TexasCHLforum.com

A little off topic....but you should try pricing one of those 20 ft bass boats to play in after work.

All I can suggest is either waiting for a better season for buying, waiting for the end of the month and possibly more desperate salesmen, or looking at the used market.

A friend at work bought a Tahoe through Texas Auto Discounters a year or so ago and was pretty happy.

NcongruNt wrote:Yeah, I considered buying an F-150, then went and looked at the prices.

What happened to them? You used to be able to buy a no-frills basic F-150 for like 13K. It didn't have anything extra, but it was a truck. Looking at the local dealer today, the most rock-bottom option-free F150 is over 25K. Who buys these things?

As for me, I've got a '98 Ranger lined up from a relative next week. It's all the truck I can afford these days.

The reason they have gotten so expensive is because they have become status symbols, it's no longer just vehicle to use as a hauler and tower. It's the look at my quad cab with the 8 ft bed and the uber delux package that includes more electronic gizmo's than the space station.

gigag04 wrote:

NcongruNt wrote:I wonder how much of the price of a car goes to pay for the expenses of employing union workers

FYP

I know the unions don't have the good name or strength they had 40 years ago, but if you get paid sick days, vacation days, and holidays, family and medical leave, health, life, and disability insurance, a pension, safe and healthy working conditions, and proper job training you can thank unions for that. BTW, the rumors of union auto workers making $80 an hour were just that, rumors.

On the OP, buy used from an individual and save 30%, your interest rate may be higher from your lendor, just pay $50 extra a month and you will end up paying it off early and won't have to worry about the interest. These days you can get alot for your money on the FSBO used market because of all the people that choose to live out of their means and buy a truck with a note that is half their monthly bring home. If you want a quality used truck from a dealer, I would check out Texas Direct Auto, they have great prices.

I went over and looked at Texas Auto Direct. They had a 2006 Chevrolet 2500 with around 50k miles on it. 4x4 and short wheel base. Crank down windows and vinyl floors. I didn't like the short wheel base but called them anyhow since their list price was around $19k. The truck should be running around $16.5k. Anyway they wouldn't come down even a little so I told the guy no thanks and hung up. I'll see if it's still for sale here in a few weeks.

I have a 2006 Dodge 2500 diesel 4x2. The 5.9l engine in the 06 and a few of the early 07's was the last time you could get this engine before the new federal laws forced an awful change in the emission systems on all diesels. My 06 is an awesome running truck and gets 24 mpg every day and 18 towing. Since they had to change the engines, the Big 3 have all had one problem or another related to that. Just ask any diesel mechanic and he will tell you. Instead of paying $50 grand for a new one, I'd look for one of the 5.9 engines in an 05-07 year that has been well cared for. They can be had with mileage under 65k for anywhere from $21k to $30k--a heck of a lot less than $50K, and those engines will go 250K miles without a complaint. That's what I am doing right now to replace a Sonata we bought for fuel economy a while back and regretted giving up our second truck for (it was a gasser) Every time I take my truck in for service, the guys at the dealership ask me if I will sell it. They have a waiting list for it.

Yeah I had two of the 5.9s. At the ranch we've had a total of four over the years. All of them always ran well and got good and got good mileage. All of them wound up running over 300k miles.

Carry-a-Kimber wrote:

gigag04 wrote:

NcongruNt wrote:I wonder how much of the price of a car goes to pay for the expenses of employing union workers

FYP

I know the unions don't have the good name or strength they had 40 years ago, but if you get paid sick days, vacation days, and holidays, family and medical leave, health, life, and disability insurance, a pension, safe and healthy working conditions, and proper job training you can thank unions for that. BTW, the rumors of union auto workers making $80 an hour were just that, rumors.

Not rumors - the fully burdened cost of all those benefits added up to that number ...

I managed to afford my F450 King Ranch on a fluke. This thing is loaded to the gills. But some woman found it on the lot at the dealership and thought it was the biggest baddest truck she had ever seen. She managed to get the. Down to around $65K. She decked it out with the chicks on the mudflaps and some flying eagle stickers on the outside mirrors. But she never towed anything, never installed a hitch, and never put anything in the bed. After 9 months she traded it for something more practical. 8911 miles and she got $35k for it which is about what I picked it up for.

I haul a 48' gooseneck enclosed car hauler trailer that is 7500 lbs empty and almost always loaded beyond a f350 capacity. Other than that, I actually drive it to work every day. All that to be able to haul a trailer every month or so.

The full retail price of a 4wd gmc work truck is $24,390. You just need to buy the "WORK TRUCK" model. Ask the salesman about that particular model. A work truck is the "no frills" model.

The silly prices are the result of yuppies wanting trucks and SUVs as status symbols, not work vehicles. I can assure you that Juan, my lawnmower man is driving a brand new work truck (business is good for him), but he is NOT buying his laborers $50,000 vehicles to haul lawn mowers and trees.

Do not let those tricky, immoral, theiving car salesmen fool you. You CAN get a basic non-status symbol Work Truck. These work trucks are lower profit margin vehicles, so they may be resistant to selling you one. Just stay firm and go to another dealership if they refuse to sell you one.

drjoker wrote:The full retail price of a 4wd gmc work truck is $24,390. You just need to buy the "WORK TRUCK" model. Ask the salesman about that particular model. A work truck is the "no frills" model.

The silly prices are the result of yuppies wanting trucks and SUVs as status symbols, not work vehicles. I can assure you that Juan, my lawnmower man is driving a brand new work truck (business is good for him), but he is NOT buying his laborers $50,000 vehicles to haul lawn mowers and trees.

Do not let those tricky, immoral, theiving car salesmen fool you. You CAN get a basic non-status symbol Work Truck. These work trucks are lower profit margin vehicles, so they may be resistant to selling you one. Just stay firm and go to another dealership if they refuse to sell you one.

Last time my dad wanted a 4x4 work truck he had to order it. All the 4x4 trucks they had had power everything, leather seats, cd players, on and on.

All their work trucks with crank windows, rubber mats instead of carpets, all the good stuff he wanted were 2 wheel drive trucks designed to be sold to cities, universities, etc.

A true farm ready work truck is hard to come by these days.