Spending imaginary money and theorizing an answer to a ridiculous question is always a good bit of fun and diversion. We’ve asked in the past how you’d allocate 29 cylinders and how you would spend the average price of a new vehicle in America.
Today, we’re kicking it a nickel. Edmunds has estimated the average transaction price for pickup trucks in 2019 was $49,543 — the highest on record. Given that amount of scratch, what vehicle would you take home?
We’ll dispense with the likes of negotiated savings; yes, they exist, but are difficult to include in an exercise like this thanks to everyone’s varying level of negotiating skill. Stick with MSRP (you can include advertised incentives) and we’ll assume you’ll keep any extra savings for another purpose.
Deploying one of the greatest names ever applied to an incentive — Power Dollars — the 2020 Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack Widebody heaves into view as a good option for this extroverted speed freak. Its 392 Hemi V8 bellows like Chewbacca on a bad fur day and provides more than enough tire-shredding power in spite of its 700+hp brethren which grab all the headlines. Its base price is low enough to warrant the addition of a couple of good-time options, like sticky P Zero tires and an annoying sound system. Total MSRP? $48,195.
That’s my fantasy pick for the Truck Money Game. What’s yours?
[Image: Fiat Chrysler]
Looks like there’s still a few 7 speed Stingrays out there advertised for under $50K. That is an awful lot of car for that money.
In real life though, I’m probably buying a leather lined minivan.
Bought my new ‘19 7M with NPP for $46k. What a fantastic automobile. For around the same price I would have had some 4cyl wheezy bimmer with a crappy auto trans. It’s a great time to be alive!
Same here, I got a used C7 3LT Z51 for $43K, an amazing deal on vehicle that retailed for $75k.
As the C8s start showing up many garage queen C7s will become available. Dealers will also be keen to off load base models ’19 C7s for under $50k for sure.
Speaking of the Challenger I saw a convertible one today, surprised Dodge doesn’t offer that configuration from the factory.
Are we only talking new vehicles? Gladiator with a hardtop.
I’ll take the Challenger ScatPack with the manual, thank you. A local dealer has a white one for $38k (with incentives) today.
A white Challenger? WHITE?!?? The ONE car that allows you some creativity with color and you would seriously pick white?
+1 Vanishing Point
Good point. And you could always change it up with a partial wrap.
When the white one can be had for a song, I would consider it, yes.
485 bhp in a white car is still 485 bhp!
Im with you here, thats a great price. Ill deal with the paint color for a good discount.
That’s a good deal. The sticker on my 2018 Challenger GT awd lists at $38k. I picked it up last year as a leftover for $28k.
I did even better, scoring a brand new Charger R/T Hemi with every possible option, MSRP 46k and I paid 30k after much back & forth with a small-town dealer 4 hours away.
One could get a Tesla 3 Longrange for that price. As long as you lay off the extras.
But,as mentioned, the Scat pack – just for the exhaust sound alone – would be very tempting. But I would probably go for the Mustang Bullit.
Gladiator Rubicon, with careful option selection.
Gladly take a base insight AND GTI, assuming a small amount of incentives exist….
Hmmmmm, either:
– Wrangler Unlimited with the Sky power top –
– Grand Cherokee Overland with the Hemi 5.7l –
– Dodge Durango Hemi R/T –
– Mustang GT Convertible –
– Charger Scat Pack –
– A leftover 2019 Corvette 7-speed if I can find one
Tesla is an interesting choice too – either a new well optioned model 3 or a slightly used model S.
In Texas a dealer is advertising a new, black, widebody Scat Pack Charger with an MSRP of 50k for 37 Grand. Sunroof and widebody (6 Grand) being about the only options, but hey almost 500 HP comes standard on it so good enough. I am thinking replacing those 305’s regularly might get expensive.
Thats a great dollar to horsepower value. And it can carry 4 comfortably.
I’m getting a lightly used GMC Yukon XL Denali with my bank error money. We’re buying a camping trailer next year and I’ll need to get rid of my half ton F-150. I can get a 2018 with less than 30k miles for that price.
Any bank error money is going to get plowed into my house. But if I have to spend it on a car, it’s buying me a 2013-15 Lexus LS600hL. I miss my big comfy barge and would enjoy having another one if money were no object.
In the spirit of the source of your figure, shouldn’t we be purchasing a truck?
For me, Ram 1500 Big Horn Quad Cab 4×4 6’4″ box, 3.0L EcoDiesel w/ a few options checked (Level 2 Equipment Group, Bed Utility Group, Trailer Tow Group, 4-Corner Air Suspension, Anti-Spin Rear Axle, Tri-Fold Tonneau Cover) in Patriot Blue w/6-passenger seating.
Checks in at $49,300 net price on their online build & price tool, which includes destination charges and $4500 worth of incentives.
This would give me a comfortable, fuel-efficient ride for my 80+ mile round trip commute every day, while also allowing me to fit the whole famn damily on those occasions where the RWD Durango SXT my wife drives isn’t suitable for whatever reason.
If we’re following Mr. Guy’s rules:
A Chrysler 300S AWD loaded to the gills (Premium Groups 1 & 2, S Model Appearance Package, Alpine Audio Group) crosses the block at $49,345 with no incentives and destination charges included. It can’t double as a full family hauler, but I can fit all the kids if necessary. The only real downside is that it gets worse MPG than my current ride, but considering the purchase is theoretically budget-neutral it’s a worthy sacrifice.
While you are schlumping along in your truck, I will blast by you in an Alfa Giulia Lusso, equipped to the gills and coming in just at the price limit with only enough left over for some biscotti and expresso.
Espresso? Expresso was a Neon trim pkg :)
At least until the Alfa dies on the side of the highway with 500 miles on the odometer…
Nicely equipped Jeep Grand Cherokee :)
I already have a sports car and a sports sedan, so I’d plug the hole with a base Jeep Wrangler 2-door (so I can crank my own windows) in blue with the hard top, a spare soft top, A/C, LSD, towing package, and, because it isn’t my money, satellite radio. Should have a little left over for nice rims and a stereo transplant.
Is that $49k American? If so, I’d get a Charger R/T.
In Canadian dollars, I could probably get a McLaren 720S… and a Charger R/T