Battery price drop.

[tiktokbrainrot]

Yes I remember when batteries were cheap. And vehicles. I also remember when you started making money at $3 and hour. People always forget that last part.

A F-150 base model started at 10,371 in 1990. Average wage was $21,000. so 50% of gross wages

Today it starts at $39,300. Average wage is $67,500 so 58% of gross wages.

So adjusted for real wages, the truck is 8% more expensive today. And what do you get for that 8%? Well:

Standard 400HP V8 (1990 F-150 came with the anemic 145HP I6 standard)
Modern safety tech (1990 F-150 had a collapsible steering column and a seatbelt, no airbags, no crumple zones).
Standard AC (add on option for F-150)
Standard cruise control (add on option for F-150)
Standard 4 way bucket seats (A XLT lariat feature in 1990)
Backup camera
Bluetooth
Modern traction and stability control
Copilot 360 2.0 (Blind spot monitoring and assist, AEB, lane keeping system, forward collision warning, ABS, parking sensors, ece)

I'd argue you get a lot more bang for your buck today then you did in 1990. Not counting the modern computer tech that had no equivalent, the rest of the features either match of beat the XLT lariat, which was $16,771, which after tax and title and blah blah blah, would have been as much or more then your entire annual take home pay post tax.

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[notfast]

Trucks were what you bought when you wanted basic transportation. Cars were too expensive.

The Ranger XL 2WD 4-banger tied with the Focus for the cheapest new vehicle on the lot. And that was "only" 15 years ago!

Yes I remember when batteries were cheap. And vehicles. I also remember when you started making money at $3 and hour. People always forget that last part.

A F-150 base model started at 10,371 in 1990. Average wage was $21,000. so 50% of gross wages

Today it starts at $39,300. Average wage is $67,500 so 58% of gross wages.

So adjusted for real wages, the truck is 8% more expensive today. And what do you get for that 8%? Well:

Standard 400HP V8 (1990 F-150 came with the anemic 145HP I6 standard)
Modern safety tech (1990 F-150 had a collapsible steering column and a seatbelt, no airbags, no crumple zones).
Standard AC (add on option for F-150)
Standard cruise control (add on option for F-150)
Standard 4 way bucket seats (A XLT lariat feature in 1990)
Backup camera
Bluetooth
Modern traction and stability control
Copilot 360 2.0 (Blind spot monitoring and assist, AEB, lane keeping system, forward collision warning, ABS, parking sensors, ece)

I'd argue you get a lot more bang for your buck today then you did in 1990. Not counting the modern computer tech that had no equivalent, the rest of the features either match of beat the XLT lariat, which was $16,771, which after tax and title and blah blah blah, would have been as much or more then your entire annual take home pay post tax.

Other than leather power seats, a 2026 F-150 XL is more well-equipped than a 2000 F-150 Lariat. Never mind other improvements like a fully-boxed, e-coated frame and crash structure that won't crush like a beer can.

I had a 95 F-150 that you couldn't open the tailgate on if you parked with one wheel on the curb. Good ole Jello frames.

 

[Mavster Mechanic]

Yes I remember when batteries were cheap. And vehicles. I also remember when you started making money at $3 and hour. People always forget that last part.

A F-150 base model started at 10,371 in 1990. Average wage was $21,000. so 50% of gross wages

Today it starts at $39,300. Average wage is $67,500 so 58% of gross wages.

So adjusted for real wages, the truck is 8% more expensive today. And what do you get for that 8%? Well:

Standard 400HP V8 (1990 F-150 came with the anemic 145HP I6 standard)
Modern safety tech (1990 F-150 had a collapsible steering column and a seatbelt, no airbags, no crumple zones).
Standard AC (add on option for F-150)
Standard cruise control (add on option for F-150)
Standard 4 way bucket seats (A XLT lariat feature in 1990)
Backup camera
Bluetooth
Modern traction and stability control
Copilot 360 2.0 (Blind spot monitoring and assist, AEB, lane keeping system, forward collision warning, ABS, parking sensors, ece)

I'd argue you get a lot more bang for your buck today then you did in 1990. Not counting the modern computer tech that had no equivalent, the rest of the features either match of beat the XLT lariat, which was $16,771, which after tax and title and blah blah blah, would have been as much or more then your entire annual take home pay post tax.

In 1990 you could fix just about everything on your truck yourself and you could name 90% of the parts on sight.

 

[Timothyd]

In 1990 you could fix just about everything on your truck yourself and you could name 90% of the parts on sight.

When I first started driving in the 70s I was intimate with every part of my cars/motorcycles/ trucks because I had to be, having bought them for almost nothing and forcing them to extend their lives.
Now, everything is all intertwined and even the factory techs are scratching their heads.

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