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Anyone been vehicle shopping lately ? Or have insight on a downturn?

Garceau

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My 300c platinum has crossed the 200K mark - no particular issues, my hemi ram still only has 135K on it..... but starting to show its 2005 age.

I need to downsize to one vehicle, and for the most part there are times when I "need" the truck. Now that my daily commute went from 140 miles to 8 miles....I am thinking of getting a newer used truck.

Not to sound like the old crotchey man I seem to be turning in to....but dang the prices :(

Anyone have a crystal ball and can tell me when they will come back down?

Im kinda leaning towards the smaller eco diesel - I dont have any heavy hauling planned, and it can do everything I need it to do - plus get better mileage by a bit over the hemi.
 
There’s a reason as to why the EcoDiesel isn’t going to be made anymore. Might want to check on that.
 
Car lots here are absolutely jammed with new trucks. Tons of inventory to choose from, I think runaway inflation is stopping purchases, maybe wait another couple of months.
 
There’s a reason as to why the EcoDiesel isn’t going to be made anymore. Might want to check on that.

Ive read up on it a bit, and a few buddies have them - they say good things, and what I read on the net is as long as you dont push it too hard towing its a solid set up. Heaviest would be my 66 on an open trailer.
 
Diesel around here is $1.50 more than regular unleaded.
So .....imo.
Im not so sure the minimal mileage gain is worth the cost of admission and upkeep.

Ive used my 2012 hemi ram 1500 on 2 different trips this year to pick up cars.


Longest one was 1900 miles round trip.
I can easily get upper teens empty.
10 to 12 empty.

Average the round trip was 13.8 . And that wasnt be gentle on it.
We had it in the wind and moving along quite quickly.

And the truck hardly knew the load was back there
 
Diesel around here is $1.50 more than regular unleaded.
So .....imo.
Im not so sure the minimal mileage gain is worth the cost of admission and upkeep.

Ive used my 2012 hemi ram 1500 on 2 different trips this year to pick up cars.


Longest one was 1900 miles round trip.
I can easily get upper teens empty.
10 to 12 empty.

Average the round trip was 13.8 . And that wasnt be gentle on it.
We had it in the wind and moving along quite quickly.

And the truck hardly knew the load was back there
I am not a hundred percent sold on the diesel.... but I do miss the prices of diesel pre 9/11
 
Diesel around here is $1.50 more than regular unleaded.
So .....imo.
Im not so sure the minimal mileage gain is worth the cost of admission and upkeep.

Ive used my 2012 hemi ram 1500 on 2 different trips this year to pick up cars.


Longest one was 1900 miles round trip.
I can easily get upper teens empty.
10 to 12 empty.

Average the round trip was 13.8 . And that wasnt be gentle on it.
We had it in the wind and moving along quite quickly.

And the truck hardly knew the load was back there
X2. Unless you're pulling, stay away from the diesel. the up front charge, cost of fuel, maintenance, to me at this point it's about saying you have a diesel. Just my opinion.
 
Just hang onto what you have now.
 
maybe wait another couple of months.

I think it's going to be lots longer than that!


Just hang onto what you have now.

And here I am with a 94 Caravan with 165K on it and it has some issues but still runs great, it does need some maintenance but how much do I want to sink into it? I know within the next few years I'll have to look for one, I'm drivin it till the wheels fall off!
 
The prices are not coming down. A new norm is set.
Once folks proved they would pay the line has moved.
Jmho.
 
Car lots here are absolutely jammed with new trucks. Tons of inventory to choose from, I think runaway inflation is stopping purchases, maybe wait another couple of months.
Really? Where's that? New cars/trucks are still in some what short supply in So Calif that I can see but I'm not in the market as I bought a new 2019 right before the prices went nuts (precovid)
I'm hoping to not buy another new car/truck.
 
Put a SC on that Hemi, you’ll love it!
 
Dealers around Tulsa are beginning to advertise $5000 bellow MSRP now, but I have not verified that.
 
As others have already said, stay away from the diesel. Fuel costs more, as does maintenance and that eco diesel fuel additive. We used to have a V-6 2015 Durango, and traded it in on a 2-year old loaded up V-6 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The Durango was AWD and Jeep is 4WD. We traded the Durango in at 7 years old and 100,000 miles. Our 2-year old Jeep turned 12,000 miles on the way home, and has extended warranty, giving us remaining warranty about equal to a new vehicle. The only real money we spent on the Durango, other than oil changes and regular maintenance, was to replace a leaking transfer case seal. This SUV still had its original brakes and spark plugs. Both of these SUV's can average over 30 mpg. Can. on a trip (about 24 mpg. U.S.) with the 3.6l. V-6. I am always surprised how much power this engine has with the 8-speed automatic. It picks the right gear every time.
I am a big guy, so I like a roomy and comfortable vehicle. I liked the excellent ride of the Durango, so was concerned that the shorter Jeep would give a choppier ride. I have found my Limited X retained the excellent ride of my Durango, but other trim levels might have different calibrations to match their intended use. This SUV has a car-like ride and controls and does not feel as huge as a pick-up truck. In the 6 years we owned the Durango, we only used the third seat 3 times, so decided to go with the shorter, lighter Grand Cherokee this time. The rear seats fold down for additional cargo room.
I used AutoTrader and CarGurus sites on my computer to find my ideal used vehicle. I had to shop a couple of hours away near Toronto to get this Jeep, but it was worth the trip, regarding low miles, high option content, colour, and price. I found there were quite a few used Grand Cherokees to choose from. Now that Jeep has changed its style for 2022, some dealers may be willing to sell the older style cheaper. I would certainly buy another G.C. again. I hope this helps.

