Idk. I cut back on a lot of stuff, but even after cutbacks the expenses are 30% higher now than they were before this madness.
2024 Ford F-150 entry point: $38,565
- Thread starter cptbarkey
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I actually just calculated the Ford inflation
Money printing + non-tax-paying rich --> more costs on the middle class
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maverick and ranger exist?
Oh I’m sure. I know a lot of it here is preferred vehicle selection because of my location.
For some reason parade float cracked me up
stood next to a new ranger the other day...Literally the same size as my nephew's 99 F150XL
Good point. and to @Torrid ’s point, I get startled, rattled, and angry a little more when I see a 6000lb vehicle being aggressive or reckless than a 3000lb one. Happened last week … dusk, blue headlights in a sea of blue headlights. the pack was way back, 150 yards but I didnt see that his speed was well over everyone else’s. I pulled out and he was rolling up fast. Best I could tell he didn’t brake. I was doing 45 when we nearly plowed into my bumper, and he swerved out of the lane, cut around me, swerved back in. 24” wheels with wide tires and a 4” lift, and his truck was rocking back and forth as you could hear the tires clawing sideways. My issue that I misjudged his speed. His issue for easily rolling 25 over the limit and driving like that. It would have still been startling had he been in a civic, but would not have come off as threatening. That leaves an impression if you experience it often.
a few years ago, a local high school kid started having a medical issue. His parents had given him a full-size 4x4. He made a bad judgment call (he’s young, and it takes age and experience to develop judgment). He killed something like 6 people in 3 wrecks as he tried to get home in his condition. It was a really sad story.
I do feel there is a real responsibility for driving a vehicle of any size… but having driven both small and large, we owe it to other drivers to recognize how our vehicle affects them too. Don’t tailgate, don’t ride up, watch for safe distances, let them see around you if you can at the stop…
aren't they all introduced the raise pay to the labor force for all major car manufacturers in US lately??!
so someone will be covering the costs in the near future
so someone will be covering the costs in the near future
ls1mike
$50 Site Donor 2024
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I love it! I used to always help out with parade floats when I was in high school. I had so much fun with these projects.
ls1mike
$50 Site Donor 2024
Well that is one thing we can agree to disagree on. I see more cars doing stupid stuff every day. As a matter of fact, once you hook something up to the truck, they get even worse, cut you off, tailgate, fill in the spot that you are keeping open for safe stopping distance, drive in your blind spot...that list goes on and on.
ls1mike
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This one has been a labor of love. I redid the whole trailer, paint, decking, electrical. The trailer was bought used and is heavy. Was used for construction equipment. Someone built the replica conning tower and installed it for us. We do about 7 events a year with it. Bonefish was a GATO class submarine lost in WWII with all hands.
USS Bonefish SS-223 History
I'm sure that happens too and I'd see more of it if I towed. Some people really don't understand stopping distances and see slower moving vehicles as an inconvenience(even at the speed limit) when you're just being a safe driver. I get that driving is a privilege, but I think way too many see it as a right and have no idea the implications of what could happen by making a mistake while ignoring the laws of physics.
Hours of labor at a modern car assembly plant per vehicle is in the 20-40hr range. So even at a $100/hr its not a real big factor for a $50k+ truck... And I imagine the F150 line is quite efficient, so its probably closer to 20 for them. So the pay raise the unions got is what $2-300 per truck? The doc fees and dealer BS is a much bigger factor in what people pay.
I wonder even if all the workers in the parts plants made $100/hr, how much that would actually raise the cost of production for a vehicle like the F150? Another $1k? How many more F150's at $50k+ would ford sell if another 100k blue collar guys made $100/hr?
Heck we'd be back like the 60's and 70's when a single income bought a nice house...
Not to go all socialist, but it seems capitalism is working well for those with the capital, not so great for the working folks...
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i also wonder if the raise toyota and other non union plants just got, would be possible without uaw setting a precedence?
Probably not to the level they got. They don’t want employees having the urge to unionize.
2024 Ford F-150 entry point: $38,565
Seems reasonable for what you get at that price, but you will have to order it since the dealers will only stock $70K or higher trucks in their lots.
I don’t think I recall seeing any form of base XL on the local dealer’s site. They all at least had the STX appearance package.
Everything goes up and up.... If I were to buy an F-150 now it be a '23 STX 4x4. I've seen them as low as 41,500 in crew cab form. "Deals" can be found, but may have to travel to get them.
Only if the consumer is willing to pay for it. My guess is it will be a balance of price increases and labor reductions due to automation.
Just my $0.02
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