Will used pickup truck prices ever go down?

[SVJ]

I'm seeing 19-20K for an XLT and 23-25 for a Lariat. I will say this: I have 6 newer Fords in the fleet, 5; 6-7 year old Fords in the fleet and another 3 way older Fords. The rest are GM and Mopar trucks. The older Fords are good and have given good service. The 6-7 year stuff is crap. @ 100K the interior on supervisor SUV's is trashed as are the trucks. I've got a 2021 F350 Lariat Diesel with 75K miles and already we've done injectors (warranty) and the transmission's blowing up as I type this. Not much Towing either. I'm selling that unit for a Ram 3500 Diesel. Our Ram's have been pretty bullet proof, minus a few issues with out 2014 Rams that have an engine rocker coating issue. The 1500's have been excellent as have all the other Rams. I have 8 of those. My 2019 Big Horn Diesel has 80K and has had no issues. Tows a 55' loaded trailer every time she's out. The GM product has been good as well.

My guys talked me into the newer Ford trucks on the east coast with the logic that the aluminum beds won't rust as fast as the steel ones. I'm hopeful there, but not on the product quality. It's horrible. My two explorers are falling apart interior in most capacities. Coating's flaking, door panels separating, and rattles in all the higher miles trucks/ SUV's. I'll never buy another one.

Ram 1500 Laramies with 100K run about $20K. That's w/ the Hemi. I've had several and have one currently in the fleet with almost 200K. It's interior has some wear, but is well better than the Fords and on par with the GM product. These are work trucks mind you that are treated as such. Overall, our operational costs on the Rams is the lowest, but I wouldn't buy any of them built in 2013/ 2014. The 200K truck is a 2010 and ther 160K truck is a 2016.

Just some experience(s) I've had/ am having with Ford/ GM/ Mopar.

To add some anecdotes, my experience mirrors this. I’m on my 3rd Ram and the only issue I had with my 03 1500 in 150k was self inflicted, had only one issue with the 15 2500 with 130k that was taken care of by Ram. Otherwise very solid interior and reasonable build quality.

My wife’s 21 explorer lost a trim piece on the way home from the dealer lot minutes after purchase. The door handles flaked. The moonroof cover collapsed, the moonroof no longer works. The blowers for the cooled seats quit. It rattles more than work trucks I’ve had. 2 more trim pieces fell off the exterior last month.
Never again.

I shopped used and despite the hit you take off the lot I don’t regret getting a new ram (yet?) the used ones I could find were only around 2-3k less with 15-20k miles on them.

 

[mrzuzzo]

I'm seeing 19-20K for an XLT and 23-25 for a Lariat. I will say this: I have 6 newer Fords in the fleet, 5; 6-7 year old Fords in the fleet and another 3 way older Fords. The rest are GM and Mopar trucks. The older Fords are good and have given good service. The 6-7 year stuff is crap. @ 100K the interior on supervisor SUV's is trashed as are the trucks. I've got a 2021 F350 Lariat Diesel with 75K miles and already we've done injectors (warranty) and the transmission's blowing up as I type this. Not much Towing either. I'm selling that unit for a Ram 3500 Diesel. Our Ram's have been pretty bullet proof, minus a few issues with out 2014 Rams that have an engine rocker coating issue. The 1500's have been excellent as have all the other Rams. I have 8 of those. My 2019 Big Horn Diesel has 80K and has had no issues. Tows a 55' loaded trailer every time she's out. The GM product has been good as well.

My guys talked me into the newer Ford trucks on the east coast with the logic that the aluminum beds won't rust as fast as the steel ones. I'm hopeful there, but not on the product quality. It's horrible. My two explorers are falling apart interior in most capacities. Coating's flaking, door panels separating, and rattles in all the higher miles trucks/ SUV's. I'll never buy another one.

Ram 1500 Laramies with 100K run about $20K. That's w/ the Hemi. I've had several and have one currently in the fleet with almost 200K. It's interior has some wear, but is well better than the Fords and on par with the GM product. These are work trucks mind you that are treated as such. Overall, our operational costs on the Rams is the lowest, but I wouldn't buy any of them built in 2013/ 2014. The 200K truck is a 2010 and ther 160K truck is a 2016.

Just some experience(s) I've had/ am having with Ford/ GM/ Mopar.

Very interesting feedback, thanks. I never really looked at RAM because I'm just used to Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep/Fiat/etc being unreliable.

I have an old Ford Ranger and it just keeps on running with oil changes and basic mainentance.

 

[Kornholio]

Watch out, Taco owners will come in here toting the virtue of how amazing drum brakes are.

Or how they bought it for the reliability…and have 20,000 or less miles on a five-year-old truck. Bro, reliability is pointless when you don’t actually drive anywhere.

 

[Kornholio]

BTW, Explorers are not in the same class as the pickups so that’s really a baseless comparison. Ford isn’t going to allow their number one selling vehicle to have those same kinds of issues. For what it’s worth though, my Explorers have never had any of those problems and have had plenty of miles put on them.

