I’m…old now? Old enough to be shocked how much car prices have gone up. And I follow the industry. Why, back in my day, you could get a “stripper” model of a t

I’m…old now? Old enough to be shocked how much car prices have gone up. And I follow the industry. Why, back in my day, you could get a “stripper” model of a truck (my dad’s term for the most-basic-possible model with crank windows and a stick shift) for like $15,000. Now? https://www.ford.com/trucks/f150/ https://www.ford.com/trucks/f150/ Good luck getting off the lot for less than $40,000 for a full-size truck. …though to give Ford some credit here: https://www.ford.com/trucks/maverick/ https://www.ford.com/trucks/maverick/ They do still sell a truly cheap-and-cheerful truck. Will it tow much? No. Is it going to take you to the bottom of the Grand Canyon or whatever off-road macho fantasy? No. Will it get several bags of mulch back from Home Depot? Absolutely—which is what people actually use trucks for. (If that.)