Actually you can look at it another way too...a truck can be an investment if you use it to make money. All tangible investments in equipment depreciate, but they are investments none the less. The key is making more using them than they depreciate. I bought my 03 Jeep Sahara for 24K...I sold last Oct for $21K. I put 28K miles on it during that time...for that mileage I got paid .345 a mile from work. That does not include gas as they supplied me with a fuel card. I had no repairs on the Jeep and except for oil not real expenses...so really I turned a small profit on it when you figure everything in. Other people that can get paid good money for pulling boats or something can actually make a nice profit on a vehicle purchase.

As for my F150...well I am goning to loose my *** on it. lol

 

You have to recognize how a rare of a situation that was though...

My fiancee and I are planning ahead to determine whether we want to buy the Camaro concept when it goes into production or purchase a 1969 Chevelle (frame-off resto). We're still 50/50 right now, but we'll probably lean toward the Chevelle because if I buy one for $25-$35k next year, chances are that I'll be able to sell it a decade later for $30-$40k. If we buy the new Camaro, well you KNOW how new Chevy depreciation goes...

 

Very well-put...unfortunately, most of us can't afford to pay cash for a vehicle.

 

One thing for sure is that its cheaper to buy a car thats already restored than it is to do one yourself. Even so if you were really looking for an investment you could make a lot more investing $25K in something other than any car (but I know its a case of wanting the car...besides stocks and bonds have terrible 0-60 times!)

As for me I try to get the best deal possible on a vehicle and keep it for only a short time and sell it for the most I can get for it. Usually I do pretty good and don't loose much or anything on them (especialy when you figure in mileage money). My F150 was my first new car (I bought all of my others with 10,000 or so miles on them) and it sucks to be this upside down on one.

 

I am in total agreement on that... I'll only restore a car myself if I plan on keeping it and passing on to someone else when I'm worm meat.

If I blow $25k on a Chevelle, it won't be for invesment's sake. It's more of a "uphoria" experience when you start the big block and smell all the lovely carbbed fumes and feel the unsteedy rythm that only a distributor can give... Ahhh....heaven...

 

I just had a thought, it's late in the post, but none the less applicable, Ford, Gm, Chrysler, are in the Bus. of selling automobiles, cars, mini van's, options, life insurance, extra warenty's, disability insurance, leasing, wear care (Ford) hidding sales person's commision in the MSRP. so much up selling is added to the MSRP to hide the depreacation.
Sales and gimicks are a farce allready built into the price.

 

All of that is ture, but now consumers are armed with all sorts of information that we were not privy to years ago.

For example, you may not be able to get floorplan or holdback amounts for each vehicle, but www.carsdirect.com and www.edmunds.com can give you just enough information to be dengerous.

 

Take your truck to A&B in Perth. I tried in the city but the small town boys got the job done. The difference was substantial.
I am located in Almonte.

 

The only real advantage to buying a new vehicle is if you plan to keep it for the long run and you are the original owner and know where its been. Even that is more of a personal benefit than financial. I personally plan to keep mine for the long haul, I mean trying to sell a newly bought vehicle, its common knowledge you will take a bath on it. As far as what the MSRP is of these trucks, I keep telling ya'll, throw that value out the window. The value of these trucks has dropped to what you paid for them, and they will depreciate from the value you paid for it thanks to employee pricing. You see all the employee pricing did was lower the value of our trucks. Its a double edged sword because the ones that plan to keep the truck get a low price, but the ones that trade them in a couple years will be dissappointed due to the low value. I check on KBB every month or so to see the trade in and private value for my truck. The private market is shot now also because unless you sell your truck for dirt cheap, you wont sell it on the private market. Anyone that wanted an F150 has or will buy one new, not used.

 

it worked out pretty well for us that actually OWN our vehicles