To buy new or to buy used...

[Crash_AF]

Well, I've got the itch to get a new Cummins but want to get people's opinions about which route to go. I'm looking for a extended/quad cab 3500 4x4 with a stick, towing package and pretty well loaded, but want to know people's experience with the latest 2K1/2K2 trucks and the 24V engines.



Basically I want to know if I should drop 37K on a new truck or try to find a used one that will suit my needs. (not having much luck on the East Coast)



BTW, the wife test drove a 2K2 6 speed 3500 the other day and REALLY WANTS ONE... .



Later,

Joe

 

[JLinder]

If I had it to do over...

I'd probably consider a used one. Just for the sake of the payments. I was so excited about owning my first new truck that I bit the bullet and bought a spankin' new one. You can sure save a bunch if you buy a clean 1 or 2 year old one though.

 

[Chipstien]

Re: If I had it to do over...

Originally posted by JLinder

I'd probably consider a used one. Just for the sake of the payments. I was so excited about owning my first new truck that I bit the bullet and bought a spankin' new one. You can sure save a bunch if you buy a clean 1 or 2 year old one though.

I second that completely. This was my second new vehicle. My first was a 2000 Dakota that I traded in on my Cummins. I saw first hand how much resale value a truck loses in one year. I got lucky and got what I still owed back out of it only because they wanted to sell this truck real bad. At first they came back and tried to give me 4000 less than I still owed. I told them to stick that where the sun don't shine and said if they want me to walk out with the truck, then give me what I owe. Needless to say they took the loss. Man I hate dealers.

 

[Jeff Knight]

I bought my 95 new in that year. Put 199,000 miles on it then sold it . I had an 02 on order. Took delivery of iit on 1-31-02. I would buy newv again in a heart beat. My . 02 worth Jeff Oo. Oo. Oo.

 

[wcaldwell]

Joe,



I bought my first Cummins this past September - a 3 1/2 year old with 34400 miles. This truck is fantastic. The only things I've done to it was to install running boards and keyless entry. I've changed the oil and ready to change the trans juice, fuel filter, and motor oil/filter again.



Considering what the brand new ones cost and the immediate depreciation, this was the best route for me. I got mine for about $18K less than brand new. It's new to me and I totally love it. Would I do it again - in a heartbeat.



Wayne

Retired AF NCO Oo. Oo. Oo. Oo.

 

[me4osu]

I bought my rig six months ago with 60,000 mi on it. Saved about $13,000. 00 compared to new. It was owned by a Houston city boy who never pulled much at all. I found one of those deals that I only used to hear about. Haven't had one problem with the truck.



I suggest going to www.traderonline.com you can do a search in your area, or all over the US. That is where I found mine.

 

[LSMITH]

Joe, depending on where you are you may have a really hard time finding a used 3500 with a stick. Personally I have only ever seen one, and it was a 4x4, and used CTD's are fairly common around here. Every other used CTD I have seen has been an auto, seems the owners wise up and their first CTD with an auto is the last.



I would definately buy used if you can get the right truck, but you may have to compromise on configuration or options to have a truck in this century.

 

[The patriot]

Used 12 valver!!

EricOo.

 

[Bart]

I like my 12 v'r. Bought it used 6 months ago with 68 K on the clock. Word of advance if you go used get on the internet and call up carfax.com I did and found out everything about the history of the vehicle in question. # of owners, no lemon buy back, not used in any crash test etc. .

 

[KPhillips]

I just bought my first Dodge CTD and I love it, there was no way i could afford a new one, so I was semi-patient and happened upon this one... .



it had a little over 50k when I bought it and I've only owned it little over a week, but I love it.



New it would have cost me upwards of 32k or more, but I walked out with TT&L under 24k, so I feel I got a good deal...



Just for your info, or ayones elses here, I signed up for Carfax to check mine out and I still have the account for about another 40-50 days.



So if you do find a truck you wanna run a carfax on (and don't mind sending me a VIN), just email me the VIN and I'll run the report for you for free, it'll at least save you a little money,,,



If you don't wanna share your VIN, I understand wholeheartedly, I'm pretty picky about those kinda things too.

