Good or bad time to buy a truck?

Does it matter? Thought I heard inventory was low

Used prices are inflated.
New inventory is low.
But, if you’re financing, interest rates are low.

I guess the answer is…it depends.

Just purchased myself. New. I can only speak to Ford for the following, but you as of about 6 weeks ago, you couldn’t order a new 2020 anymore. You had to pick from the inventory, or what was on order still being built. This is about as high as the rebates get and then will reset to zero when the 2020’s are gone. Should be able to get between $6k and $8k in rebates right now on a 2020.

The new car lots around here are almost empty… I can’t imagine the prices won’t be inflated.

I just leased again, found that nobody was too anxious to present a “deal” upfront, but wound up getting a really good deal with my local dealer (who also sold me my previous truck) without too much hassle. Some smaller lots have little inventory, but bigger places (Mauer, Belzer) had the lots stacked. Smaller dealers can always trade with other dealers to get what you want. I do like shopping the last day or two of the month.

Scott

I’m in the same boat. Trying to trade my 2017 ram with 50k in on a new ram 2500 with the 6.4, I have found it very difficult to find the package I want. And then when I do there is no deal to be had on it. So im still driving the 17 and searching

Each situation is different.

I’d say it’s a relatively tough time to buy used. If I were selling my truck I’d push for top dollar knowing demand is relatively high (cheap gas, lots of recent recreational purchases, few on the market in good shape, etc).

For new, it’s probably more open to interpretation as “good” versus “bad” time. Inventory is low, meaning finding the package and colors you want could be tough. With low inventory comes the knowledge by the dealers that people may be willing to pay higher prices. All of these rebates are nice and helpful, but a rebate off of an inflated sticker price to fit current supply and demand doesn’t necessarily save you money. If you can find what you want and make offers, you may be able to save some money off something new. Finding a new 2020 truck where the 2021’s bring some substantial changes also could be a great way to save $.

I currently have a 2013 F150 eco boost. It’s been a good truck but I got an oil leak I think it’s coming from one of the turbos. 120k Miles

Open to other brands. Just stopped and tried to look at GMC but they literally only had one truck on the lot

Bed size is also working against me. I want a 6.5ft box but almost all new trucks are short box

lindyrig79 wrote:

I currently have a 2013 F150 eco boost. It’s been a good truck but I got an oil leak I think it’s coming from one of the turbos. 120k Miles

Open to other brands. Just stopped and tried to look at GMC but they literally only had one truck on the lot

Bed size is also working against me. I want a 6.5ft box but almost all new trucks are short box

Thats the shame in trucks these days. They are glorified mini vans. I have a 5ft7 box and its horribly worthless.

lindyrig79 wrote:

I currently have a 2013 F150 eco boost. It’s been a good truck but I got an oil leak I think it’s coming from one of the turbos. 120k Miles

Open to other brands. Just stopped and tried to look at GMC but they literally only had one truck on the lot

Bed size is also working against me. I want a 6.5ft box but almost all new trucks are short box

The new eco boost they are offering lifetime power train warranty Including the turbos. Hard to beat that IMO

lindyrig79 wrote:

Bed size is also working against me. I want a 6.5ft box but almost all new trucks are short box

Not knowing the particulars, but there’s 33 F150 4×4 SuperCrew’s with 6.5 boxes within 20 miles of me.

HRG

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Hot Runr Guy wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>lindyrig79 wrote:</div>
Bed size is also working against me. I want a 6.5ft box but almost all new trucks are short box

Not knowing the particulars, but there’s 33 F150 4×4 SuperCrew’s with 6.5 boxes within 20 miles of me.

HRG

Good to know. I looked a Ford a couple weeks ago and only saw like 6 over in Isanti but will search again this afternoon. I do want leather

Ditch the eco boost and buy a v8, you will be much happier in the long run

Just sat in a 2020 Ram Laramie with the 6.5 ft box. Pretty sweet truck and after rebates it was about 45k. Pretty crazy to think that is a good price but substantially less than others I am seeing

I am trying to get a new work truck for the company. was going to order a new 3500 chassis cab last fall then GM Went on strike and that no more than got over and the bit Dempanic hit. I am looking again now and am finding a few 3500 crew cab 3500’s out there and the price seems about the same as when I priced them last fall. Rebated seem about the same as well. Now we are looking at work trucks not fancier trucks. Was told by the dealer that GM only made around 3500 heavy duty trucks last year.

this has been a weird year. plenty of deals earlier to be had but now inventory is so low i think deals are tough. i was in negotiations about 4-6 weeks ago and was able to get about 5-6k off sticker but inventory is even lower now then it was then. 2021 models are starting to roll out. im guessing pickings will be slim for the rest of the year for the 2020 models.

