Explain why white collar people buy pickups

[Roger S]

...atleast my bed was scratched to hell like a truck bed should be, when i got rid of it.

Like this?



I did at least break down and get the rest of the truck painted about 10 years ago.... the 96-97 Dodges had an issue with the primer and the paint peeled off of them in sheets.

[jedicurt]

Like this?



I did at least break down and get the rest of the truck painted about 10 years ago.... the 96-97 Dodges had an issue with the primer and the paint peeled off of them in sheets.

exactly. that is the way a truck bed is supposed to look. that means you know how to own and use one. lol

[Jersey Boss]

When I see neighbors with the garage full of junk and both cars parked outside it hurts me. I keep my cars a long time and in the garage. My resell value is always very high as the paint looks great at the end.

We have to SUVs and I usually keep a third two seater for fun. Sold my s2000 not long ago but already jonesing for something fun for the summer but these used cars prices are stupid high right now. Good when I sold but I guess I'll hold out.

Agree with this. I have always kept my cars garaged as it is an investment issue.
I have a shed in the backyard for mower and other things needed relating to yard and pool upkeep.
We have an Escape with a tow hitch and an Accord Coupe. We have never been at a loss for hauling anything that couldn't be delivered.

[catch22]

Is it really an investment though?

Short of buying a classic car, it will never increase in value and it will never hold value. It is a purchase that loses value every day. Every time you turn it on and drive it it loses value. "Investing" money in repairs and maintenance only adds to the sunk cost as a used car is always a used car. A $1000 repair may only add a few hundred bucks to resale value.

My cars are tools. I use them to get me to work to bring home dollars that can be invested in areas that make me money, my mortgage and 401k. I use them for recreation. The cost of ownership of a vehicle is a fee I pay for convenience and the ability to earn a living. Now - you should always take care of your tools and your assets, even if they are depreciating. But I would not do so under the guise of protecting an investment - because it is not an investment. It is an expense that loses value year over year, and usage after usage.

[turnpup]

Are pickup trucks (of any size) still predominantly "guy" vehicles? If so, why might that be the case? It wouldn't be the size, would it, as women certainly make up a large number of the demographic driving the largest of SUVs.

[Midtowner]

Surprising that I haven't seen it mentioned in this thread. A lot of small business owners buy big 'ol pickups because vehicles over 6,000 pounds are able to be depreciated 100% in the first year. So buy a $60,000 pickup? You get to decrease your taxable income by $60,000 in the first year. If you're above the 24% tax bracket, that's a tax savings of $14,400. Heck of a deal.

[Pete]

Are pickup trucks (of any size) still predominantly "guy" vehicles? If so, why might that be the case? It wouldn't be the size, would it, as women certainly make up a large number of the demographic driving the largest of SUVs.

It seems the huge majority of truck owners are male.


In fact, there was a recent GMC commercial where on Christmas morning he takes his wife out to show her the huge new SUV he bought her parked next to a huge truck he had bought for himself. She immediately goes for the truck and he reluctantly accepts he'll be taking the SUV. The whole point being that a woman would almost never choose the truck.

[Pete]

Surprising that I haven't seen it mentioned in this thread. A lot of small business owners buy big 'ol pickups because vehicles over 6,000 pounds are able to be depreciated 100% in the first year. So buy a $60,000 pickup? You get to decrease your taxable income by $60,000 in the first year. If you're above the 24% tax bracket, that's a tax savings of $14,400. Heck of a deal.

I doubt many people know this; I sure didn't.

But it would also apply to a huge SUV, not just trucks.

[Bill Robertson]

I doubt many people know this; I sure didn't.

But it would also apply to a huge SUV, not just trucks.

I just searched SUVs above 6000lbs and was really surprised at how many there are. Even a Chrysler Pacifica is on the list and I don't think of them as being that big.

[Midtowner]

I doubt many people know this; I sure didn't.

But it would also apply to a huge SUV, not just trucks.

TESLA's top cybertruck variant weighs 6,500 lbs. Don't think for a second that I'm not strongly considering that purchase. Of course I'll have to move to have a garage large enough.

