[IveofIone]

Chevy just announced that it will be building a so-called 'budget friendly' model of it's new Tahoe without a 3rd row seat and a lower electronic bullshit content than the more premium models. This is long overdue as many of us have absolutely no need for a 3rd set of seats and actually buy a utility vehicle for it's utility instead of it's status symbol value.

Third row seats became popular with dealers since they elevated the transaction price but they really steal usable space from those that use their SUV's as trucks rather than limos. Before I bought my new truck I searched 18 months for a 2nd generation Ford Explorer with 5 passenger seating. I never found a single one despite the fact that the 3rd seat was an option back then. Dealers just automatically ordered them to up the price.

Right now I have a Chrysler Town and Country van with Stow N' Go seating-all of the rear seats fold flat into the floor. This is a brilliant arrangement since you can convert the 7 passenger seating space into a flat 4'x8' space to haul sheet goods in about 3 minutes with no tools or lifting. In over 5 years of ownership and 35,000 miles the second row captains chairs have been in the floor for all but 1 day! The third row seat has never been used. The point is we don't all need bus density seating in our utility vehicles.

Although Chevy is touting the new Tahoe as budget, it still starts at about $45K for a 2wd model. But it does come with a powerful V-8 and can be tow optioned up to 8400#. My travel trailer weighs <4500# and my V-6 Ram with an 8 speed will easily top Washington's highest hiway pass at over the speed limit. This new Tahoe should do even better. It caught my attention because my wife can no longer drive and I need to get down to just one vehicle. It would fulfill all of my 4wd needs plus handle all the hauling and towing requirements. It has a greater towing capacity than my truck plus two more cylinders and 50 more hp and more torque.

As I stated it is a step in the right direction but hardly a giant leap for mankind. At $45k it seems about $15k more than what should actually be required to do the job. It's a 4wd station wagon for Christ's sake-what's the deal? Hopefully some of the other manufacturers will pick up on this and offer something along the same lines, some competition would be welcome.

 

[phuck this]

How about a 4x4 truck with a 8' bed and a small extended cab, not the suburban with a usless 5' bed and no place to park the bohemoth

 

[Mark Walker]

Stop the presses. Sell the Ram? Sacrilegious!
(but I understand the need)

 

[Carter Burke]

How is 45000 anything even close to budget? Sub 20,000 is budget territory.

 

[scifidelity]

Why do you need a new truck? There are plenty of old trucks that meet your description for about 10k that would last you many years, especially if you buy a Toyota.

 

[weiliwen]

I agree with Rob - I guess $45K is the new $20K. Cars are crazy expensive these days. A much smaller part of that than you might think is safety improvements; most of it is added electronics, third row seating, and other sell-ups.

 

[The Drifter]

Yeah I'll pass.

Why would I need a $45k SUV to fly a drone, photograph, climb, fish, etc?

 

[FAQ!]

I get Ive's point. I very recently purchased one of those third row seating deals (a used Honda Pilot). You can haul lots of people or a good amount of stuff, but you can't haul both at the same time.

Personally, I have enjoyed the versatility. The third row folds down flat very easily, making a lot more space in the back for cargo. Granted, the depth of that space would be significantly more if not for the space the folded seats account for, but.... The really nice part of the setup is that with the seats folded, the cargo deck is right at waist height, which makes loading and unloading much more ergonomic.

I must agree that today's prices are ridiculous. I was prepared to spend up to $30K, but to get any of the rigs we were considering new would require something closer to 40. The used market offers some pretty steep drops in price around 50,000 miles, and that's where I found my sweet spot. I'm ashamed to admit that I paid over $20K for a used vehicle. It's in awesome shape, and we love it so far, but man, it was hard to pull that trigger.

 

[Robert Engleheart]

I agree with Rob - I guess $45K is the new $20K. Cars are crazy expensive these days. A much smaller part of that than you might think is safety improvements; most of it is added electronics, third row seating, and other sell-ups.

Agree the electronics but the eight airbags in my Tundra have to be expensive, as are features like heated seats, blind spot monitoring, navigation/touchscreen, etc.
My grandson just bought a 1972 Chevy Cheyenne, it was interesting to ride 85 miles in a basic truck again.

 

[KerryS]

Wait, did you say it came with the belch-firegasguzzler V8?

 

[weiliwen]

Agree the electronics but the eight airbags in my Tundra have to be expensive, as are features like heated seats, blind spot monitoring, navigation/touchscreen, etc.QUOTE]
To me, blind spot monitoring, navigation, heated seats are complete sell-ups, as none of those are federally mandated. The side airbags might not be, either, but for those, I'd pay.