Ive decided to wait until next year.

I don’t think it’s a bad year to buy a truck, it’s just a bad year to Buy the truck you want.

I priced a Chevy 1500 CC 4×4, 6.5′ box in the LTZ package 3 months ago. Back then you could almost 11k off sticker. Same truck now only 7k off.
The one I looked at is still on the lot.
The dealer told me his truck inventory is down 300 trucks compared to most years at this time.

From what I’ve been seeing used trucks are the price of new ones. Used trucks jumped at least $3k over the summer.

Why the heck is Rams standard box 6’4” instead of 6’6”. So annoying. That two inches is literally the difference of my Otter ice house fitting or not.

lindyrig79 wrote:

Why the heck is Rams standard box 6’4” instead of 6’6”. So annoying. That two inches is literally the difference of my Otter ice house fitting or not.

Because fat Americans use trucks as minivans and prioritize cab comfort over capability.

lindyrig79 wrote:

Why the heck is Rams standard box 6’4” instead of 6’6”. So annoying. That two inches is literally the difference of my Otter ice house fitting or not.

I’ve been searching for a 8ft box. Remember those. Who decided they needed less box room.
I should have never sold my duramax 4 door long box

Valdor Motors in Cambridge always seems to have used trucks with 8′ boxes on the lot.

Dutchboy wrote:

Valdor Motors in Cambridge always seems to have used trucks with 8′ boxes on the lot.

I will go there are take a look. Thank you

lindyrig79 wrote:

Good to know. I looked a Ford a couple weeks ago and only saw like 6 over in Isanti but will search again this afternoon. I do want leather

When I was shopping trucks last year one thing I found about ford was no matter where I went/ what I did it was always more cost-effective to do leather aftermarket than finding the package I want with factory leather.

Aftermarket leather runs around $1k for just about any truck on the market. There are a few places around town that do it.

KPE wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>lindyrig79 wrote:</div>
Good to know. I looked a Ford a couple weeks ago and only saw like 6 over in Isanti but will search again this afternoon. I do want leather

When I was shopping trucks last year one thing I found about ford was no matter where I went/ what I did it was always more cost-effective to do leather aftermarket than finding the package I want with factory leather.

Aftermarket leather runs around $1k for just about any truck on the market. There are a few places around town that do it.

I did this with my truck and even got ram emblems stitched in to the head rest and matching blue stitching for 1250 out the door

To answer your question, YES if you can find the truck you want. I bought a one way ticket to Ohio to buy my F-150 crew with a 6.5 box.

lindyrig79 wrote:

Does it matter? Thought I heard inventory was low

Is there a bad time to buy a truck??? If you have a decent trade in, it may be a REALLY good time.

I am in the long bed camp. I have a 2002 Silverado Extended cab with the rare 8 foot bed. I just couldn’t go down to the short bed at this point.

So even before the pandemic, I realized that in order to get a new truck with the long bed (GMC or Chevy), I was likely going to have to order with the dealer. And when you do that, I think you lose out on a lot of the rebates because you are not buying from the existing dealer stock.

I am kicking myself for not jumping on a used Denali with the long bed a few weeks ago. That thing was snapped up quickly.

As for leather, I am shocked at how much leather seats adds to the vehicle. I’ve looked at SUVs and trucks that were otherwised optioned out, but because they had cloth seats, the were several thousands less. Like multiple thousands.

I’m late to the party here but I think its a bad time to buy. I nearly sold my Land Cruiser and got a Tundra because a CrewMax TRD Sport was $260/mo with credit over 775 with nothing down in Feb! Then Covid hit. Now there are zero deals due to demand being low. Now with production down and the less driving I’d wait it out. Just my 2c.