DeanV

My current truck is a 98 Chevy 1500 4.3L V6 with 130,000 miles on it. In the past month it has gotten a new fuel pump and is in the shop getting a new gasket to fix a coolant leak. It does not have any real rust yet, but it is starting to look a little tired. Driver side door latch does not work well (replaced this year and it is bad again), tail gate latches are not so great either. I put 20,000 miles on a year lately.

I have not lettered the truck cap windows up yet and was planning on doing that soon, but I am not sure how much more I should expect from the truck. If I keep having to get it fixed, the down time plus repair costs is not a good thing.
I found a 03 Ford F-150 5.4L v-8 with 32,000 miles for $13,000 (4x2) but not sure I want to have a truck payment again.

How much do you think having a newer truck helps your image as opposed to an older one? When do you guys decide to ditch the older work truck for a new one?

regal

I have a 1997 f350 deisel 4dr. crew cab 4x4 utility body with enclosed cap/barn door rear. For my area (snow) 4X4 is a must, the enclosed utility provides shelter and more compartments I could ask for. Diesel gets me over 200,000 miles easy, and the crew 4dr. can seat 6 (4 comfortably) They are expensive new, but I will never get a different vehicle. If I need another engine eventually Ill do it........If you are looking for another truck, try diesel. 200,000 plus miles, no tune ups, just oil changes and filter changes. You could search for a repairable with hail damage or vandalized, you know, some thing minor, and save thousands. good luck.....also image is important to me. my paint is very good, and my lettering is top notch (same guy that does polar soda!)

toddcla2002

First off you have to ditch the Chevy's. There's a fleet lease return lot near me and if you go there and try all the doors etc on the Ford's and Chevy's the Ford's always feel new where the Chevy's are always just not quite right and some are downright horrible. I drive a 2006 Toyota Tundra Double Cab that's lettered up on the windows in a tasteful manner that I can see through on the inside. My clients tend to like it and will either ask me about my truck, or see how clean I keep it or just know that I'll be able to take care of their job and they see that I'm not so close to welfare that I will bail on their job. However for my guys I prefer and Ford's especially with that 7.3L diesel. What matters most is keep everything clean and maintained. Make sure it doesn't drip, spit or smoke. Most of my fleet are older vehicles that I bought for 4-6k and then fixed up. So for 11-15k I have a truck or van that has a rebuilt motor, transmission, new brakes, new fluids, maybe mild suspension work and a new paint job. Let's not lie to ourselves the cars today aren't much different than what they were 10 or 20 years ago especially for the work trucks. Good luck on your purchase!

~todd

DeanV

I would like 4x4, but a lot more money. I live in MI, so 4x4 is nice, but my current truck is not 4x4 either. I thought about the diesel route, but not sure given the cost of that option either. I currently average 18 mpg in my truck, and that means around $350 per month in fuel, I do not really want to see those numbers go up. I figure controlling fuel costs is a big way to control overhead.

I think what I need is a pickup with the gas mileage of a sprinter that costs somewhere around 12 g's (or maybe a sprinter that costs the same).

regal

yeah sprinter diesel! lots of advert space too!

regal

love my 7.3, I did the same thing new tranny, glow plugs fuel pump, I know what I have, It runs strong and smooth, and no payments, just investments

PlainPainter

I think unless you have a total bond/rust bucket - that 'image' with new vehicles is way overrated. I love seeing guys with their new vehicles - and then see 'em like 5-6 years later just totally trashed. What did they get for their 20-25k investment? I bought a '95 AstroVan in the summer of '05 for $2800 in decent shape. I have done loads of repairs to it myself - but it just keeps on going - I got it with 130k - now I have 160k. And I plan to get it to 200k. Everyone loves a new vehicle, I agree, but man o' man - I was just in the dealership - and barely got out of there alive - with their no money down and me paying $340/month for the next 7 years. You have to ask yourself - how much quality vacation money and/or retirement savings could you have if you just stuck to used vehicles. I think it's about macho. I'd rather perhaps get something along the lines of 5-6 grand used - and spend money on a paint job special from MAACO - and some truck lettering - and drive that for 4-5 years. I want some real return on my investments, Baby!

If you like new vehicles - pocket the difference and buy yourself a personal car, that you love like a toy. Who cares about a company truck? F that!
Especially when you go to some homeowner - and they're like wow beautiful truck, but can you paint our bedroom for $500? LOL.

silvertree

Took my paid for Chevy Silverado year 2000 and got body work, new paint, brakes, tune up ect. It had 80,000 miles. Looks like a new truck now, all the work cost me about $4000. If I drive it 2 or 3 more years it's costing me half a new truck payment and I own it. New truck, good for the ego but a bad investment for sure.

