To buy an auction truck or not? What would make it worthwhile?

Auctions used to be really good. Companies got rid of stuff to get new ones. Now, MOST (Not all) dump stuff because it is costing them too much money. They know how to hide the major problems. And keep in mind, you won't be test driving it. You may hear it run for a moment. You may not. They can hide A LOT. They get a percentage. Pressure washing something, changing fluids and clearing codes is usually all it takes to pawn a real junker off on someone that doesn't know what they are looking for. On the other hand, you can stumble up something they just sell because they no longer have room and it looks bad but it is a really decent item so the bidding doesn't go far. Then, there is shill bidding and they all do this.... I have done a lot of auctions, and am doing a lot less. I am finding less "deals". A lot less.
This 91 Volvo with an N14. Literally nobody wanted. It looks like hell. It sat and sat and sat. It was their spare because they got a new one. $5400. But that was all I saw there worth bidding on. I saw people buying garbage and there is sales tax and buyers premium so you add 13% to whatever your final bid is. It's gambling. That's what it is.

 

You wont. You didnt fully explore all your options. A Western Star is a Freightliner (In that a Lexus is a Toyota). Its got the same DD15 engine as the Cascadia you listed as your "auction truck" WITH a factory warranty on it on top of it. Who ever told you to get a Freightliner and NOT get a Western Star doesnt know what they are talking about. Let us know how far you make it in this business...

And not actively looking to sell it. If I was it would be in the truck paper. You were looking, and its something I had been thinking about. Figured if the stars lined up, then great. If not, oh well.

But if you are on a tight enough budget that you are even actually considering an auction truck, then you have no excuse to not check into anything that presents itself. My first truck I got used from a dealer. A year and a half later I was looking to unload that POS. I even went from Minneapolis to El Paso just to look at a new truck. Ended up ordering one from the factory.

I had 70k in the bank when I bought the used truck, worked my ### off for nearly a year and a half and had 120k when I finally unloaded it. Paid off the new one in 2 years (260k) and had over 200k in the bank. That was the difference between a used truck from a dealer and a factory order... (and the rates were a #### load better than they are now).

5 years later, I still dont have 260k miles on it. Its just broken in.