Needed new truck, or just wanted one?

[JDgreen227]

Using your current truck for comparison, how many of you guys actually NEEDED to replace your last truck, vs. the number of you that just WANTED to? Did you sell or trade a well running truck in good condition, with average mileage, just because you wanted something newer? Or did you sell or trade an unreliable, beat up truck with high mileage, because you were concerned it was going to cost more to have repaired than it would be worth?

My current truck is a Y2K Yukon XL2500 with 4wd, and less than 39,000 original miles. Runs and drives perfectly, looks nearly new inside and out, as much as I WANT a new truck there is no way I can justify buying one. It replaced a '90 F-150 with middling body cancer, a leaking gas tank, that was in need of tires, paint, numerous small repairs, had about 88,000 miles on it.

I would say replacing that one was needed, replacing my current one is just a want. I recall back in the 60's and 70's, my dad would buy a new full size Ford or Pontiac about every other year. He simply wanted to drive a newer vehicle, me, I am the exact opposite, I try to run them forever after the payments are done.

 

[Diamondpilot]

My needs change from time to time but I am more in the I want one camp. I work on stuff for a living and the last thing I want to do is have a junk truck that I have to work on or prevents me from doing my job. I have had two of them trucks in my time, ones that cost me work, and I quickly got rid of them.

As I get older I seem to keep them longer. From 1997 to about 2008 I was buying a new vehicle for me about every 18 months and for my wife about every 2-3 years. It was nuts. Now I seem to keep them for 5 years or so.

Chris

 

[JDgreen227]

My needs change from time to time but I am more in the I want one camp. I work on stuff for a living and the last thing I want to do is have a junk truck that I have to work on or prevents me from doing my job. I have had two of them trucks in my time, ones that cost me work, and I quickly got rid of them.

As I get older I seem to keep them longer. From 1997 to about 2008 I was buying a new vehicle for me about every 18 months and for my wife about every 2-3 years. It was nuts. Now I seem to keep them for 5 years or so.

Chris

EVERY 18 MONTHS???!!! Does your state charge sales tax on the entire purchase price of the new vehicle, or do they adjust it on what your trade in is worth? Here in Michigan, if you buy a $40,000 new vehicle, and your trade in is worth $39999, they still soak you for the full tax on 40 grand. What a ripoff.

 

[SLHawkins]

I am in the want camp. However, the opportunity came to upgrade. So, that is what I am doing. I am sure going to miss not having a truck payment though Prior to deploying, I sold my '06 F350 Crew Cab Dualie to a lady to pull her horses. My truck had just under 118K miles, no holes in the seat, lariat trim, no rust, no dents, and no faded paint spots. Up until '08, most folks thought it was a current model year truck. When I let it go, it had plenty of horsepower and life left in it.

Hawk

 

[Diamondpilot]

Pay tax on the difference only.

Chris

 

[jbooth]

I have owned 4 trucks since 1962:

1. Bought new 1962 Ford F100 in 62. Bought in late 62 for $2000. Sold in 79 for $500 with 450,000 miles on it. Best thing about that truck was no payments for 15 yrs. This one had all the extras available that year, 2 tone paint chrome bumpers and a radio. No power steering, brakes or AC.

2. Bought 78 Chevy 4X4 in 79 with 10,000 miles for $10,000. This one really got hammered as it withstood my 2 kids growing up years. I loved this truck and parked it after 450,000 + miles and my daughter had spun out on an icy bridge and dented in all 4 corners. Sold this one for $500 in about 94. Hated to see it go and brought tears to my eyes.

3. Got a 88 chevy 4X4 in around 93 for $5000. Got the fewest miles out of this one as it had 200,000 when I bought it and only 400,000 when I lost confidence in it and upgraded to # 4 and my present truck. Still looked and ran good but it lost an intank fuel pump and made me walk quite a distance and I was a long way from home and at the mercy of mechanic I neither knew or trusted.

4. Present 93 chevy 4X4 cost $7500 with trade in of #3. Had 93,000 when I got it and has 208,000 now. Should be good for at least another 100,000 miles. Another 100,000 may close the deal as I will be 70 my next birthday and don't drive as much as I used to.

