Truck rant
Wednesday of last week I stopped into two different dealerships looking for a new truck. I was specifically looking for brand new to replace our aging POS 1997 C1500. I wanted nothing more than a WORK TRUCK. 6 cylinder or 8 would have been fine. Automatic or stick would have been fine. But, I didn't want power windows, extended cab, power locks. I required one thing, overall - an 8' bed.
What a nightmare. I had no idea that my requirements for a truck wouldn't come close to what was offered. Everything I looked at had power windows, locks, extended or quad cab, some with leather, 99% of them with 4x4. And, to boot, most only had a 5.5' bed. What a joke. :roll: One salesman even told me "we don't sell any of those here". I couldn't believe it. Is the old school work truck a thing of the past? Why is finding a new full size base model truck too much to ask?? I was so irritated.... |
GMC 1500. basic 15,995 4.9 5sp
|
Heck..... come down here and look. Alot of dealers here usually have a TON of long bed base Silverados. Most are white, but a few are other colors. the one my uncle looked at was a long bed with the 4.8 V8, I believe it was a '03.
Check these sites (local dealers here) - www.spitzer.com www.patobrienchevrolet.com www.serpentinichevy.com www.joycebuickpontiac.com www.jackmatiachevrolet.com www.firment.com These are all dealers I frequent, and they usually have a excellent selection of what you are looking for. |
Mark, I appreciate what you're going through. A friend and neighbor of mine has been looking for a used longbed pickup and had to give up looking for a specific brand since the only one we've found so far is a (too old) Dodge Ram. Many people will initially swear that they have a "longbed", until he shows up to look at it and finds a 6' bed or less. It's kinda nuts really.
Good luck with the search. ;) |
Trucks have become and American fad. Not many owners give a hoot if they can haul anything.
|
That's true, but like every other fad, it will fade quite a bit, due to fuel cost. We are already seeing an increase in used trucks on the market down here, and for much less than they were two years ago.
|
You're exactly right - trucks aren't used as trucks anymore. Instead, they're used to haul kids to soccor, get groceries, and engage four wheel drive when there's a dusting of snow.
We can thank the crossovers for that. But, even if I were to consider something smaller it's difficult to find a stripped-down model. I looked at a Ford Ranger, for example. The most basic the dealership could get was a 3.0 V6 with a sliding rear window, CD player and cruise control. He seemed SO stumped when I told him I want an "Orkin man truck." :roll: :lol: |
Well, despite what some here think, that 3.0 V6 Ranger is a real workhorse. It's not much in the vroom vroom catagory, but it will work and keep on working. At least my 1994 does. It only has a 7' bed, since that is their "longbed", but with a topper, it has handled more over-the-top loads every week than most fullsize see these days. And while it's no fuel economy vehicle, mine does get 20-22 mpg when properly maintained and tuned.
|
unfortunately the basic pickup truck is hard to find now a days. I can only think of
the 2008 Silverado 1500 Ext. Cab Long Box wth a 4.3 v6 which only comes with a crew cab. but evn that s going to have options that you dont really need and still cost @25 grand :roll: |
An 07 Silverado Classic standard cab long bed 2WD V6 can be had for just under 17k MSRP if you delete the grill.
An 08 similarly equipped lists for a little under 18.5k. |
All times are GMT -4. The time now is 01:03 PM. |
© 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands