I agree, the prices are crazy as hell. I was initially looking at purchasing a 4dr second gen 99-02 (damned 03 has powered metal con rods iirc) and with 200,000 miles they were 8k+. Six speed? Closer to 11k. 4x4 and six speed? About 14k. Ones with fewer than 200k were far higher. Like hell I'd be able to get that financed. Dodge was even worse, and ill be damned if I'm buying a dodge with an auto trans.
I wound up buying an 05 2wd 4dr 6spd longbox cummins with just at 200k on the clock, and needing at least a pair of tires for 12k out the door with 2.75% financing for 4 years at the credit union I frequent. It had sat on the lot with 14k on the window initially, but had been there several months.She wasn't exactly the prettiest on the lot, and for some reason everybody around here thinks they NEED a 4x4. It was a Texas truck, so I know the dealership didn't give much at all for it, and I could've found a better deal if I traveled, but DD'ing the jeep was getting scary dangerous and I needed a ride quickly.
About two weeks later, they had an 06 4dr 6spd 4x4 longbox cummins on the lot with around 150k, the price? $24k... To Hell with that shit. I don't understand what happened with these prices, nor do I understand how anybody can afford to pay so much for a nearly 7 year old truck.