TBow Posted March 7, 2010 Report Share Posted March 7, 2010 I've been browsing car lots, Kijiji and AutoTrader lately looking for a new (to me) pickup. With a lot of the price adjustments from new vehicle dealers, you can pick up a new 4X4 pickup for around $26K to $29K, and that usually comes with reduced rates financing. The trucks are usually extended cabs, 1/2 tons, 4X4, short box and V8 gas engines. I've been reading the mileage ratings on a lot of the wondow stickers and they range anywhere from 25 to 30 mpg. From what I've read on the internet and talked to some owners, those higher ratings are when you're going downhill with a tail wind, otherwise mpg reality is closer to 18 to 20 mpg at best. And the small pickups like the Ford Rangers are no better than 16 to 18 mpg. I've read a lot of good stuff about the 6.6 Duramax diesel / Allison transmission GMC / Chevys with regards to mileage ratings, power and durability / reliability. There's a lot of aftermarket mods you can buy for engine / fuel tuning that'll prop up fuel economies in the 21 to 25 + mpg range. That's sure a heap better than the 15 mpg I'm getting on my '98 Dodge 318. So I've been checking on the internet for prices of new-to-me GMC / Chevys with the Duramax engines. Most (if not all) are 2500 series units. That's O.K. with me. I like the 2500s better anyways. But man oh man are the 2500 diesels ever muchos denairo! I wanted something in the range of a 2006 or 2007 in hopes of still grabbing hold of some warranty, yet keeping the price within reason. Some of the 2007s I was looking at are running $25K to almost $40K. Hocky smokes Batman, I can buy a new 2010 half ton for under $30K! The used 2006/07s in the $25K range have 150,000 to 200,000 km on them. Don't really want high mileage. That's what my Dodge has now, and that's why I want another vehicle. Just tired of spending money fixing an old buggy all the time. Might as well be putting that fixin' money into buying a newer set of 4X4 wheels. So just about all the 2006 or 2007 GMC 2500 Duramax with under 100,000 km are over $30K. That's just way too much for this here old boy. Are car dealers nuts? Do they even sell any used trucks at those prices when they're selling new trucks at less money? I guess me and my old Dodge will just have to keep company for a few more hunting' trips. All my new-to-me truck experiences will just have to be limited to wishful thinking for now! TBow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckee Posted March 12, 2010 Report Share Posted March 12, 2010 It wasn't that long ago, that you could buy a home, for the price they want for cars and trucks these days. It's crazy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun_300 Posted March 13, 2010 Report Share Posted March 13, 2010 Tbow, the Duramax option on a new truck is $11,000. That's why they are so expensive. You can put two 2500HD chevy's side by side, brand new, 2010. The one with the 6.0L gas could be $50,000, add the duramax to the same truck you're looking at over $60,000. Well mind you the Allison transmission comes with the duramax and the 6.0L comes with the 6L90E. Both are bullet proof transmissions. I work at a GM dealer here in Arnprior, Tbow, want me to keep an eye out for a good used truck for you? I know we have a 2006 Sierra 2500HD with the 6.0L/4L80E, extended cab short bed, 69,000km on it for $20,888. I know they would move on the price if you go through me. Or I could keep my eye out for a Duramax if you're set on having a diesel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TBow Posted March 13, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 13, 2010 I was looking at the Duramax / Allison as I'd heard good things about power and mileage. With programing mods, I'd been told I could manage 23 to 26 mpg depending on the gear ratios. One of my best friends and hunting buddy, drove a GMC 3500 dually crew cab with a Duramax where we worked. He told me on some trips on 401 they were getting 26 mpg. My old 318 Dodge is only giving me 15 or 16 mpg, so I didn't want to jump back into another gas guzzler. Even the new 2009 or 2010 gas pickups don't look like that great of mileage. I know the sticker ratings on the windows don't look too bad, but when I researched on the net to verify mileage ratings, all I was reading that those ratings were going down hill with a tail wind. A couple buddies have 2009s with gas engines, and tell me the best they can hope for is 18 mpg, maybe 20 if they keep it under 80 km. Thanks for the heads up on the trucks at your work. I Googled the dealership you work at and looked at the truck. If it was the Duramax it would have been just what I was looking for. I like the classic body style of the 2006 or 2007 GMCs, as the newer body style just doesn't do it for me. I liked the fact that the mileage on the 2500 at your work was 60K as I really wanted to keep the mileage around 50K to 75K km as well. Most of the 06 or 07 2500s with the Duramax that had low mileage and decent shape were well over $30K. Man they're selling 