I currently have a 2006 F-250 Crewcab with a 6.0L Powerstroke. It is a company vehicle. I drive up to 55k a year, sometimes 45k, so diesels have been the way to go. I have been trading up to a new truck each year, but in the last two years, the advantages of a smoker over a gasser are becoming less and less.

In Illinois, it used to pay to plate an F-250 with a D plate as you could avoid sales tax. That was a savings sometimes in excess of $2,500. Then, add a $2,500 rebate, or more, and savings approached between $5,000 and $6,000. Trading a one year old truck with 55k on it for about $4,500 was a the norm, and it never cost the company tires, shocks, brakes, or other major services. Some trucks I sold outright, and others I traded. Either way - going with a cheaper trade allowance, or putting down more cash from an outright sale - the deals always cost about $4,500. Now, in 2006, it approaches $7,000 to $8,000.

So, I've been running numbers lately, and it is just getting plain hard to justify a new diesel. With diesel fuel now costing $0.40 to $0.55 more than gas, the new diesels getting worse fuel economy than they did a few years ago, and the sales tax savings gone, it's getting harder to justify a new diesel - Especially for a guy like me who doesn't really need it.

I haul a 4,200# camper a dozen times in the summer, and a 3,000# flatbed about six to eight times throughout the year. Certainly, an F-150 could haul these weights without a problem - it just won't be first to the top of the hill. Who cares? All the other time, the truck for a calculated 94% of the time, just hauls my butt.

So, my questions is... am I crazy to consider dumping the F-250 to go to another F-150 Supercrew? I traded down to a F-150 Supercrew in 2005, for a change, and absolutely loved the truck. But as with any, I could justify reasons why an F-250 could/would be better. I traded back up to a 2006 F-250 this past spring because the Family Pricing tossed all vehicle values in the toilet, and I found an opportunity to come out on top dumping the 2005 F-150 for a 2006 F-250 Crew Cab. Otherwise, the mileage I had on the F-150 was going to eat the equity up within a few months. So, to come out better, we traded back to an F-250. The resale of diesels around here just proved again a diesel was just the way to go for the miles I drive. But then, we anticipated better fuel economy, and also expected the resale of diesels to stay up much higher than a gasser.

So, hauling the camper this summer, I really liked the F-250's performance, but I saw many F-150's doing the same job as well. My wife was crabbing in the front seat that she couldn't even read a book without getting sick because of the way the F-250 bounced around. It rides like crap. Yes, I know it's a heavy-duty truck, but let me tell you, Fords idea of the new 2005-2007 front suspension is crap. My 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, etc. F-250's rode much better, and didin't skip lanes when driving over tarred cracks in the interstate. It rides much worse and takes more to keep it it's own lane than it is worth to me as a daily driver. After a lousy 325 mile trip (one way) this past weekend, I felt like I had to constantly correct the truck to keep it (and the trailer) in my lane. After about five hours, it got tiring. That got me thinking.

I have been eyeing a nice 2006 F-150 Supercrew King Ranch. Rebates are really good right now on 2006 F-150's. I have a potential buyer for my 2006 F-250, or trading it could be just as good. Hmmmm. Should I do it? Should I present the case to the boss? I am figuring that if I pull the pin, I will never be able to go back to a Superduty for a while. But, with the F-150 coming out with a small V-8 diesel in 2008 or 2009, and the fact that I mainly commute 94% of the time, why should I need a diesel anyway. Just for the eye and ear candy? I'm sure my boss wouldn't mind buying $43,000 trucks instead of $51,000 trucks, right? Now, after finding out that resale between a gasser and a diesel is not that far apart (not including the engine difference), and a gasser could actually save some money with current fuel prices, maybe I should dig deeper into the equation. I could actually trade my 2006 F-250 in for no cash difference, or make a few bucks if i sell it outright and buy the 2006 Supercrew KR outright. I'm only pushing 30k on the 2006 F-250's ticker, but sometimes I see 1,000 miles a week, and would expect the trucks value to drop another $1,000 to $1,500 by spring 2007 at 45k. And then, rebates most likely will not be at $4,500. Whatjall think?

 

What's the question?

 

I would think it would make more sense to keep the trucks for 2 years before selling, especially diesels... since the heaviest hit in depreciation occurs when you drive it off the lot.

I would wait 9-12 months and consider either an 07 f150 or the new 08 6.4 diesel then since it might get better mileage.

 

You have much more truck right now. Keep it.