 

[Holeshot]

My wife’s 21 explorer lost a trim piece on the way home from the dealer lot minutes after purchase. The door handles flaked. The moonroof cover collapsed, the moonroof no longer works. The blowers for the cooled seats quit. It rattles more than work trucks I’ve had. 2 more trim pieces fell off the exterior last month.
Never again.
.

Good to see others have had similar positive experiences with the RAM product. The two SUV's I referred to are Explorers. They're garbage, IMO. These were personal take-home vehicles for company heads too. Never again doesn't say it strong enough! Oh, those rusty sunroof motors (due to poor drainage design): $1,600 quoted. We got them down to $1,300. The Rattles are part of the "charm".

Very interesting feedback, thanks. I never really looked at RAM because I'm just used to Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep/Fiat/etc being unreliable.

I have an old Ford Ranger and it just keeps on running with oil changes and basic mainentance.

Jeeps have their own problems for sure. The RAM line has been solid for us. In fact, because of that it's changed my opinion of manufacturing in Mexico VS the US. Rangers have always been solid. The other bonus on RAMs are the lower prices...but like all things, they won't be perfect in some way.

 

[berth]

To add some anecdotes, my experience mirrors this. I’m on my 3rd Ram and the only issue I had with my 03 1500 in 150k was self inflicted, had only one issue with the 15 2500 with 130k that was taken care of by Ram. Otherwise very solid interior and reasonable build quality.

Not a RAM, but a Jeep Grand Cherokee 4WD.

10 years old, 100K. Power Steering pump, water pump (and radiator), air suspension strut, some other suspension bits, air conditioner leak, something to do with the electronic diff locker in the rear (that was early warranty), couple of trim bits popped off, needed to be replaced. I think I had another gasket that needed to be replaced at some point.

Interior needs a bath, but otherwise excellent. The switches switch, buttons button, the knobs knob, screens are bright, rear camera has always been excellent. Wouldn't mind a little more zest on my seat belter retractor thingy. Leather is in great shape (no kids, no pets -- save in carriers).

It rides great, it starts all the time, it's solid, no real squeaks or creaks. The brakes squeak, they've always squeaked. On my 3rd set of tires, second set of brakes.

V8, mileage is lousy (always has been. 12-14 in the city! \o/).

But it's a "cold dead hands" car for me. Love this thing. I would like Apple Car Play, I would like the "smart" cruise control. I THINK I would like stop and go cruise that would drag me through traffic.

But not enough to give up the known good thing that I have now. New ones are 60-80K. Not going to snort at a $1000 dealer bill to replace some part. That's a lot of parts, we aren't even close to that.

So far, they'll have to legislate this away from me I think.

 

[Holeshot]

"Legislate away from me"... lol!!!

 

[cheez]

Not a RAM, but a Jeep Grand Cherokee 4WD.

10 years old, 100K. Power Steering pump, water pump (and radiator), air suspension strut, some other suspension bits, air conditioner leak, something to do with the electronic diff locker in the rear (that was early warranty), couple of trim bits popped off, needed to be replaced. I think I had another gasket that needed to be replaced at some point.

Interior needs a bath, but otherwise excellent. The switches switch, buttons button, the knobs knob, screens are bright, rear camera has always been excellent. Wouldn't mind a little more zest on my seat belter retractor thingy. Leather is in great shape (no kids, no pets -- save in carriers).

It rides great, it starts all the time, it's solid, no real squeaks or creaks. The brakes squeak, they've always squeaked. On my 3rd set of tires, second set of brakes.

V8, mileage is lousy (always has been. 12-14 in the city! \o/).

But it's a "cold dead hands" car for me. Love this thing. I would like Apple Car Play, I would like the "smart" cruise control. I THINK I would like stop and go cruise that would drag me through traffic.

But not enough to give up the known good thing that I have now. New ones are 60-80K. Not going to snort at a $1000 dealer bill to replace some part. That's a lot of parts, we aren't even close to that.

So far, they'll have to legislate this away from me I think.

Mine also, but it's at 145k and just burned up the alternator (literally, it was aflame) and took the computer with it; been waiting 2mo for a computer and will wait two more, it looks like. It's also eaten a transmission.

At least it's paid for.

As far as "when will prices go down?"

When have prices ever gone down in recent memory? The closest we come to decrease is stagnation while incomes move upwards, and even that's rare.

 

[Holeshot]

Pre-Covid, the new car market was a mix (30 lease/ 70% sale) of overall sales. In (average) 36 months, lease vehicles were wholesaled through dealer auctions. The leased vehicles were a great source for dealers for lower mile, newer, used inventory. That also kept used values down. Currently, Leasing is around 15% (2022). Add 36 months onto that: 2025...if leasing in 2023 has increased again. Watching leasing % of market overall. That'll tell when a bubble of inventory may be forming. As it stands now, I don't see it yet. Used car pricing is largely supply dependent.

 

[byke]

My firsthand senses tell me that I've never heard so much talk about people struggling economically and my eyes tell me that I've never seen so many nice cars on the road. Seems like 'rona really changed people's economic expectations.

 

[mrzuzzo]

Does anyone have any experience with 2019 Ram 3.0 diesel? Seems like there is once at the Morgan Hill stealership for 24k.

