Will Jeep and Ram Truck Prices Take a Steep Dive Soon?

[driveby]

Fleet trucks aren't really all that profitable per unit is my guess. Stripped down vehicles are a volume play. Consumers aren't a volume play. Toys, bells and whistles sell. And there is margin in those toys bells and whistles. How many times here to you see a post that starts with "I found a new xxxx for $$$, is that a good price?" and then everyone says, "wow what a rip off, go find a near new used unit that has all the toys for the same $$"

 

[AbleGuy]

Not only that but Ford has decontented their trucks. So you're not even getting the same level of equipment anymore.

Do you remember when you could go into the dealer, sit down with the salesman and go down a punchlist of everything you wanted as an option to order the truck to be made specifically that way?

In 1989, that’s exactly how I ordered my K 2500 single cab long bed.

But of course you can’t do that anymore. You know, “to serve you better“!

So an interesting question would be, what would be the minimum you’d be happy with if you could order your new truck with just the basics that you wanted, and skip all of the unneeded other expensive garbage today?

 

[AbleGuy]

Me?

I think I’d be happy with cruise control for long drives, tilt steering for my wife, manual windows, AC, manual locking hubs… Not sure whether I’d go back to a manuel transmission, and I would want the seats to be somewhat adjustable because of the difference in the height between, my wife and me.

That pretty much be it. I haven’t checked recently, but maybe that’s what a work truck is today.

Don’t need carpeting on the inside floors, it’s a damn truck after all, don’t need leather upholstery because it’s either too hot or too cold in the extremes of the temperatures where we live and travel.

What else am I missing, hmmm? Oh yeah, probably power side mirrors.

 

[chet6.7]

I would never want to go back the manual windows, it's over a hundred today, nice to put all of the windows down before I even get in.
I do remember going down a checklist, it was a more honest way of doing business than the take it or leave options of today. You want intermittent wipers? You need the travel convenience package for 4K.

 

[Todd n Natalie]

Do you remember when you could go into the dealer, sit down with the salesman and go down a punchlist of everything you wanted as an option to order the truck to be made specifically that way?

In 1989, that’s exactly how I ordered my K 2500 single cab long bed.

But of course you can’t do that anymore. You know, “to serve you better“!

So an interesting question would be, what would be the minimum you’d be happy with if you could order your new truck with just the basics that you wanted, and skip all of the unneeded other expensive garbage today?

I do. That's exactly what I did when I ordered my 2022 F150. I got everything I wanted and skipped the stuff I didn't. Also got a better deal cause I was willing to wait for my truck to be built vs taking a unit off the lot during the covid / chip shortage phase.

Spec'd it out for trailer towing duties:

 

[ThundahBeagle]

Fleet trucks aren't really all that profitable per unit is my guess. Stripped down vehicles are a volume play. Consumers aren't a volume play. Toys, bells and whistles sell. And there is margin in those toys bells and whistles. How many times here to you see a post that starts with "I found a new xxxx for $$$, is that a good price?" and then everyone says, "wow what a rip off, go find a near new used unit that has all the toys for the same $$"

True, sir. That's how I got my '14 Sierra z71. Was looking at new Trail Boss Custom (as bare bones as they came) when they came out. They had so many incentives and give backs if I was trading in a Dodge, but little to nothing for me who had driven GM since the 1990's.

I turned, got a used GMC Sierra with heated leather and other goodies for $15 grand less than the lowest they would go on the new Trail Boss Custom. Havent looked back

 

[ThundahBeagle]

Do you remember when you could go into the dealer, sit down with the salesman and go down a punchlist of everything you wanted as an option to order the truck to be made specifically that way?

In 1989, that’s exactly how I ordered my K 2500 single cab long bed.

But of course you can’t do that anymore. You know, “to serve you better“!

So an interesting question would be, what would be the minimum you’d be happy with if you could order your new truck with just the basics that you wanted, and skip all of the unneeded other expensive garbage today?

