8.1 vs. D-Max Resale values

CMNTMXR81 · December 18, 2002

All I've been reading from mostly the D-Max owners is that at resale time, the D-Max will get more than an equally equipped 8.1. Well DUH!!! You paid more up front, so naturally it's gonna be worth more later. What matters is Return On Investment (R.O.I.). With that said, I went to all three used vehicle valuation sites (KBB, Edmunds, and NADA). Both KBB and NADA quoted prices for these engines HIGHER than their purchase price. Seeing as though a vehicle (especially a truck meant to be worked and abused) unless a collector/classic car DOESN'T appreciate, this left me scratching my head. So I don't know what to say there.

I compared my truck exactly. A 2002 fully loaded (LT) 2500HD, ext cab, short bed, 4x4. All options were the same. The only difference was that once I selected the 8.1 and the other I selected the 6.6 turbo diesel. Both I used 20,000 miles as mileage in the 60185 zip code. Unfortunately neither have ten years under their belt to get a truer number but this is all we gots.

Anyway, the 8.1 is an $850 dollar option from GM and the DuraMax is a $4,810 option from GM

Per Edmunds if you have

an 8.1 = add $561

a DMAX = add $3,177

Now for the 8.1, divide $561/850 and you'll get 66%

Now for the DMAX, divide $3,177/$4,810 and you'll get.............................................................................

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................................................................66%

THE EXACT SAME RETURN ON INVESTMENT!!!

Once again, we don't have a couple of years of service to compare which may change things a little, but probably not by too much and because of screwy numbers from the other two sites, we can't get an accurate comparison between the three.

Here are the numbers I got from the other two

KBB

8.1 = $670 (reasonable)

6.6 = $7,005 (uhhhh)

NADA

8.1 = $1,275 (uhhhhh)

6.6 = $5,000 (borderline uhhhhh)

Once again, these trucks DON'T appreciate in value no matter if either engines were cast in gold.

Roofer · December 18, 2002

Maybe they don't "appreciate". Maybe the others just depreciate more.

Professor · December 19, 2002

Here is my guess: There are not enough 2002 models being resold. NADA did a depreciation figure. That is the reason the numbers are exact. Maybe KBB used 2001 figures to base their best guess.

Check out a 2001 and see what it says. I'd like to know myself. I know the KKB prices accuratly reflected the used 2001 trucks I looked at. That is why I bought the 6.0.

If you are happy with your 8.1 don't worry about it!

CMNTMXR81 · December 19, 2002

I am happy with my 8.1. That was never in question. I just get tired of listening to all the D-Max owners telling us gasser crowd how their trucks are worth more because of the diesel. Well yea, you paid more upfront, that naturally translates to more at resale time. Kinda like how a $30,000 TrailBlazer will be worth more than a $12,000 Cavalier a few years down the road.

However when you factor how much % of it's resale it reatins, you'll see that they are relatively close and not enough to make such a comment. One problem like I initially said and you repeated was timing. 2001 & 2002 are gonna pretty much be the same results. We need to get a few more years under our belts before we can make such accurate presumptions on resale. For now they are relatively even and by the time 10 years passes, I'll most likely have the latest and greatest BBC anyway, so I'd have traded the current one in a long time ago making resale an irrelevant factor for the most part.

THE BIGPUNN · December 19, 2002

where does the 6.0 fall at? 66% too?

CMNTMXR81 · December 19, 2002

No, cause the 6.0 is essentially free. Unless you want to unwrap it's cost some other way.

We are solely talking about those of us that spent extra $$$ to upgrade from the 6.0.

hdmax · December 19, 2002

The only time I state that the Duramax is worth more, is when someone says that it will take forever to recover the up front cost. I believe that the Duramax will pay for the up grade in 110,000-120,000 miles over the 6.0L and maybe 60,000 miles over the 8.1L figuring in resale value. ( because of mileage)

sutak · January 9, 2003

The only time I state that the Duramax is worth more, is when someone says that it will take forever to recover the up front cost. I believe that the Duramax will pay for the up grade in 110,000-120,000 miles over the 6.0L and maybe 60,000 miles over the 8.1L figuring in resale value. ( because of mileage)

HDMAX,

OK, let say the Duramax pays for itself after 100000 miles. What happens if your diesel blows up? It will cost a fortune to repair it, even if you do the work yourself. I bet after a 100000 miles the Duramax retail value plummets, considering the warranty just ran out.

I never liked that dirty engine oil, more expensive oil changes, more frequent fuel filter changes, worrying about loosing power if the fuel gels, or water in the fuel just to mention a few. I don't want to single out the Duramax, this applies to all the diesels. As far as diesels are concerned the Duramax is the most technologically advanced engine.

Larry

2001 Chev K3500 CC LT 8.L / Ally

Polaris Man · January 9, 2003

It doesnt go down too much when close to or around 100k. There is a 01 Chevy CrewCab 2500HD 4x4 D/A Longbed Lt with 90,000 miles and they want 26,000$$ for it. I saw another reg cab D/A 4x4 a while back with over 100k and they wanted 25,000$$ for it, I wouldnt give that but thats what they were askin for them, both at dealers.

DuckhunterInTN · January 12, 2003

So, CMNTMXR81, you are saying you proved yourself right because 1 out of 3 websites agreed with you? Uhhhh.......

I have neither of these vehicles, so I don't really have any bias. However, I can relate the facts as I see them.

None of us are saying that the diesel "appreciates" in value. That would be ridiculous. We are just saying it depreciates less than the gas-burners. This is not because the diesel is a better motor or anything. It is simply because it is a more rare vehicle on the used car market. This was especially true when the duramaxes first came out. Eventually, the supply will catch up with demand in the used car market and the prices will even out. For the time being, however, while these (diesel) trucks are more highly sought after in the used market they will have a higher resale value. Sure, these vehicles are not collector's items, but when you have fewer on the market and many people wanting them, then the price WILL go up. It is very similar to when the duramaxes first came out and some dealers where charging at least MSRP while letting the gas burners go for under MSRP.

The fact that edmunds prices matched on both the 8.1 and the duramax proved only that they use a simple calculation to come up with the figures rather than taking any sort of consumer demand into consideration.

CMNTMXR81 · January 13, 2003

No, you missed the complete theory behind the post!

1) you pay more for a D-Max when you buy it so it'll will be worth more at resale time.

2) By going to those sites, at THIS POINT IN TIME both have depreciated by roughly the same percentage! Could be more, could be less. But it's not as if the diesel maintains 99% of it's value vs. the Big Block powered truck only being worth 50% it's original cost. The two are almost moot point AT THIS POINT IN TIME!

I said, we'll see after a few more years and more mileage and abuse is racked up on each vehicle. Things will probably change, but no so much in a lopsided amount as others seem to elude to.