T680 First Impressions - and what's up with the w900??

So, I'm not a trucker yet - it will be a few years before I can sell my business & property and go OTR. I am a planner though, so I went to the dealership to get a sense of the space I'd be working with.

HOLY COW! This truck is HUGE inside with the 72" sleeper. It's waaay bigger than I'd imagined. The fit and finish was like a nice auto. The truck was also very well planned out inside. I've only seen the inside of a truck once before - it was years ago and was an old w900. That truck was nice, but it didn't make the impression on me that this one did. I would have no trouble living out of one of these.

What was interesting, is that I went in asking to see a W900, but they didn't have one and don't stock them. The guy said that they aren't allowed in Cali, so because we are so close they don't bother. I thought that was still the "flagship"? Are they going to update the w900 to be legal in Cali? I had it in my mind to go old school with the 900, but man, this 680 was incredible inside and out.

And yes, thanks to this forum's advice, I will be a company driver for 6 months before buying my own rig.

 

He said he can get them, but the subtext was - "why would you want one". This was inland in phx, and they don't and won't have them on the lot.

 

Well, the board has been helpful on these questions. I'm planning on driving for someone for 6 months before springing for my own ride. I would like my own authority, but could lease on with someone first if prudent. I would like to pull a step because of the more interesting loads. I will be able to go on whatever lanes pay as I won't have a home base initially. Once I find out the best lanes I will rent a warehouse bay along that route that will be my home base. New truck- well no, I don't neeeed a new truck. But, this is an early retirement plan for me, and frankly I'm not under the financial restraints that many new drivers are. I am not out to impress anyone; I will just enjoy myself that much more in a new rig. If I make a few thousand less because of depreciation, I'm fine with that trade off.

 

Wings - this was just a preliminary visit to get the picture right in my head. I'm still a few years out from selling it all and retiring from current life. So if they are already on the oust now with the kw dealer, well - that trend is likely to continue. I went in wanting to see both, but kind of partial to the w900. The t680 quickly got me over my disappointment. I could very easily live in this unit. When you say "lease deal" - are you refering to leasing on to a company (as I plan to do initially)? or are you refering to the purchase / lease of the truck (I will be doing this from savings)?