A friend of mine is in the process of buying a 2023. I rode with him to a bunch of dealers last weekend since he has a trade he was getting offers on, and we climbed all over the new ones.
Well...one thing lead to another, and I made the mistake of looking up the value of my truck on NADA and KBB. I shouldn't have, because the value is much higher than I expected. Maybe it was the new truck smell, and spending someone else's money last weekend that killed off some of my brain cells...
I've had my truck for 5 years and one week. Longer than I've owned any other vehicle. Needless to say, I've got the itch again. Not having a payment for the last year was pretty nice though...but I can get into a new (uglier) 7.3L XLT truck for mid-$50's.
I really don't want to order and play the waiting game again, could be 3 months, could be over a year...but there's nothing on the lots that I'm interested in. Never is. One almost checks all the boxes, but it's a 3.73, 6.8L truck.

Part of me wants to take advantage of the used truck values while I can. Used values can tank at any time...but new vehicle prices won't. Buy while I can get the best deal?

What to do, what to do...?

 

You can’t take it with you.

If you need to swap trucks, do it. I’m waiting on the next evolution before I entertain the idea myself.

 

I'm one of those crazy no car payment guys, so I'd say keep it, and then keep making your old car payment into an investment account. Since you are getting a great price on the trade, are you getting a great price on the new one? Normally if they give alot on trade, you pay alot for the new one, but prices are still kinda weird. How many miles on the old truck? Do you need a new truck, or want a new truck?
I'm patient and cheap when it comes to buying, and unless they will do invoice or better on the new truck, I'd order one from Granger for 2% below invoice.

 

Ok well with that set of parameters, given the fact that you dont want to wait on an order, and you dont like whats on the lots you've seen, here's what you do.

Start spending about an hour a day using the Ford.com site to focus your search on the farthest distance of dealers that you would be willing to drive to and buy from.

Search their inventory and get to know a salesman or two on the phone. Search THEIR websites too. Usually Ford.com will be more complete of a source of their inventory than their own websites.

Keep your truck clean and ready to sell. Keep your cash ready to make up the difference. (EDIT TO ADD: Yes I agree with William Owens above to be clear. Cash to make up the difference means, cash to make up the difference. No debt. Amen.)

When you find the one you want, leave THAT MINUTE to get it. There are plenty of 23's on lots relative to 6 months ago.

And this last part is important...... Go ahead and start buying the little accessories you want, Weathertech floor mats, or whatever. When I started a business back a few years ago, I opened a bank account for it prior to having any money to deposit as a way in my mind to prepare for success. Sometimes you have to prepare yourself for things to work out. Let the schmucks of the world walk thru life with one hand on their parts and one on their seat, inching their way across the field. Be bold. Go big.

In short.........sell your truck TODAY in your mind, and work to get your backside to catch up with it.

 

No, I don’t “need” a new one…just a want. Only 38k miles on mine. I can get Xplan on new one. But I was thinking of taking advantage of the ‘weird’ prices while I can. Should have done it in 2021/22 when used prices were more than new.

Granger is around 1500 miles from me. Not happening for this guy…lol

 

I know that feeling. Been there, Done that. yeah, it was a mistake in the end too. Put together a list of things you gain, and what you lose by doing so. Then also consider how well your current truck has been treating you and consider the possibility the new one wont be as nice to you. Are those new fangled goodies worth the payments? When I shopped I had to consider if the newer gen 6.7 and 10 speed were worth the extra $20,000 it would cost to get a 2020 instead of a 2019. In the end, it wasn't enough in my mind.

However, since you are looking at the gas trucks, going up to the 7.3 from the 6.2 is quite a leap and may well be worth the trade off.

 

Granger was 1000 miles for me, but in 2022 when none of my local dealers would do x plan, and they all wanted to talk about price when the truck got in, I bailed and flew to Iowa from ATL. Flew up and was driving home by 11am. The wife and I just made a weekend road trip out of it and had a good time.

 

While you CAN do X-Plan I think you will find that buying a truck in inventory today with X-Plan is close to impossible.

 

I just went through the same process. I went in for an oil change on my 2017 F150 Platinum 5.0 and came out with a 23 F250 Lariat 6.7. They offered my great money on my trade and $3500 off MSRP. The one thing that sucked was interest rate 5.48% for 48 with 850 credit score. Other than that love the truck.

 

If I were you.

I’d try to get a $2000 Ford exclusive cash offer or Xplan. Ford sends the ECO’s out often if you create an account online and build and save your builds. I’d also get a Ford credit card to try to trigger getting a ECO.

After getting a ECO or Xplan I would see which dealer will give me the highest amount for my trade in and order through them at no higher than MSRP.

I would also get in writing the price of the build locked in and that if at time of delivery if they don’t give you what you want for your trade in you get your deposit back.

I did this through Laurel Ford in Montana they actually owned me money because my trade in value was so high and I had a $3000 ECO.

 

dont do it unless you find the right truck and I mean all the boxes. Try Crouse Ford in Taneytown md.

 

There is no such thing as "no car payment". The price of the new ones keeps going up; the value of your used one keeps going down. Once your vehicle is paid off, you should be putting the payment amount in an account for the next truck. If you don't, the cost for the next new vehicle will result in a payment that will make your eyes water. You are ALWAYS making a payment.

 

NADA and KBB are not the people who will buy your truck. IMO the numbers they post are totally unrealistic.
Before you decide to do anything get a firm trade in or sell number for your current truck.

 

trade in a perfectly good working vehicle for a possible POS ? yep makes perfect sense. i say do it

 

No no no!!! Don't EVER go look at new trucks, RVs, guns or go to the animal shelter! On second thought, go to the shelter and get a new friend. They're cheaper than a new truck and will make you happier!