Who can afford a new truck anymore?

[Jstpssng]

I don't know what to say. I trade my trucks every two years due to mileage and tax purposes and I haven't opened up the hood on the last three. I'll also tell you, I don't know what's under there anyway....

That's me these days, except they buy me a new truck every three years. I have the oil changed regularly (every 6K miles, love that synthetic... and no dinosaurs died to make it, either. )
The only reason that I pop the hood is because somebody needs a boost.

There is a difference though between a vehicle used daily for work, and a commuter and/or retiree vehicle.
As pointed out earlier, I drive 3 times as much as most people. That results in 3 times more repairs, but also way too much down time if running older trucks.

 

[TomSeller]

Hmm...I don't have any trouble opening the hood on my '85 Suburban either. Sharp body edges...nope. No rust either. Maybe you just have girly hands?

Right, his soft girly hands need gloves when opening hoods.

 

[check]

The last 4 trucks (all new), I never looked under the hood before I bought/leased them.

 

[ultrarunner]

I'm not so sure about new paint vs old...

We have a 1972 Ford with original White factory paint... sits outside and it still looks good.

The newer stuff with clearcoat either looks good until it starts to go and then it's bad... no in between.

I have no idea how a 2015 will look after being outside 10 years...

I really think the old enamel jobs provided a superior lasting product... just my opinion.

 

[MossRoad]

I'm not so sure about new paint vs old...

We have a 1972 Ford with original White factory paint... sits outside and it still looks good.

The newer stuff with clearcoat either looks good until it starts to go and then it's bad... no in between.

I have no idea how a 2015 will look after being outside 10 years...

I really think the old enamel jobs provided a superior lasting product... just my opinion.

I will say the paint on my 93 suburban is B.A.D. now. The clear coat is going and it looks like white milky splotches and in some places it looks like plastic sheets you can peel off. Also, rust has set in badly. If I don't replace some sheet metal soon, it might not be worth saving in 3-4 more years. Having never done sheet metal before, it seems like a good candidate for experiment/learning.

 

[ultrarunner]

91 Silverado has zero rust but the cab roof and parts of the hood are starting to get the white splotches too... the bed inside and out is pristine... I've always used a rubber bed liner... keeps things from sliding around, it's quiet and protects well.

My 1985 Chevrolet Truck is also original and the paint is MUCH better... both are exposed to the elements year round since new.

Looking around the parking lot at work it's easy to find bad paint... mostly on GM products... although enough Japanese cars too.

 

[Jstpssng]

I will say the paint on my 93 suburban is B.A.D. now. The clear coat is going and it looks like white milky splotches and in some places it looks like plastic sheets you can peel off. Also, rust has set in badly. If I don't replace some sheet metal soon, it might not be worth saving in 3-4 more years. Having never done sheet metal before, it seems like a good candidate for experiment/learning.

91 Silverado has zero rust but the cab roof and parts of the hood are starting to get the white splotches too... the bed inside and out is pristine... I've always used a rubber bed liner... keeps things from sliding around, it's quiet and protects well.

My 1985 Chevrolet Truck is also original and the paint is MUCH better... both are exposed to the elements year round since new.

Looking around the parking lot at work it's easy to find bad paint... mostly on GM products... although enough Japanese cars too.

You guys are doing good to have the paint last that long. Early 90's Dodge and GM trucks had problems with paint peelingfrom the start, apparently because the primer was too hard and the paint wouldn't stick to it. The only way to fix it was to strip down to bare metal and start over.

It may have been just a regional thing though, dependent on the plant and where they got their primer from.

 

[ultrarunner]

Now that you mention it my neighbor has a Dakota bought new... likes everything except on going paint issues...

Even had the truck repainted and split the cost and it still peeled...

We had a lot of cars from the 70's that never experienced peeling paint... even Grandma's Ford Granada polished right up after 20 years of being outside and so did the Mark IV Lincoln.

 

[dmccarty]

My 84 z28 had horrible paint. My cousin had a GM car with the same paint and both paint jobs starting having problems after two years, if not earlier.

Seems like my Dakota was having problem after 4-5 years but it was nothing like the GM.

The Chevy K2500 had problems, seems like peeling paint at 6-7 years.

The Ford is 14 years old and the paint is perfect.

I can't remember the age of the wifey's Toyoto, maybe 8-9 years old, and no paint problems.

Knock On Wood. :laughing::laughing::laughing:

Later,
Dan

 

[kenmac]

Clear coat pealing off on my 2000 mazda protege.... looks like a shake shedding it's skin..