What is crazy to me...
A loaded burban @ 80K = Mercedes Benz E class Loaded or BMW 5 Series.
Yet drive up with both and ask those around which cost more... and they all point to the MB or BMW....
Truck prices are nutz as I have seen houses for less.
I wonder what all the economists think of these prices based on current middle class wages... something has to give soon.
Spot on man. I ordered new a 2001 BMW 325i with a goal to keep the price down. I wanted a rear wheel drive sports car with a manual transmission but it needed four doors for my (then) very young daughters. The only options I got were sports package, single disk CD player, sunroof and fold down rear seats with ski bag. I don't have leather, cruise control... heck I even have manual seats, though they are awesome ten way adjustable sport seats.
Anyway, after I bought it I got all kinds of comments like "Oh, you must have gotten a huge raise", "OOOHHHH, look what your driving. Wish I could afford it blah, blah, blah". What I had to explain on a constant basis was that my car was about five grand less than mini-vans we were considering (and thankfully never got) for my wife. I agree, it's absolutely nuts what they charge for "Trucks" these days. I really don't want what they're selling 'cause when I buy a truck, I want something I'm not afraid to get dirty or some urban assault pavement princess. Give me cloth, give me manual seats, give me durable without 10,000 electronic gizmos that are just begging to be replaces at a high cost.
As far as the economist go, I would have to think they think it's nuts too. I mean, the costs are through the roof and with all the unnecessary gadgetry they are becoming more disposable everyday vs. something that will last.
Oh yeah, that Bimmer is still going strong at 211,000 miles and the simple 2001 Suzuki Grand Vitara XL7 we bought for my wife instead of the mini-van is still motoring along at 202,000 miles and is now on it's fourth driver in our house.