Are High Priced Pick Ups NOT Worth It Or Does This Writer Just NOT Get It?

I was recently flipping through my iPhone one morning when I swiped and got a slew of news stories via the News widget. It's a nice touch if I am honest and a simple way to see the headlines that are trending.

One struck me right away: "That Swanky $70,000 Pickup Might Not Be Worth It."

I laughed. Mostly because I wondered whether or not the writer had actually driven one of the latest high-end pick up trucks, and secondly because I am driving a RAM 1500 Limited this week. Sticker price? About $68,000.

Long story short, the writer notes that today's latest and greatest pick up trucks don't have the same features as today's luxury sedans. This includes the fragrance that wafts out of its vents, a massive screen and autopilot — even though the "autopilot" functions of today are far from level five autonomy. Who's counting though, right?

They seem to forget that these vehicles are heavy duty and are engineered to take a beating. Surely the price isn't accounting for its trick suspension, enormous cabins and off-road ability, right?

Having said that, I was left wondering what the Spies think: Should today's high-end pick up trucks deliver  more of a luxury experience and feature more tech, OR should they still retain their utility and truck-like vibe?

A dusty fracker deep in the North Dakota oil fields scrambles into his shiny new pickup and pushes the electronic ignition. He settles in as the calming fragrance of cedar whispers from the vent. Reaching behind, he pulls a cold kombucha from the built-in chiller. As a man-made starscape flickers on the headliner, he sits back and lets the truck drive him home.

Of course, this vehicle doesn’t exist, at least not yet. Though American factories are stamping out increasingly opulent and expensive pickup trucks—some cracking the $80,000 mark—the creature comforts and tech-drenched amenities on these machines still fall years behind what buyers typically find on similarly priced luxury cars...

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TomM - 4/11/2019 4:54:55 AM

+3 Boost

High end trucks are a Status Symbol - just as High End Luxury Models are.
One cannot justify the price of most of these vehicles based on their use - likely to be as commuters more often than work trucks.

So - think about it. There are lots of cars in the mid $20,000(After discounts) range that can get me there in comfort - why would ANYONE need a more expensive car than that. The fact is - they DON't with few exceptions - but there are people who will pay big dollars for worn out old English Sports cars - just to be seen in them. Even if being seen is broken down on the side of the road - which often is more likely.

dumpsty - 4/12/2019 2:46:15 PM

+1 Boost

Nothing "high-priced" or expensive is ever WORTH IT...financially.

Maybe its to show the neighbors you have the coin or bcuz you have coin & simply just want a "(luxurious) pickup". This is why there are options from the many other competitors for all the other vehicle categories. Consumers what different vehicles for different reasons. If they're spending the money, why deny them?

qwertyfla1 - 4/11/2019 6:58:43 AM

+1 Boost

Trucks are no longer working vehicles but rather fashion accessories for the most part these days and the OEMS have capitalized on this dumb trend. Couple this with the fact that nobody outside the big 3 make a decent/real truck and it is a sellers market until gas prices spike in price.

Truck prices have gone insane for what you really get -formed metal/basic construction and used prices at least here are stupid as many American dealers are buying up all the auction trucks and Ford exports all it's Canadian lease returns to the US for stronger resale values dues to the currency exchange difference.

MDarringer - 4/11/2019 8:25:49 AM

0 Boost

Lemme guess Kyle the Writer believes in climate change, the superiority of EVs, the supremacy of women because they have vajayjays, and that his masculinity is toxic because he's from Portland. The guy is an unmitigated douchebag. Based on how the article is written you can tell that 100% of the information was Googled and that he has never been near a pickup. He throws in cliched jargon that non-truck people use to pretend they are in the know...kinda like how outsiders of California refer to it as "Cali" thinking that shows them to be in the know when true Californians NEVER say Cali. Just when you thought Doug Demuro was as bad as it can get, this douchebag comes along.

YoCarFanto - 4/11/2019 11:17:32 AM

+1 Boost

A month ago I requested an uber and it was a crew cab F150. Very comfortable. My question is, why do you need a Mercedes S550 when you can have a luxurious pickup where you can haul stuff (In Texas you always need to haul stuff). On the other hand, it's too big for me to use as a daily driver. To each its own.

TomM - 4/11/2019 5:29:47 PM

+1 Boost

In MY mind - the question is what you buy a "Vehicle" for.
If you buy it to transport you and your family - a "CAR" is the logical thing to use. After a car - A mini Van would be the next logical thing - I can haul a 4x8 sheet of plywood flat on the floor of my Chrysler - with the Rear Door DOWN. And THe seats are still stowed in the Car.