When is a truck not a truck?

So I’m visiting my Chevy-Cadillac dealer for the forth Saturday in a row. I’ve got some time to kill while they are fixing an issue with my steering column surround. (No charge, gotta love these guys.) So I’m checking out this new Duramax crew as I’m just kind of hanging out near the service department. One of the salesmen comes out for his early morning smoke (its about 8:30am) and we start talking cars and trucks. I mention I have six Chevies at home. This peaks his interest. I mention I love the new Silverados, and he says, “Have you seen the one in the showroom?” So we end up inside and there is this black LTZ crew, which is just loaded to the hilt. Leather buckets, sunroof, etc. He asks, what do you think the price is on this? I guess $45k, which I think surprised him because since I didn’t bat an eye when I said it. He wasn’t actually sure, so we checked the tag together. And what do you know it was a shade over $40k. I tell him, well I’m not in love with the black, but it sure is a nice truck. And then he says, “Well it really isn’t a truck anymore”.

He had a point. Today’s top model trucks are so loaded they’re creeping in on luxury car levels. I mean it was a nice truck, but $40k for a truck!?! And it wasn’t even a 4WD. A guess I miss the days when you can walk into a dealer, start with a stripper pickup, and load it up the way you want it and walk out the door with a nice truck for under $25k. What is it with these luxury trucks now a day, and who the heck buys them and uses them as… well, as a truck?

:rolleyes:

Uh, you can still do that. Just because he had a loaded to the max LTZ (which is still definitely a truck in terms of capability, as far as "half tons" go), doesn't mean all of them are like that. If you want a WT or LT without all the luxo goodies, you can build one that way.

:shrug:

I see what you are saying about it not being a truck (i.e. who would use a super-luxed out version to do "truck" work), but it isn't any less capable just because the interior is prettier these days. :)

I know that. I guess my point was, it seems that all the dealers have these days on display are the "luxury trucks", and I was wondering if anyone here has or would purchase one and use it as a truck?

GMT-800's could be loaded up over 40k as well, so this is certainly not a new phenomenon.

No, I doubt the vast majority of people buying a $40k+ Silverado are using it as a "work" truck (though it obviously could be). Most contractors, etc. are in the market for the more "honest" trucks. That is why Chevy is doing two different interiors now, for one thing.

The 5.3 midrange truck is still the vastly more popular GM pickup, that won't change. It's nice to have such a wide variety though.

I know that. I guess my point was, it seems that all the dealers have these days on display are the "luxury trucks", and I was wondering if anyone here has or would purchase one and use it as a truck?Ah, 10-4.

Yes, it does seem that lots of dealers order the high dollar (higher profit margin) versions. Usually you can find the more modestly equipped trucks hidden elsewhere on the lot, away from the showrooms.

Ah, 10-4.

Yes, it does seem that lots of dealers order the high dollar (higher profit margin) versions. Usually you can find the more modestly equipped trucks hidden elsewhere on the lot, away from the showrooms.

I think the reason dealers put the high-buck trucks front and center in the showroom is for the eye candy. The LTZ models are the cream of the crop; you aren't going to catch many people saying how gorgeous the new Silverado is with cloth seats, "work" interior and steel wheels on the showroom floor. Put the best on display and you'll get those who want the more modest trucks.

The vehicle in question would make an ideal tow vehicle for someone who had... say... horses. Or a race car. Or a good sized boat.

If the prospective owner has the money, maybe he wants leather and heated seats and such to make his trips more comfortable.

Just because it has leather and amenities doesn't mean somebody isn't going to hitch it up to a trailer.

I say as long as it can tow/haul as much weight as the competition, and do OK off-roading (assuming it's 4WD) then it's still a truck. Even if it's partially unibody and partially BOF like the Ridgeline - how they get there doesn't mean much to me - the end performance does.

