I was hoping to be able to wait a few more years until I could order a new one and get it the way I want it, but my beloved 2006 is just getting to be too expensive to keep going. It runs great, but it's all the little age-related things that have caught up with it now. Anyway I want to get the best deal possible on a used F-150 4x4. Most of the trucks near me are overpriced and the dealers aren't willing to budge from sticker price, so I'm willing to drive an hour or two to get a better price.
The two prospects now are a 2011 XLT SC/SB V8 with the chrome package. Price is $22,990, mileage is 39k. The other is a 2012 XL RC/LB V6 with the décor package and Power Equipment Group. Price is $19,250, mileage is 28k. I haven't seen either truck in person yet as they are both at least an hour or two away.
I was kind of wanting the XLT package this time but this particular XL still has everything I need in a truck. The dealer that has the '12 XL seems willing to negotiate. I don't know about the dealer with the '11 XLT. These trucks seem to sell so fast that usually they're gone before I can get there, even at the ridiculous prices that most dealers are asking for them.
Also, when a dealer says they have a "no haggle" price, that tells me they're too cheap and lazy to earn my business. But how firm is that "no haggle" policy? Are they really at their lowest price already, or do they just not want to take the time to negotiate? We all know that dealers make most of their profits on selling used vehicles.
The last time I bought a truck was in 2006, and it was a different ballgame then! Thanks for the advice everyone.