A tight credit market, slumping construction, an economy on bed rest, an end-of-model year, and high gas prices mean one thing for pickup trucks: lots of brand new trucks waiting for buyers. Dealers trying to shift their 2008 Dodge Rams before the 2009s arrive are taking as much as $13,000 off the bill to try and convince buyers to come forth. That means you can get a Dodge Ram 1500 Quad Cab SLT 4x2 for $19,995, instead of $32,795.
With consumers being more picky about what and when they buy, it also doesn't help that dealers really don't want trade-in trucks either, since they can't do anything with them. What Dodge dealers hope for now is that Chrysler will manage the build-out of the 2009 models to give them a chance to get rid of the 2008s. Chrysler says it has a plan that will keep it competitive and keep the changeover orderly. For now, the Ram is the most heavily discounted vehicle out there.
For a dealer in Ohio, the matter of 120-day inventories really comes down to gas prices. "Until we get gas under three bucks a gallon," he said, "these pickups are not going to move." We're sure that no one wants that to be true, because if it is, there will be brand new 2008 Rams on showroom lots for a long time.
[Source: Automotive News, sub req'd]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
MemphisNET @ May 5th 2008 10:48AM
Maybe contractors will use this slow down as an opportunity to refresh their fleet. The economic rebound is only a matter of time. 20k is a good price on a brand new truck!
Xcountryflyer @ May 5th 2008 2:24PM
If you want a Dodge Ram, which is the worst of the full-size pickups. By far.
Zeus.:God @ May 5th 2008 4:28PM
Are you kidding? I certainly hope you're kidding, country. If you're not, you're mistaken.
Mattias @ May 5th 2008 4:32PM
Contractors? Did the credit crunch leave any of those intact?
Mallory @ May 5th 2008 7:35PM
The more the economy tanks and the higher unemployment goes, the more "contractors" there are.
chris @ May 5th 2008 10:54AM
At least there's been some improvement in the US market 0.6%...
I think that it's not just Gas but everything is getting more expensive.
Ferdinand @ May 5th 2008 10:56AM
"We're sure that no one wants that to be true, because if it is, there will be brand new 2008 Rams on showroom lots for a long time."
Yeah, okay. Wonderful. Now tell me what any dealer or consumer can do that will actually have any affect on fuel prices? Do clowns get paid to add these irrelevant statements while reporting a straightforward article?
Jon @ May 5th 2008 11:00AM
All reporters get paid per word. Didn't you know that? That is why we get rubbish reports on slow news days, because someone needs some money to pay for gas, or buy a gallon of milk. It is how this world now turns.
Matt @ May 5th 2008 10:57AM
That $13k will probably pay for gas for about a year at the rate things are going...
Chris Carey @ May 5th 2008 11:05AM
Gas is already trending down, this may be a great buying opportunity actually to save some money on a new car.
Do you really think they (the republicans) are going to allow $4 gas in a election year?
http://www.foxbusiness.com/story/markets/industries/gas-prices-make-slight-dip/
Matt @ May 5th 2008 11:17AM
Chris are you talking futures prices? Because here in West LA, premium gas is $4.69/gal and diesel is $4.99. Ridiculous!
John @ May 5th 2008 11:24AM
It's hard to hear what the Republicans are doing with all the squeals of glee from Democrats with the ultra high gas prices and the downward sales trend of those evil trucks and SUV's. They revel in the fact people are suffering and have to give up their vehicles.
FSM @ May 5th 2008 11:35AM
@ John
You are right I revel and squeel with glee every time I see another SUV and Quadcab on the used lot. Because for far too long us "greenies" have been warning you truck driving idiots that the cheap gas was not going to last forever. I don't feel one iota of pity for all the poor people that can't afford to drive their SUV's and trucks to soccer practice or to the mall. I hope it forces them to get rid of cable and their cell phones.
Mallory @ May 5th 2008 12:46PM
"...expects prices to fall back toward $3 a gallon over the summer."
Wow, back all the way 'towards' $3/gal. I think the message finally got thru this time and shy of gas falling below $2/gal people won't be flocking back towards commuting in F-250 and Suburbans any time soon. Plus it's not just gas prices moving people towards more efficient vehicles, it's the pollution and Middle East issues too.
Chris Carey @ May 5th 2008 1:11PM
The thing that people miss is that there is legitimate reasons to drive a big vehicle. Personally I drive a 6 passenger Durango. Is it because I don't care about the environment no...Its because there isn't a better option for someone with 4 kids in Michigan where the roads get crazy and 4 Wheel drive is required. You show me a inexpensive vehicle with 4 Wheel drive that gets a 5 star crash rating, can tow once in a while, and haul 4 kids around and I'll buy it whether or not gas goes up or down. It really makes me crazy that the radical greenies that drive itty bitty Priuses around at 90Mph zipping in and out of traffic are so quick to judge me driving a SUV... If Dodge wants to sell an all electric plugin SUV with 4 wheel drive that can carry 6 I'm all over it. In the meantime you wont find me buying a car or truck that doesn't fit my family.
tekdemon @ May 5th 2008 3:48PM
If you have a legitimate reason then keep driving it, but bashing the Prius as "itty bitty" when most of the world drives micro-sized cars that are 1/2 as big as the Prius is just SUV snobbery.
Anyways, just don't whine when gas is $8 a gallon like Europe.
Mallory @ May 5th 2008 7:42PM
"The thing that people miss is that there is legitimate reasons to drive a big vehicle."
There can be, it's just most people don't have one. For example, most people don't have 4 kids and live in Michigan. Of course there are plenty who live in Michigan that don't require 4wd, and plenty who have 4 kids that don't drive SUVs, but whatever.
icu812ru469 @ May 5th 2008 11:15AM
Under $3/gal? I don't think politics or anything is going to bring prices back down to under $3. I think $3-ish is the new price to stay. Hopefully $3 stays longer than $2 did.
Russell @ May 5th 2008 11:16AM
Please no more Chrysler news, its nausiating.
MemphisNET @ May 5th 2008 11:29AM
If people were buying these for work it wouldn't be an issue.