Vehicle dealer offerings?

greenbeanman in Kansas · Nov 18, 2010

Tuesday I stopped by the local Ford dealer to pick up a brochure on F250s and take a look at them as well.

The dealer had no F250s that were not 4X4, and had only 1 F150 on the entire lot, it too a 4X4.
City of 40,000+ so not a small dealer. We don't get much snow and very little reason for 4X4 in my opinion.

I guess if you only stock one thing it doesn't take much salesman intelligence to do the job.

I have to wonder if the F250 4X4 doesn't have a greater profit margin, hence nearly the only offering being them?

paul · Nov 18, 2010

Local dealer was saying good used vehicles are starting to heat up, people want to buy but not afford brand new. He said especially he can't find a good used diesel pickup, they are in demand. Ag area, with lots of snow here, so a 2wd is worthless 'here', tho I understand your point 'there'.

--->Paul

VADAVE · Nov 18, 2010

So order it. Get exactly what you want, can negioate because there is no inventory tax etc.
You only have to wait about 10 weeks.

BCnT · Nov 18, 2010

try finding a 2 wheel drive diesel/manual tranny/regular cab...why in the HE!! anybody would want a 1 ton station wagon is beyond me...wish some new fad would come up so folks that NEED a truck could afford to buy em again.

greenbeanman in Kansas · Nov 18, 2010

I'm the kind of guy that wants to see what he is buying instead of sight unseen.

From what was on the lot I haven't a clue how tall a new pickup is that isn't a 4X4. I certainly don't want something I need a stepladder for since I'm getting older.

greenbeanman in Kansas · Nov 18, 2010

You hit the nail on the head exactly.

Probably 75% of the pickups on the road today don't need to be.

Consider too those that are needed by farmers or others with true need really have little use for the accessories that are on them.

Does chrome really help you haul a load? When you get in the cab after a hard day of farm work do you really need a leather interior and a CD player to listen to while you drive the 5-10 miles back home?

DBAF · Nov 18, 2010

They should be able to locate one for you.Very few salesmen know anything about trucks You think it would be slighty interesting to them to understand whats going on,but they don't seem to be interested in much other than old spice and jewlery.Dodge is the only diesel you can even get a manuel trans in anymore.

showcrop · Nov 18, 2010

My F-350 diesel doesn't go much of anywhere off road towing something in 2 wheel. But then maybe I do too much dragging stuff around off road.

barrybro · Nov 18, 2010

I am the CFO for a dealer group in Michigan. The reason 4x2"s are not stocked is that they don"t sell. Plain and simple.

CWL · Nov 18, 2010

Shucks, just finding a truck with a manual transmission is getting to be nearly impossible.

greenbeanman in Kansas · Nov 18, 2010

I can fully understand that for your area where you get a real winter.

We average about 13 inches of snowfall each year that arrives in perhaps 10 snowfalls total. We often don't have to clear sidewalks as it melts off quickly from warm ground temps.

Not too often is there more than 3-4 inches of frost in the ground, and most often less than that. However the potential is still there for more.

You need 4X4s, we don't, but then again that is my opinion.

Paul Shuler · Nov 18, 2010

I have a 2500 duramax that I love. But I'll tell you that thing will get stuck on wet grass in 2 wheel drive. My old 86 chevy would go about anywhere in 2 wheel mode but I wouldn't dare try it in one of these heavy deisle trucks with all that torque going to the rearend. Mine will spin on damp pavement if you get a little to heavy on it. Hope you find the truck your looking for. Ive only used 4 wheel 3 times on mine, but it saved me a tow bill each time.

tomNE · Nov 18, 2010

2wheel drive trucks have a very low resale value. If you really want one. The GSA sales have really low mileage 3/4 ton 2wheel drive, well equipped trucks for a song.

Spook · Nov 18, 2010

My neighbor just bought a new Chevy truck, he got a "accessability" package, it's for older folks - a step on both sides, and a extra grab.

Traditional Farmer · Nov 18, 2010

I'm with you on this one I farm and have a 2WD as my main truck and an old 4WD to beat around the farm with.A 4WD gets worse mileage,wears tires worse,requires more maintenence and doesn't drive as good as a 2WD.

jm. · Nov 18, 2010

Very simple dealers STOCK what sells. People walk right by two wheel drive and buy the 4 wheel drive. They don,t want to have their money tied up in something that does not sell. Remember we don,t buy what we need we buy what we want.. just the american way..

Clodbuster · Nov 18, 2010

I just picked up a 2009 shortbed 2wd Ram for KBB trade value. They are very hard to find....but they are out there. The only dealers that seem to have them are the mega-huge dealers that have them as loss leaders in their ads.

VicS · Nov 18, 2010

I antique tractor pull a little bit and I have had to use 4 wheel drive at least 3 times to get out of the pits, this year and last year I lost count. The thing you are forgetting is low range. Try backing 20000 lb up a hill with a 2 wheel drive. My neighbor just bought a 2011 F350 Diesel 4 door. It listed for 59600, thats 15000 more that my 2003, and we don't have any Inflation. It is nicer than mine.