 

[schu777]

Another thing to consider is how long do you intend to keep the truck? I'll keep a vehicle till it's almost dead. I've been driving for the past 18 years and have had 2 vehicles in my life (third one was a pickup my Dad had that would have got nothing for trade in, so I used it as a secondary vehicle) - the first car was a 1980 T-Bird that died with an oil pump failure and me not catching it soon enough and ruined the engine. The second vehicle and still going is a 1988 Tauras with 197,250 miles on it. I bought it with 111,000 miles on it. It's been a very good car and it got me by till I could get out of debt and get into a home and find the vehicle I wanted.



Buying used brings in possible things that could be wrong with the truck and the question of the care from the previous owner. You could find a very decent truck that is used and care very well for, but then again, you might find something that wasn't taken care of at all, but doesn't show it. I decided to go ahead and purchase new since I'll be keeping it for 15 years at least if not more.



It's your choice, do you want higher/longer payments with a new truck or are you willing to wait and find that one and only truck that is what you want and also care well for? Only you can answer that question - that is what makes America GREAT - Freedom to choose our Trucks!!



Michael

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

I bought mine used with 28,000 miles on it and it was a year old. Saved about $9,000 that way at the time. I figured at 28,000 miles there wasn't much maintenance the guy had to do other than change the oil and the fuel filter. Got a report from a dealer on the VIN # and the only warranty work that had been performed was the hitch had been replaced. I had a hard time finding it, took me about 6 months to find what I wanted. It had everything I wanted except it didn't have the HD transfer case and wasn't the color I wanted, but it was close enough. I found mine using www.traderonline.com and had to drive about 6 hours to pick it up. Right now you can get real good deals on new ones though, I've seen fully loaded new 2500's for $29,000. You shouldn't have to pay $37k for a new one right now, shop around a bit. Check some of the discount dealers like Melton's in Oklahoma, etc.

 

[KennyM]

I would suggest if you go used to get the extended warranty. Mine needed a new transmission after owning it only two months. That was the best $700 dollars spent.

 

[CoastyAV8R]

I bought my first one, a 91 4x4 used and had to put some money into it to get everything right. My second one, a 2001 ETH 4x4 QC, I bought new. I have noticed that if your going to buy a truck that is only a year or two old, you won't save alot over a new one. If you buy new, talk to the fleet manager who usually doubles as the internet sales guy. My truck had a window sticker of $38,000, but after talking to fleet manager he gave me a no haggle price of $30,150. Don't buy it from a salesman. The fleet manager doesn't get a commision from a sale, he gets a "credit" for selling a vehicle. It will take alot of grief out of the purchasing process also...



Good luck,

Pat

 

[SOOT]

When we bought the 99 we bought it brand new in Feb of 99. Then exactly 1 year later I found the 97 with 84,000 on the clock and spotless, after knowing the guy for about 4 months and expressing my interest in the truck he said how about $16,000 and I went Oo. needles to say I jumped on it.

 

[Pit Bull]

Bought mine used with 34K miles on it. Mine has everything but leather and would of listed for $40K new. I paid $27K which included the DC 100K mile bumper to bumper warranty. I figured I saved $6,500 over what I could of ended up paying for a new one, plus I have better warranty coverage than I would of gotten with a new one.

 

[dodger22]

Good luck trying to find a used one optioned the way you want it! I would have bought used if I could have found what I wanted but ended up buying new.



Has anyone looked into buying a truck in Canada and import it back into the States? You mentioned plonking down $37K for a new one. Before taxes I paid $41K (that's Canadian pesos eh?) and at an exchange rate of $1. 00 Canadian = $0. 65 U. S. that would work out to be about $27K U. S. - a savings of about $10K.



Just a thought.



Richard

 

[BCFAST]

Used. Period.

If you want a REALLY good Ram, you'll have to buy a used one... . they dont make 12valves anymore!

 

[Bart]

Dodger22, you're right. Mine was made in the U. S. and sold the first time in Canada. I bought it in Oregon. It had also been registered in Idaho. Someone (maybe a snow bird) travel with it I guess. 60 some thousand on the clock is now a lot for a three year old vehicle through. It is a 49 state vehicle, no egr (and no kitten now), thanks to this site and setdr. Bringing one in to the country doesn't seem to be a big problem. Maybe someone up north could add more information.

BC Fast I don't know about 24 v'rs but I know I sure like my 12 v'r specially tomorrow morning when I start adjusting 'em. I love the new '94 cooler line with the extra port for the trans temp probe. I know have a 98 with two different 94 vintage parts in it.