Buying a "New" 2018 Ram 3500 CTD

[dward]

I'm not sure about CP4 pumps on the new trucks and hesitant to consider buying one.
I've actually been playing around on the Ram Build site designing the perfect truck for my needs to carry a slide in camper and flat tow a Jeep.
Looking at a Big Horn CC DRW 4x4 with the 6.4 Hemi and new 8 speed with 4:10. Nice thing is you can get a 50 gal fuel tank for 2020. The new trans is getting great reviews. I think this would be plenty of truck for my needs without some of the issues with the new diesels.
I'm also researching the new 7.3 gas Ford, but they seem to cost significantly more.
With that said, scanning auto trader today, I located a brand new 2018 Lone Star DRW 4x4 CC CTD/Aisin with every option I would like. Its basically a Laramie minus the leather. It stickers for $68k and they are asking $54,500.
It's not the best discount but I haven't talked price. The good thing is it would have a full factory warranty from date of sale. The dealer is in Texas and said they sell mostly 1500s and this has been sitting on the lot.
I would be looking about the same price as a new 2020 Hemi.
The only negative issues I can think of is that its been sitting for 2-3 yrs. All fluids, especially DEF, batteries and tires are all 2-3 yrs old and it's only discounted $13k.
What are your thoughts, buy a new truck or maybe ask for more of a discount?
What would a 3 yr old truck be worth? $50k

 

[snadamo]

I’ll be keeping an eye on this because I’m in the market and see a super low mileage 4th gen (I’m talking like 1700 miles) and wonder the exact same thing.

 

[sag2]

My 18 2500 Laramie was $62k out the door with tax and license. You would be getting a 3500, dual rears, and a $3k transmission on top of my 2500. I would have to say at $54k it probably isn't a bad buy. The good thing you get is a new warranty. The paint may have a lot of stuff in it unless they wash all their vehicles at least weekly. But other than that I would not be afraid of it.

 

[Wiredawg]

I would buy the 2018 in a heartbeat no worries and I wouldn't have any hesitation in buying a 2020 Ram CTD either.

I'm all about the deal, newest and greatest doesn't matter to me. I bought my 2017 Ram 5500 CC 4x4 Laramie with top end tow body that had been on the lot almost a year for big savings. I watched it online for approximately three months before jumping on the deal. My total savings was $13,917. Because I negotiated so well on the price, the was no room to negotiate a free or reduced price on an extended warranty.

Maybe you can negotiate a deal with extended warranty?

Please let us know what you decide.

Cheers, Ron

 

[AH64ID]

Get the 18 and put a 55 gallon Titan tank in it if you want more fuel.

I wouldn’t be worried about that truck. Change the engine oil after 500 miles and call it good.

You should be able to get the price a little lower, but that’s not a bad price.

 

[TFucili]

Make a deal on that '18!

 

[SnoKing]

Get the 18 and put a 55 gallon Titan tank in it if you want more fuel.

I wouldn’t be worried about that truck. Change the engine oil after 500 miles and call it good.

You should be able to get the price a little lower, but that’s not a bad price.

And dump the factory diff lube early and put in a good quality synthetic, not the Mopar cr@p.

 

[Cummins12V98]

Personally don't think that's a GREAT price for a two year old truck. Have them throw in a ZERO deductible MOPAR MaxCare Warranty, then I would say go for it!

Honestly I am not a fan of the 19 or 20's looks. I would not avoid the CP4 since I have not heard of a failure and they have been on the market for a year now.

 

[snadamo]

Someone posted in another thread fca is offering some CRAZY incentives. Like 0% 84 mo. No payments 90 days crazy

I just got an eMail from GM for the same thing. I’m sure ford is too. With all that’s going on, I’m considering he wait and see approach myself. My situation is for a personal vehicle so your situation may differ.

I could swing a brand new Laramie with that financing. food for thought.

all the best,

Adam

 

[dward]

When I spoke to the internet sales manager yesterday she told me the price was around $63k, and seemed a little surprised when I told her it was listed on Auto Trader for $55,900.
She was also not familiar with the process of buying from out of state such as if I pay them the sales tax or I take care of tax and registration in California.
She said she would talk to the finance guy and get right back to me. That was 28hrs ago and I haven’t heard a word from anyone. I also checked Auto Trader this morning and the price on the truck went up to $63,845!! Go figure, they have a 3 year old truck they can’t sell and a prospective buyer and what do they do. Ignore me and raise the price.
I located a few more new 18’s around the country so there are some left.
With the current restrictions on travel I’ll just wait.
Thanks for the reply’s.