Cockshutt Mike · Nov 18, 2010

Talked with a gentleman that had a 4x4 he had baught brand new. He wanted some help getting unstuck. I said well i think it will come right out in 4 wheel drive and he said, it's in 4 wheel drive. I said no it's not because your front wheels aren't spinning and his reply was well it's full time 4 wheel drive. I pointed out to him the switch on the dash, flipped switch into 4 wheel drive and it came right out. He owned that vehicle for 5 or 6 years. A friend of mine who is a mechanic said a lot of people buy them because it's the in thing, they never use it and like the guy i helped don't even know how to operate. Most people want a 4x4 just to keep up with the crowd, hence drives up wants above needs along with price. 4x4 sells 2x4 doesn't so if dealer has a good business head he stocks what sells.

Mike M · Nov 18, 2010

My uncle bought a new F150 4x4 4 dr last year.He loves it. Says he has been more happy with it then any other vechical he ever owned.

I couldn't figure out why he got a 4x4 as he goes to Florida every winter in it ?

As mentioned below I too have noticed my newer truck 1996, does not get around near as good as older ones I have had. I can't explain it ? Mine is a gas engine but maybe the long wheel base from the extended cab ?

JayinNY · Nov 18, 2010

Other than not riding as smooth as a 2wd I dont agree with anything else you said. Maybe less milage,but Requires more maintenance?? I have 5 4wd trucks, only one, a 73 GMC needed a a drive shaft from the transfer case to the front end, and 4wd u joints on the front axles Had 174,000 on it. My other 4 havent needed anything. 89 chevy 3500 173,000 miles, 2000 f250, 164,000 miles a 84 chevy 128,000 and 99 dakota 153,000 miles. Other than greaseing the fittings they havent needed anything.

fixerupper · Nov 18, 2010

The people around here who manage hog and turkey confinement buildings really do need FWD to insure that they can get to the animals. Some of the livestock companies that own the confinements require the managers to have access to a FWD. I do keep an old 79 Dodge FWD in the shed for the once in three years that I actually need it. My opinion is if the snow is deep enough to need FWD then I don't need to go anywhere. I live on a gravel road six miles from the nearest town, but this county is real good about plowing the roads so I'm rarely snowed in for more than a day. Jim

wolfman · Nov 18, 2010

I agree with you. Around here (PA) dealers stock no regular cab pickups. For the farm, I want an 8 ft bed reg cab. Dealer might have 40-50 extended cab, short bed things,but no work trucks. Back in the mid 70's , you couldn't find a car on a dealer's lot with a standard engine-all 400+ cubes. Probably more profit in all those options.

Goose · Nov 18, 2010

Probably 90% of them are ego trips and status symbols.

When I still did the daily commute thing at the same time every day, I'd see the same Dodge Dakotas, Chevy Suburbans, Lincoln Navigators, overgrown 4-door pickups, et al, every day. Most of them were simply commuting between towns for their jobs and probably didn't have need for 4wd or to haul something more than once every year or two. Yet I'm sure they'd be the first to scream bloody murder when fuel prices went up.

I, personally, never did see the logic behind a huge 4-door pickup with a dinky little box that won't hold more than the trunk of my car. But, buying tastes aren't based on logic. I refuse to buy a pickup that I can't throw a 4 x 8 sheet of something or other in the box and slam the tailgate.

buickanddeere · Nov 18, 2010

Every once in a while I run across people who are proud of trying to make do with less when they don't have to.
I just steer clear. They are happy when making do with less even if more can be justified.

Brad Gyde · Nov 18, 2010

I have a 05 Chevy, 2wd, 4.3 V6.. It takes me anywhere I need to go..

I live in Michigan, never had a reason I couldn't make it to work in 2wd.. If it was bad enough that I couldn't, I shouldn't be driving is how I looked at it.. And NO, I don't live "in town" either.

My dad and I were talking about this subject last night as a matter of fact. We moved to the farm we're on now in 1984.. and I can remember my dad driving a Fold LTD, then a Chevy Caprice Classic, then a Olds 88, and a Mailbu Classic, then a Astro Van, a 1990 1500 2wd Pickup (same as the one I now have, only older..) then a 95 2wd.. Bought the first 4x4 in 1999.. He did have a 78 ford for a long time.. But I remember it sitting in the tool shed with no motor in it.. Can't ever recall him driving it.

I can only ever remember him missing 1 day of work in my lifetime on account of "weather".. I asked him why he never had a 4x4 back then.. His response was: "If your grandfather made it to work EVERY day in a Olds Toronado from the day I met him until he got a newer car, why did I need 4x4?"

By the way, grandad farmed then, and he still farms today.. only 4x4 been around the farm is the 1997 Dodge and the 04 Duramax that I can remember in my 30 years..

Brad

Anonymous-0 · Nov 18, 2010

Seems to me they are trying to make a 4wd the norm.can't see why one should buy when a 4x2 does the job you require done.Why do you need a awd or 4x4 when they never leave the bitumen.Suppose it's another reason to allow the nose to be held a little higher.

colekicker · Nov 18, 2010

but you can put expensive tools inside the cab!

colekicker · Nov 18, 2010

http://www.ytmag.com/cgi-bin/viewit.cgi?bd=ttalk&th=709048

Traditional Farmer · Nov 19, 2010

I've owned several 4WD drive trucks and and over half the cost of up keep was in the 4WD part.And 4WD never drive as good as 2WD.

buickanddeere · Nov 19, 2010

Couldn't imagine not being without 4WD or AWD. Highway 21 in Bruce County is the most closed highway in Ontario due to snow.
Laneway will drift solid while away at work too.
Soil is clay here. A little dab of rain and traction disappears with a greasy slick layer.

Vehicle dealer offerings?

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