No offense to either you Neon or HTM, you guys know I consider ya friends.

But from day one when I purchased my first upgrade for my truck, the Volant I think it was, I knew it wasn't an "investment" in the traditional sense. Vehicles never are. They depreciate. I consider mine an "investment" because I like having a nice truck which I've put some money into for fun. Some of the upgrades for these trucks offer only minor improvements, but they are either fun to do, or make me feel like I am constantly improving the truck itself. Making it more powerful, more capable, faster, etc. etc. Will it ever be as good as a 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 with the redone Hemi? No, of course not.

But I paid $10,000 or so for the truck (right before the truck market crashed... if I'd waited a month or two, I could have got it for a couple thousand less... sigh), and I plan on eventually putting a total of no more than $5000 in upgrades, probably closer to $4000. Thats $15,000 total, worst case. A new Dodge Ram 1500, equipped like I want it, will cost at least twice that much, even more considering the interest on a loan I'd have to take out for it.

Sorry for the long post. My point is, do it because you like to do it and have a nice truck, don't do it for an investment. Neon, personally I think you just have that itch for a new vehicle. Trust me, I have it once in a while, either for me or on behalf of my wife. However, we're looking at moving into a bigger (and therefore more expensive) apartment, or getting a mortgage on a first home. Those come first before a car payment. I figured I'd graduate from college finally and be at a full-time job that pays well at least a year before I get a newer truck, and its my wife's turn now for a new car after the truck is paid off, so it'll be at least three years. Thats fine by me, I like my truck, even if it develops problems.

 

I have done some mods that were just to do but that's not what I would lose so much on. It's when the transmission died. Sure I could have gotten one cheaper than the APS but I did it right and got a nice one. I couldn't have sold it or could have but would have lost way more than the APS cost if I sold it with a blown transmission. Then it was the pleneum, then the A/C, then the u joints. Several were repairs that got upgraded along the way so I don't have to deal with it again however most were stuff I had to either replace or upgrade. I couldn't really have sold it with that stuff bad.

I guess the Accord is 3 years old now too so I'm sort of getting the itch again for something new however, I don't want to get rid of my truck and even if I get something new I'm not sure it needs to be a truck.

 

Vehicles are not investments for sure.

I have a few friends who get something new every 3 or 4 years, and they make excuses like "I need to sell it before it depriciates, or before I start having problems with it". But the truth is they just want something new, and that's fine.
The difference is they always have car payments. 3 and 4 hundred dollar a month car payments.

300 a month is 3,600 a year.

My truck is paid off. So if the transmission goes out. Okay 3,500 or whatever. Cool that's one years worth of a car payment. Almost any other repair isn't going to cost nearly that much. If I feel like Lifting it and putting bigger tires on it with shiny new wheels I have the moeny cause I don't have a car payment. If I want to put a fancy exhaust on it, cool, no car payment. If a Mack truck runs into me tomorrow and totals it I'll be upset. But I won't still be paying on it.

3,600 a year is alot of money that can go in the bank towards buying a new vehicle. A few years of that and I can buy another truck cash and not have a car payment.

But that's me and I don't mind driving an older vehicle as long as I like it, and I generally keep it looking like new anyway. I might get a 2009 dodge ram someday, but it'll be 2015 at least.

and I would NEVER EVER EVER buy a brand new vehicle. A new vehicle depreciates about $2,000 the second you drive it of the lot.

 

Wow this sucks but you gotta do what you gotta do. With all your bad luck with the tranny it dont surprise me. Best of luck to ya 360!

Hutch1973- looking at you sig pic is like looking into the past, that how my truck looked before the moddiing began.

 

I know it does but I don't know that I ever want a used vehicle again unless I'm buying it from a close family member or something whom I trust.

Seems like half the time people trade their vehicles in because they start having problems. I know there are some guys like you talk about that just trade every 2 or 3 years for something new but it seems like their are also a lot that have problems then trade it. Just seems like a lot of people buy a used truck and get something that's junk.

I've bought my fair share of used stuff and my fair share of new stuff and I do not ever want to buy something used again. The 96 Accord and 06 Accord were purchased new and my truck was purchased used. As well as a dirtbike I bought used that ended up in about a year needing a motor rebuilt. Now while it is modded and a lot faster than a stock one I have about enough into it that I could have bought a brand new one that would have been 3 years newer at the time.

 

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Amen bro!!!! Well put!

 

I just feel like I've run my course with this truck. I tried to put in a performance transmission, but that didn't work out. I think buying a new truck will be very healthy for my credit as well. I'll be paying $286 a month with the $15k loan. After I finish paying the truck off, I'm going to be able to go to the bank and have two loans completed, and have the ability to buy a house. My guess is I will be able to pay the loan off in 36 months as well. While I'm gaining credit history, I'll also be driving in a newer truck that will be under warranty, and be able to do some things my ram really can't do right now. And yes, I definitely would like a new truck, I have the itch bad. I have an itch to do something for myself on my own. It's very empowering being 19 years old and taking a loan out independently. It would really raise my confidence knowing that in 3-4 years, I could buy a house. For now, I'm paying rent with my brothers at our house, and going to college. By the time I'm done paying off my truck, I'll be close to or out of college, in a position to take a mortgage out for a house. This decision is hardly against my ram, I love the truck. But it's just a piece of metal.

 

I wasn't talking about you. You have your own reasons. Plus, I was speaking in GENERAL terms.

 

Please get rid of your truck and soon!

 

I wish you the best, man. It's your decision, and I'm not here to say you're right or wrong. You gotta do what's best for you. It's no secret that a Nissan or Yota will more than likely outlast any domestic by many miles...unless you get a 60's or 70's model domestic. Just keep in mind that right now the economy sucks...that could play a factor in someone buying an older truck that is notorious for crappy gas mileage. Also, I hope you are very secure in your job right now, b/c that is also something to think about. There aren't many people out there right now who can say with 100% certainty that they won't be jobless next week. Going from no payment to a truck note and probably higher insurance for a newer rig is a gamble unless you are certain of your income. Just be smart about it and consider every aspect...not saying that you aren't, but just reiterating the point. If you feel secure about it then by all means, go for it. Just don't wanna see you end up in a mess b/c of something you can't control. Just shop around and play hard ball...those dealers need to make sales right now, so the ball's in your court... Good luck!