 

[SnoKing]

It is a great adventure to fly out and drive a new truck home. We had enough air miles to fly out first class! We did it in Sept 2015. 1350 miles home with two motel receipts and made in 48 hours door to door. Monday 12:25 to Wednesday at 25 minutes after noon. It was fun high five'ing each other mile after mile.

 

[HVAC2]

FWIW. We bought a new left over 18 ctd in Dec. List 60k and change. Bought it for 48k, plus had them throw in a 8/125 max care.
Squeeze em hard,lots of wiggle room leftover.

 

[SnoKing]

Personally don't think that's a GREAT price for a two year old truck. Have them throw in a ZERO deductible MOPAR MaxCare Warranty, then I would say go for it!

Honestly I am not a fan of the 19 or 20's looks. I would not avoid the CP4 since I have not heard of a failure and they have been on the market for a year now.

I agree with Ron, tell them to throw in a 8 year 120K zero deductible MaxCare Warranty and go for it.

 

[sag2]

Just be careful on buying out of state for CA. It has to have a 50 state or CA emissions label on the truck or they will not register it.

 

[dward]

I’m pretty sure any vehicle made now is 50 state compliant.

 

[Ram4Sam]

I’m pretty sure any vehicle made now is 50 state compliant.

I would definitely double check.....especially when a retired FCA guy cautions you....about something his old employer built.....

Sam

 

[rrnut-2]

Watch the price and deal with them. The dealership that my son works at, is laying people off because of whats going on. Nobody is coming in for new vehicles or service.

 

[DeansRedRam]

I look at it like this... by the end of a generation of truck, that manufacturer really has their shi* together with building that generation, especially after a run of almost 10 years. Thats why I hopped on my 18 when I did. Buying the first year or two of a new generation scares me as I feel like I would be the guinea pig.

Yes, there are warranties for that, but who wants to spend 6 weeks a year in a rental car, lol.

 

[RVTRKN]

dward, buying an auto out of State, as long as it is indeed 50 state legal, for Comifornia is the sales tax difference. When you purchase it in a State W/O sales tx., like Oregon, when you register it in Comifornia, you only pay the base sales tx.. All Comifornia Counties markp up the % over the base sales tx., if you pay more in sales tx. than the base Comifornia tx., you will not owe any tx. So you would only pay another State tx. or equivalent of the Comifornia base State tx.. I didn't know this until I registered my Arctic Fox 5ver I purchased in Oregon, I was prepared to pay the San Bernardino sales tx., but was surprized when they only charged me the base sales tx.

As far as the deal you found, call em back and make an offer and walk away if they don't budge. Buying an old new car is not a good idea, unless they deal on the price. Sometimes they won't budge, then you'll get a response as they near their sales quota end date. Good luck

 

[SnoKing]

When we purchased our 2015 in Colorado, they gave us a temp paper plate to leave the state without collecting their sales tax. I am not sure if it is just the way they are allowed to do it, or if it was the fact that I paid for it up front before we got on the plane to go get it. We went to a Washington license agency and paid the full Washington and local taxes and gave them the Washington State title application that the Colorado dealer had already filled out. Good thing was that our home state got all of the taxes, and did not have to split it with another state where we did not live.

Only disappointment was the John Elway did not come in to hand me the keys, as I had baby sat him while I was in high school. Elways were family friends and John's father Jack had lived at my grandparents boarding house when he first come to town to be the HS FB coach and biology teacher, and had not yet married Janet.

When we purchased the Bighorn 5th wheel out of state we looked at units in Arizona, California and Oregon, all the same model and color interior and ended up buying the one we had never laid eyes on before hand from an Oregon dealer. Made the deal on the phone driving North through Oregon on I-5. If we would have bought the one in California that we had actually been in, then California would have gotten the lion's share of our tax money. The California dealer called Monday morning and said he would meet the offer I had made Saturday in person, and I said you are a day late, I already purchase one yesterday. Later Monday the salesman called and asked what was going on, and I said go talk to your sales manager and that his 'games' had cost you the sale. If we would have purchase one from the Arizona dealer it would have been a few hundred dollars to have in delivered across the state line to us.