Yes. However, I have to admit I'm a bit of a dichotomy. Part of the reason (aside from initial quality and longevity) Honda was able to do so well is they offered the Civic and Accord in 3 or 4 packages. That's it. DX base models, LX mid range, and EX top of the line. Maybe an HX and an Si thrown in. But they didn't really deviate from cookie cutter, which cut down on assembly line complexity, which cut down on errors of manufacturing.

An a la carte restaurant can end up being so much more expensive than a small, fixed menu

 

[ThundahBeagle]

Me?

I think I’d be happy with cruise control for long drives, tilt steering for my wife, manual windows, AC, manual locking hubs… Not sure whether I’d go back to a manuel transmission, and I would want the seats to be somewhat adjustable because of the difference in the height between, my wife and me.

That pretty much be it. I haven’t checked recently, but maybe that’s what a work truck is today.

Don’t need carpeting on the inside floors, it’s a damn truck after all, don’t need leather upholstery because it’s either too hot or too cold in the extremes of the temperatures where we live and travel.

What else am I missing, hmmm? Oh yeah, probably power side mirrors.

I remember the side mirror controls of an old Chevy Malibu I had - later years, 80's, square body model. Same for the impalas of the same generation. There was a small lever in the dash to the lower right of the steering wheel, that connected via a non-electrical cable to the passenger side mirror. Move the lever in 4 directions, the mirror moved. It worked. I dont remember them breaking often, and if they did, you ran another cable.

 

[montechie]

If Jeep offered our 05 LJR again I'd buy a 2nd one in a heartbeat, although not for $60K. I have a '22 Gladiator that I do love, but the only thing I'd add to the '05 from a '22 would be the ZF-8 transmission. Probably heresy, I think transmissions are the real unsung heroes. I still love driving our LJ all over and as a daily, but not as much for interstate travel.

After experiencing the Pentastar tick (lash adj, rockers) at 30K miles and talking to mechanics about the same issue in Hemis, I'm not sure if I'll do another Ram/Jeep in the future and at current costs.

 

[Ozarker]

Sold my '99 F150 XLT 4x4, added bed cover and running boards bought a '22 F150 XL 4x4, V-8, has bed cover and slider style steps. No carpet, which for me and my dog is a good thing, the XL has all the power stuff I wanted, actually more. It's for towing my boat or travel trailer, not much more, DD is the Cherokeeeeee TH.

Sometime next year, looking at the Genessis that tows 6000 pounds, pricey, but it sure looks comfy.

 

[AbleGuy]

I remember the side mirror controls of an old Chevy Malibu I had - later years, 80's, square body model. Same for the impalas of the same generation. There was a small lever in the dash to the lower right of the steering wheel, that connected via a non-electrical cable to the passenger side mirror. Move the lever in 4 directions, the mirror moved. It worked. I dont remember them breaking often, and if they did, you ran another cable.

This old-school style hasn’t disappeared yet.

The small ram pro master City camper that we have has a little joystick on the inside of the door by each side mirror. You have to manually toggle those back-and-forth until you get the desired result. Actually works pretty well!

 

[plainjaneFJC]

TFL was showing some Ram mid grade crew cab 4wd models with the 3liter hurricane in them, dealer had 15k cash on the hood, 43k out the door plus taxes, of course…

 

[Todd n Natalie]

TFL was showing some Ram mid grade crew cab 4wd models with the 3liter hurricane in them, dealer had 15k cash on the hood, 43k out the door plus taxes, of course…

Huh. If they start putting cash on the hoods of Wranglers, I wonder if that will force Ford to do the same with Broncos in order to be competitive?

 

[plainjaneFJC]

Huh. If they start putting cash on the hoods of Wranglers, I wonder if that will force Ford to do the same with Broncos in order to be competitive?

Just my opinion but the Jeeps were way overpriced and that’s brought the need for discounts- then again everything is overpriced so who knows..

 

[Todd n Natalie]

Just my opinion but the Jeeps were way overpriced and that’s brought the need for discounts- then again everything is overpriced so who knows..

Agreed. But, in cross shopping I found similarly equipped Bronco's were about the same price. Both, are way over priced for what they are to me.
But, maybe I'm just cheap, lol