Has anyone seen any deals due to this pandemic?

[two_bit_score]

Ahh....no. For that class of vehicle, and the extra, extra's on it. I'd have to say it is a fair deal. When I replied to him, I was looking at the King Ranches, as that was what I was shopping for a while back.

All the truck makers are running around those figures. 50-80k. So it looks like there are "pretty good deals" to be had.

If you think that痴 a good deal you better buy two.

 

[Jstpssng]

It's not so much the mechanical stuff that goes bad, either. It's the electronics.... the sensors, the computers, the built-in LEDs in the instruments and interior lighting and buttons, etc... that stuff starts going, and it's a money pit.

That's why we got rid of our 2000 Impala after 180,000 miles and 13 years. Half the dash lights didn't work anymore, you couldn't see any buttons in the cabin at night, the anti-lock brakes started giving problems, the wipers would just come on for a couple swipes every so often, the radio would make loud deep noises even when it was off, etc...

My '87 had the same dash problems, I used to carry a flashlight in my lap to check the speedometer. No ABS to go out, which was one nice thing about that truck though.

Getting back to the original question though, I don't know why there would be any deals; with an extra 600 $/week on top of their regular unemployment a lot of people are making more than they ever did while they were working.

 

[Hay Dude]

My father's '99 K1500 is, and he used that harder than it was meant to be used. Around here they rust out long before the drive line wears out, which is why we're retiring that truck.
Again, it goes back to how you are using it; if somebody is hauling on a regular basis like you are it makes sense to have something heavier duty. For somebody who merely hauls a camper or tractor occasionally but has just one truck as their only vehicle, that 1/2 ton is perfect for their needs. Just because you're a farmer and need a bigger truck doesn't mean there's something wrong with people who don't.

Of course not, but thats not the point I was trying to make. Furthermore, I apologize to anyone who took it that way.

The point I AM trying to make is I just cant believe people plunk down 60+ on a 1/2 ton gas truck. It doesnt seem like theres real value there. It seems like theres about $10,000-$15,000 going to Ford in profit.
IMO, 1/2 ton trucks are vastly overpriced.

 

[aczlan]

You buy a 6.0 GM truck because you want something that will do anything you ask of it and never break, and on the off chance it does break, it doesn't cost much to fix.

The repair costs associated with diesels are astronomical and all of them have emissions and fuel system issues. Yes, you can go faster up a hill with a diesel.

There is a reason that GM sold a ton of 6.0 trucks to corporate fleets and contractors.

That's also why Ford came out with a new 7.3 liter gas engine, they're going after landscapers and others who want a truck that they can put any idiot behind the wheel and they can't hurt too badly.

Aaron Z

But will your F150 still be around in 22 years, like your dads 1998 F-250?
Id be willing to bet it wont.
Heavier built trucks just hold up longer because they are built heavier. Comparing a truck 20 years newer is sort of ridiculous. I mean were all intelligent enough to know vehicles are performance and ratings driven. Heck in 5 years many vehicles are somewhat dated. 20 is an eternity.

Ill tell you one place theyre going backwards is repair costs. Its evermore difficult to repair DIY and its intentional.

I don't know, it will be interesting to see where things go.
Perhaps at that point you'll be able to pick up a replacement aftermarket computer.
newer vehicles are getting much better at being able to have the computer tell you what's wrong with them, and I suspect that will not get worse over time.

Aaron Z

 

[oosik]

The local grocery store had a special on TP the other day. I guess they panicked and now have a 40' trailer load to sell off.

 

[Hay Dude]

That's also why Ford came out with a new 7.3 liter gas engine, they're going after landscapers and others who want a truck that they can put any idiot behind the wheel and they can't hurt too badly.

Aaron Z



I don't know, it will be interesting to see where things go.
Perhaps at that point you'll be able to pick up a replacement aftermarket computer.
newer vehicles are getting much better at being able to have the computer tell you what's wrong with them, and I suspect that will not get worse over time.