Tahoe or Silverado LTZ has more luxury than an Impala, Chevy's top car (non-Vette)

I have a feeling that might change in the next few years... :)

I say as long as it can tow/haul as much weight as the competition, and do OK off-roading (assuming it's 4WD) then it's still a truck. Even if it's partially unibody and partially BOF like the Ridgeline - how they get there doesn't mean much to me - the end performance does.

Yup, Extra luxury doesn't make it "not a truck". Some high end farm tractors now come with XM and A/C

I have a feeling that might change in the next few years... :)

I think $4 gasoline would change that quick.

Judging by what I see on the street, higher-end trucks sell quite well. Consumers are apparently willing to pay for "luxury" options, probably because more and more trucks are used as daily drivers. Dealers would be stupid to stock undesirable vehicles, and thus demand is going to drive what you see on the lots. Now, I'm not going to buy some decked-out truck because I use my truck like a truck (hence my ownership of a 3/4-ton 4x4 regular-cab/long-box with rubber flooring and vinyl seats), but there are a couple million other truck buyers out there that probably feel differently.

EDIT: I guess I should note the irony of someone complaining about untruck-like trucks who has "2001 Tahoe LT 4WD (Slammed w/ DubDubs)" in his sig ;)

The major benefits of today’s trucks is how utilitarian and the multitude of rolls they can fulfill. There isn't anything you can't do with today's trucks. The range and sheer multitude of jobs is awesome.

Load up the trailer, take the car to the track. Load up the family to go out to dinner. Commute a single person to work. Go collect some soil :eek: from some other geographical location to transplant into the giant craters my German Sheppard pup has created in the back yard. Go to the grocery store to pickup milk and bread. Load up the fifth wheel and head down for a weekend of tubing on the river. Go pickup the grill my wife bought on display at Lowes (already assembled). Take my daughter to the mall for a new pair of shoes. Load up the kids and shuffle to and from soccer practice. Run down to east Texas and pickup a cord of cheap firewood. Etc etc etc All this from one vehicle, not several.

Thus when people spend so much time in a single vehicle, I can see some reasoning as to why they want nice features.

I recently remember seeing someone stating they ordered a new HD that MSRP’s for over $50k.

off the topic of the whole luxury thing but...

is the honda ridgeline a truck?

is the classic el camino a truck?...

how about a holden ute, is that a truck?

off the topic of the whole luxury thing but...

is the honda ridgeline a truck?

is the classic el camino a truck?...

how about a holden ute, is that a truck?

I think the definition of a truck should be whether or not you could mount a plow to the front of it...or be able to put a dump box, utility box or flat-bed on it.

If it doesn't fullfill either of those, it's not really a truck...merely an SUV, or a car with a box. The Honda is an SUV with a box, and not all SUV's are truly trucks, though some are.

Is a Subaru Baja a truck?

The vehicle in question would make an ideal tow vehicle for someone who had... say... horses. Or a race car. Or a good sized boat..

Nail on the head man . My buddy Paul buys one these brand new loaded to gills 1 ton duallys every 2 years . Its great their making the insides luxury like for the guys that long haul tow . He cant wait to get a new Chevy dually :lol: And KUDO's to GM for giving you the option to take the more trucklike interior and dash for the guys that really just want a workhorse or to save some cash .

Over 50% of the 1/2 ton trucks sold are now 4 doors. And these aren't crew cabs for work crews but family vehicles. Nothing like stopping by the Home depot on the way home from dinner for the weekends lawn or home project. Pickup the kids swingset at toys r us. Every family needs 1.

Over 50% of the 1/2 ton trucks sold are now 4 doors. And these aren't crew cabs for work crews but family vehicles. Nothing like stopping by the Home depot on the way home from dinner for the weekends lawn or home project. Pickup the kids swingset at toys r us. Every family needs 1.

Yep and once you have one it's increasingly difficult to find ways to live without it.

