Any 99/00 owners thinking of getting 02's with these deals?
 

I've always been a proponent for keeping cars umpteen years and maintaining them, but with the downswing in the economy I'm starting to think about what I could get. With 0.0% APR (I don't know if that is only for 3 years or 5 years also) and some of the incentives Ford has or WILL start offer to (as demand wanes even further), I'm wondering if I couldn't come out ahead on a trade-in (i.e. more truck than I have now for no cost).
I guess the thing I have to factor is in the aftermarket mods that add cost, tonneau covers, dash kit, etc etc.

Don't get me wrong, I love love my truck. But if I have a 36 room mansion, and you offer me a 64 room mansion on trade in with no additional cost, I'm taking it.

Anyone else thought about this? Am I missing any part of the equation?

it's tempting, but I too love my present ride. Furthermore, I'm really wanting to wait for the diesel V6 or a year or 2 after inital release. I'm hoping for 25+ mpg from it.

Tiger,

Yeah, I'm with you for the most part. The other thing I forget, I've got a few demands with my truck 1) it has to be manual, 2) it has to 4x4, and 3) it has to be flareside. The only thing I'm interested in is that Supercrew with the 4 doors, but I was just on the Ford website trying to build it and it looks like there's no flareside with the Screw (which I guess makes sense, there's nowhere for the flare to happen with the bed so short). Also no manual transmission choice...

Oh well...

Perhaps if I had compromised on my last purchase I'd comtemplate moving up. As that wasn't the case, even with 0.0 financing the vehicle still depreciates when you drive it off the lot. That happens to everyone, everytime they buy. The only way I've found to offset that is keep them for quite a while. Each year owned reduces the annual cost of ownership.

I paid 22k two years ago. I could get maybe 14K. (4k per year)

I plan to keep the truck 11 years (2k per year)
Plus whatever residual I get get from the kid who buys it in 2010.
I'm sure he'll love it as much as I did.
I figure he's about 9 years old now.

When I went to the dealer in search of a 2002. The finance rates were 0% for 3 years and 4.9% for 5 years. I went with 5 years and no money down on my 2002 Reg Cab. flairside. It has every possible feature except for the captains chairs.

Sticker was $24,300.00

I paid $20,100.00



payments are like $420 a month.

Something else you have to keep in the back of your mind is inflation. Sticker on my truck in 1998 was $21,500 - I've spent quite a bit of time looking around at dealerships, and from what I've seen a similair equipped truck would cost atleast $2,500 or more today for the same truck. (I think 02XLT said sticker on his truck was $24,300 - $2800 more for almost the same truck.)

It is tempting but with things the way they are and may get worse before they get better I think I'll keep this truck a couple more years yet since its paid for.

I have a '99 4x4 5.4L SC Lariat with everything but the engine block heater. While the incentives are tempting, factors are making me wait. First and foremost, with this dynamic world events going on presently, I'm thinking the prudent thing would be to keep the present truck and not go into debt on a new one. After all, this truck is pretty much as good as it gets. Second, I'm also waiting to see what the new "Baby" PSD will be like. Third, Ford has admitted that quality is down, so I'm thinking I should wait for them to get their act together before I buy a new vehicle. Fourth, I don't think the 2002 models are all that more advanced in design like it was when I went from my '97 to my '99 (raised door handle that didn't dig into my leg, 4 wheel disc brakes, more powerful 5.4L engine, better ride, better handling, etc.). Fifth, I'm thinking of eventually buying an Explorer, once the bugs of a first year product have been worked out and will keep my present truck until it falls apart. I'm really hating my truck when having to park in the "undersized" parking stalls with narrow lanes they seem to be making these days. I really need something with a smaller turning radius.

Deals
 

I've been on a spending spree.

Bought a new '01 Expedition XLT on Labor Day. Sticker $34k+, got it for ~$30k, zero down and zero interest for 5 years.

Bought a new '01 Supercrew Lariat 4x4 on Sept 20. Sticker $37k+, got it for ~$30k as well.

The Expedition had $2000 in rebate or the zero interest. The Supercrew had $1000 rebate or 5.9%, so I took the rebate. There was also a "secret" $1000 rebate if you traded a 4x4 for a new 4x4. About a week after I bought my truck they came out with the 0% again - and it's up to 5 years. Over the life of the loan, that's worth about $4k.

My old truck was a '99 Silverado Z71 4x4. It ran ok and got reasonably good mileage, but it was a rattly old hunk of junk at 45k miles. Very disappointing. I did like the 4 wheel drive system in the Chevy better because you could use it on pavement in rainy weather - can't with the Ford as I can tell. But then again, it was making horrible noises already when you disengaged it.

With the discounts and low interest rates, I suspect that all 2001 model cars and trucks are going to have pretty poor resale values when things pick back up. All these incentive programs are factored in the used car prices. The guys who bought early this year, who didn't get the great deals, will be lumped in with the rest of us when they go to trade or sell.

You may be right STX/98--

But I think that inflation is not that much. I had allot of little thnigs that added up, that I don't thnik the STX models had. I may be wrong though man?? Let me know if I am..

Stuff like:

-sliding rear window
-power adj. pedals
-XLT appearance pkg. (body colored grill w/honeycomb grill)
-CD player?
-forgot if you had the automatic?
-all power
-tilt
-split bench with console



You get the point. You may have some of those.. No biggie

Dennis,

I may have to been that clear, but I am thinking the exact same thing as you. What I meant was, deals are decent now (and I'm not "hoping" to profit off of other people's misery, I'm just trying to be practical) and I do not believe that "terror attacks" are over, and I don't think the American economy has come to the realization that a long involved war with casualties is just beginning.

Therefore, I seriously doubt that most people will be making a large auto purchase in the near future (and sales have already slowed and started hurting the big auto makers). Then, on top of that, I believe those that do make an auto purchase are not going to get gas-guzzling SUVs and trucks (as I feel the trickle down of the huge layoffs have not yet been felt in full force). When that happens, I think you'll see some incredible deals by Ford (moreso than now). As I said, I never thought I could trade in and come out way ahead, but I'm thinking maybe in 6 months I just may be able to do it. Was wondering if anyone had thought about that too..

If things look better in 6 months I might think about trading in for a new car or truck at that time as mine will have around 50,000 on it in 6 months. Its about 45 miles shy of 40,000 as I type this post.

I do not have the sliding rear window, but do have everything else you listed aswell as the STX package with the 17" wheels, bigger tires and colored trim, and a few other small things like the rear storage bin. From what I can tell, IF you can ever find another regular cab flareside with the V8, they've gone up about 3,000 since 1998. Of course for that 3 grand you get a few more HP, rear wheel disc brake i belive, and other improvements they've made since 1998. I'm not saying the differences are not worth the three grand necessarilly, it just seems like the inflation would account for a lot of the money you'd save with the lower interest rate. (This also may not be true all across the board. I think Lightning's have only gone up a grand or so since 1999.)

I went for It
Traded in the F150 for a 2002 F250 SD xlt S/C 4x4 with the
5.4 and 4:10 axles and I bought a long bed
Bought it on "a" plan with a 1000 rebate
and I'm hoping to get another 900 rebate that came out
they gave me 2.9% for 4 years
It worked out that the truck payment is now 140 bucks less
a month and my insur. droped 70 bucks every 6 months
It's not as peppy as the old one and rides not as plush
but every thing is heavy duty and I'm getting close to the
same gas mileage
the biggest thing that I noticed is the brakes are ALLOT better
and the old truck and it was a "99" with disk back brakes
they always worked but where never solid

Well manx congrats on your new truck.