have a business and deduct miles must be the only people buying them.

Glock-n-Load says

Are wages keeping up with all these price increases in insurance, food, education, autos etc?

Oh jeez, bubbas.

I see many of these crew cab type trucks all over suburban Silicon Valley. Spotlessly kept, like the high end luxury European sedans and Teslas driven mainly by white collar types in the region. The new crew-cab Uber trucks are seen mainly driven by blue collar folks. Driveways in my blue collar SJ neighborhood are chocked full of them.

I priced a new Tacoma similar to the one I got for $19,999 18.5 years ago: $31,111. Doing simple math it corresponds to a 2.4% annual year-over-year inflation.

The real Truck Inflation seems to be in the egos of the buyers, not the pricing.

WookieMan says

RWSGFY says

. People should have an option to buy a bare bones trim.

I agree with this whole heartedly. All these infotainment systems and everyone is just texting and looking at their phone. I'd rather they be having a beer if I'm being honest. I think I've read it's worse than drunk driving to be on your phone.

And no, I don't do that, only in Montana because there are no cops outside of towns and cities and I don't get shit faced. I will use the phone in the car for directions, but use one of those suction cup things and it's right above the steering wheel. Mainly for directions and line of sight. I don't want to look at the middle of the dash and down if there's directions on that screen.

It’s 100% possible to produce a vehicle “For the people”. A bare bones car from Toyota. It would be extremely reliable and it would have zero unnecessary do-dads. A $10,000 new car.

Glock-n-Load says

It’s 100% possible to produce a vehicle “For the people”. A bare bones car from Toyota. It would be extremely reliable and it would have zero unnecessary do-dads. A $10,000 new car.

I agree but the car mfg. business model is to make fewer cars loaded up with tracking electronic junk and raise prices. IMO the no frill cars you want were made in the 1990s to about 2010 pre junk.

beershrine says

I agree but the car mfg. business model is to make fewer cars loaded up with tracking electronic junk and raise prices.

Their problem is someone else's opportunity.

Toyota is making a truck which is about $13,000 USD, but it's not sold in the USA.

It's called the Hilux Champ and they make them in Thailand.

Maybe someday they'll sell it in the USA.

clambo says

Toyota is making a truck which is about $13,000 USD, but it's not sold in the USA.

It's called the Hilux Champ and they make them in Thailand.

Maybe someday they'll sell it in the USA.

They never will.

Just like Kia won't go back to selling cheaper cars.

Why make millions of cars and park them until the get sold when you can make half as many with fewer options. much more profitable. Sedans all look exactly alike regardless of brand they also all have the same colors. Your $13,000 isn't what you think it's worth anymore that was 30yrs ago.