Upgrade opinion

Gangly · January 31, 2023

On 1/29/2023 at 12:14 PM, bowtechjoe said:

Well I’m at 60K on my 5.3 which is the end of the powertrain warranty. I drive a lot of miles back and forth to work and vacations throughout the year. The price of the 3.0 is the same or cheaper than another 5.3 plus it’s a 100K warranty and better fuel mileage. Just looking if those differences and the added maintenance on the 3.0 are worth it.

"Worth" is in the eye of the beholder, so that is a question only you can answer. If your looking for financial value, then no, the value is not in the purchase of a more expensive vehicle with increased maintenance and fuel costs.

Gangly · January 31, 2023

21 hours ago, It's Tim said:

Most peeps have to crash & burn (some multiple times) before they realise Dave Ramsey is right.

Bingo. There is never a financial gain when purchasing a new vehicle if you can continue to use what you have. People will try to justify it financially and no matter what argument is made, the bottom line is they usually just want a new vehicle. There is nothing wrong with wanting a new vehicle though, and if you have the means then go for it, I did.

However, if you are trying to justify the purchase of a new vehicle through financial gains such as gas, insurance, etc. when the vehicle you currently own is adequate, you've already lost.

Bottom line: if you are financially free (see Dave Ramsey) and want the truck, then go for it and don't worry about justifying the purchase to anybody.

bowtechjoe · February 1, 2023

Thanks for all the opinions. Have not decided one way or the other. I see both sides of the argument. As of right now leaning toward keeping what I have as long as no more issues pop up and can get this dang window to quit leaking.

Grumpy Bear · February 1, 2023

21 hours ago, Gangly said:

Bingo. There is never a financial gain when purchasing a new vehicle if you can continue to use what you have. People will try to justify it financially and no matter what argument is made, the bottom line is they usually just want a new vehicle. There is nothing wrong with wanting a new vehicle though, and if you have the means then go for it, I did.

However, if you are trying to justify the purchase of a new vehicle through financial gains such as gas, insurance, etc. when the vehicle you currently own is adequate, you've already lost.

Bottom line: if you are financially free (see Dave Ramsey) and want the truck, then go for it and don't worry about justifying the purchase to anybody.

Decades ago, when my adult life was a seedling I couldn't afford a car, so I walked to all of my three jobs and saved as much as I could past the demands of the current life. We eventually found a car we could buy and almost instantly found we could buy it but not afford the cost of operation. So, I continued walk and use the car for inclement weather and Sunday Service transportation. Eventually I found better work, fewer jobs and a bit more money. The car became a daily driver to and from work and the 'necessary things' of life. Literally the definition of boot strapping yourself up.

With the car, even in the best of times then, it was skipping lunch if you wanted the buy the gas to go to the state park for a hike that day. Eventually I found that a motorcycle was not just something to wish for but something that "paid for itself'. I could buy the bike, the insurance and the gas for a month for the cost of the gas in the Ford and it became my primary transportation, winter and summer for some years. It would take a few more of those lean years and some promotions, raises to buy my first new car AND afford to drive it.

But even the more affordable bikes were blackholes of money. Your transportation will never ever generate a net profit. They are NOT an investment. Not even the collectables.

KARNUT · February 1, 2023

44 minutes ago, Grumpy Bear said:

Decades ago, when my adult life was a seedling I couldn't afford a car, so I walked to all of my three jobs and saved as much as I could past the demands of the current life. We eventually found a car we could buy and almost instantly found we could buy it but not afford the cost of operation. So, I continued walk and use the car for inclement weather and Sunday Service transportation. Eventually I found better work, fewer jobs and a bit more money. The car became a daily driver to and from work and the 'necessary things' of life. Literally the definition of boot strapping yourself up.

With the car, even in the best of times then, it was skipping lunch if you wanted the buy the gas to go to the state park for a hike that day. Eventually I found that a motorcycle was not just something to wish for but something that "paid for itself'. I could buy the bike, the insurance and the gas for a month for the cost of the gas in the Ford and it became my primary transportation, winter and summer for some years. It would take a few more of those lean years and some promotions, raises to buy my first new car AND afford to drive it.

But even the more affordable bikes were blackholes of money. Your transportation will never ever generate a net profit. They are NOT an investment. Not even the collectables.

Not to argue. I have one in my garage that’s worth 3 times we paid for it. I’ve made money on at least 10 vehicles even daily drivers. Some had sweet equity. At the least I needed wheels anyway so I bought investments insured with collector car insurance. My avalanche as a regular ride is worth almost 4K more than I paid for it. I drove my 92 12 years sold it for what I paid for it. My last collector vehicle a 64 elcamino I daily drove to the office for 2 years got 5K more when I sold it. Most of my collector vehicle got driven not tucked away. Your truck is a good example. Sweet ride. Collector vehicle in my eyes. Add your Buick to the list.

