I've been driving a 2000 Chevy 1500 Silverado that got over 200,000 miles on it so I'm thinking it's time to find me a new truck. hopefully it will be the last truck that I will buy. So I'm wanting to get the truck set up the way and color that I want if I'm spending that kind of money.

I've been trying to find a 2026 Chevy 2500HD Double Cab Z71 in the lake shore blue color and with a 6.6 gas engine. I drove 2 1/2 hours yesterday to buy one listed for a certain price and then I get there and it's $7,000 more from dealer set up and other fees. They came down $2,000 but wouldn't budge any more.

So I thought I should just build a truck on line because no dealers carry any more brochures (so everything is now on line only).
It's so dang gone aggravating trying to get what you want on a truck. Certain things that you add to the build often requires that you can only add if you upgrade to certain packages $$$$$.

So I call a dealer to see if they could possibly help order me the truck that I want. They tell me that the factory's are not taking any new builds until July when the new 2027 trucks will be available. It's just the beginning of April what the heck?

Has anybody else had problems like this with trying to buy a new truck?

Yes. Especially try to tack on more money after deal is made or advertised. I have walked away from everyone of them. Sounds like you got time to keep looking.

Yep I retired and don't need a new truck today, tomorrow or even next month. But I thought it would be a lot easier to buy a new truck than this B.S.

I would buy a new house before I purchased a new truck unless it was deductible.
Find a low mile old “reliable “ year.
If I was buying new, I would be color and interior picky.
White with plastic on the floor not carpet and rocken tunes.

The Trump administration has done away with a bunch of stupid rules for vehicles. I suggest waiting until the new vehicles that are not built to the old rules hit the market. The purchasing process may not be any easier but the vehicle should be better. One example is the auto start/stop feature. It should go away in addition to the extra battery that can be associated with it.

I don't buy new. So, I've never had that problem. Problem now is these newer ones are not built as good as your 2000. They are now more disposable than ever.

Try to find the smallest town dealer you can find. Then call them. We have a little small town dealership that we work with now. Far better than any of the big city ones. The big city ones will waste your entire day with "I will have to go ask the finance manager. I will be back." . We have been in and out of the dealership on the last 2 vehicles in less than 30 minutes in the small town. When I walk in, I tell them right from the start I have no interest in adding on any maintenance plans or add ons that they offer. And that the price I am paying is what they have it listed for. If it isn't I am walking out the door and I am not coming back.

We had a good family run dealer close by, bought all my trucks there, walk in, shoot the breeze, how much, done.... no drama

They sold out 2 years ago, moved the dealership, new building, all the old salesmen gone, all the old service guys gone, heard it's a typical dealership now, .doubt I'll be back

I wouldn't assume manufacturers will automatically do away with that stuff. They probably figure a future administration will make them do it again, so why bother.

Some of these features, like the auto stop/start, people don't want and it increases the vehicle cost. I think these will be dropped for competitive reasons. Time will tell.

True - time will tell.

I agree about the small dealer, ours gave up the dodge dealership and found another pretty good place, the dealership makes a big difference.