What happened to truck prices?

[4WD]

Buyers want the big trucks, full sized double cabs with big tires, 4WD and all of the options that are available on the market today. Heated seats-check, heated steering wheel-check, A/C seats-check, lane assist-check, etc, etc, etc.

They want them, and they will pay for them with a 7 or 8 year loan at asking prices. Both the manufacturer and the dealers understand all of this, stock those kind of trucks and sell them to very willing buyers.

Couple that with a pretty long run of lower fuel prices in many states …

 

[BlueOvalFitter]

they are not the same.

Tomato, Tuhmotto. It doesn't matter. One way or another these prices will have you grabbing your chest "THINKING" you are having a HEART ATTACK!

 

[CKN]

The dealerships will figure out how to set up the monthly payments so that anyone can roll around in luxury. I would say very few people look at the "bottom line cost" of a vehicle when buying nowadays, with financing being so generous and lax.

Everyone wins except for the "Mr. Sensible" inside all of us.

- Dealership salesman gets a bigger commission check
- Dealership owner rakes in more profit
- Service department has more things to potentially be paid to fix, since fancy cars have more things that can break
- The owner drives away in a car they probably can't "afford to own", despite having been able to purchase it off the lot (if you understand what I mean)
- The insurance company charges higher premiums for coverage
- The state gets more tax revenue when it's time to pick up the plates

1) No they don't.
2) Vehicles are more reliable than they ever have been.
3) You have no idea what others financial situation is.
The other 3 of your statements are close enough to the truth.

 

[brianl703]

2) Vehicles are more reliable than they ever have been.

Dealership service departments have other ways to separate customers from their money. The local Chevy dealer charges $250 for a transmission fluid service. I'm pretty sure that consists of 5 quarts of Dexron-VI and 0.5 hours in labor.

 

[OilReport99]

The other 3 of your statements are close enough to the truth.

Quid est veritas CKN?

 

[CKN]

Dealership service departments have other ways to separate customers from their money. The local Chevy dealer charges $250 for a transmission fluid service. I'm pretty sure that consists of 5 quarts of Dexron-VI and 0.5 hours in labor.

It's not mandatory to go to the dealer. Usually most towns of any decent size have "that transmission shop" that's been doing it for twenty years. Save the receipt and you are covered.

 

[CKN]

Quid est veritas CKN

Not always on here.................

 

[brianl703]

It's not mandatory to go to the dealer. Usually most towns of any decent size have "that transmission shop" that's been doing it for twenty years. Save the receipt and you are covered.

I know. I have pretty much always done any transmission fluid service myself. But someone is paying that dealer $250 for that service..

 

[ls1mike]

Dealership service departments have other ways to separate customers from their money. The local Chevy dealer charges $250 for a transmission fluid service. I'm pretty sure that consists of 5 quarts of Dexron-VI and 0.5 hours in labor.

I had it done on my 2014 6L80E Caprice. It was a fluid exchange and it took two hours and 12 quarts. Came out to $275. I usually do all my own stuff, but that was well worth it. The pan is not dropped unless you ask.

I didn't do it because I could not get the car level enough to check the fluid. It has no dipstick so you have to pull a plug and wait for a trickle at normal operating temperature. On my 1 ton (6L90E) it is easy to drop the pan. I did that one and replaced the pan with a deep one (3 extra quarts) The replacement pan also had a drain plug.

In the half ton GM with 6L80E if you want to drop the pan you have raise the transmission a bit or drop the exhaust, unless someone knows a trick (I am all ears). They generally do a fluid exchange or flush depending on what you ask for. It is one of the few services they do that is not outrageous. If you see that 250 dollar coupon come in the mail it is a deal. 12 quarts of Dexron VI is over 100 dollars. Unless you pull the cooler line you are not are not getting all the fluid out. A 6L80E/90E is a 10 quart transmission with a pan drop you get about 6 out. Neither transmission has a plug. On the 90E plenty of room to drop the pan, not so much on the 80E. They are a 45,000 mile service transmission.

