New vs Used: some real life data for 2018

I didn't see any data on my favorite trucks. Anything pre egr with a 12.7 Detroit
I think i saw this data on facebook, i guess its yours?

 

Thanks! That was pretty cool.

 

Go new get extended warranties no worries.

 

Ok, this is my .02 on it, and its actually semi intelligent thought. I am in a similar situation. I have had my CDL since 1984, but always have been a company driver. Looking to make the plunge myself next month and I too have considered the numbers (and I too am a numbers nerd. BS in math in college).

Maintenance and depreciation are both tax deductible. But maintenance is down time and depreciation isnt. My plan at this point is to rent a truck for a few months and make sure I can make the kind of money it will take to justify buying a new truck. I have about $50k in the bank so the question for me is to buy a used truck outright or put a down payment on a new one. My choice, for me, is to rent and see if I can make enough.

Hope that helps.

 

Was chatting with a dealer a while back. He was thinking he could find me a year or two old tractor that was an O/O spec lease return. It would tend to have lower mileage than a Mega carrier truck and have specs more to my liking. The trucks would not get listed on truck paper because dealers are getting them from the corporate finance company specifically for customers that are looking for non-mega trucks. He can get them but said he would not buy one to put into inventory because average Joe would not be interested in them.

These trucks are ones that a transport or owner Operator would lease (for a year or so dedicated contract) to haul around a traveling show, like bands, trade show display, promotions trailers...... that kinda stuff.

 

Here’s my .02...

I have a 2007 Columbia with a Cat. I do 90% of the work on the truck myself. After compiling all the numbers for the previous year, I realized I probably would have came out ahead by buying myself a new truck. In doing so, I’d also get to spend my time at home doing things I like, instead of working on the truck.

The real elephant in the room though is the mileage... 1.2 million. Eventually, it’s going to need a rebuild. If I spend $30k doing that, the truck is still only worth maybe $12-$15k. Not to mention that I’d still be spending a fair amount on regular ongoing maintenance.

I’d buy new and trade it after 3-5 years.

 

Why do you think companies turn their fleets over every 4 years or so?

 

I'd like to see you take a common spec (say 450 Cummins, 13spd) and then compare it across the different truck brands. That might also say a few things about resale value.

BTW, how did you import all the data? And what program did you use to crunch the numbers?

 

Following.