Since obtaining the current truck, our household has been with or through several cars:

'88 Mustang LX
'95 Z28
'03 Passat
'05 GTO
and the wife's current '05 Tahoe will be gone before we rid or trade the Silverado. :eek: Long live the truck.

With the roomy, car like interiors and ride, good visibility and the now good looks with modern luxuries and some Hummer influence; makes them one Versital sexy, vehicle!...It's no surprise they're selling well as family vehicles, especially with larger families..

But will they sell well when gas is $4 per gallon? What happens when Congress raises CAFE to 35+ for cars & trucks combined? Senator Snowe (R-ME) is proposing just that.

...A guess I miss the days when you can walk into a dealer, start with a stripper pickup, and load it up the way you want it and walk out the door with a nice truck for under...

I miss the day when I could do that with a Mustang or Camaro. But I know I'm the minority on this one...especially as it pertains to the Camaro, of course.

I miss the day when I could do that with a Mustang or Camaro. But I know I'm the minority on this one...especially as it pertains to the Camaro, of course.

I don't think you're necessarily in the minority there Bob, just that from a financial standpoint the manufacturers can't support that with a Mustang/Camaro.

Trucks have such gigantic volumes associated with them that a 10% take rate on a given option like seat heaters is higher volume than the entire Camaro volume will be in total. Hence, the economies of scale allow it.

you aren't going to catch many people saying how gorgeous the new Silverado is with cloth seats, "work" interior and steel wheels on the showroom floor.

Make it black and change the steel wheels to the dubs that come with the Z60 package and you'll catch lots of people admiring the truck. :cool:

I don't think you're necessarily in the minority there Bob, just that from a financial standpoint the manufacturers can't support that with a Mustang/Camaro.

Trucks have such gigantic volumes associated with them that a 10% take rate on a given option like seat heaters is higher volume than the entire Camaro volume will be in total. Hence, the economies of scale allow it.

Hmmmm.....my sarcasm skills aren't what they used to be.

Oh well. :)
Bob

Iyou aren't going to catch many people saying how gorgeous the new Silverado is with cloth seats, "work" interior and steel wheels on the showroom floor.
Actually that's just what got me into looking at the new Silverado crew. At the SFIAS, I sat in a red LS crew with the cloth 60/40 split bench, and the underseat storage looked like a cool option. I would take leather if they offered it in the 60/40. (My lab needs room to stretch. :D ) Heck I'd buy an LTZ this week if I could get one with the 60/40 split bench.

I know... I'm strange. :D

But will they sell well when gas is $4 per gallon? What happens when Congress raises CAFE to 35+ for cars & trucks combined? Senator Snowe (R-ME) is proposing just that. Will "Gas" ever see $4/galllon, regular??
Or will alternative fuels, now increasing in development and usage, corral those prices before they hit $4/gallon??
Will Hybrid technology, and technology in general, boost truck milage beyond 22mpg, average, soon?
:shrug:
But the chances are looking better every day..
And will the versitility, plus comfort, room and safety be out weighed by $4/gal. price of gas...I know I might drive less, but I'll still own one...I need one.
As an avid, "Do It Yourselfer", I'm hauling all sorts of things, all the time.

I'm not going to argue "need", as everyone's definition is at least a little bit different, and sometimes vastly different.

I cannot predict gas prices, but I think it is safe to say that they will remain volatile in the foreseeable future. Hybrid's won't have a significant impact for a long, long time. Other than Ethanol mixes, few alternatives are near fruition, and for things like E85, what you gain in extra capacity, you largely lose in energy content.

BTW....I own 2 trucks myself. Both are 4 cyl 5-speed gas sipping models (and one is effectively my son's driver), but they are certainly usefull.

Bob

Guys, gas has already jumped back over $3/gal here in California. I'd say by this summer when vacation travel starts up, it will ne north of $3.50/gal and probably over $4 for premium in some locations.

$4/gal for regular unleaded is only a year to 18 months away. :p