I guess this puts me in the camp of not trading until I have to. Wanted to get a 3/4 ton as I now have a small skid steer and trailer to pull. Thought when fuel prices got high I could pick up a 3/4 ton reasonable. Boy was I wrong. A decent 3/4 ton 4X4 was going to cost me more than all 4 of my previous trucks. I use a truck like they were originally meant to be used and don't worry to much about any "styling" down the road.

It's not how much the present truck is worth as it is the replacement cost.

 

[JDgreen227]

Pay tax on the difference only.

Chris

That is the way it should be here...many people say the system they use here discourages some buyers. I am one of them !!!

 

[bigbull338]

with the cost of new cars an trucks,theres alot of people that drive them till the wheels fall off.the ave car or truck last 10yrs unless something happens to them.

 

[dodge man]

I'm in the want camp on just about every vehicle I've ever bought. About a month ago I traded trucks. I traded a 1/2 ton GMC gas for a 3/4 ton Dodge diesel. The truck I traded in was just showing the early signs of rust, most people probably wouldn't notice it. The truck I bought also had some rust in it that I'm getting repaired, so I really didn't come out ahead in anyway, except my new truck is heavier duty, and is a quad cab.

 

[devildog1]

When I was working for a living,(lol) I bought a new 3/4 or 1 ton 4X4 every two years for the last 6 years I worked. I wanted to evaluate all, Fords,Chevy's, Dodge in gas and diesel engines.My retirement plan was to tow a large RV and see more of this great country we live in. The large gas engine trucks hauled great but always looking for fuel and when climbing hills or mountain ranges temp gage would climb too high for me. I finally settled on a 1 ton Ford Power Stroke Diesel,(6.0) and am quite happy with it. Been across this country many times form N.Y. to CA. to AB to ME. Other then a failed Turbo @ 16,000 miles ( Ford Repaired @ no Cost to me) Truck has been fine. Had it going on 6 years and plan on keeping it for quite a while, as new trucks cost more then my house cost to build 35 years ago, just my take.
DevilDog

 

[JDgreen227]

with the cost of new cars an trucks,theres alot of people that drive them till the wheels fall off.the ave car or truck last 10yrs unless something happens to them.

I am betting a well made car or truck would go a lot further than 10 years if people would just take proper care of them. Regular service, quality oils, keep the body clean and waxed...

There are owners who baby their vehicles with regular servicing, and then still let the exterior go to h---, and owners who take beautiful care of the finish and neglect the mechanical side of maintenance. When I began working in 1971, my salary was $6000 a year, and the new car I purchased then was half that much. When I retired, my salary was $42000 a year, and the truck I purchased cost that much. Only a moron can afford to neglect a vehicle these days.

 

[nybirdman]

When I was working for GM..I traded trucks about every year with less than 15,000 miles.Usually got very good trades or sold them out-right.Traded cars about every two years.My last new truck is a 2005 Silverado that I ordered just the way I wanted it,it only has 28,000 miles and I plan on keeping it for a long time.I still trade cars but not as often(have a 2010 with 21,000 miles.)

 

[milkman636]

...................................My current truck is a Y2K Yukon XL2500 with 4wd, and less than 39,000 original miles. Runs and drives perfectly, looks nearly new inside and out........

Your current truck sounds terrible....I think you should consider selling it to a fellow TBN member that has a needs to haul his large family around while pulling a loaded trailer.:licking:

To answer your original question; my current truck is perfectly fine with only 50,000 miles on it, but my needs have changed in the last five years. I really need a second vehicle that can haul my entire family.

My first two trucks were at right around 200,000 before I sold them, but after about 150,000 the routine repairs started coming on both of them. The next two truck I sold at about 100,000 miles. The first 100,000 has proven pretty trouble free and the value is still good at that point. Buyers don't seem to be scared of 100,000 miles any more.

For me it basically boils down to a desire to not work on my daily driver. There is value to me in not having to fix my truck.

 

[RobertN]

My upgrades were half want, half opportunity.

I had a beat up '80 F250. Beat up, bad gas mileage, but ran and hualed well. With a new kid, we really wanted an xcab.

Found used '89 xcab F250. Put the kid in his carseat, in the back drivers side. We did not even drive it before we knew it was a sale. Son's face lit up with a huge smile; he had his own window and could see everything going on out side. It was high miles, but very clean and ran perfect. Paid cash, no payment. Nice...

