Forum Discussion
Taco
Mar 10, 2014Explorer
Sure there are examples of vehicles that make it past their design life both gas and diesel but I wouldn't make a purchase expecting it to happen.
You have to admit there is something a little foolish about a truck selling for 70% of it's original purchase price that has 30% of it's design life left and has it's most trouble free and lowest maintenance miles behind it. It might last another 200k or it might last 10k. I don't want to pay $30,000 to find out.
Some of you guys are fortunate enough to be able to sweat a fully depreciated asset in taking a truck past it's design life, but don't pretend that it is a sure thing.
The wrench in the works is that the purchase of a vehicle and even more so diesel trucks goes beyond a reasoned decision to purchase a vehicle for it's utility. There is lots of emotion that goes into it. It is what makes a Harley Davidson cost more than a functionally superior yamaha, and keeps the harley resale high. I just cannot bring myself to financially justify a purchase based on the hope that someone will overpay for it above it's actual utility value based on a desire for its intangible emotional value.
You have to admit there is something a little foolish about a truck selling for 70% of it's original purchase price that has 30% of it's design life left and has it's most trouble free and lowest maintenance miles behind it. It might last another 200k or it might last 10k. I don't want to pay $30,000 to find out.
Some of you guys are fortunate enough to be able to sweat a fully depreciated asset in taking a truck past it's design life, but don't pretend that it is a sure thing.
The wrench in the works is that the purchase of a vehicle and even more so diesel trucks goes beyond a reasoned decision to purchase a vehicle for it's utility. There is lots of emotion that goes into it. It is what makes a Harley Davidson cost more than a functionally superior yamaha, and keeps the harley resale high. I just cannot bring myself to financially justify a purchase based on the hope that someone will overpay for it above it's actual utility value based on a desire for its intangible emotional value.
About Travel Trailer Group
44,067 PostsLatest Activity: Jun 03, 2026