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.

Is this more what you're looking for? We seem to have some pretty simple trucks around here....
http://tinyurl.com/2vo2wa

Better yet:
http://tinyurl.com/3x2pcr

now find him one in the Grand Blanc, MI area :D

i wonder, can you order a just plain work truck? :?:

My dad has an 82 F-150 with a fresh 302(probably 6k miles on it), fresh rear leafs /w overloads. Damn long bed too, not sure how long but I'd guess it's your 8' baby. 3.89 gears, has cruise and A/C, no power locks, no power windows. Less than 100k on the body. I'll ask him if he wants to sell it ;) I doubt you'll find a REAL work truck these days....

what price range and what year are you looking for?

www.chevrolet.com Build it the way you want then check what the dealers around you have in stock. Here's a link for 2007's around zip code 48439. $2,000 in rebates on 07's.

http://www.chevrolet.com/vehicleloca...33&&currPage=1

You might try looking at local auctions on the Utility Auction day. They should have everything from stripper pick-ups to boom trucks.

have you looked at the 08 GMCs all the ones around here are long bed and most are pretty stripped. i hate to say it but go to a closer hick town you should find some decent strippers there

I checked out chevrolet.com. I did the "you build it" and had it priced out. I printed off the information and will be taking it to local dealerships to see if they can order what I'm after.

My price range is as close to $3000 as possible!! :lol: I suspect I could sell the 97 for that much so that's my range!!! The lowest price possible is the goal, obviously.

if you can find a new pickup for that price order me one too :D

I'll take a dozen. Let me know :lol:

Wow, it's amazing these stories I hear about people being turned away because they don't have what they want. My father in law had the same experience at a local Chevy dealer that didn't have the CTS they wanted. He was so irritated he went to a different dealer and leased a Trailblazer. My dad buys Ford trucks from a local dealer and they are willing to find him whatever he wants. He just got a new truck a couple months ago, and they actually did a trade with a dealer in Ohio to get what he wanted. You would think that most dealers would need all the business they can get, but I guess not.