Bought the '01 Dodge new. The '89 F250 had just passed 225,000 miles. Still ran and looked nice. But, had opportunity AND want, so got the Dodge. 10 years later, we're about to turn 150,000. Truck is clean, runs good ect. A new one would be nice, for the 400hp they have now days. Otherwise, not opportune right now. And, I like not having a payment. We saved for the truck to begin with, only had a payment for six months. So it has been 10 years next month with no truck payment...

 

[JDgreen227]

Your current truck sounds terrible....I think you should consider selling it to a fellow TBN member that has a needs to haul his large family around while pulling a loaded trailer.:licking:

To answer your original question; my current truck is perfectly fine with only 50,000 miles on it, but my needs have changed in the last five years. I really need a second vehicle that can haul my entire family.

My first two trucks were at right around 200,000 before I sold them, but after about 150,000 the routine repairs started coming on both of them. The next two truck I sold at about 100,000 miles. The first 100,000 has proven pretty trouble free and the value is still good at that point. Buyers don't seem to be scared of 100,000 miles any more.

For me it basically boils down to a desire to not work on my daily driver. There is value to me in not having to fix my truck.

Sorry, not for sale....I have no intention of selling it until I cannot drive any longer.

 

[Rancher Ed]

We've kinda done both. We had an 89 ford F350 cclb, 2WD, 460 w/auto. I don't remember when we got it or how many miles it had on it, but the engine was starting to tick, something with the lifters I think, and we were doing more towing and needed 4WD, so we bought a used 2005 GMC 3500, Duramax/Allison, 4WD, cclb, with ~25k miles on it, and sold the old ford.

We got a large travel trailer a little after that, and it towed great with the 3500, but kids grow quickly and 7 people in a pickup isn't very comfortable, so.... We had a 98 GMC 2500 Suburban 4WD, 350 w/auto as a family vehicle which was a really nice rig, but there was no way we were going to pull the travel trailer with it, so we ended up getting a 04 ford Excursion, diesel, 4WD, auto, with ~80k miles on it. There was nothing wrong with the Sub, we just needed something that would tow more. We gave it to a friend and it is still going strong today.

On the want spectrum, however, we got an 04 ford F350 cclb, 4WD, diesel, w/auto, with 105k on it, simply because we were to the point where we wanted to have a third vehicle, and we could use a second truck around the farm.


By all means keep your Sub. It sounds like it is in excelent shape, and they are really nice rigs. We loved the one we had, and if GMC had offered the Duramax in one, we would most likely be driving a Sub instead of the Ex we have.

Edit - I see you are keeping it. Looks really nice,


Ed

 

[RoyJackson]

Wanted one, this time..
Had a pretty nice 2005 Nissan Frontier with the extended cab and a 6 speed manual. That truck was fast!! And, really squirrelly on a wet road.
But, I wanted a crew cab...so, traded for a 2006 F-150.

I normally keep vehicles for about 5 years or so...and I expect I'll keep this F-150 that long.

 

[rasimmo]

For our cars we drive em' til the wheels fall off. The last 2 we had went to the scrap yard when I was done. Bought a new one in 08 and will do it the same way.
Our trucks are a different story. We travel a lot towing and I don't want to have trouble on the road with horses in the trailer. I usually look at the value of my current one and try to trade it in before it loses too much. Usually about 3 or 4 years. I know a new one may still break, but I feel better about it.

 

[jeffsw6]

My current truck is a Y2K Yukon XL2500 with 4wd, and less than 39,000 original miles.

I had a 99 K1500 Suburban with 100k mi that I would like to have kept until 200k except it started giving me electrical problems that were just adding up. In retrospect I should have kept it and had two trucks, but I got the bug and got a used 05 with 50k on it. Only up to 80k now, most of those towing, and I hope it lasts a long time. I think I will finally get a second truck next year.

 

[JESSE1]

I like to keep up to date with my vehicles and I found out the only way I can afford a new one is to trade about every four years. My trade-ins are usually worth over half the cost of the new one. I almost didn't trade my '08 F-450 for my '12 F-450. The '08 has been the best truck I ever owned but I knew I wasn't going to keep it past the 5yr/100000 mile engine warranty, just didn't wany to take the chance with these very complex diesel engines. I also traded because the new 6.7 diesel is causing the value of the older diesels to really go down. Also wanted to trade before interest rates start back up. So far very satisfied with the new truck.