 

[brianl703]

$250 isn't a flush. It's a "drain and refill". And replacement of the filter, if replaceable. So they will charge you $250 for what on a 6T70 transmission takes 5 quarts of Dexron VI and 30 minutes (no replaceable filter in that one).

 

[ls1mike]

$250 isn't a flush. It's a "drain and refill". And replacement of the filter, if replaceable. So they will charge you $250 for what on a 6T70 transmission takes 5 quarts of Dexron VI and 30 minutes (no replaceable filter in that one).

Sure it is rip off on the 6T70, but we were talking trucks and I had it done on my 6L80E. 275 for fluid exchange, no flush. Which was disconnecting the cooler line getting the old stuff out and putting new stuff in. Had it done February. I thought we were talking trucks. For some transmissions? Not worth it. The 80E in a truck or car without a dipstick? You are maybe saving 50 bucks doing it at home. I have a 6T70 sitting in my garage at the moment in wife's 2015 2.0 turbo Malibu. I have done the drain and fill twice. It is a 9.5 quart transmission with a 5 quart drain and fill quite possibly the easiest transmission fluid to drain and fill. I posted about it here. 6T70E fluid drain and fill 2015 Malibu | Bob Is The Oil Guy
But I digress, it should be looked at on a case by case basis. As picky as the 80E is, it is worth having the fluid exchange done.

 

[brianl703]

Sure it is rip off on the 6T70, but we were talking trucks and I had it done on my 6L80E. 275 for fluid exchange, no flush. Which was disconnecting the cooler line getting the old stuff out and putting new stuff in. Had it done February.

That isn't what the local dealer does for $250. They drop the pan, or the drain plug, change the filter if possible, refill and that's it.

 

[ls1mike]

That isn't what the local dealer does for $250. They drop the pan, or the drain plug, change the filter if possible, refill and that's it.

Yeah that is pricey, they do a fluid exchange with the machine at mine. They are actually decent.

 

[brianl703]

Yeah that is pricey, they do a fluid exchange with the machine at mine. They are actually decent.

That's what I would have expected for $250. I just checked Pep Boys and they'll do a fluid exchange for $129*
* plus an extra charge for Dexron-VI

 

[CKN]

Yeah that is pricey, they do a fluid exchange with the machine at mine. They are actually decent.

Almost all dealers as a transmission service on the new GM 6 speed (trucks) do a fluid exchange with the machine. The do not do a "pan drop". The filter does not need to be replaced. Let me know of a transmission that failed because a SCREENED FILTER failed. The last time I checked this service was $200.00 at the dealer-but it sounds like the price may have increased by the above posts.

I checked at the local Valvoline Quick Oil change place for my wife's 2017 Santa Fe 6 speed and they said $119.00 for a fluid exchange. I asked what fluid and they said "The Universal Stuff". I quickly said "no thank you".

 

[brianl703]

The last time I checked this service was $200.00 at the dealer-but it sounds like the price may have increased by the above posts.

From what I have seen, dealer service pricing varies from area to area.

 

[clinebarger]

Almost all dealers as a transmission service on the new GM 6 speed (trucks) do a fluid exchange with the machine. The do not do a "pan drop". The filter does not need to be replaced. Let me know of a transmission that failed because a SCREENED FILTER failed. The last time I checked this service was $200.00 at the dealer-but it sounds like the price may have increased by the above posts.

I checked at the local Valvoline Quick Oil change place for my wife's 2017 Santa Fe 6 speed and they said $119.00 for a fluid exchange. I asked what fluid and they said "The Universal Stuff". I quickly said "no thank you".

GM uses a filter media called "Micro Felt" made by SPX Filtran, They haven't used screen type filters in decades.

 

[scrowley]

Heh Heh, original conversation degenerated into a fluid changing conversation.

 

[4WD]

GM uses a filter media called "Micro Felt" made by SPX Filtran, They haven't used screen type filters in decades.

My 30K pan drop on 6L80E

 

[Snagglefoot]

Since most of the “purchasers” are on long term low interest leases, it has caused the dealers to jack the prices. The “buyers” can still make the payments.