[thunderbird]

I'm a city slicker and I just moved to a F150 from a Toyota Land Cruiser because:

3 kids in car seats leaves VERY little room for anything else, even basic grocery shopping for 5 people and 2 dogs becomes an ordeal. Once you start trying to throw in 5 bikes, a kayak or two, hockey sticks, coolers or anything like that, it really starts to make sense to be in a truck. I currently have a sliding bed cover to keep things tidy and locked but I think I'll move to a camper shell soon. Will make a great place to sleep before races and hunting trips.

My truck was $50k vs the $75k+ for a similarly equipped suburban or expedition, or hell, Sprinter van. My truck is a V6 diesel and gets around 24mpg, the 2nd row leg room is also bigger than any SUV on the market and if you've had three car seats in a row you know how valuable that space is as a passing lane and for school bags.

[David]

This thread reminded me of an SUV review I read last year which I was able to hunt down to link:

Driving the 2021 Cadillac Escalade was one of the most stressful experiences of my life



It's not just the big trucks that are stupidly and dangerously oversized.

There is a clear correlation between vehicle design and the recent spike in pedestrian deaths. While the people driving SUVs are slightly safer (1.6 percent decrease in SUV occupant deaths in 2018, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration), the number of pedestrians killed by those drivers has skyrocketed by 81 percent in the last decade, according to a report released last year by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

That’s mostly because of the way SUVs are designed: larger bodies and higher carriages mean pedestrians are more likely to suffer deadly blows to the head and torso. Higher clearances mean victims are more likely to get trapped underneath a speeding SUV instead of pushed onto the hood or off to the side. Speed is also a factor because SUVs have more horsepower than a typical sedan. A recent investigation by USA Today and the Detroit Free Press found that the growing popularity of SUVs accounts for the alarming rise in pedestrian deaths.

I imagine the same holds true for the giant trucks too.

[Jersey Boss]

Is it really an investment though?

Short of buying a classic car, it will never increase in value and it will never hold value. It is a purchase that loses value every day. Every time you turn it on and drive it it loses value. "Investing" money in repairs and maintenance only adds to the sunk cost as a used car is always a used car. A $1000 repair may only add a few hundred bucks to resale value.

My cars are tools. I use them to get me to work to bring home dollars that can be invested in areas that make me money, my mortgage and 401k. I use them for recreation. The cost of ownership of a vehicle is a fee I pay for convenience and the ability to earn a living. Now - you should always take care of your tools and your assets, even if they are depreciating. But I would not do so under the guise of protecting an investment - because it is not an investment. It is an expense that loses value year over year, and usage after usage.

I used the term "investment" as the exchange of money for a product. I realize that autos are generally a depreciating asset. That being said is why my last car purchase was a 3 year old Accord that was a lease return. Generally the depreciation is greater in the first three years and than it depreciates less. By garaging my cars I will not be paying for any hail damage that would occur when I'm home, minimizing sun and storm damage to the body, as well as keeping the "midnight shoppers" at bay.
If i can extend the service life of my car by garaging it as well as protecting the appearance I consider those actions to be protecting my investment.

[oklip955]

You need a larger truck if you pull a horse trailer, flat bed trailer with any weight, or pull a travel trailer on vacation or on long weekends.

[Jersey Boss]

Surprising that I haven't seen it mentioned in this thread. A lot of small business owners buy big 'ol pickups because vehicles over 6,000 pounds are able to be depreciated 100% in the first year. So buy a $60,000 pickup? You get to decrease your taxable income by $60,000 in the first year. If you're above the 24% tax bracket, that's a tax savings of $14,400. Heck of a deal.

https://www.gettaxhub.com/tax-deduct...-over-6000lbs/
Deduction is for small business owners.
Acquired for business use
Acquired by purchase (not gifts)
Outside of the $25,000 allowed for Section 179 depreciation of vehicles over 6,000 pounds, the IRS also permits something known as bonus depreciation. Unlike Section 179, it only applies to assets that were purchased new. Anything that you buy used or pre-owned will not be eligible. Also, unlike most deductions, this one does not carry a dollar-based limit. On the contrary, you are eligible for a tax benefit amounting to 50% of the purchase price. If you buy a $100,000 truck, that means that $50,000 can be immediately expensed under bonus depreciation in the first year, so long as it was solely used for business.

