Pure F’n insanity

[Curbkrawler]

Vehicles in general are a black hole but wondering where that balance point is at. I went through this years ago.

In 2012, bought a '04 Ram 2500 with the 5.9 that had 100k. Bought it to pull my toy hauler. I bought it for 18k...crazy to think of that price today. But it was also expensive for me at the time as an active duty E-5. I sold it in 2020 with 199k on it and I had to put some love into it - typical Dodge ball joints, brakes, etc, but nothing crazy.

Towards 2018/19/2020, it was starting to get long in the tooth. Adjusted the bands in the 48RE but the signs of needing a rebuild were in the future. A/C didn't work at low speeds (needed charged, had a leak). Hated, hated that transmission for towing. 4 speeds was not enough. Was going to need a paint job. Do I put 10k (paint/transmission/AC) into a paid for truck or go full retard and buy a new-to-me truck? Obviously 10k was too much to spend, so instead I spent $44k on a 2016 with the 6.7 that had 9k miles on it On the plus side, I literally sold my old truck for what I paid for it. So my out of pocket costs was the interest paid on that loan plus maintenance items during ownership.

I'm just under a year out from having THAT one paid for, but it's been on strict towing only duty and garage kept, so it's at 45k on the odometer and kept clean and literally only sees the sun on the weekends I pull the trailer.

I suppose eventually my 2016 will have the same fate as my 2004, so I reckon the best I can do is prolong that time as long as possible? At only putting 6-8k miles on it a year, maybe by the time I need to buy another truck, they'll be $250,000

Almost the exact same story as me. I had an 02 3500 24V/6 spd that I bought in 04 for $20k. Sold it in 14 for a 14 SRW 3500. Regretted not having long bed. Bought my current 16. I doubt less than 6k miles of my 50k on the truck have not been doing towpig stuff. Otherwise it sits in the shop.

 

[Wades_76_cj7]

With interest rates saying as high as they are (with no end in sight) the effects of 7% rates for everything are finally starting to trickle down to the consumer. The RV industry is getting hit HARD. Couple we met this weekend scored a 2024 tricked out two axle fifth wheel crawler hauler for $60k out the door which had an original MSRP of $98k.

Dealers, particularly RV dealers, are sweating really fucking hard to get leftover 2024 models out the door before the 2025 models hit the floor. Supposedly the used market is taking a huge hit as well, both passenger vehicles and RVs.

If you got some cash, or a line on a low APR line of credit, this is the time to pick up something cheap.

My little brother is an RV salesman at one of this area's biggest dealers and he said they are still busy as hell. People are still buying with the 7-9% rates. I think the starter stuff is being financed, think Tom and Mary with two kids and a Tahoe to pull it. But the big 5th wheels that are 75k and up are being sold and those are paid for before they leave. 🤷‍♂️

 

[Projectjunkie]

My little brother is an RV salesman at one of this area's biggest dealers and he said they are still busy as hell. People are still buying with the 7-9% rates. I think the starter stuff is being financed, think Tom and Mary with two kids and a Tahoe to pull it. But the big 5th wheels that are 75k and up are being sold and those are paid for before they leave. 🤷‍♂️

Not to dismiss this 1st hand info, but is your brother the balls to the walls "it's always a great time to buy!!"?

Kind of like realtors who get all confused when the recession hits and they have to go back to bartending

 

[mjlogan88]

Vehicles in general are a black hole but wondering where that balance point is at. I went through this years ago.

The balance point is getting to be nonexistent

I wouldn’t want to own anything from this decade out of warranty. I know of a 21 7.3 f250 that shit out lifters and a 23 6.6 gas Chevy that ate a set last week. This is just amongst immediate co workers. Dealing with that out of pocket would be insane

I have 25 year old GM trucks. I make payments on them in the form of time and a little money. Yes you have to be patient with half the horsepower but I like driving them.

I really don’t see a middle ground between the two

 

[Wades_76_cj7]

Not to dismiss this 1st hand info, but is your brother the balls to the walls "it's always a great time to buy!!"?

Kind of like realtors who get all confused when the recession hits and they have to go back to bartending

He's been doing it for 7-8 years now. He said Covid was crazy. They sold millions of dollars worth of campers. I think their normal inventory is 150 units and peak Covid they had maybe 30 on the lot. They are full now but still moving them.
Fucker is a salesman for sure. He does pretty good and isn't the slimy used car salesman you think of. Buy it or don't, he DGAF. lol

 

[Pocahontas]

This is the biggest thing I think happened in the last 3-4 years. This was the standard, msrp price didn’t mean shit because your otd price before tax/trade title ect was always 10-20% off msrp. Because Covid and supply shortages the dealers were actually able to get msrp or a “market adjustment”. I don’t think I have ever paid within 5% of sticker for any new vehicle I’ve purchased.

