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hardwood
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 3583 iowa
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2008-06-04          154217


The Mrs. and I have been toying with the idea of trading our 07, Silverado standard cab for an 08 Silverado four door. We test drove one on Monday, real nice pickup, ride, power, comfort, roomy, etc. $5500.00 in rebates, we were real temped but didn't do it yet. Tuesday's announcement that GM is shutting down some fullsize pickup plants is not good news, Winnebago is also sharply cutting production of motorhomes due to slow sales. My question, would we be buying an albatross that no dealer would want to take in on trade in a couple years? Has anyone bought a Dodge with the 2.99 fuel cost thing? Is it all that the TV ad's claim or is there a catch to it? I'm pretty loyal to the dealer moreso than Chevrolet, but a Dodge if the fuel thing is for real might not be out of the quesation, but again would I have an albatross for a trade in in a couple years? Frank.



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kthompson
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 5275 South Carolina
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2008-06-04          154219


Frank, my opinion and worth ever bit you are paying for it.

Don't worry on gas prices. The Democrats will take care of that when elected with all their changes. Forget they are who has block the drilling and such for years. Change is promised.

Very serious, when the price of gas with Dodge ends, what then? Even as a previous owner of two Dodge pickups I would not but one for that reason. I understand you give up other incentives for that one.

The price of fuel is certainly no where near certain, but as has been shown before the selling of such as pickup and SUV's or the best gas mileage autos, run in cycles. As fickled as the US consumer is, who knows in two years the large SUV may be the hot item. I believe if gas prices were to stablize where they are in a year or so, you will see people moving back to the pickup and suv. Why, cause they like them. The feel safeer in them, they like the view, the like the status of them.

I know you are old enough to remember the oil embargo in the early 70s. Remember how we slowed down and the nationwide speed limit was dropped to 55 MAX on all roads to save gas. The people today don't care to save gas if they know how to, they only want to complain about the price. kt

Don't worry be happy, with all the "Change" that will take place we will have it made! ....


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yooperpete
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 1413 Northern Michigan
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2008-06-04          154223


I'm also in the process of purchasing something new, but am going toward a crossover. I'm looking at Ford's Taurus X and Dodge. I can get a friends and family discount from either which is better than supplier discount. Dodge has a new 2009 Journey that would normally get a $1,000.00 rebate or the $2.99 gas guarantee. You get your choice but not both.

As I understand it, you purchase your gas with a VISA or Mastercard. This card number is given to Chrysler LLC at time of purchase. It takes about 6 months to get enrolled. You then send them the gas purchase receipts and they credit your charge card amount for the difference. You are alloted so many gallons of gas per year over a three year period which calculates out to gas for 12,000 miles per year.

It sounds like allot of hassle to me. Dealerships have told me that most just take the $1,000.00 up front to reduce the loan principle.

People still need pickup trucks, no matter the cost of gas. Ford, GM and Chrysler all have way too much building capacity as the market trends have changed. Your GM truck will still be assembled either in Flint, MI; Pontiac, MI; or Arlington, TX from what I understand. The plant closures take effect in 2009 & 2010.

If you hold off for just a little while longer, you may get a better deal as 2008's get phased out and automakers give better incentives. $5,500.00, however, does sound like a good deal and may be worth taking. Sometimes you can get the dealer to throw in a bed liner or tonneau cover to close the deal. ....


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kwschumm
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 5764 NW Oregon
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2008-06-04          154224


Right now it seems everyone around here has pickups and SUVs parked in their front yards with For Sale signs in the windows. Even with the rebates I doubt the resale will ever be very good. On the other hand, buying a brand new vehicle always has been a financial loser. If you like the truck and have the funds to buy and feed it ... life is short so enjoy it. ....


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hardwood
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 3583 iowa
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2008-06-04          154225


KT; Yup the politicians, no matter who gets elected will take care of things for us, that is after they line their own pockets. In the real world we've been around long enough to have learned we have to take care of ourselves. Yes I remember the oil embargo of 73, President Nixon ordered the 55 mph limit, gas sales were outlawed on Sundays, year round daylight savings time was ordered, etc. Lots of critics said it was a hoax, a gimmic by the oil companays to price gouge, was it? I don't know. Being in the hardened artare set now I hesatate to throw caution to the wind and have a bunch tied up in an unsalable pickup in a couple years. We did test drive a Colorado, but as you say we are spoiled by the roomy, secure feeling of a fullsize, and in comparison for like equiped units they don't cost enough less than a fullsize to make them very attractive to me. The 07 we have now will on a hiway trip get an HONEST 21 mpg, I even fill up at the same pump at the same station in case the nozzles trip off at differnt pressures just to be sure I'm getting a realistic measure on the mileage. My 07 is a barebones worktruck model, so I'm not at near the risk of the depreciation loss as the 08 $37,000.00 sticker unit would be. Thanks for you thoughts, all othere are welcome too, Frank. ....


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DennisCTB
Join Date: Nov 1998
Posts: 2707 NorthWest NJ
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2008-06-04          154226


Quote:
Originally Posted by hardwood | view 154217
My question, would we be buying an albatross ...... for a trade in in a couple years?Frank.


In today's market the answer is yes you would be taking a contrarian view of the current truck situation!

Do you have a compelling use for a truck, beyond comfort?

All of us have different thresholds of pain on vehicle spending. We have all seen the oil prices fluctuate over the last 30 years, but I am not so certain that I would go long on a truck and put more capital into yet another one unless I had a horse, or some other hauling reason to do so.

