Paying cash for an older semi tractor vs. financing a new one

I’ve purchased a 1999 century with a 12.7 Detroit for $8800 and it has ran flawlessly for 5 years now. Biggest repair was AC at less than $1k for everything to be replaced. Still own it.

Also purchased a 2003 Columbia with the 12.7 Detroit for $9.5k and it also ran flawlessly for 3 years with about $6k into it the first couple months. Sold it last year.

Now I’m in a 1996 w900l again with a 12.7 Detroit. This truck was rougher but I wanted paper logs. Sunk $15k or so into it.

The average maintenance year end cost for the years of owning all the trucks including all repairs and oil changes is approx $8-10k. This also includes trailer so not bad. Just find a good mechanic and know your truck.

 

If you have a secure gig, and no other ways to spend your money..go for it . or if your wife ( or partner to be pc.) makes the bucks? the banker is needing a new car too, and a couple new suits. We are a one income family, always have been. Our choice. Every situation different. I have a friend that buys new every 3 to 4 years. He runs quite hard.

 

There is nothing like not going to work because you dont feel like it and can afford to take the week off. Even better is the point when you take a week off and actually look forward to going back to work again.

 

Absolutely. Some of them are rated at 500 horsepower and you could do a tune on them also. I ran plenty of them pulling 80,000 lb.

The 12.7 is really one of the most Dependable economical engines, even not expensive to rebuild. Right next to that would be the electronic n14, although I understand they had some electrical problems with injectors and and I think the wiring for the injectors. Any Caterpillar engine it's safe to say is crazy expensive to rebuild, especially with genuine parts. I never saw the benefit in that extreme cost of rebuilding.

I myself prefer a mechanical engine, but that 12.7 Detroit and the n14 are about the simplest and best of the electronic bunch. But the absolute cheapest to rebuild or buy new or have someone rebuild is the big cam.

In case you don't know it, the big cam is the same engine and block as the electronic n14. There are a few minor internal differences, but the n14 is basically an electronic big cam. And some of the earlier n14s were mechanical (early 90's). I understand they were really great engines those mechanical n14s.