Aaron Z

I think the 7.3L gas engine will be a BIG hit. It’s a step in the right direction. I like the big displacement and the basic design of rotating mass instead of small displacement with turbos and complexity. I really liked the GM 8.1L that went away too soon. That engine would have been amazing with some updates.

 

[rush389]

That's also why Ford came out with a new 7.3 liter gas engine, they're going after landscapers and others who want a truck that they can put any idiot behind the wheel and they can't hurt too badly.

Aaron Z



I don't know, it will be interesting to see where things go.
Perhaps at that point you'll be able to pick up a replacement aftermarket computer.
newer vehicles are getting much better at being able to have the computer tell you what's wrong with them, and I suspect that will not get worse over time.

Aaron Z

That 7.3 looks sweet. I got a 6.0 because I am the idiot behind the wheel and the local chevy dealer had the truck I wanted - base crew 4x4 std bed. I do not need more truck. Some guys do - most get diesels, maybe those guys will consider the 7.3 instead.

I tend to like the base models - mostly for the vinyl floors. I just tell the kids to throw their squeezies and empty cups onto the floor.

 

[buck12]

But will your F150 still be around in 22 years, like your dads 1998 F-250?
Id be willing to bet it wont.
Heavier built trucks just hold up longer because they are built heavier. Comparing a truck 20 years newer is sort of ridiculous. I mean were all intelligent enough to know vehicles are performance and ratings driven. Heck in 5 years many vehicles are somewhat dated. 20 is an eternity.

Ill tell you one place theyre going backwards is repair costs. Its evermore difficult to repair DIY and its intentional.

I don稚 know where his f150 will be in 22 years but I know I drove my 1993 f150 an hour each way to our remote property today to do a little work. While there I traveled a at least three miles off road to check on the timber being cut on our hunting lease. Old blue is all original. I bought it new and have used like a truck is supposed to be used. The transmission has never been touched, valve covers have never been off, original alternator, etc. I liked it so well I bought another 11 years ago that is my current daily driver, and a couple of years ago my wife bought an Expedition.

3/4 and 1 ton trucks are great if one needs that much truck but 1/2 ton trucks can definitely last 22 years while being used as a truck.

 

[fatjay]

I have a '93 f150 and a '94 ram 2500, and both the frames are rotted out and uninspectable. Anything without an undercoating from the factory around here is doomed. My '04 diesel excursion with 250k on the clock got a new undercoating last year. I got it new with the undercoating sprayed on. After 15 years in the rust belt it still looked like new. Anything you plan to keep, it pays to pay a little more.

 

[Jstpssng]

My '04 Ranger had the factory undercoating which still looked good when I bought it in 2015. Yet after the first winter of driving it, all of that came off along with a layer of the frame. The following spring I had new rear springs and shackles put in, new exhaust, and dumped a gawdawful amount of money into brakes and front end, put 4 new tires on it, and parked it when the snow started coming down again.

The next year I had the transmission serviced... 3 days later one of the cats failed so I paid another $700 to have both of those replaced.

Last year I only bought gas and oil changes, new exhaust again, and one minor repair bill.

When I started running it this spring I crawled underneath and the frame is about shot. I dumped almost 20K into it, put 60,000 miles on it in 5 years and it's junk... just like anything else of that vintage.
Now I'm looking at 10 year old trucks with stupid asking prices.. instead of paying 20K for something which at the very least will need tires and brakes and will be rusted out in 5 years I seriously am thinking about spending another 15k, buying new, and will have a warrantee of sorts which will run out about the same time I'd be junking that 15 YO pickup.

Or I can buy a new Ranger or Tacoma for less than that although I really don't like the fact that new truck computers will be "updating" just like my laptop... we all know how well that works out. And what happens when they "stop supporting the software" ? As somebody else mentioned though, if the demand is there some third party will pick up the slack.