TJ, Rich at the moment I have a small truck payment, nothing near the $75K of modern diesels, but so far Enigma has treated me well, I only replaced the torque converter (it rattled like it had marbles in it), the IPR, and ICP (was easy to get to) and the alternator (upgraded to the 140 amp) as a preventive measure. Still in my truck for a lot less then a $75K truck

 

My 02 has been one of my best investments. Well actually my 1987 Mercedes diesel too, it just won't die. Paid around $12K for each and they have long since paid for themselves. No real performance mods and most expenditures have been for longevity. Had the Benz for 20 years now, that brings the purchase price to $600/year!........

 

all my trucks are money makers, so i can't complain about them too much.

my 88 is edging close to what i paid for the house. over the past 28 years i have close to $35,000 into it. but it currently has 494,000+ miles on it, and also made me over $150,000 in slow plow money alone. so i figure it has done good.
the 02 i paid $12,000 for 8 year sago and really have not put that much into it, no more than around $2,500. and the new plow was $6,400. but that truck has paid for itself many times over too, bringing in close to $75,000 in the past 8 years plowing snow.
the 04 is going to be the winner here, total cost for that truck is only going to be around $4,000. the plow is going on that next month.

oh, and i paid $40,000 for the house, plus another $20,000 to replace electric, plumbing, kitchen, siding, and the complete interior it when i first got it.
the garage was another $23,000.

 

Houses in my area run a bit more, but it's still a principle thing. $75K for four (or six) wheels and a seat just seems silly to me, even if it pulls a house (5er). Now... If I lived in the vehicle (motor home), then I'm a bit more flexible.

 

In the past two months ive put about $4k-4500 into my truck (injectors, cups, water pumps, A/C, etc its seems lots of things bit me at once)..... Ive had to defend my actions to just about everyone for putting that kind of money into a 16 yr old truck with 350k+ miles on it. My reasoning is like this.....


I paid $24k for the truck in 05 (4 yrs old), for MOST people...350k miles is at least 3 vehichles...I have gotten by with one. Yes, I have spent some money on her over the years. Biggest hitters have been the recent work plus the BTS trans I put in 2 yrs ago which brings me up to about $34,000. Ive also done brakes, starters, radiators, etc etc and some gauges and other mods.... lets be generous and say that Cost me another $5k....so now Im up to $39,000....round it up to an even $40 grand. Which is probably right about where the original price tag for this truck was when it was brand new. So, even at that initial 2001 price, I have already saved the cost of two whole vehicles (100,000 miles a piece and $80k for two more vehicles). If I were to go buy another truck I will be getting the same thing (3/4-1 ton, 4 door, 4wd, diesel) which will likely put me in the $60-70,000 range again for another 100,000 miles or so.


Sooooooo....my choice is to spend $5000 to fix the old girl or spend 60-70,000 on a new girl to keep going down the road for another 100,000 miles...........I don't know about you, but that's not a hard decision to make... $5000 vs $60,000.... hmmmmmm... pretty simple really...

 

at the time i bought this place, similar size lots with houses were selling for $130-150k
the complete yard was 1 inch plus trees, the garage had a 18 inch rack and a good wind would blow it down.
3 inch diameter poison ivy vines growing through the aluminum siding, no heat because the boiler froze 2 years before, 275 oil tank that had 200 gallons of dirt/sludge in it. all windows painted shut.
one back wall was nothing but paint from termite damage.
the previous owner called it his "summer cottage". the guy was a rocket scientist. really. and would spend one or two weeks every summer here, then go back to new york city.
first thing i did was back rattletrap to the side of the garage that was 2 foot off the road and push it over. then had a 40 yard dumpster delivered. loaded the garage in it, and took all the windows, plaster and lathe, kitchen,and bathroom out. then remover three walls to make 5 small rooms two big rooms. removed the front and rear porches that were ready to fall down, and the termite damage.
replaced everything, making the front porch area part of the living room, and the rear porch part of the kitchen/dining room.
then attacked outside.
cut down all the trees, and opened up the yard.
removed all the stumps, and put 3 foot thick road bed in for the driveway.
then put a 24X26 garage up on the back of the side lot.
finished everything up with vinyl siding on both house and garage.
by doing all the work myself i saved big money, and my $83G investment would sell today for $250G if i wanted to.
problem is if i sell, i would need at least $350G to buy somewhere else.

 

if you are handy and have time, you can save a lot by fixing things up


bought a old Sears 70s HD tiller for 20 bucks, needed coil, points and condenser so for under 50 I have a nice running tiller that may outlast me

 

Not sure why everyone thinks a new truck is $75k. Outrageously expensive, yes, but you can get into a new vehicle for much, much less than 75k.

If one chooses enough options and packages to drive the price up to or North of 75k, then it's their own fault (or decision).

 

Ok $75K may be pushing it, but if I went for a let's say 2016 F450 crew cab with full length bed (my next upgrade in truck if Enigma ever dies on me and replacement is required) plus the mods I woul do like tool box, mud flaps, vent visors, hood deflector, ECT I would be looking at $62K and pictures don't lie...

 

Monthly payment of $822 for 84 months......

That says it all. I don't care what the price was.

 

MSPR of 62 is in line, although most can buy it for thousands less than list price. We often see 8-10k off list around here.

Granted even 52 or so is still outrageous, but the difference between 52 and 75 is a whole heck of a lot. (you could actually but a 7.3 and do a bunch of Tugly mods to it for the difference )

 

prices are certainly astronomical, but it goes beyond just that for me. I have a reasonable tool set in the truck, and some known parts that fail, but the fact i have half a prayer of fixing the truck when i am out in the hills out of cell service or any hope of really having any help is worth its weight in gold to me. I see these new trucks with the cabs lifted off at the dealers for maintenance work etc and just shake my head. I know I am in one of the last places in the lower 48 where you really can be sitting for days before you see another truck, but its still important to me to be as self sufficient as possible with any vehicle. guess thats why i have an 01 ford and 01 yota, 482k between them and still keep them rolling down the road. wife has a 2012 Cruz, and its nice, but not much I can do with it if we break down, its call the hook, or flatbed as it is now days.

 

822/mth x 84 mths + 6353 down = $75,401.... you were saying......

 

If I were to replace Stinky with a new truck that has all the options I have right now, it would run me a lot more than $62K. Touch screen head unit with phone interface and SD card music storage, backup camera with a port for another camera, power windows, A/C, deluxe interior with leather seats, electric driver seat and mirrors, matching canopy, sport rims, bug bra, tow package for 16,000 lb. trailer, custom steering wheel (thanks to all the FTE nagging), and a very full spread of gauges (including HUD when I choose). Add that up with fact that I've geared Stinky up to be on par with the 6.7L for power (including the transmission), and I'm not gaining a lot by going new - except for a warranty period and a quieter/smoother ride.









I'm out about $45K with purchase price and upgrades (no interest payments), but that was at my pace. With new, $800 or more is due every month or else. I spent when I damn well felt like it.

 

I am also trying to factor the mods and various bits that I am doing for my 7.3 Enigma that if I had to redo on a new truck also but yes I know I can get another 7.3 which I would do and extract the current 7.3 and trans and hold those as spares and part the rest out that I could...oh and not to mention that $75K I was refering to would be to do every thing that I have planned for Enigma to bring him on par with the 6.D'oh or 6.7 Diesels and make him a respectible set up that can at least pull things like trailers, cars, and any thing I might hook up to if needed...with out going over kill....