PB270124.JPG


P4120006.JPG
 
Yep I sold my 02 F350 4x4 PS 7.3 Diesel 6 speed with 154k miles
well I actually traded it in, for $15k & if they took $5k plus
all the tax & license stuff, like another $5k
all were deducted off the 'final sticker'/dealer price of the new truck
(the dealership general manager, totally wanted the 02 Dually 'for himself',
for his ranch & he was willing to make US a deal, of/for something off the lot
)

I wanted to get my dad a small/er truck, gas truck
(it has air bags everywhere)
far less cost (fuel)
& maintenance cost (it's been on his dime for a while now)
he's been driving my dually for 15+ years,
like a damn daily driver
& towing the 5th wheel trailer since 2002

I put that $20k+ negotiated ****, all towards the truck he chose,
2022 Maverick Lariat AWD super/crew-cab 4 dr (Ranger)
Alto Blue 2ltr Ecoboost 10-speed auto, tow package/hitch trailer brakes
loaded, leather, bed cover, 110vt plugs/inverter, Nav etc.

it's nice & all luxed out, very well equipped
it has like $12k of options, full leather & all the electronics BS
it was org. ordered by another guy, who when it came in
he couldn't get the financing "allegedly"

it's not my 1st choice by any stretch
But;
my old fart dad, is a 'Ford guy'
but he liked it, he's 85 & won't be driving much longer
I want him happy & safe, the time he has left
& I didn't want him taking 'someone else out', in my big truck...

he wrote a check for $23k & change/cash it came out to like $43,200
it had a sticker of $48k + all the bs & dealer prep ($5k) etc.

when it came down to it it was like getting $25k for my old 02 dually
after all the bs, said & done
they were ready to make a deal
I got about $10k off the org. after taxes/reg. dealer prep bs

I had the 02 Dually listed locally org. for $24k
I had a shitload of tire-kickers
& no buyers
So I relisted it for $20k, lots of jaw jacking, saying they will be back :blah:
nobody had cash (why I ended up trading it & making a deal)

I had already offed the 02 Jayco 5th wheel trailer for $5k,
to some guy from down in Modesto, for his mom to stay in
very few people even looked or called on the trailer

I'm glad to have them both gone
& dad in a smaller truck, gas truck he can afford to drive

2022 Ranger Lariot Maverick Alto Blue 10-13-2022 #10.JPG
2022 Ranger Lariot Maverick Alto Blue 10-13-2022 #5.JPG
2022 Ranger Lariot Maverick Alto Blue 10-13-2022 #11.JPG
2022 Ranger Lariot Maverick Alto Blue 10-13-2022 #4.JPG


the old 02 truck/trailer
this combo below when I bought it in late 2001 (Nov ?)
was $42k & change for the truck ordered 16 weeks to get, local Ford dealer
& the 5th wheel was like $38k, from Manteca Trailer in early Jan 2002
that comb was org. $80k+ new, paid cash

crazy the lil' AWD Marverick pick-up (it's more like having a 'Ranchero' IMO)
is as much as the big *** F350 4x4 PS Diesel dually was in 2001 - 20+ years ago
also paid cash
2002 F350 Powr Stroke Diesel Dually & 27' Jayco Designer Trailer 002.JPG
 
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I almost bought a TRX earlier 19 of 23 options I wanted,
$72k+ dealer BS
(everyone bitched they can't find any, I found like 40+, within 200 miles)
But;
I looked into the insurance costs
& how much licensing/reg was going to be
about $3,000+ a year for both/combined

so I held off,
not worth it right now

I am 63 & fully retired now, mostly on a fixed income
I don't mess with/take stuff out of my investments much
if ever...

I did & still do, really like the TRX,
I still want one
they are ******* badass (hellcat) 4x4 trucks 'Raptor Killers'
just the cost to own it, even paying cash & using 2 trade-ins
(my 99 Dakota SLT 4x4 w/60k on it & my 02 F350 4x4,
*I even thought of selling
my RR & just paying cash, not having to
take any $$$ out of investments or the bank
& be down to just
1 car/truck, reg. & ins. lic. etc.
)
just to get $35k off the price, was still way too much for my taste,
still $37k+ dealer bs, too much for right now...
In today's extremely volatile fosil fuel economy
(more so inflation/recession)
fuel & ICE stance (govt.) of/& from especially our current
political atmosphere
& who knows (?) what vindictive BS they will pull about/impose for ICEs
or the serious penalties/taxation of ICEs
(especially performance-oriented/carbon taxed/gas guzzler tax etc. etc. etc.)
of the actual ownership etc., in the next 2+ years,
especially if it's a lame-duck admin.

WE don't know what's going to happen globally or domestically
(or militarily wise, for that matter) in the next 2+ years

I'm going to keep the cash & invest it, even more, make even more...

I may buy a used one sometime later, we'll see...
maybe 2025
 
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My 300c platinum has crossed the 200K mark - no particular issues, my hemi ram still only has 135K on it..... but starting to show its 2005 age.

I need to downsize to one vehicle, and for the most part there are times when I "need" the truck. Now that my daily commute went from 140 miles to 8 miles....I am thinking of getting a newer used truck.

Not to sound like the old crotchey man I seem to be turning in to....but dang the prices :(

Anyone have a crystal ball and can tell me when they will come back down?

Im kinda leaning towards the smaller eco diesel - I dont have any heavy hauling planned, and it can do everything I need it to do - plus get better mileage by a bit over the hemi.
I don't know what diesel prices are where you are at, but it's almost $2.00 a gallon more than gasoline here. When you figure dollars per mile,
gasoline is better. This is from a Dodge Ram diesel owner, that is getting 22.5 mpg on my average driving unless towing. Even towing it's better than a gas engine that's towing, but the dollar difference doesn't make it up.
 
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