New Diesel Truck-- Buy Now, or Wait?

[riptides]

Blows my mind how many appear to have 75K + of “grocery getters” for daily driving. The ones I personally know only use them 3-4 times a year as a truck.

Maybe some people only have access to one vehicle.

 

[Bearsixty7]

I think there are a bunch of deals right now that are expiring soon.

Yes, in hopes of making you think you have to act now to get that deal. Many will be extended or changed to a better deal. The lots in so many places are full of pickups that prices can only come down or rebates/discounts increase.
Crazy how many videos on Youtube showing dealer lots full and the truck market has crashed!

 

[stumblinhorse]

I own 3 trucks. 1 is 55 years old, 1 is 25 years old and 1 is 8 years. I will never buy another one. So not “waiting”. I am 56, no idea how anyone can say “you can’t take it with you”. I will be broke long before I die. Social security realistically will never pay me a single penny of the 100’s of thousands I have paid into it. Average healthcare spend for someone over 60 is a $156,000 by the time they die…. Broke, most people my age will die penny less.

I guess people a little older than me have a pension. People my age don’t generally have those. Save your money, unless you plan on working till you die.

 

[D&D]

Maybe some people only have access to one vehicle.

perhaps. Loudon, Stafford, King George, Culpepper, Winchester and most of Md are in my “regular stomping ground”. Very few seem to have such limited resources.

 

[plowhog]

Well, there is certainly much to consider. Thank you for all of the responses.

We have smaller "daily driver" vehicles, even though I prefer driving the current diesel pickup. So, I could lower the accumulated miles on the existing truck by restricting it to only tow situations. Maybe avoid the high cost of a new truck? But still, at 250k miles, much could strand me on the side of the road over Donner Summit. My GMC 2500HD has the original everything-- water pump, oil pump, power steering pump, alternator, etc. Been a good vehicle.

I received some very insightful information which caused me to look again at a gasser instead. Some further research came up with a pretty good comparison. Although this is for camper-borne "towing," I think it is relevant. They really like the Ford 7.3 Godzilla gas engine. I don't have much experience with Ford. My '72 Pantera has a Ford 351 V8, pretty much the opposite of a tow application. Beyond that, my last Ford vehicle was a Maverick (sedan, not truck!)

Gas vs Diesel: 23 Considerations Before Buying Another Truck

In 2017, we published our first article on this contentious topic called, "Gas vs Diesel for Truck Camper Rigs: Which is Better." In that article we

www.truckcamperadventure.com

 

[BleedingOrange]

Since it is your thread, we kinda need a picture of the Pantera, for all us car guys !

 

[Snobdds]

OEM's are seeing the EV demand plummet.

.gov can not force a market. A showdown is coming.

 

[deserteagle71]

I received some very insightful information which caused me to look again at a gasser instead. Some further research came up with a pretty good comparison. Although this is for camper-borne "towing," I think it is relevant. They really like the Ford 7.3 Godzilla gas engine.

I too have heard a lot of good things about the 7.3 gas engine from Ford. All the early problems have been corrected and it is very dependable.

However......if you are still going to be towing 10,000 lbs over Donner consistently you are going to want a diesel with an exhaust brake. At Donner's elevation that gas 7.3 won't be nearly as powerful, and going back down the slope you'll be riding the brakes because, good as that 7.3 is, it can't hold back all that weight as well as a diesel with an exhaust brake.

 

[deserteagle71]

Social security realistically will never pay me a single penny of the 100’s of thousands I have paid into it.

Why??
I've been retired for 7 years now, drawing Social Security so I'm wondering why you will never be able to draw it. Are you planning to die at age 62?

 

[bigtiller]

Why??
I've been retired for 7 years now, drawing Social Security so I'm wondering why you will never be able to draw it. Are you planning to die at age 62?

That's a good question for him. Here is another.
How did he manage to pay in "100’s of thousands" to social security?

This year, the the Social Security wage base limit is $168,600. And at 6.2% comes to $10,453.

