Truck buying

[PolarBear]

FC, you got it backwards.

[FC]

FC, you got it backwards.

20+ years as a mechanic, I beg to differ.

[PolarBear]

As a stockholder I beg to differ.  My Ford stock is worth many times that of GM.  They didn't get to be #1 in the US auto biz by building crap, period.

[Bean Counter]

Easy: Ford builds junk, GM and Toyota do not!

I agree with 1/3 of this statement. I've worked with a FLEET of Fords, Chevy's and Dodges. They all got pounded to hell. If you look around and count the vehicles that have survived to four years, Fords beat the Chevy's and Dodges combined... by FAR.

Since the OP mentioned Toyota, I say go with them! Here's my plug: Toyota is the #1 car driven by millionaires. Not even Lexus--just Toyota. They're more expensive, but they're worth it. Or you could say that domestics are cheap... for good reason. 

This January I bought a 2003 Toyota Tundra access cab with 4wd for $6,000. It had 200,000 miles, but I didn't bat an eye. It was well maintained and it shows. Still no problems with it. I get 17.5-18mpg but I do mostly freeway driving.

Also, to the OP: good call on the 4wd. Don't waiver on this, esp as a hunter and esp in the PNW. Too many hills and the week or two that you have snow every year makes them well worth it.

[Bean Counter]

As a stockholder I beg to differ.  My Ford stock is worth many times that of GM.  They didn't get to be #1 in the US auto biz by building crap, period.

 

Though to be fair, you can't just go off stock price alone... If you want to do some pecker sizing you'd need to look at market capitalization (share price x shares outstanding).

If I were to buy a domestic I'd buy Ford just to reward them for not selling their soul to the Obamanation.

[Bean Counter]

I really think we need a separate forum for hunting rigs. 

[Bean Counter]

Since I know just about all of you have gone through this process, what lessons have you learned and advice do you have?

One of the best decisions I've ever made in life is to not buy a new car. Sure you can customize it, and 0% financing is tempting.

However, unless you're completely debt free, have a sizeable and growing retirement fund, and can pay cash outright for it, I say it is foolish to buy a brand new car. Simply for the depreciation factor.

Believe it or not you can get a lower price by paying cash for a brand new vehicle.  There is no such thing as "free financing." Big business doesn't loan money for free, period. The stealership pays for the financing and that in turn affects how low they'll go on a new car.

What do I know... I just count beans 

[FC]

As a stockholder I beg to differ.  My Ford stock is worth many times that of GM.  They didn't get to be #1 in the US auto biz by building crap, period.

Actually that is exactly what they did! They are the Walmart of the auto industry, they built a ton of junk cars and sold them cheap. Don't get me wrong, GM cars are crap, their trucks are decent, Ford rear wheel drive cars are pretty good but everything else they make is pretty much crap, very poorly engineered with tons of EGR related and electrical failures. Toyota makes good cars and trucks period! Yes they have had their own recall fiasco recently but last I knew it was still nowhere even close to the size of Ford's last few safety recalls.

Bean Counter, if you are having your Fords outlast your Dodge and Chevy trucks you need to see WTF is going on with your fleet maintenance! I've done a ton of fleet maintenance and that is ass backwards of what you should be seeing. The order should run Toyota, Dodge, GM and then Ford for truck lifespan. If running Diesels it will likely be Dodge, Ford and then Chevy.

[Caseyd]

A bean counter that's telling someone to pay cash when he could get 0% 

Opportunity cost?

[Bean Counter]

If the price is $40,000 financed or $38,000 cash, then yes, pay cash. If its $40,000 either way, then obviously there's an opportunity cost to be considered. I don't like being in debt. I was offered 6 months same as cash for my $2,000 flat panel television but I had cash in my pocket so why bother? If you're even one day late on those traps you pay interest all the way back to the date of purchase, at some exorbitant 18%+ rate.. Cash is king--debt is dumb 

Someone who has to go into debt to finance something costing $40,000 should consider a cheaper option. Put me on the hot seat about my Toyota... If I spend $6,000 on a truck with 200,000mi and wind up replacing the transmission AND the engine, am I going to get anywhere close to that $40,000 new truck as a total investment? 

[Bean Counter]

Bean Counter, if you are having your Fords outlast your Dodge and Chevy trucks you need to see WTF is going on with your fleet maintenance! I've done a ton of fleet maintenance and that is ass backwards of what you should be seeing. The order should run Toyota, Dodge, GM and then Ford for truck lifespan. If running Diesels it will likely be Dodge, Ford and then Chevy.

I'm no mechanic--but I play one on t.v. Just kidding though I do change my own oil, spark plugs, etc.

Yes, they were mostly diesels. I highly doubt the mechanics had it out for Dodge and Chevy. They probably got scrapped when the cost for the next maintenance or repair exceeds the value of the vehicle. I didn't count those beans--just telling you I saw 2x+ more Ford's than D and C combined.

[FC]

Yes, they were mostly diesels. I highly doubt the mechanics had it out for Dodge and Chevy.

I would doubt that too but they may not be well educated in how to work on them all and their standard procedures may well be lacking. Me and every guy I ever trained to maintain diesels always drained the water out of the fuel filter any time they opened the hood to do an oil change or more to it. Little things like that, I always re-routed all the wiring for the Ford glow plug relay too, Ford finally put a recall out on those since they kept catching fire All those little things really make trucks live longer, if you know all the dirty secrets and how to beat them before an actual failure it makes a big difference.

[chongo469]

I am not a mechanic by any means but in all my time in the construction industry( 20+ yrs.) I have only worked for 1 company that used Ford vehicles......That company now uses all Toyota trucks except for 2 trucks they use for the warehouse guys....I am sure when those go T.U. that they will buy toyotas...All the other companies have used chevy's and I can say that we put a ton of miles on them without problems.........

[NWBREW]

I own and drive a Ford truck....200k miles on it and it's been the best truck I've owned. Tomorrow I am looking at another purchase....1988 toyota....but will keep the Ford.

I would go with Ford or Tundra. No second thoughts.

[rtspring]

FC, So FORD is the "WALMART" of the auto industry huh? 

I have owned a FORD car or truck since highschool ( 20 years ago) Not one of them has spent one day in a garage other than regular tune up and or maintenance. NOT ONE. I have had both cars and trucks. So if i were to buy the crap you are trying to tell everyone one here then I must be the luckiest guy in the world.
Ok your a mechanic, they all are subject to breakdowns here and there. But for you to sit there and try to feed us that FORD is garbage? I beg to differ with you and your words of wisdom.  Because I think your full of B.S.