Don't really have a good reason to lease a new truck but am torn between leasing a 2000 F-150. There is nothing wrong with my truck now just have a bug up my tail for a new one. Current vehicle is a 94 ext cab long wheel base 4x4 302(no mods yet other than a k&n fipk at this time) 62k, auto w/ overdrive, towing pkg, 31x10.5 tires( 1 to 1.5 yrs left on them) and the bushings and bearings in the front end need replacing, cant align right now but they are not eating the tires too bad as long as I rotate every oil change.Nothing is wrong with the truck and is a pleasure for me to drive till I try to make a U-turn or need to go up a mountain road and wonder where the power went. But I dont do this too often. I do have an 18 ft trailer now and have pulled it in the city to my house but never on the highway or up any hill. (I live in souther Calif and there aren't too many level roads out here) The new truck will have the same options but have the triton V-8 and a shorter bed
Haven't paid that much off the loan yet so the dealer will have to pay the truck off and probably not give me any extra or take any off the sticker because of the payoff. Can't find much info on the 2000 F150's on here to tell what I am getting. I know what my current trucks limitations are , what mods I need (exhaust,chip, higher voltage ignition etc...) So how about it Fellow Ford guys and gals, what do you say keep Big blue and modify ,modify, modify, or lease New Green Truck and not be able to modify. Will I be happy 6 months from now with the power, reliability amd general sturdyness of the 2000 model. Remember I am already a Ford person so go ahead, let 'er rip. Sorry for the long post But I need more input.

 

Nationally syndicated consumer reporter Clark Howard was talking about leases yesterday and said that anyone leasing a vehicle for any reason other than writing it off as a business expense is making a foolish decision (not calling you a fool, just telling you what he said).

This is a summary of what he said....

On a $20K car, based on the first three years of ownership, you'll fork out $15 total vehicle cost for a car with a loan. That same car, with a lease, will cost you $18K. Its far worse with a more expensive vehicle such as a truck. These figures included value of the vehicle too. With a lease, the vehicle has zero value (residual is usually more than market value at lease end). If you lease a truck, you're going to end up in the same boat you're in now (ie, wanting another vehicle and not evening owning your current one because it isn't paid off). Right now, at least in Georgia, Ford has very good interest rates, I'd consider a loan instead of a lease if I were you.

Ken Payne
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I agree with the last suggestion. Have you ever considered out right buying a used truck in good
condition? I bought a 98 ext.cab 4.6 litre last
year about this time and even with purchasing the
the ext warranty it only ended up costing around
21 thousand. as I mentioned it's a V8 with power
everything(except seats)The dealer even had a bedliner sprayed in on top of that. A few mods
later I have a truck that can pull it's own weight
and is a blast to drive. I've seen the prices for
new trucks too and I'm a little taken aback about
the amount they're asking. If you're wary of
buying used,get the vin number and go to carfax
.com. For about $20 they can tell you if it's ever
been in an accident or even if it is flood damaged
or ever had a salvage title. It's cheap insurance.

 

Right now, there are tremendous deals to be made with 97-98 trucks coming off lease because those years had huge numbers of consumers leasing and there is a glut of 97-98 used vehicles. In addition to carfax, I'd get a mechanic to look over a vehicle. The money spent will be worth the piece of mind. Also, an extended warranty might not be a bad idea if you want the same warranty piece of mind you get with a new truck. You can get them through us (link at the top of the site) or through several sources on the net. You usually save 30-60% on after-market warrantees though some may want to stick with Ford Motor Company based on good experiences. Just make sure the company supplying is has a good rating and check them out.

Ken Payne
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Good ideas from everyone so far. I'd keep it so as to get out of the big debt hole someday. The lease may set you back again. Good luck, Al

 

Thank you for all the input. We decided to keep the 94 and do a few more mods to it. It really is a nice truck and has been taken care of well. It helped get our head screwed on straight being able to have the input from you guys. Not that the Ford House in our town was putting the pressure on us but we did have the new truck in our driveway for the whole weekend. These guys really did treat us well becase it would have been our third vehicle purchase from them. Thanks again!!!!!!Gotta go take the new truck back to the lot.

 

They tried the "puppy dog trick" :-) (at least that's what a salesman I know calls it). Had them do that to me many years ago. They figure if you take it home for the weekend you'll fall in love with it and won't want to give it up.

Ken Payne
Ford Truck Enthusiasts Admin
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