Trying to buy a used truck but prices are all over the place. How do I understand the market? Looking a a 2018 international Lt 800k miles truck looks like new, test drove it and engine sounds great, rides as good as an international can. Seen prices ranging from 18k all the way up to 39k for similar trucks. Any help would be appreciated
Check auctions and compare a dozen trucks to find a good price mostly. But as a loose and fast rule 750K+ emissions rigs arent worth more then at BEST 20K usually WAY less as especially at auction as they are basically a parts doner. They pretty much are going to require a rebuild and new emissions system, likely a diff rebuild and a new transmission in short order. Your looking at an easy 75K+ for that just to get something worth using. Any emissions truck at 500kish is going to top out around 50k if you dont want to get screwed. Gliders are going to start at 40k for anything worth a ####. And anything with 750K+ just add the cost of a rebuild to it because it will need it and soon unless it has papers showing a recent rebuild and your #### good with a wrench. Anything emissions under 300k expect to pay around 60-75% of retail so in the 90-150K range going up for desirable features and lower miles Pre emissions trucks with papers and in great condition start at 70k and if they have sub 500k pre rebuild miles expect to pay around 90k. More for desirable models. You can usually figure any cat engine or D60 12.7 pre emissions and sometimes N14s usually add around 10-20K to a rigs base price depending. 13 or 18 speed usually adds 5 to 15K. A hood or other desirable truck model or one with desirable specs also adds around 10-25% of the value depending. Specialized trucks like a wrecker or super heavy hauler and the like are case by case.
Resale value is what some of us look at, comfort is another, then looks are one more. The truck is worth what someone will pay for it. IMHO if it has a blue cap on a tank it's not worth 1 buck
Pre Acert Cat for the win, (although some people have had good success with Acert) Series 60 Detroit, and pre ISX Cummins for the runner up. Manual Transmission, 13 is my personal preference, followed by 18, then 15. Honestly, I would put more stock in a trucks drivetrain, than what the drivetrain is in. Although it better have a hood.