$89,000 for a new diesel pickup, how is it going to pay for it's self ?

nc redneck · May 30, 2014

I own one and agree from a business standpoint I see no way to justify it , unless you haul 20k in weight every day and make a good buck per day.
For me it was more of a tax issue. 22 K write off the first year. Get rid of tax benefits and I believe truck prices would come down very fast.
I do enjoy driving it, but not a lot as I know it is costing me a lot to put miles on it.

breadtrk · May 31, 2014

The answer to the OP is simple. For you it isn't ever going to pay for itself.

I was in construction for many years. It's pretty simple. If you have to ask or wonder, You are asking the wrong question. You wouldn't even be asking if your were really in a genuine business. It looks like you are in the want category, that is a nice place to be. If you want it and can afford it, go for it. Taxes be damned.

JDgreen227 · May 31, 2014

Don't laugh you guys...but back in '84 I wrote the specs for a purchase order for the first diesel medium duty truck my employer ever purchased for the fleet. It was an International S-1900 with the DT-466 diesel engine, automatic transmission, 20' aluminum van body, and a 2 ton capacity folding rear stowaway gate that ran off a PTO. The out the door cost was $31,794 and the only way I could justify the cost was by the payback down the road. Now...to spend nearly 3X that much for a PICKUP truck today is pure insanity, unless you can write off a large percentage of the cost. Even then I think a lot of it comes down to WANT, rather than need. Do you really NEED a truck that expensive, or do you just want one because you will look good driving around?

JDgreen227 · May 31, 2014

3930dave said:
I was just talking with a guy at my buddy's shop, about that pricing here. He drives an older 1ton Dmax, as a contractor.

My point "OK, I get that it's your office, but.... that's crazy !".

His point "I like the toys, and want to be comfortable".

If I was forking out that kind of money, I'd start looking at something like an International LowBoy myself.

Some people have trouble getting rid of their money, apparently.....

Rgds, D.

Dave...I have an ad in front of me for a 2001 IHC 4700 Lo-pro with the 14' box and a power liftgate, DTE-466 diesel, automatic, new tires....only 278,000 miles...$9500. The only purpose I can see of spending megabux for a truck is to haul stuff on a regular basis...and a medium duty is the way to go for that.

Diamondpilot · May 31, 2014

JDgreen227 said:
Don't laugh you guys...but back in '84 I wrote the specs for a purchase order for the first diesel medium duty truck my employer ever purchased for the fleet. It was an International S-1900 with the DT-466 diesel engine, automatic transmission, 20' aluminum van body, and a 2 ton capacity folding rear stowaway gate that ran off a PTO. The out the door cost was $31,794 and the only way I could justify the cost was by the payback down the road. Now...to spend nearly 3X that much for a PICKUP truck today is pure insanity, unless you can write off a large percentage of the cost. Even then I think a lot of it comes down to WANT, rather than need. Do you really NEED a truck that expensive, or do you just want one because you will look good driving around?

That was 30 years ago. Heck, a new car was 1/3 what it is today also.

Chris

JDgreen227 · May 31, 2014

Diamondpilot said:
That was 30 years ago. Heck, a new car was 1/3 what it is today also.

Chris

Think you missed my point...did that loaded diesel pickup truck the OP notes cost 1/3 of what it does today back in '84?

cre10 · May 31, 2014

JDgreen227 said:
Think you missed my point...did that loaded diesel pickup truck the OP notes cost 1/3 of what it does today back in '84?

want versus need can be said about nearly everything today. I don't really need a riding lawnmower. I don't really need cab tractors lol

Diamondpilot · May 31, 2014

JDgreen227 said:
Think you missed my point...did that loaded diesel pickup truck the OP notes cost 1/3 of what it does today back in '84?

They didn't make anything close in 84. But yes, a fully loaded Dually would have been $25,000 to $30,000.

Chris

JDgreen227 · May 31, 2014

Diamondpilot said:
They didn't make anything close in 84. But yes, a fully loaded Dually would have been $25,000 to $30,000.

Chris

A good friend of mine bought a 1986 K30 crew cab Chevrolet Cheyenne with the 454 and everything including the Camper Special option (SRW, not duals) for $18,700 new. Adding a diesel and DRW would have got it close to the 25 grand mark...yeah....the good old days. I paid $15 grand for a Crown Vic with every possible option the year before.

Diamondpilot · May 31, 2014

JDgreen227 said:
A good friend of mine bought a 1986 K30 crew cab Chevrolet Cheyenne with the 454 and everything including the Camper Special option (SRW, not duals) for $18,700 new. Adding a diesel and DRW would have got it close to the 25 grand mark...yeah....the good old days. I paid $15 grand for a Crown Vic with every possible option the year before.

This is exactly what I am saying. A loaded truck was $20,000 back then. A diesel Dually was $25,000. A average car like a Ford Taurus was $16,000. All three are about 2.5 to 3 times that cost today.

Gas was $1.15 per gallon then also. Today it's $3.75, so a little more than 3 times the cost.

I bought my first new boat in 1986. It was $9,995. Today a comparable boat would be $25,000. Again along the same lines.

The real issue is salaries. For most people their salary has not tripled in that time.

Chris