Good Lord, the cost of new pickup trucks! I need to replace my 2002 Chevy Astro. Been using that thing like a pickup for years and it's just falling apart. I think I'll look at Transit Connects first. Just over $20,000 compared to $30,000 for the lower end truck. It sure won't carry the load, but I need less of that the older I get. I'll need a little trailer for some hauling, but just can't spend that kind of money for the truck. Looked at used pickups, if they are under $20,000, they have over 150,000 miles. Any tips?
You are correct Sir! A friend who has plenty of money looked at the new Fords with the aluminum body, the Platinum Edition. I think it was about $66,000. Stopped him in his tracks and He is driving a slightly older version that was about $56K.
I have not looked at the low end ones, but I am sure you are right. I need a TRUCK, something to actually HAUL stuff in. Got no use for a car with a back porch.
I have a friend who drives a Transit. He likes it.
My son gave me his Mazda B3000 with about 150K one it. I am approaching 200K and expect to go to at least 250K. Some repairs, but no complaints. Best present I ever got, except my sons themselves.
Dick That's why I bought a Honda CRV and a trailer. My car and truck died at the same time and weren't affordable to fix. I went out looking for a new truck and was totally shocked at the prices. Use prices are just about as bad. I looked at a 2004 Toyota Tacoma with 185,000 miles. They still wanted $14,000.
It's a pain in the ass hauling the trailer around but so far it's worked.
Not that the price isn't still painful but anyone can put out requests for bids. The last half-dozen or so new trucks that friends, family, or I have bought all went that route. Spec out exactly to the "T" what you want on the internet then contact the dealers within a hundred miles just asking the fleet manager's name and their fax number. Then fire off a request for bids to all of them and sit back and wait. I usually send out around ten requests and all but one or two dealers respond.
I also know dealer invoice from the internet and have never failed to buy even the most popular vehicles for within $200 of dealer invoice. They still make money from the floor plan kickback. The last truck bought was for over $350 below dealer's invoice. Some friends and family special discount. The manager was a bit upset about that one and asked if we were friends or family of the salesman writing up the paperwork so we could leave a deposit on the special order truck. "We are now!"
Hu apparently i dont have the knack a few years back i studied and read all the books and articles on how to buy a car i thought i tried all the tricks but got absolutely no where i ended up buying a used truck crom an indi idual
You are correct. My Lovely Bride suggested I get a new truck. Unfortunately I need a heavy duty diesel for farm use to pull trailers loaded with hay and equipment. I will probably go with a used truck.
I never read any books on the subject. However I have made it a practice to request bids for anything that costs thousands and has multiple sources to get it from. I have used the bids on vehicles for fifteen years or so. You can get bids on central air units, pretty much anything you can name. People generally think you have to be a business to do it but there is no law that says so.
Years ago I sat down with a curious Chevy dealer and went on the internet to check dealer price on a Chevy Tahoe I was interested in at the time. He was astonished to find the internet price accurate to the penny including all options.
All of the golden dates do help a little if doing regular shopping but so does sledge hammer negotiations. Most sales people will say they can't work from invoice. That often changes when you head towards your vehicle. They know chances of a sale plummet if you ever leave the dealership. First I make sure that they know I am a serious buyer, then I make it plain they are going to have to deal my way to make a sale.
Every dealer has to do warranty work regardless of where you buy a vehicle so if you have to drive a long distance to buy a vehicle it can be worth it. The last truck I bought was a decked out Dodge crewcab for a friend. The range of bids from lowest to highest was over $2500 difference with most being five hundred or less above dealer cost.
I always find that individuals selling late model used vehicles want to value their vehicle based on what they paid including dealer prep, tax, the whole ball of wax. They ignore that the buyer is going to have to pay tax too. I buy new for less than I can find a two year old vehicle for and I always special order to get exactly what I want where buying used I have to buy what I find.
Everyone's mileage may vary as the saying goes but nobody loses anything but a little time trying my method.
I was thinking I would get a Transit Connect. Every place I put a tape measure down in the back, I was wondering how I was going to rig up hauling wood. Plywood would lay flat in a cargo version, not in a passenger version. For length, the doors would not begin to close. I also haul my lawn tractor to do my Mother's yard. This would require a trailer. Then looked at a Transit 150, full size cargo van. It works for everything, no trailer needed. It was discounted for August, and was $8,000 less than a two door pickup. Only $5,000 more than the little van. So, just spent $27,000. Buyers remorse is hitting with full force! But, no worry about breaking down on the interstate going to Mom's. Maybe it's worth it?
I had U-Haul put a hitch on my Corolla and with a 6x4 trailer from Lowe's, I've hauled huge trunk pieces of elm and cherry. The land around Richmond, Va, is flat, but a 1.8 liter engine and a car that cost me 15k new six years ago have served me well and I've never felt the need for a truck. Not exactly the American way, but it works fine.
I bought a new Ford Transit Connect last June...EcoBoost and long wheel base, and then installed a sound-proofing partition behind the seats. All for under $23k plus tax. Been consistantly getting 31MPG, and I'm very happy with it.
If you really just want a truck - you know, for hauling 'stuff,' then a plain work truck from any brand is usually somewhere in the mid $20K range.
It's all the plush stuff - leather seats, power everything, chrome, sound system, heated/cooled seats, etc. that drive the price up into the stratosphere.
Talk to the fleet manager at a dealership, and only buy as much truck as you need.
We're in the same quandary. We need something to pull the pop-up and room for the three dogs, but we both have always driven trucks. I love the new F-150's but the prince is crazy for an empty box. We looked at the Ford Flex. Not that impressed and now I'm thinking the Chrysler Town and Country might be the answer. Great storage and functionality of the seating. Love the Stow and Go seats and you can't beat the standard features. It hauls 3600lbs with the Tow Pkg. Plenty. Now that my son is up and gone I'm getting a mini van for the dogs? Huh?
The Dodge Caravan is a very good buy. I went to buy a used one as always, and found I could get a new Caravan as cheap. The Town & Country has everything deluxe 7 is way more than the Caravan. Mine has the Stow and Go seats which are awesome. You can haul full sized sheet goods, and it will pull anything. 27-28 MPG.
Jen Most of my family (large family) has owned or still own Chrysler mini vans. I've had 2. They just keep on going and they keep improving the little things (like how the seats fold, or how easy or hard they are to remove) I used to have a photo of my Grandfathers house at Christmas. There were 7 Chrysler or Dodge mini vans parked in the driveway that we all owned. I needed something with all wheel drive or I would have looked at the Chrysler mini vans because they are an excellent buy for the money. My mother is 85 and still drives hers. She has to look through the steering wheel because she's so tiny.