It definitely seems like prices are coming back to earth with dealers advertising 5k or more off msrp and vehicle still sitting for months.

 

[Otto M@n]

He's been doing it for 7-8 years now. He said Covid was crazy. They sold millions of dollars worth of campers. I think their normal inventory is 150 units and peak Covid they had maybe 30 on the lot. They are full now but still moving them.
Fucker is a salesman for sure. He does pretty good and isn't the slimy used car salesman you think of. Buy it or don't, he DGAF. lol

Haven't known a non slimeball RV salesman yet

 

[Landslide]

Equating buying a $150k truck @ 15% interest and the price of groceries is pretty damn stupid.

It’s dumb of you to think that the only thing out there that’s high priced is pickup trucks as well.

Yes, our high cost of living is directly related to Democratic policies. The restricting EPA emissions rulings and regulations cost go directly to the buyer of products forced to install it. Government vehicles are exempt from these regulations however.

Yes your higher prices of food is directly related to this thread. You’re just too stupid to understand why. More expensive vehicles that deliver food to grocery stores and all the way back to the more expensive farming equipment to grow your groceries is part of why food cost more.

 

[2big bronco]

Gasser price, seems reasonable

 

[Bebop]

Yes, our high cost of living is directly related to Democratic policies. The restricting EPA emissions rulings and regulations cost go directly to the buyer of products forced to install it. Government vehicles are exempt from these regulations however.

The Biden admin just loosened the EPA regulations a few months ago.

Cars are not more expensive because of EPA regs. The massive uptick in safety and comfort features is the reason why they are higher cost.

 

[grumpy356]

It’s dumb of you to think that the only thing out there that’s high priced is pickup trucks as well.

Yes, our high cost of living is directly related to Democratic policies. The restricting EPA emissions rulings and regulations cost go directly to the buyer of products forced to install it. Government vehicles are exempt from these regulations however.

Yes your higher prices of food is directly related to this thread. You’re just too stupid to understand why. More expensive vehicles that deliver food to grocery stores and all the way back to the more expensive farming equipment to grow your groceries is part of why food cost more.

The Biden admin just loosened the EPA regulations a few months ago.

Cars are not more expensive because of EPA regs. The massive uptick in safety and comfort features is the reason why they are higher cost.

Now now girls ... Y'all are BOTH Pretty.



















It's fukin BOTH.

 

[subybaja]

Thats not an M715. Its a 64 Gladiator with a leftover Willys bed.

That was my point. I misremembered from 1980-whatever that it was a 715, and it wasn't.

 

[jpmassey]

It’s dumb of you to think that the only thing out there that’s high priced is pickup trucks as well.

Yes, our high cost of living is directly related to Democratic policies. The restricting EPA emissions rulings and regulations cost go directly to the buyer of products forced to install it. Government vehicles are exempt from these regulations however.

Yes your higher prices of food is directly related to this thread. You’re just too stupid to understand why. More expensive vehicles that deliver food to grocery stores and all the way back to the more expensive farming equipment to grow your groceries is part of why food cost more.

You been drinking today?
Are you actually trying to explain inflation to me?

Inflation is not why this truck is $150k. That truck is $150k ONLY because there are idiots that apparently will pay that to have the latest and greatest. Luxury good prices are driven by emotions. Inflation is trackable by commodities and necessities, not luxury trucks.

So, stick to linking articles, not assuming you are smarter than everyone else.

 

[jpmassey]

Cars are not more expensive because of EPA regs. The massive uptick in safety and comfort features is the reason why they are higher cost.

To be fair, emissions requirements do add to the price of a diesel truck by a good amount. But still, that's a small percentage of how overpriced that truck is.

 

[gt1guy]

This is the biggest thing I think happened in the last 3-4 years. This was the standard, msrp price didn’t mean shit because your otd price before tax/trade title ect was always 10-20% off msrp. Because Covid and supply shortages the dealers were actually able to get msrp or a “market adjustment”. I don’t think I have ever paid within 5% of sticker for any new vehicle I’ve purchased.

It definitely seems like prices are coming back to earth with dealers advertising 5k or more off msrp and vehicle still sitting for months.

Mark Dodge has always been that way. They sell more Ram truck than any other dealer in the country, by a good amount. They order hundreds of trucks at a time. There's people flying in to their dealership from all over the country to pick up trucks every day.