Current Events > In 1987, a new truck costed an average of $25,000 in 2019 dollars

(+) Yeah! (+)

That is for a full sized truck. You could even get one for closer to $20,000 (in 2019 dollars)

In 2019, the average price of a new full sized truck is like almost $40k or more.

In 1987, you could buy a pretty nice and newer house for $150k (2019 dollars). Now a nice house costs $250k. Of course this varies based on location but you get my point.

Wtf happened?

inflation.

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garlic powder posted...

inflation.

The point of the topic is that the prices of these things are significantly outpacing inflation.

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garlic powder posted...

inflation.

The money is adjusted for inflation already, though. Houses cost way more even after adjusting for inflation.

If shit was priced the way it was back in 1987, you could buy a really damn nice house for like 175k to 250k. Like a really really nice big ol ass place.

Yeah but new trucks are demonstrably superior.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-S-Uf6b6TWw
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SaltyWet posted...

Yeah but new trucks are demonstrably superior.

I hope so. 30 years passed.

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The amount of technology going into a car these days is way higher than in the 1980s
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SaltyWet posted...

Yeah but new trucks are demonstrably superior.

Why dont we have way lower cost options that have less features?

That's what one additional generation of trained consumers nets you.
Good job corporate America!!

Side note: Did we ever get any of that ball out money back?
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Trucks are treated more like luxury vehicles than utility vehicles now.

Also its hard to find a small house which drives the prices up, at least where I live.

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YellowMustard69 posted...

Why dont we have way lower cost options that have less features?

Because it doesn't make sense for manufacturers to make those models. If you want a simpler car with less features and lower price, there's an extremely active used car market.
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Should have bought property back then like my parents did

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Wage disparity.

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Tire-pressure sensors, anti-lock brakes, on-board diagnostics, electronic stability control, emissions control units, and diesel exhaust fluid all became mandatory in the meantime.

YellowMustard69 posted...

Why dont we have way lower cost options that have less features?

Safety, for one, and another important one is emissions.

Plus, lots of that stuff saves you a lot of money in fuel.

But really, what kind of sucker buys new anyway?

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SiO4 posted...

That's what one additional generation of trained consumers nets you.
Good job corporate America!!

Side note: Did we ever get any of that ball out money back?

I think part of it is absolutely the fact that product makers/sellers have been pushing the limits on what people want to spend, and the average consumer is still opening their wallet....just a little more, little more, little more....etc. if people would stop spending it would force companies to redesign their products to be better and/or less expensive.

YellowMustard69 posted...

I think part of it is absolutely the fact that product makers/sellers have been pushing the limits on what people want to spend, and the average consumer is still opening their wallet....just a little more, little more, little more....etc. if people would stop spending it would force companies to redesign their products to be better and/or less expensive.

We had like a solid 5 to 10 years of the used market being fucked by cash for clunkers which kinda pushed people to buy new.

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YellowMustard69 posted...

I think part of it is absolutely the fact that product makers/sellers have been pushing the limits on what people want to spend, and the average consumer is still opening their wallet....just a little more, little more, little more....etc. if people would stop spending it would force companies to redesign their products to be better and/or less expensive.

Also, you have to realize that these manufacturers are just selling vehicles, they are selling loans or debt.
The vehicles are just the means to which the loan is attached. They are really just finance companys.
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DevsChum posted...

But really, what kind of sucker buys new anyway?

I recently bought a new PHEV to take advantage of the federal tax credit and state rebate. Total incentives came out to $6,000 total, and then a further $4,500 off from other discounts and incentives.
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1 USD had more buying power before Republicans shit all over the US economy.

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sondast posted...

1 USD had more buying power before Republicans shit all over the US economy.

As opposed to what, 9.9% interest on a car loan being a really great deal back in the Carter era?

sondast posted...

1 USD had more buying power before Republicans shit all over the US economy.

What are you talking about, I can feel the economy trickling down my leg right now!!
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sondast posted...

1 USD had more buying power before Republicans shit all over the US economy.

lol republicans were in control through all of the 80s, wtf are you talking about
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konokonohamaru posted...

I recently bought a new PHEV to take advantage of the federal tax credit and state rebate. Total incentives came out to $6,000 total, and then a further $4,500 off from other discounts and incentives.

Yeah I heard they do that but I forgot all about it. A discount like that would be worth considering.

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YellowMustard69 posted...

Why dont we have way lower cost options that have less features?

One word. Government.

The government deemed necessary 'safety' items that add up costs and weight. The government also added emissions requirements adding to costs and weight.

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cost of production rises with the amount of regulatory compliance required across the supply chain, i presume

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Trucks are expensive. I paid close to 19k for a 2013 F150 with 50k miles on it in August

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SaltyWet posted...

Yeah but new trucks are demonstrably superior.

Someone should 80s trucks and houses for those prices then

Id buy a new one of these for cheap

http://blogs.ubc.ca/vancouverspecialsimmigration/files/2015/12/IMG_0400.jpg

YellowMustard69 posted...

Why dont we have way lower cost options that have less features?

You must be young.

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