I just walked into my local Chevy dealership, told them what I wanted and the sales guy took me over to their fleet guy to get me taken care of. I didn't "know" anyone. If your dealership doesn't do that find another dealership.

The larger dealers should have a fleet sales guy who does nothing but that. It's typically a one person job, and they stay in their office most of the time so you have to seek them out.

The normal salesman are easy to spot as they swarm you the moment you enter the parking lot.

Also what you want may exist already, but it maybe at another dealer hours away. The fleet guy can search the inventory and arrange to have a trade made or whatever is needed to get that vehicle brought over in a day or two. If they want the sale they'll do their best to locate it.

For new cars being over optioned it has alot to do with profit. Profits are usually a percentage of the cost so if you own a lot and you have 100 spots to park cars do you park 50 that will net you 5k profit and 50 that will net you 10k profit or 100 that will net you 10k profit and tell the buyer if you want cheaper its a special order.

As for the old stuff I think inflation took hold. I bought my first car in 1980 for $650. It was a 73 400 magnum charger rally with a spare 71 440 hp in the trunk. It needed a timing chain but that was a normal price for a 7 year old non running car then.

My sons were paying 500 to 1000 for similar in the early 2000's.
Now its about $1500 for a decent car that needs work to run.

Could just be my view though.

The old stuff is crazy wild prices. One guy wants 1,500 for something someone else wants 15,000 for.
I think there are a lot of dreamers looking for a quick buck mixed with old school prices.

Somewhere along the way the GOT TO HAVE IT NOW mentality emerged which is also a bit responsible for the LOADED versions on the lot's. A few sales guys I knew said many were more concerned with getting in immediately that with what their payments would be

i don't ever remember a gallon of milk costing 5cents

as scott martin would say.... its easy to buy, not so easy to sell....

i sure do, and i remember the screams when it wen to 8 cents !!!
i also remember new HUGO's being dumped for $395.99 back around 1985 [?] or so.

My 2011 Ram 1500 was $39,975 brand new in 2011. I paid less, that's the sticker price.
Quad Cab, 4x4, Hemi, Lonestar (Big Horn) trim.
A new one, similar options? $60K plus...

JS

I wouldn't mind getting a new truck. Problem is I cannot even order one still. An in town dealer has been trying to buy my truck for a year, They just made me an offer a couple weeks ago of $92,000. So I asked again if I could order a new one and how long. I was informed no new orders and they are not making them in my equivalent trim level still. FWIW I paid $80K for it three years ago.

I ALMOST grabbed a FOUR DOLLAR bag of M&Ms at Home Depot the other day. I could "afford" them but couldn't JUSTIFY them. FOUR DOLLARS!

Sometime around the Great Depression I needed a new cheap vehicle. I bought a brand new, 4cyl, manual window, auto Ranger for $15,000 out the door.

2017 I paid $42,000 out the door for a crew cab 2500. Only option, chrome bumpers. Has 122,000 miles now. I'll probably keep it till I drop.

Talking pickups I'm pissed that nobody makes a reg cab long bed any more. These more door with worthlessly short beds are ridiculous. And if you do find one it's always white.

Plenty of posts in this thread say
“I am really irked about the automobile buying experience.”

Article in Wall Street Journal Monday says
Amazon knows its customers are unsatisfied with vehicle buying and plans to spend big bucks to capture part of the (huge $) market.

I have never bought a vehicle through USAA but family members have and told me there was less BS.

My thought after reading the WSJ article was: If Amazon studies USAA Auto and applies “economy of scale” they might succeed.

Amazon has failed at several of their past experiments.

One “failure flag” in my opinion:
Amazon is starting only with Hyundai.

I believe Ram still makes a regular cab / long bed I saw them when I was looking for a new truck back in 21, same can be said for a short bed / regular cab. I had one on order back in 21 , they stopped making them year or so before 21 and after 21 I waited over 5 months for mine but purchased similarly equipped quad cab that came in instead. The one I ordered finally came in and sold pretty quickly. What is strange is how the options and colors vary from one model truck to another. I like green its my favorite color but I couldn't get it on my short bed / regular cab it was only available on a 8 foot bed truck. It is just amazing how truck prices just keep going up and up ! When I was going to order my short bed/ regular cab I went to a dealer I purchased other vehicles from because of covid I made an appointment with a sales guy, he never showed up , another salesman told me he didn't know anything about trucks and the third just went on the Ram website { which I already did at home for pricing ) talk about clueless ... I went to walk out and the salesman yells don't bother going to such and such a dealer as we own them too !! great customer service !!!

I paid $59k for a used 17 3500 crew single wheel 2yrs ago. About choked, but it was time to step up fron the 01 2500 that served me well (198k). 17 just rolled 30k miles

If you live where I do you learn to appreciate a white truck...Of course mine also has four REAL doors and a long bed.

I have a friend who is your typical P/U owner today. He just uses it as a daily driver. He is in sales.
Never tows and rarely carries anything that requires a truck. He bought a new one this year.F150 4dr $77k.I told him that is nuts. Out of curiosity I started looking at f250 reg cab 4x4 with 7.3 they were $55K for a nice one. Told my buddy he says it rides too rough.

Are there any numbers about how much longer white paint can withstand sunlight?