2010 gas trucks for 27K with low interest loans. I googled car loans to see what monthly payments would be on something in or around $30K, OUCH! By the time taxes and all were tallied in, I was looking at $650 to $700 a month....for 5 years......for a 3 year old truck! Anyhow, appreciate the heads up on the trucks where you work. If you do see an 06 or 07 2500 Duramax, keep me in mind. I figure I'll have to make up my mind within the next week or two as to what I'm going to do truckwise. TBow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun_300 Posted March 13, 2010 Report Share Posted March 13, 2010 Yeah, the gas engines are not the greatest on fuel in the 3/4 tons. You'd be lucky to get 15mpg unloaded with the 6.0L and 9-10mpg pulling a trailer or heavy load. You can also get them with a Vortec 8.1L (496 cu in. big block) They get around the same mileage but have about 175 foot pounds of torque on the 6.0L, more horses too. The duramax is the best one to get, it'll get 22mpg unloaded, and 20mpg loaded. They are big torque monsters. The new body style has the new duramax in it (RPO code LMM) Talk about a monster! I did a PDI on a 2007 NBS 3500HD dually, first new Dmax I drove, took it out for a roadtest, put my foot into it at 90km/h and it broke the back tires loose! I nearly filled my shorts. The torque is unbelievable. Those new ones are harder on fuel though. I'll keep an eye out and let you know if anything comes in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TBow Posted March 13, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 13, 2010 Muchos gracias amigo! TBow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun_300 Posted March 13, 2010 Report Share Posted March 13, 2010 Hey, we're in Canada eh, second language is en Francais! Merci beaucoup mon amis! J/K Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TBow Posted March 13, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 13, 2010 C'mon now Shaun. You must'a grow'd up watching Sesame Street. Heck all my Spanish came from watching Grover, Big Bird and Burt'n Ernie....well that and Clint Eastwood spaggetti dusters!.......Comprendez gringo? TBow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun_300 Posted March 14, 2010 Report Share Posted March 14, 2010 Je ne comprends pas, qu'est-ce que vous disant? anglais s'il vous plait.... :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TBow Posted March 14, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 14, 2010 Was looking on AutoTrader.ca at vehicles to get a perspective on what used buggies were going for, well at least what they were asking for them. My Dodge was a '98, 2WD with a 318, plain cab and an 8' box. When I bought it 3 years ago, it was just something I purchased that allowed me to go moose hunting that year. I was gon'na sell it after that fall, but it came in handy so I kept it. Similar trucks are quoted at around $2500 to $4000 on AutoTrader and Kijiji...if they're running and able to be certified and E-tested. Most of them are like my truck with 150000 to 300000 km on them and some cite the problems with Dodges and their transmissions. A couple of them have rebuilt trannies in them with 3 year warranty. I was kind'a thinking if I scrapped my old Dodge Ram and picked up another Dodge, say a 2000 or so with 100000 km or there about, just to get me by 'till the end of this summer, then I could use my old Dodge for parts, then sell what was left for $500 or so. I've got a contractors' cap on my Dodge that retails for $2500 (heck that's more than the truck is worth), so I'd really like another 8' box. And I just put new tires on the old Dodge two weeks ago at a cost of $700 so I could pop them on another Dodge. Plus when I cyphered in the tax I'd have to pay on a $20K to $30K vehicle, I just about passed out (dang government!). On a $30K buggy I'd be paying just shy of $4000 tax. So I'm looking at another Dodge (I know just shoot me!) as a beater for under $4K to get me through the summer. Maybe a '99 to '01. I'll likely get a newer truck at the end of the summer, just before I go moose hunting again. But Shaun, if you still see a Duramax, still keep me in mind please. Thanks. TBow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun_300 Posted March 14, 2010 Report Share Posted March 14, 2010 I will for sure man, usually when they come in on trade they sell just as quick, so you gotta move fast. Best way to do it is buy it as is and have me do what's required for safety on the side. Then I'll sign the safety. It may not need anything, but if it needs a couple grand in brake and front end work if they pounded the snot out of it and didn't keep it maintained, it could save you a couple grand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin R10 man Posted March 14, 2010 Report Share Posted March 14, 2010 I found '97 3500 GMC ext cab fully loaded..with only 40k on it..not a scratch or ding...never seen salt $9,000 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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