Pick Up a Great Value with a Used Pickup

Who doesn’t love a great pickup truck? These vehicles are rough and rugged, built for the toughest job. If you need to carry a heavy load or tow something big, a pickup truck is really your best choice for the task. But trucks are not just about doing work. Today’s pickup trucks are built for comfort and adventure in ways never imagined when the great automakers started building these vehicles almost 100 years ago. I’m sure Henry Ford never imagined putting a fancy stereo system in a truck back when he first designed the Model TT, let alone fancy bucket seats, leather upholstery, and modern HVAC systems. When you look for used trucks near you, you’re going to find that you have tons of options that are still cutting edge.

Trucks are also safer than ever, as most feature advanced anti-lock braking systems, rearview cameras, and large numbers of airbags to keep you and your passengers safe and sound. There are even special pickup truck models designed for off-roading if you have an interest in engaging in that fun activity. These trucks feature specialized suspension systems, drivetrains, and skid plates to improve the vehicle’s abilities on trails. However, if you can’t afford to buy a new truck, is a used truck really worth it?

The answer is a resounding yes, as you can get a better value on a used truck than if you buy new. So if you are looking for used trucks near you, the best place to go is Orange Coast Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram FIAT. Located in beautiful Costa Mesa, CA, we feature an incredible inventory of used trucks from all the top automakers in the models, trims, and options that you want. Stop in and let us show you why you should make your next truck a used pickup.

You Get More truck for Your Buck When You Buy Used

While we all love a brand new truck with all the bells and whistles, the fact is that most of us cannot afford to buy one new that has all the features we desire. That’s because it may not fit into our budget. The good news is that you can get a great deal on a used truck, often finding the one you want on the used market for a lot less than the same model new.

The reason why this is the case is for two reasons. First, when a manufacturer puts out the models for its next year, all the older models will drop in price due to a shift in market demand. Most buyers will gravitate toward the new models, causing dealers to have to lower prices on their older, used trucks for sale. The second reason is depreciation. Most vehicles will lose up to half their value in their first two years. It doesn’t mean they aren’t good; it just means that their replacement value has declined. This happens to most assets held over time, like the computer or smartphone you are using to read this article. Your technology works perfectly fine, but its value has depreciated considerably since you first bought it.

What this means for you is that you can take advantage of these two factors to get you a better truck for less money by buying used instead of new. In other words, if you are looking to buy a Ford F-150, you can get a used one with an upgraded engine, four-wheel drive, and a higher trim for around the same price as a new one with the base engine, rear-wheel drive, and a lower trim level. Some powertrains like diesel engines also become more affordable when you buy a truck used. This is why you can get more truck for the same money by buying one used.

Used Trucks Are Tried and True

Every year, the automakers put out new versions of their popular pickup trucks. For the most part, these upgrades work great and provide their owners with years of solid performance. However, every once in a while, an automaker puts out a truck model that turns out to just not be up to the task. Something happens either in the design or manufacturing process that leads these trucks to operate in a less than optimal fashion. It could be an ergonomic issue with an interior that proves uncomfortable or a design flaw in the electrical system caused by a new infotainment or safety feature. Whatever the reason, if you end up with a new truck that turns out to be a dud, you are going to spend many frustrating hours getting it fixed instead of spending time on the road, enjoying your truck.

If you shop at a used truck dealership, you can avoid this problem. When it comes time to buy your next truck, you can do some research and find out which models got the best grades for performance and safety. With respect to performance, many groups like JD Power, Kelley Blue Book, and MotorTrend review trucks annually and give out awards based on best features, ones that hold their value the best, and ones that are expected to age the best. You can check these out to get an idea of the trucks that seem to be the best value.

Regarding safety, both the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) put new vehicles through a series of tests to determine how they perform in different collision scenarios. The ratings from these two independent agencies are available to the public and will give you an idea if the used truck you would like to buy is safe for you and your passengers.

You can also find out a great deal of information on the specific used truck you are looking to buy just from its vehicle identification number (VIN). Both Carfax and AutoCheck will provide you with a comprehensive vehicle history report on the prospective purchase using just the truck’s VIN. The fee is nominal, assuming the dealership you are buying from doesn’t provide you with one of these reports for free. These will tell you such things as whether the truck was ever involved in an accident, prior damage to the truck, the truck’s service history, whether there are any open recalls, how it was used by its prior owners, and whether it was involved in a flood. In this way, you can find out more about a particular used truck than you will if you buy the same make and model new. Like the saying goes, knowledge is power.

A Used Truck Will Have a Lower Depression Rate

This is similar to the reason why you can get more truck for the money by buying one used. Just like the value you get because the truck has lost up to half its depreciation value when you buy it used, it will also have less depreciation during the time of your ownership. In fact, depreciation will show that the price you paid for your used truck is closer to its intrinsic value than if you bought the same truck new.

The price for a new truck also includes a psychological factor since most people will value a new vehicle higher than a used one just because they got to be the first driver. There is nothing of any tangible benefit for getting to be the first owner, and as shown, it actually comes at a premium. From your standpoint, buying the same truck used will give you nothing but tangible benefits with a lower rate of depreciation. In other words, the person who owned that truck first took a big loss in value when it came time to trade it in for a new truck. When you buy used, you will pay less in depreciation since most depreciation happens within the first few years of ownership. That means if you choose to sell your truck later on, you will get far closer to the price you paid for it than if you bought one new.

Make Your Next Vehicle a Used Truck

One of the best automotive values you are ever going to find is a used truck. You will be able to get more features you want for less money by buying used and won’t run the risk of getting a new truck that may not actually be as desirable as it first appears. With so many makes, models, and features available on the used truck market, the hardest part for you is deciding which truck is right for you. Contact us Orange Coast Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram FIAT today, and let us help you find the best used truck for all your needs.