Question about sales vs. gas prices.

mjbuck · 05-30-2008, 02:25 PM

I'm assuming gas prices are hurting the sales of any large truck or SUV that gets poor mileage. Of course, the Titan falls right into this category. I know there has been a $5,000.00 rebate on the Titan for quite some time now and I assume this is economy based. But how are the sales for used Titans? I live in a small area with just a few small dealerships (non Nissan) and I understand that they are no longer taking trade-ins for large vehicles (trucks/SUV's). I assume this might be the case else where also? Has the price of used Titan's taken a hit also? I will be trading mine in for a Nissan Frontier sometime in late summer. I've thought about private selling it, but wonder if it is even worth the effort to list it in on Ebay, etc. I work with a great dealership that always has given me top dollar for my trade-ins. What are your thoughts on this market?

kman · 05-30-2008, 03:09 PM

if i were you i would set a price that is reasonable and try to sell it now on ebay and not wait till the end of summer.

bestatchess · 05-30-2008, 03:15 PM

Why do you want a Frontier? They get the same mpg as the Titan.

mjbuck · 05-30-2008, 08:31 PM

The sticker price on my Titan was $37,955.00. The sticker on the Frontier is $27,295.00. That equates to close to $200.00 less a month in my payment. I can buy a lot of gas for that. Computing my gas useage on www.fueleconomy.gov (a fantastic web site) and customizing it to my driving habits, etc., I will save an additional $200 to $300 in gas yearly. Plus, insurance is much less. I'm also closing in on retirement in less than 5 years (I'll be 51), so any little bit extra that I can put away is always smart. My wife and I spent the last ten years both driving very nice vehicles and now we are both downsizing. She went from a Nissan Murano to an '08 Altima and I'm making the switch to the Frontier. I would get something a lot more economical, but I need to tow a boat and the frontier will do it just fine. There are a few extra reasons, but none too important.

Burgy · 05-30-2008, 08:49 PM

Have you asked your insurance agent what you will save? Honestly it cant be all that much, $50 every 3 months?

How much you owe on the Titan? I would think that you'll be way upside down on the trade and all that negative equity will roll to the new purchase. So, you'll be paying for the Titan and driving the Fronty. Yeah, you might get a lower payment but you'll be adding a few years of payments.

Have you tried to determine what your Titan is worth?

**HudsonValleyTitan** · 05-30-2008, 10:43 PM

I think high gas prices are only keeping those who really don't need a large V8 truck away. Those of us who do need them are still here.

jljue · 05-31-2008, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HudsonValleyTitan

I think high gas prices are only keeping those who really don't need a large V8 truck away. Those of us who do need them are still here.

Amen brother! I love my truck and how it pulls and hauls stuff. I've used mine like a truck for one thing or another either going to work or after work everyday this week so far, starting on Monday. Most of the tasks were either hauling something in the bed or pulling something (a stump and a boat).

Speaking of going to work, I was brain dead (still trying to wake up) on the way to work yesterday morning, and I took the shortcut after we got another monsoon on Wednesday. I finally woke up when I when around the curve, and saw the holes in the dirt road due to the erosion from the monsoon (flash flooding). Needless to say, I had my own Nissan commercial in 4-Hi in the last 1/2 mile of the dirt (washed out) road on the way to the highway, spinning mud, driving through water, and even bottoming out a couple of times while going as slowly as reasonably possible without trying to do too much damage or get stuck. My coworkers at the plant were impressed with how mud covered I got the Titan without causing damage.

BTW, the truck market is so bad that we have gotten creative with where we park the 4x4's. Yeah, it's that bad. On the other hand, we still can't make enough Altima's to meet demand.

mjbuck · 05-31-2008, 12:21 PM

I always see people who drive trucks just to have a truck. They don't haul or tow anything. They just enjoy being in a larger vehicle (be it a truck or SUV) and sitting way up high. Then there are those that need a truck for business, etc. You are right, people who need trucks will always need trucks and those that don't, won't. That "cool" look you get from a truck instead of a car kinda fizzles out with gas at $4.24 a gallon, as it is here.

mjbuck · 05-31-2008, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burgy

Have you asked your insurance agent what you will save? Honestly it cant be all that much, $50 every 3 months?

How much you owe on the Titan? I would think that you'll be way upside down on the trade and all that negative equity will roll to the new purchase. So, you'll be paying for the Titan and driving the Fronty. Yeah, you might get a lower payment but you'll be adding a few years of payments.

Have you tried to determine what your Titan is worth?

Thanks for being concerned, but I have all this figured out already. I'm way ahead on my Titan and there won't be any negative rollover into a new vehicle. I guess making the switch is more about getting into a new vehicle (as I do every couple of years) as I get bored with them easily and balancing that with trying to be somewhat economical about it. I haven't quite done that in the past, but as I near retirement, I'm trying. I might also purchase a small fuel efficient SUV for everyday use and buy a very used/inexpensive truck to tow my boat.

I agree, the insurance savings won't be a lot when comparing apples to apples. Right now I have low deductibles on all my coverage. If and when I purchase a new vehicle, I will raise those. This, combined with a less expensive vehicle, will also save me money.

Burgy · 05-31-2008, 07:51 PM

Thats cool, glad your working the numbers. Seen more then one person do what your taking about and get hosed.

Have you considered leasing the Fronty?

titanmann · 06-13-2008, 02:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mjbuck

Thanks for being concerned, but I have all this figured out already. I'm way ahead on my Titan and there won't be any negative rollover into a new vehicle. I guess making the switch is more about getting into a new vehicle (as I do every couple of years) as I get bored with them easily and balancing that with trying to be somewhat economical about it. I haven't quite done that in the past, but as I near retirement, I'm trying. I might also purchase a small fuel efficient SUV for everyday use and buy a very used/inexpensive truck to tow my boat.

I agree, the insurance savings won't be a lot when comparing apples to apples. Right now I have low deductibles on all my coverage. If and when I purchase a new vehicle, I will raise those. This, combined with a less expensive vehicle, will also save me money.

Personally... I seriously doubt you will get anything more than $5k BELOW KBB. WHOLESALE.

Since you make payments - you, my friend, are in for a shock - you WILL be upside down on your loan..

If you change out cars that often (btw - I do the same..) AND the dealer's gone blind and dumb and you can get out of the Titan with ANY money - then lease your next vehicle..