Shopping for a new truck

[1carcrazyguy]

Started out looking at raptors. Talked to 5 dealers in Dfw and San Antonio. All are sticker or above sticker. So we went to look at a Ram R/T sport truck. They want sticker for those as well. I found the exact color and trim package in OKC that was advertised about 7k off sticker. However they won't sell it for that price. Their "advertised" price is listed with all rebates and nobody can qualify for every rebate. Their real sales price is 1000 off sticker and that is only if you have a trade. So that way they get the 1000 back by pencil whipping you. And the thought of giving 35-37k for regular cab truck is not appealing.

[Captain Crawfish]

I wouldn't be scared of a used 5.3 they are great engines.

[quikag]

Been shopping for a truck here also. Finding out that dealers are basically wanting sticker for what we are looking at. No way I am paying sticker....might just keep what I got.

There is not a half ton truck on the market that shouldn't have multi-thousand dollar discounts. If you can't find that, you aren't looking hard enough.

[1carcrazyguy]

Been shopping for a truck here also. Finding out that dealers are basically wanting sticker for what we are looking at. No way I am paying sticker....might just keep what I got.

[silverranger]

Got a 13 silverado I have been happy with,tune, gears, cai,leveling kit. 11,xxx miles. It's a Texas edition, it runs great with a tune. Does not take forever to shift. Ony issue was a weatherstrip came off on RR door. I can't complain about anything on it.

[KBScobravert]

Going back to having a car payment has sucked for me. Not that it's a large payment by any means, I only paid $12k for the Suburban and still pretty happy with it after almost 2 years. I just could not see me spending $40k plus for a new truck / suv again.

If I was wanting a truck I would be looking for a clean 97-03 F150 Supercrew 4x4. Probably what I will be getting after the Suburban.

See my post above.

[KBScobravert]

I love my paid off 2002 F150 4whl supercrew. There might be a career change in my near future and it would pay me $150 a day plus $.60 a mile to use my own vehicle. That said, I think I could use my existing truck for as long as possible and set the income from truck usage/mileage in a separate account. Draw from it for expenses (gas, repair, oil changes, tires, etc) and let that shit build up. Pay cash for a new (or 1-2 year used) truck. Rinse and repeat.

[Cooter]

Over my years of truck ownership, I have arrived at the theory of buying the highest option package you can. It's always easier to sell later and will command a premium. I'm not saying you get all of the difference back, but it's the difference between selling a truck in 5 days vs. 5 weeks.

And then there's the whole "get to enjoy it" thing the entire time you own it.

With that said, my dad just picked up a brand new F150 Platinum 4x4 Ecoboost last night. I'm not a half ton guy, but I'm definitely in jealousy mode LOL

[Chili]

Going back to having a car payment has sucked for me. Not that it's a large payment by any means, I only paid $12k for the Suburban and still pretty happy with it after almost 2 years. I just could not see me spending $40k plus for a new truck / suv again.

If I was wanting a truck I would be looking for a clean 97-03 F150 Supercrew 4x4. Probably what I will be getting after the Suburban.

[slow99]

I hope no one is taking my comments as argumentative! I know that there have been many people here follow my journey from the depths of retail management hell to a job that I love and finally make a decent living doing it. So I value everyone's input and comments!

I'm not. As roscoe said, we've followed your journey and cheered you along for a while now. I just don't want to see a misstep.

I admittedly didn't read the whole thread, I just saw the quote about starting out with an $18k budget then looking at $40k trucks ... my bad.

I see and interact with people all the time who think $100 here, $100 there, isn't a big deal b/c they can afford it. I ask questions, dig a little deeper, and find out that the extra money they're justifying leaves them with only a small portion of discretionary funds a month ... and MOST of the time they aren't putting anything/enough back to 401k, IRA, etc. "I can afford the money for an expenditure, then I'll start contributing to retirement next year when I get a raise".

I'm NOT saying this is you, I'm just relating the mindset I keep and what I see far too frequently. Best of luck with the purchase, I wish you continued success.

[black2002ls]

Who's sticking you with a ~5% interest rate?

At first I thought the question was directed at me, then I read the quote!

[black2002ls]

I see one and two year old trucks with decent mileage for low $20's all day long....

Put the same down or whatever you planned on financing and you're in the teens with ease.

Just playing the voice of reason. Hell, my truck was $32k when I bought it after all rebates, etc (stickered at $40). Wound up putting enough down to finance $27k and my payments were still over $500/mo for 60 months.

With as much driving as you do, tires are a $1k expense, oil changes are $45-50, gas, insurance, etc. Back when I still had a payment on my truck, I added up that it was costing me $1200/mo to own, which would be ~$1600 pre tax, which is $19,200/year gross, when all was said and done.

Just cause you think you can afford the payment doesn't make it the wisest move. Sharing my thoughts cause I have seen the success you've had in the past year. Don't try to hedge anything.

I hope no one is taking my comments as argumentative! I know that there have been many people here follow my journey from the depths of retail management hell to a job that I love and finally make a decent living doing it. So I value everyone's input and comments!

The majority of my expenses won't change too much. My fuel bill will increase a bit, my travel is 95% highway and I average 23-25 mpg in my s-10 right now. It won't be a huge hit in the fuel mileage department. Hell, if I could make it work, I would build out of a car that gets 30+ mpg, however, when it comes to moving signs, barricades, and the occasional jetted marble tub, an econobox just doesn't cut it! As for $$ down, if I don't trade my truck in, I am looking at putting $1000-1500 down, if I trade my truck in, that is my down payment, as I refuse to drain what savings I have managed to buy a new(er) vehicle. What will most likely happen, with the rain coming in this weekend, I wont want to screw with driving to the metroplex and looking at trucks, replace the radiator in the truck. (yeah, I know I should have done that as soon as I found the crack, but the putty has held up and it is still holding coolant pretty well) Look into taking care of the power steering issue and realize that for the $400 I would pay for a car payment next month, the current round of pressing issues will be taken care of.

[Roscoe]

Who's sticking you with a ~5% interest rate?

Goddamn math people...

It was 4.75% bc I had to finance it as a used vehicle even though it was brand new. Was a 2010 that I bought in March 2011 and I had to use Ford to get the rebate. I financed it at 2.9 with my CU soon thereafter.

[slow99]

Hell, my truck was $32k when I bought it after all rebates, etc (stickered at $40). Wound up putting enough down to finance $27k and my payments were still over $500/mo for 60 months.

Who's sticking you with a ~5% interest rate?

[Roscoe]

I see one and two year old trucks with decent mileage for low $20's all day long....

Put the same down or whatever you planned on financing and you're in the teens with ease.

Just playing the voice of reason. Hell, my truck was $32k when I bought it after all rebates, etc (stickered at $40). Wound up putting enough down to finance $27k and my payments were still over $500/mo for 60 months.

With as much driving as you do, tires are a $1k expense, oil changes are $45-50, gas, insurance, etc. Back when I still had a payment on my truck, I added up that it was costing me $1200/mo to own, which would be ~$1600 pre tax, which is $19,200/year gross, when all was said and done.

Just cause you think you can afford the payment doesn't make it the wisest move. Sharing my thoughts cause I have seen the success you've had in the past year. Don't try to hedge anything.