Trading in your Truck?? Think again!!

[Shane06fl]

As gas prices climb and if they stay that way not people will be driving truck for daily drivers anymore. there will come a time when swapping the truck or selling might be the best option for some people.
I was looking at my trade in value for my 05 KC 4x4, $12,500. Suggested retail is $19,900. $7400 between the two is BS. They might be sinking in used value by new value hasn't dropped.

Local ford dealers are advertising 2008 Focus for $10,500. Ok with the average 6% finance rate and you pay all the taxes and fee's with cash you can expect $230 payment for 60 months, insurance is $60-$80 a month and you cut your fuel in half. In my case I would be spending just as much on the new car as I am on the truck fuel. where it pays off for me is no mileage on the truck and maybe the Ford will last 200,000 miles. Now if I sell the truck private party I can pay cash for the car but then I will be without my beloved truck. tradeing for $12,000 is not an option. car payment is not an option. So for the time being I will squirrel away money just for a car and when the time is right I will pay cash for new gas sipper. I would rather keep my money than pay interest to a bank.

You don't have to buy brand new either. You can pick up a used Toyota or Nissan gas sipper with less than 60,000 miles for under $7000. The problem with used is repairs. At that many miles you need to expect repairs.

[LarryD]

Brought home a gas price beater beater today - an 02 Saturn SL1. Will drive it when I don't need the truck as a truck. 36 mpg baby. That seat is a long way down though..........

[roy365]

Originally Posted by dut

Shiet, I just spent $108 at the pump the other day (like many others on here) and the thought that I may be moving 50-60 miles from work kills me... Although there is a 97% chance I will be getting another car, shiet even possibly a hybrid - the g35 isn't good on gas either.

looking at the long list of cars one can only assume the titan will be listed as "sold or traded" soon?

[Chevy4740]

I traded my 04 kc 4x4 on a 07 ext cab, I was in the market anyway. I went from 12.5 average to 17.5 average. to me that is a lot. I also went down in monthly payment wile adding a lot of extra months. I would do it again. I only wish Nissan offered the mpg I get with my new truck. And to be honest for stock 04 Titan to stock 07 Silverado the power is not any different.

[dut]

Originally Posted by roy365

looking at the long list of cars one can only assume the titan will be listed as "sold or traded" soon?

Nah, it will just chill in the garage..

[MuskyHunter]

Personally, I gave up cable TV which is good for a tankful of gas per month. I don't miss it to be honest and end up reading more. I had my 240sx but got tired of caring for three vehicles (my truck, my 240, and wifes vehicle.) The 240 did okay on gas, but I never got the money savings out of it as every repair bill extended the break even mark. I won't give up my truck cause that means giving up the boat as well.

[P's Titan]

Originally Posted by miketan

Or, if you don't mind taking public transit, ride the bus occasionally a few times a month to cut fuel costs. I'd ride the bus before I had to trade in the Titan.lol!

have you seen public transportation in LA ?

[Quad T]

Originally Posted by roy365

Didn't trade the truck in......but i did trade my motorcycle in that could have killed me. I am the proud new owner of 2005 Honda S2000.

Congrats!!! You will love this car.
Here is a pic of my AP1.

[dut]

Ah, s2000s are fun cars... just make sure to go FI for more fun.

[roy365]

Originally Posted by dut

Nah, it will just chill in the garage..

That'll work. Just messin with ya!

[dut]

Originally Posted by roy365

That'll work. Just messin with ya!

Its gonna have to work, bad enough I will be struggling with mortgage. But nah, it will be driven around town - just not to work. If I want to go to the desert it will be a $150 trip. Maybe I'll get another s2000, we can be buddies.

[Shane06fl]

Just do the math. Musky all ready cut back on some BS. I whacked my CATV too. Get the kids doing other stuff. I have so many hobbies but they get pushed aside because of the discovery channel.

Since I have two Titans and really only need one the wife and I have been discussing this gas issue.
We both love our trucks 1 for Titan
Both trucks are paid for 1 for Titan
Gas sucks in Titan X2 1 for gas sipper
In reality gas sipper gets 24-26 MPG in city(all our driving)
Titan gets 15 for me 16 for wife
Gas sipper is not even cutting gas bill in half
I do 300 miles to a tank and 4 tanks a month at current rate of $80 a tank
gas sipper will get 25mpg at a cost $46 tank (12gallon tank)
over the same 4 tanks I will save roughly $140
I just saved that by not eating lunch out at work($200+ a month for me), cutting CATV back, drinking more water that the company pays for instead of $1.20 super big gulps once a day. Wife did the same. It's boring and isn't as fun but you do what you have to do.

Paying insurance on third car and up keep of a third car isn't worth worth the aggravation.

Saving a $140 in gas isn't worth it. BUT like I said at some point it will be worth having a gas sipper, just when I don't know. They will have to improve the MPG for city driving for me to do it I think.

[FLfinfan]

Even a reliable scooter is not necessarily a great idea right now.

2008 Honda Rukus = $2048 MSRP, $2850 in real world dealer pricing, 100 MPG

Keep in mind that the figures below take into consideration I carpool every other day, if that (14 miles round trip). So fill ups for my 2 vehicles are about once every 3 to 4 weeks.

2004 Titan =
Fill up (28 gallon tank, fill up at about 25) at 4.00 per gallon = $100
$100 12 times year (been averageing 1 fill up every 3 to 4 weeks) = $1200

Fill up at $5.00 per gallon = $125 - 12 times a year = $1500

2008 350Z =
Fill up (20 gallon tank, fill up at about 17) at 4.50 per gallon (prem.) = $76.5
$76.5 12 times a year = $918

Fill up at $5.50 a gallon (prem.) = $93.5
$93.5 12 times a year = $1122

So even taking the two highest figures for both my vehicles $1500 and $1122 = $2622 does not add up to more than buying a new scooter.

Now I know circumstances came change, ability to carpool, price or availability of gas, unplanned for trips, disasters (like the current brush/home fire or hurricanes), needing gas for generators etc...
But mathmatically I would spend more money buying a scooter that I would probably not drive every day. And still be buying gas for the 2 other vehicles. But it would be nice to have when gas is crazy high (6, 7, 8 bucks a gallon) or when availability is cut short. The scooter will be worth alot more to me and a dealer then.

[dut]

All depends on how often you fill up. If I were to drive my truck (in new commute - if I get a house way far away) then it would be $220 A WEEK. Obviously I won't be driving the truck, would be driving the G35 which still has shltty mpg. It def. would benefit me on getting another car. Right now at about 20 miles daily it isn't too bad, but still a bltch seeing it go over $100 when filling up.

[CoachBoone]

By the time I spend 10k minimum on a reliable, safe commuter car and add insurance, maintenance and what-not, I'm not saving much. We'll just consolidate trips when we can and cut back in other areas. You know how hard it is to go from sitting high and strong to sitting in a little go-kart?