I sold my Toyota Tundra in January of 2007 and got a good price for it when gas was $2.00 a gallon. Man am I happy I got rid of it then. I only got 14 mpg on it as I live in an area where I am constantly on little back country hills. Fortunately for you Iowa is pretty flat so with you getting in the low 20's I don't see the urgency to do anything hasty.

My father inlaw has a "hasty" personality ;) and he just bought a Honda Civic Hybrid. He will get it in a couple of weeks. I am curious to see if on the hilly terrain I drive whether the mileage pans out to be as good as advertised (42mpg). The Honda system converts braking energy into electricity, which should be ideal for my driving situation, I will keep you posted.

Dennis ....


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candoarms
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 1932 North Dakota
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2008-06-04          154227


Frank,

It's a horrible time to attempt to trade pickups. The used car lots are packed to the gills with used trucks, and there are no buyers waiting in line.

If it were up to me, I'd keep the pickup you have and wait for the market to improve.

Joel


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yooperpete
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 1413 Northern Michigan
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2008-06-04          154229


There are many things to consider. How many miles do you drive annually? What do you want to do with the vehicle. In my case I need a 3/4 ton truck for hauling and now have a smaller car for normal commuting.

You may want to keep your current truck for hauling and get another used vehicle as a people hauler and for other stuff.

Another consideration is age. You only go thru life once, so enjoy! ....


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hardwood
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 3583 iowa
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2008-06-04          154235


Thanks for all the rerplies. To answer some of your questions, the 07 I have now I bought Dec. 1-06, it now has 15,600 miles. I'd have a real hard time giving up my 8 ft. box. I don't farm anymore we rent it to a neighbor but still haul things around the farm plus still handle quite a bit of lumber and plywood. Lots of the construction crews here use four door pickups loaded to the gills with workers, the box is full and sometimes a trailer with a skidloader behind. Those big four door's mostly diesels are earning their keep and serving a real need. Our only real gain would be more inside room for passengers and luggage, etc. Even tho what I now have is barebones, it has every creature comfort I need and gives a very nice ride. I do enjoy blowing a bit of our kids inheritance now and then, but maybe something with a John Deere emblem on it would be more fitting for this old geezer. Frank. ....


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kthompson
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 5275 South Carolina
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2008-06-04          154236


Frank, was not aware there was a JD tractor with four door cab. Man that would be great for you and the grands!

You do have another option: take your current pick up to one of those custom type shops you see on tv and have them add the needed room. kt ....


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Murf
Join Date: Dec 1999
Posts: 7249 Toronto Area, Ontario, Canada
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2008-06-04          154237


Frank, lots of good advice here already, but for my $0.02 worth.

Not only are you going to take a bath on the trade-in of your existing truck, but if & when you come to get rid of the (about to be) new truck you'll take it on the chin (wallet?) again.

I was in the same predicament this past year myself, my dually has been a great truck, and almost trouble-free, but it's now 9 years old (a 1999) and 300k km (180k miles) on the clock. Added to that a new gal who doesn't mind riding in the truck, but isn't real keen on wheeling it around herself, although there is ample room for groceries in it. LOL

I have always had a second vehicle as a daily driver for myself, so I just added another one to the 'fleet' for her to drive. With the big truck parked most of the time it will last a long time still now.

In your case adding a mid-sized sedan or a mini-van (they're nearly giving them away now) might be a bunch cheaper in the long run. If you count the reduced gas costs, plus not taking the hit on the trade-in, you might end up with a nearly free vehicle.

Best of luck. ....


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brokenarrow
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 1288 Wisconsin
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2008-06-04          154247


Frank
Keep the old truck AND buy the new one! Just get the new one with the 4.8 and in the 1500 model. Your fuel economy woint bee too far off the rest of the world (unless your in a smallish car). Hell yea! Keep em both! Someday you will be glad cause ya know there,,, we wont be making any trucks anymore when the fuel gets to 5 bucks a gallon!
You drive the big one and let momma drive the little one! ....


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kthompson
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 5275 South Carolina
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2008-06-05          154252


Frank, if now is a terrible time to trade in a pickup, then it must be a great time to BUY a used pickup. kt ....


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hardwood
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 3583 iowa
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2008-06-05          154256



Murf,

Yyour ideas are sound ones, but the real world is that the Mrs. and I are both handicapped to the extent that entry and exit from any domestic sedan we tried was difficult at best, the flat floor of a pickup or SUV are SOOO much easier for us to get in and out.

We had an 02 Chevy Venture for a family car that the Mrs. really liked with an nice flat floor, their automatic, (when it worked) rear wheel assist, but the engine bit the big one to the extent that repair was just not an economic optiion so the search for another 4 WD mini-van was on.

We really do need the 4 WD, steep north slope drive, ICE, ICE, ICE. At that time (Jan 07) no body built a domestic 4 WD mini-van, so we bought an 07 Chevy Trailblazer 4 WD. It has an nice flat floor entry, kinda big enough for me, handles nice, so-so mileage, but the little Mrs. loves it, so end of that story.

Now the pickup thing, we test drove the Silverado four door and then a Colorado four door. As someone else here mentioned, we are just plain spoiled by having the nice big roomy pickups and full size SUV's, the Colorado was a nice little pickup, but kinda scrunchy for a robust fellow like me.

You mentioned your gal not being comfortable wheeling your big dually around the supermarket parking lot, same here, the Mrs. just isn't comfortable with driving a full size anything, but I am , so there you go. The underlying message I'm getting for the dealer is that he wants my pickup worse than I want his. In todays times I think a year old low dollar pickup would be lots easier for him to sell than the big high dollar four door.

We're just going put this idea to bed for a while. Thanks all for the replies. frank.


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