 

[weiliwen]

My favorite truck was a 1978 Datsun 620 "flareside" truck, which had a plenty strong engine (2/3 of a Datsun 280Z engine, essentially), a bench seat (the King Cab had buckets), and just about nothing else. I loaded many truckbeds of gravel and sand in it, and could beat most boy racers' little CRX Si's with it, and didn't worry a bit about getting the sides scratched up by branches as I drove down abandoned logging roads too small for full-sized trucks. I sold it when I had to move to Chicagoland; I haven't seen a single one in the Midwest since moving here. All rusted out, I guess.

 

[7919]

Yeah I'll pass.

Why would I need a $45k SUV to fly a drone, photograph, climb, fish, etc?

right? i do all that in my 91 yota that i bought used after its life in alaska for 3k. other then a starter motor failure, some suspension work when i first got it, and a new radiator/#3 injector.

sure, the muffler might have fallen off, but im in this truck no more then 5k, and i plan to use it for another 10-20 years once the engine dies and i swap it for a new one.

that would leave me 40k to travel and film and climb and fish, assuming i ever had 45k to start with when making a vehicle purchase.

full disclouser though, people behind me on the passes are gonna be pissed when im towing the drift boat. i dont forsee it being a fast endevour, as i can barely do 60 up a pass without towing thats where the 22re turbo comes in on the rebuild.

 

[Carter Burke]

Yeah I'll pass.

Why would I need a $45k SUV to fly a drone, photograph, climb, fish, etc?

It has an optional wardrobe in place of the 3rd row seating and an under the visor buff rack.

 

[Robert Engleheart]

Wait, did you say it came with the belch-firegasguzzler V8?

If you're asking me, yes it is a 350. Won't be used too much and the value of a vehicle he can actually work on outweighs the mileage. Since it's outside the smog requirements it has a freshly rebuilt engine with headers and dual exhaust, got 15 mpg on ride home; can't expect better than that in a 3/4 ton truck. 2nd owner, 30K miles.

 

[KerryS]

If you're asking me, yes it is a 350. Won't be used too much and the value of a vehicle he can actually work on outweighs the mileage. Since it's outside the smog requirements it has a freshly rebuilt engine with headers and dual exhaust, got 15 mpg on ride home; can't expect better than that in a 3/4 ton truck. 2nd owner, 30K miles.

Nope, I wasn't asking you. My rhetorical smartassed question was for Ive and he should know why. Purely for humorous reasons.

 

[gone johnson]

Dang Ive! I just bought a '14 Ram 1500. I would have gladly taken yours off your hands!

 

[Deceased]

It's pretty damn tough to find a rig worthy of actual work or recreational adventure. You can't just buy them anymore they have to be built. For what I do a pickup isn't ideal. An SUV style platform is more suitable. Even if one does succumb to a new pickup it's got computer this, digital that, and an independent front suspension that is going to cost you money in parts if not fail under hard use. You can have all this in a "rugged" work truck complete with retractable running boards for like sixty grand or more. I remember when Chevy made the WT. It was short for work truck. Roll up windows, vinyl floor, cloth seats. Basic. You just can't get basic. My grandfather used to call the flashy new trucks "blank wagons". I'll let you decide what the blank is and no I will not confirm guesses but I'm beginning to feel similar. Fact is it's soccer moms, chicks who pull a horse trailer, and wannabes needing a show truck for validation that drive the market for rigs. That's who the new 4x4 rigs are being designed for. People actually needing a decent rugged rig are left in the lurch and must continue to buy used. Now if someone has A 2000-2003 ford excursion with the 7.3 motor that is basic let me know as that will likely be my next work rig. It's not ideal but about all that's still around that will work.

 

[River Is Polluted]

There is hope. Ford will becoming out with the Bronco with a base price around $30k. http://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars/future-cars/a31079/new-ford-bronco-ranger-details/

 

[Shopkeeper]

I agree with Rob - I guess $45K is the new $20K. Cars are crazy expensive these days. A much smaller part of that than you might think is safety improvements; most of it is added electronics, third row seating, and other sell-ups.

It is a weird day when $45k is "budget"...Best rig I ever had was a retired '85 State-of-Nebraska 3/4 ton 2WD fluorescent orange Suburban with two seats and nothing but vinyl everywhere you looked. You could see it from Jupiter, but after a day's hunting you could take it to a car wash and hose out the inside as well as outside.

$700 never bought so much vehicle...Never should have sold it.