PlainPainter

I go to another board for pressure washing - where all these real macho types are constantly getting new trucks for like 25-35 grand - and trying to justify that it's 'good' for business. And get angry as all heck, if anyone dare suggest otherwise. I personally think it's because most of them are like hunters and fisherman that want to tow big boats and cargo - and then justify it to their girlfriends/wives that's it's good for business. I think there comes a point, especially if you aren't a mechanic, that the unreliability of an older vehicle outweighs the advantages of it's cheap purchase price. But there is a cherry spot in terms of affordability - best return on investment - and decent reliability - and in my opinion, that ain't buying it brand new!

regal

agree agree I had A couple of Astro vans and should have kept them.(4.3 cant kill em) but once I got 4wd I was golden. Dont go new, who wants payments!? Your getting some good responses from these guys

MakDeco

I have always bought my Ram's a few years old, I put a minimum of 30k a yr on them. My current one I bought in 05 its a 02 had 38k on it, I now have 96k on it. No problems yet I ran my last one to 180k and one before that to 206k. I usualy get a three yr loan so it can get paided off. but being three yrs old they are no where near those new prices. I don't care if my truck is new but sorry I don't feel comfortable driving crap either.

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MAK Deco

Nigel S. Shorts

I had a 99 GMC Sonoma that I waited too long to replace. I spent 5-6K last year on various repairs, and when they told me the tranny was going to need replacing I stopped the bleeding and bought a new Titan. I wish I'd saved the 5K and gotten the new vehicle sooner. The good news is I got way more money in trade for the GMC with a bad tranny than I would have by selling it private party.

Time is money, and losing it while your vehicle sits in a shop sucks bad. Furthermore, I consider my truck payment a cost of doing business, just like all the supplies I buy. A reliable truck or van pays for itself IMO. And, to a certain extent (especially in image conscious LA where I am), a nice work vehicle reflects well on a contractor.

regal

............Groovy Baby...say do you know that swinging german paperhanger Getov Mias?......... Seriously, Titans are nice trucks, and the foriegn technology as much as I hate to admit it (but still havent bought into it) seems better in the long run.......

Nigel S. Shorts

I like the Tundra's too, and Chevy's new truck is pretty nice, featuring better mileage than I'm currently getting. I think Nissan took 3 years to get all the major bugs out, and it was just in time for the 06, which I got.

PlainPainter

Honestly - I like the guy who buys a vehicle that is 2-3 yrs. old and then drives them until about 200k - that's cool. But buying new - and then saying how wonderful it reflects upon you? Honestly - I'd rather be paying $400 in a well researched, lean, effective marketing campaign - with a decent vehicle. Guys that put all their money in brand new stuff - will lose out to guys who know how to market. I am already experiencing that for myself. But hey - bring it on - I already know 3 competitors who were underpricing me, with their ridiculous 7 yr. warranties, and their brand new Savanna 2500's - are now out of business - yet my maintained '95 astrovan, with 160k in mileage is still a workhorse - and I still keep getting work and staying in the black.

firemike

Diesel is up to $3.68 here, gas went down to $3.18 - was $3.32 a few days ago. Arrrghhhh!

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-Mike-

DeanV

Well, after getting the intake gasket fixed, I decided to trade it in on the the used F-150. I got a used utility cap put on today, and I should be good to go for 7 more year now (unless Ford trucks turn out to be better than Chevy's). I was worried that my transmission would be next to go, given the luck of other people I know with Chevy's of my age, and $1400 in repairs over that last couple months was enough for me.

I must say, I do like having doors that lock and close properly again, and headlights that work. I hopoe I did not get rid of the chevy too soon, but the new truck will be a lot nicer to work out of.

Almost forgot, thanks for all the advice guys.

regal

being an 03 with that low a mileage, seems like the truck was taken care of. But now your gonna have to buy one of those pee on chevy stickers though.

smeagol

1987 ford

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capital city

I think the Plainpainter has a thing for his Astrovan that should be illegal. I bought my 08 ford econoline new with shelving and divider for 19,500 in feb this year with 0%. Could have bought 04 for 12,500 with 60000 miles and 7% interest. Do the math. The new dealers can offer much better deals if you are patient and wait. It does reflect good on the business without a doubt. However with all that said I would not put that much money in a work vehicle if it didnt double as my personal vehicle. We have a 04 corolla as the family car. By the way a lease is much more advantageous for tax purposes then buying. You save on mileage and the price you pay per month, it literally pays for itself when your paying 30% in taxes.