[Bill Robertson]

You need a larger truck if you pull a horse trailer, flat bed trailer with any weight, or pull a travel trailer on vacation or on long weekends.

I'm pretty sure we all know that. But the point of this discussion is the number of people that I, and I'm sure many others, know that have full size trucks that don't own a trailer or haul anything heavier than groceries.

[DowntownMan]

^

In the driveways because they can't fit in a garage, which in my mind is massive drawback.

A car is the second most expensive physical asset in any household, yet people park them outside because they either can't fit in a garage or the garage is jammed with generally useless junk while you leave a $50K truck/car sitting outside.

This is my pet peeve. I live in a neighborhood of typically starter homes but they all have two car garages but yet half of my neighborhood cannot get even one car in garage because they have so much junk in the garage. Yet they panic when hail storms come and try to put things on top of their car to protect it.
I just sit and laugh and wonder if they know the garage is meant for their car.

[Pete]

^

And only in America do we all have homes far bigger than we would ever need and still have mini-storage complexes on every corner.

So, so much stuff.

[catch22]

^

And only in America do we all have homes far bigger than we would ever need and still have mini-storage complexes on every corner.

So, so much stuff.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvgN5gCuLac

[Pete]

Not to get sidetracked, but I've been going through a major purge and am trying very hard to move more towards minimalism.


One of my favorite stories involves one of my good friends who was moving from London to Sydney, for good.

I went over to see him and enjoy a full week of farewell activities, and honest to goodness, I brought more stuff with me on the trip than he was taking with him to live on the other side of the world, forever.

I went to go visit him in Oz about a year later and he had a futon, a small tv, a bed, a chest of drawers and a small table and 2 chairs; I believe all was bought from the Sydney Target. What else do you need?? Turns out, nothing.

[catch22]

^ we have a tendency to fill space. I have been buying smaller and smaller bags for camping. Turns out I don't need 80% of what I bring, and I already bring a pretty small setup as it is usually whatever can fit in a backpack on my motorbike.

Pack half of what you plan to take, and then cut that in half. I think that camping lesson can be applied to everyday society. I know I have a ton of crap I don't use, taking up space likely to only next be seen when I pass away and my relatives are hiring a roll-off dumpster.

[Pete]

^

I used to camp a bunch with a buddy who was a former Eagle Scout.

Every time before we broke camp to leave, he'd take a few minutes and write down what he didn't bring that he needed, and what he brought but didn't use. I picked up the same habit.

It really should be the same in life. There is this fear of getting rid of something you might need, but that's a completely backward way of looking at things. Especially because if you actually do need something -- and really need it -- it's super easy just to get it next day on Amazon, let alone making a quick run to a store.

It's the same way of thinking with a truck. I MIGHT have to tow something or haul something, so I'm going to buy something I don't need for 99.9% of the time. It's the American Way.

[Pete]

Interestingly, GM just announced plans to completely phase out gas and diesel engines by 2,035.

That's only 14 years away.

[DowntownMan]

Interestingly, GM just announced plans to completely phase out gas and diesel engines by 2,035.

That's only 14 years away.

They can plan for that but ultimately it will be up to the market and consumers to make the switch. Lots of things need to happen for this be even remotely an option for people to consider this. More stations and longer batteries and faster charging.

Middle America is going to have hardest time because we drive further distances and need to be able charge more for trips and I don’t think people want to stop for a long recharge time on a cross country vacation for example. I’m sure there will be substantial developments in this time frame but ultimately it is up to consumers to choose electric.

[Swake]

This thread reminded me of an SUV review I read last year which I was able to hunt down to link:

Driving the 2021 Cadillac Escalade was one of the most stressful experiences of my life



It's not just the big trucks that are stupidly and dangerously oversized.



I imagine the same holds true for the giant trucks too.

How is this happening? Most new cars/trucks have sonar don't they? Both my car and my wife's SUV do.