On Trades

wack · January 29, 2002

My 99 LS is a 2wd more of a powerful sport truck than a roomy hauler,which is what I wanted.As far as needing or wanting 4wd I don't.I had a 88 Short bed Midlevel Sierra for 5 years and used 4wd a handful of times.I also towed a 19 ft boat around.For me 2wd makes more sense.Especially today where at the end of Januaryin southern Massachusetts it may hit 55 degrees.But for me to swallow a depreciation hit of 10 grand is a bummer.There are no apparent issues with my truck as a matter of fact the first screw fell out of the small overhead console sometime 2 weeks ago so there is no need for me to trade it in.And I like it a bunch.I think its great to have 4wd but to haul around a lot of extra weight every day with all them expensive parts to wear out its not for me.Besides very few of us know how quick a 5.3 2wd auto,3.73 geared unit is.It may surprise a whole lot of you.It may not be a Lightning but is sure ain't bad.

CityTruck · January 29, 2002

Um... OK.

I've found that trade-in (resale value) on GM trucks is about the best of any domestic vehicle. I've had 4, 5th one on the way and they have always had much better resale value than any other vehicles I've had. (I do try to take real good care of my vehicles). If you doubt this, go look at the stickers on used, well cared for GM trucks. At least here in the South (Dallas) they keep their value.

HillHound · January 29, 2002

But for me to swallow a depreciation hit of 10 grand is a bummer.

This depreciation as a percentage of initial purchase price basically holds true for any vehicle, not just trucks. The exeption being possibly luxury or sports cars.

The results of my limited experience is this:

If you keep the truck less than three years, you get an average trade-in/depreciation. But keep it long-term (3 to 7 years) and the value tends to hold up better than for cars. People always have uses for old pickups and will pay a little more to have a good work/tow vehicle, but who wants to pay alot for a 6 year old mass-produced compact car or mid-size sedan or readily available?

I had a '93 Dakota 4wd V6 that I bought new in 1993 for $15,500. It was a basic truck with 5-speed, bench seat and regular cab. It had several dents and and a bent rear bumper when I traded it off after 73000 miles on a new 1998 Ranger 4wd. My trade-in was $9600 on the Ranger which was stickered at $19000. Not too bad in my opinion.

wack · January 30, 2002

That was then this is now. All I wanted was to trade up to a new model.Same options same everything.But to get boinked for the same vehicle 2.5 years later told me that they didn't need my business.So that 600 dollars they made in 99, according to them, was enough.

CityTruck · January 30, 2002

Why would you want to trade in a 99 for an 02 with the same options and everything? Aren't they the same truck? I really don't know for sure, but I didn't think there were any significant differences between the 99's and the 02's. Someone will educate me I'm sure. ;)

wack · January 31, 2002

My 99 was made in in the first year of the production run.So while there isn't anything wron with it I figured a 01 model could only be that much better.But I came to my senses.