 

[plowhog]

How did he manage to pay in "100’s of thousands" to social security?

I did.

It has been a few years, so forgive me if I have the exact numbers wrong. I recall that, as an employer, I paid "my" 7.5% into social security, plus paid the "employer" contribution of 7.5% because *I* was the employer. So, 15% of my earning went to social security.

Then, I recall paying 7.5% as the "matching contribution" for each employee I provide a paycheck to. In those circumstances you are into the "hundreds of thousands" of dollars (and more) without question.

 

[Snobdds]

Mercedes is backing off it's plan to sell all EV by 2030. Why, because the demand is not there.

IC will be around a long time, even if Gavin wants otherwise.

 

[plowhog]

we kinda need a picture of the Pantera

Here is a pix of the Pantera at the airport one day.

And a pix of my beloved Golden Retriever at a car show some time ago. He was just a little guy back then ... quite the chick magnet.

 

[bigtiller]

I did.

It has been a few years, so forgive me if I have the exact numbers wrong. I recall that, as an employer, I paid "my" 7.5% into social security, plus paid the "employer" contribution of 7.5% because *I* was the employer. So, 15% of my earning went to social security.

Then, I recall paying 7.5% as the "matching contribution" for each employee I provide a paycheck to. In those circumstances you are into the "hundreds of thousands" of dollars (and more) without question.

Sure, easy to do if you are an employer with a lot of employees. But stumblinhorse said nothing about a business and employees.

 

[stumblinhorse]

Why??
I've been retired for 7 years now, drawing Social Security so I'm wondering why you will never be able to draw it. Are you planning to die at age 62?

2034 Soc Sec will have no more money. I‘ll be 65.

 

[stumblinhorse]

That's a good question for him. Here is another.
How did he manage to pay in "100’s of thousands" to social security?

This year, the the Social Security wage base limit is $168,600. And at 6.2% comes to $10,453.

6.2% is just for an employee. 12.4% for self employed….

 

[Code54]

2034 Soc Sec will have no more money. I‘ll be 65.

I would not lose any sleep over that at all. It is not going to go away, that would throw a LOT of elderly into homelessness and mass poverty. That is not a good way to get votes. With some changes it can be funded.

There are still jobs out there that have pensions, and there are many ways to save and build your retirement with 401's and other stock market/bond/etc options.

This can help allow people to retire with some comfort and maybe buy that pickup if they so desire.

On a more thread oriented note - the newer gassers are much better at towing then the older one. I don't tow a lot anymore but sometimes pull a 12K dump trailer loaded with stone comforbeily with a 6.4 gasser. Using the tow haul mode also seems to help a lot on downhills and keeps the truck in a lower gear to save some braking.

 

[bigtiller]

6.2% is just for an employee. 12.4% for self employed….

That certainly would make a difference.

I just looked at my records, I paid in $133,000 and it took 68 months to get it back....I retired at age 51.

 

[stumblinhorse]

That certainly would make a difference.

I just looked at my records, I paid in $133,000 and it took 68 months to get it back....I retired at age 51.

That retirement age is a thing of the past. The 401k system is failing to even come close to replacing pensions. As the median balance at age 65 is not even enough to cover healthcare costs, let alone living costs…

I hate to burst the SocSec won’t fail bubble, but by 2034 just the interest on the national debt is more than the sum of all federal income tax. So to balance that budget that means no other spending on anything. No military, no gov’t workers nothing. All our taxes just to pay interest on debt…

Back on topic, save your current truck, mine has 350k miles on it. I love it more than the day I bought it. I bought another vehicle and now only use the truck for towing or loads.

 

[deserteagle71]

2034 Soc Sec will have no more money. I‘ll be 65.

In 2034 Social Security will be paying out only 77% of what a person should be getting. They WILL NOT be totally out of money. That's if Congress keeps sitting on their butts and not fixing it.

At least that's what the financial advisors are saying. And I hope they are correct, 'cause I intend to live for another 30 years, not just 10!