Grumpy Bear · February 1, 2023

1 hour ago, KARNUT said:

Not to argue. I have one in my garage that’s worth 3 times we paid for it. I’ve made money on at least 10 vehicles even daily drivers. Some had sweet equity. At the least I needed wheels anyway so I bought investments insured with collector car insurance. My avalanche as a regular ride is worth almost 4K more than I paid for it. I drove my 92 12 years sold it for what I paid for it. My last collector vehicle a 64 elcamino I daily drove to the office for 2 years got 5K more when I sold it. Most of my collector vehicle got driven not tucked away. Your truck is a good example. Sweet ride. Collector vehicle in my eyes. Add your Buick to the list.

No argument required. I owned a 64 Malibu SS once. Sweet car. Pretty green with a white leather interior. I suppose today it may fetch quite a penny. In theory. But when I sold it the difference between its collectable value and my actual receipt was not quite the same. My story might have indicated that I'd never been in a position to buy and hold for a future gain. The case for most people I'd guess.

KARNUT · February 1, 2023

7 minutes ago, Grumpy Bear said:

No argument required. I owned a 64 Malibu SS once. Sweet car. Pretty green with a white leather interior. I suppose today it may fetch quite a penny. In theory. But when I sold it the difference between its collectable value and my actual receipt was not quite the same. My story might have indicated that I'd never been in a position to buy and hold for a future gain. The case for most people I'd guess.

I started modest and worked my way up. Every one had a story. The one that’s left and the last one was honestly by accident. In 2000 my wife wanted an intagra. She had a paid for impala ss in the garage. She wanted a small car. At the dealer I saw a picture of an intagra type R. It was just a little more and was cheaper than the impala was when we got it. We didn’t follow the fast and furious movies. Didn’t have a clue. She daily drove it for almost 2 years to work. One day the guard at her job noticed people driving around her car. Ran them off. We put it the garage with the impala. The impala got traded for a new Camaro costing only TTL when they came back out. For my son to go to college. My wife bought a Mazda 3. Then a Elantra GT my grandson now drives. The Acura is still in the garage, still looks new.

silveradosid · February 3, 2023

it is nice when you can live down south and not in a salt belt. need to upgrade for me is when it just not worth putting money on a vehicle. my 2014 was a great truck, but i had 175k miles on it and knew it was only a matter of time and it becomes a money pit. box is rusting out , rocker are all bubbling out and then i knew the 6 speed was going to need rebuilt. and then there is the 5.3 how much longer before a lifter fails. i am 64 and even 10 years ago i would have done all these repairs myself, not in the cards anymore. so looking at putting 10 grand into a vehicle even before any engine work 1 on a truck that is only worth 14 grand didnt make sense. so i upgraded to a 2020,so hopefully i go another 8 years

Grumpy Bear · February 3, 2023

9 hours ago, silveradosid said:

a truck that is only worth 14 grand

I love words. Worth is one I like. What is your portfolio worth? Worth is the price a person RECEIVED and not what is willing to pay. That number is the ask. Worth is past tense. Value is a more important word as it is personal to you. Market has zip to do with value. You value it at $14K but it's only worth it if you receive that price. Can you get $14K? Have an offer? Let's say you do.

Put $10K into the drive line and $10K into the body/interior. Add $14K. It will run and last as new. Resetting the clock for $34K. But you spent but $20 in reality. Which new truck will you buy for equal to less? It will be closer to 2X that. Its value is meaningless unless you are buying to sell and have the buyer in pocket.

I get it. I might be the only guy breathing that thinks like this, but I could never afford to pay $70 for something I could do for $35K and just burn the rest. Kids needed shoes.

Edited February 3, 2023 by Grumpy Bear

silveradosid · February 4, 2023

i got a great deal on the 2020, it only cost 32k to upgrade, my 2014 is still being driven by my son. the second part of the equation is renting a vehicle while the 2014 would be in the body shop and then the tranny shop. and then do you wait for the engine to fail or do it also. for me it was just a simple fact of peace of mind and not worry about it anymore

Gangly · February 7, 2023

The good news is the bottom end on these motors are near bulletproof as long as you don't drop a valve. A rebuild for me would consist of a new set of non DFM lifters, new springs, retainers, guides, and a new oil pump. Basically all top end components minus the pump. Beyond that, there is not much these motors need as far as a rebuild is concerned, they are very robust engines. With the transmission, I would probably just purchase a new one in its entirety and be done.

However, I wouldn't be looking to rebuild an engine until the engine let me know it needed it. The same with the transmission.