Don't know much about diesels myself.

 

[Dmitriy]

Does anyone have any experience with 2019 Ram 3.0 diesel? Seems like there is once at the Morgan Hill stealership for 24k.

Don't know much about diesels myself.

The 30mpg is very nice. But I wouldn't recommend it for short commutes (regen cycles etc...) Otherwise a decent truck.

 

[CABilly]

Not a RAM, but a Jeep Grand Cherokee 4WD.

10 years old, 100K. Power Steering pump, water pump (and radiator), air suspension strut, some other suspension bits, air conditioner leak, something to do with the electronic diff locker in the rear (that was early warranty), couple of trim bits popped off, needed to be replaced. I think I had another gasket that needed to be replaced at some point.

Interior needs a bath, but otherwise excellent. The switches switch, buttons button, the knobs knob, screens are bright, rear camera has always been excellent. Wouldn't mind a little more zest on my seat belter retractor thingy. Leather is in great shape (no kids, no pets -- save in carriers).

It rides great, it starts all the time, it's solid, no real squeaks or creaks. The brakes squeak, they've always squeaked. On my 3rd set of tires, second set of brakes.

V8, mileage is lousy (always has been. 12-14 in the city! \o/).

But it's a "cold dead hands" car for me. Love this thing. I would like Apple Car Play, I would like the "smart" cruise control. I THINK I would like stop and go cruise that would drag me through traffic.

But not enough to give up the known good thing that I have now. New ones are 60-80K. Not going to snort at a $1000 dealer bill to replace some part. That's a lot of parts, we aren't even close to that.

So far, they'll have to legislate this away from me I think.

For a couple hundred bucks and an afternoon outside you can have Car Play and a good backup camera. If your truck has a double DIN radio there are a ton of options. Crutchfield worked well for me, I liked the $20 harness adapter which made it really easy. The nice part about installing yourself is being able to bypass the stupid safety stuff like the parking brake sensor for using features or screen mirroring for video playback.

I really enjoyed the process of sourcing and installing my new touch screen stereo and backup camera that uses a stock tailgate handle trim. Then it's a rabbit hole with the bluetooth and wireless charging. But I'm slowly turning my older ('11) GMC into a nice modernish ride.

 

[Dubbington]

How far are you willing to travel? Much better deals can be had out of state.

Is that a headache getting it back into Cali?

 

[N4teTheGreat]

Not sure if things are different now, but I drove my '04 Golf Turbo Diesel from Colorado to SF when I moved and had no issues registering it here. Smog checks are infrequent, and just a visual, easy peasy but of course, it isn't a truck.

 

[wazzuFreddo]

I might look at getting a Gen 2 F150 Raptor in the future. But the ‘04 F150 is soldering on at 315k. Put new plugs and coils in it 5k miles ago and it runs buttery smooth again.

 

[Eldritch]

Is that a headache getting it back into Cali?

It depends very much on how old the car is.

If I recall correctly you flat out are not allowed to register an out of state car in CA that is less than 2 years old and has less than 8,000 miles.

They created this to make it impractical to buy Cars out of State where Sales Tax is cheaper.

Depending on the Make, Model, and State, the Smog thing can also be a problem.

I might look at getting a Gen 2 F150 Raptor in the future. But the ‘04 F150 is soldering on at 315k. Put new plugs and coils in it 5k miles ago and it runs buttery smooth again.

Yeah, my '99 F150 has a manual transmission, 4x4 still working well and is just a damn tank.

Cosmetics are shit, but it has the full 8' bed and will do all the work things all day every day even though I only use it for occasional small back yard projects and moving furniture type stuff.

 

[Holeshot]

It depends very much on how old the car is.

If I recall correctly you flat out are not allowed to register an out of state car in CA that is less than 2 years old and has less than 8,000 miles.

They created this to make it impractical to buy Cars out of State where Sales Tax is cheaper.

Depending on the Make, Model, and State, the Smog thing can also be a problem.

On bikes this is still true (7500 and below), unless the bike/ PWC/ Boat has a 50 state emissions sticker. There are very few (if any, now) 49 state autos being produced for the North American market. Cars from out of state will need two things: a smog certificate and VIN verification. Trucks will need an additional weight certificate.

I've never run across an auto I can't get reg'd in CA and I deal in some weird / rare stuff...

 

[mrzuzzo]

I might look at getting a Gen 2 F150 Raptor in the future. But the ‘04 F150 is soldering on at 315k. Put new plugs and coils in it 5k miles ago and it runs buttery smooth again.

I've heard from many people that those 3.5 ecoboost motors are a turd and that they all have the cam phaser issue at some point, which is a very expensive repair that can come back many times.

 

[Kornholio]

Is that a headache getting it back into Cali?

I’m not sure anyone is producing 49-state vehicles anymore. Get a smog test, take it to the DMV to get it inspected and registered. Done. I did it multiple times before leaving California. Most of the time, if the vehicle was new enough, the DMV didn’t even conduct the inspections. Especially if it was bought from a licensed dealer.