Auto Mechanics Here? Help?

[jgln]

He called back and made me offer.

1) split bill=$600 truck runs fine.
2) $3,500 and do whatever it takes to fix my truck 6mo garantee.
3) $2,500 for my truck trade in.


Personally, I'd go for option 1. Why go for a new truck through a dealership that has treated you like this? Of course they are going to try to persuade you to do option 3 because that is their biggest money maker. Think of it this way, they then have your truck to sell or auction and then also get you locked into a new sale. Bite the bullet and pay the $600. I don't blame you for wanting a new truck, and I would probably be looking for one soon in your position, but don't buy another truck from them, trade it in at another dealership.


EDIT: I have heard horror stories from Ford and Chevy owners also so....

I bought a used GMC last year from a large GM dealer in the area and in less than 6 months its been in the shop 4 times for very expensive repairs--thankfully I decided to fall for their warranty package. I normally think those are a scam, but I bought the truck in the middle of the summer knowing I wouldn't get a chance to really try out the 4-wheel drive until it snowed, and the cost of repairing that alone would have been more expensive than the warranty package they were offering...its paid for itself. I've had it in twice for issues with the HVAC system where the fans in the dashboard just stopped working, or the switch to change it from vents to defrost stopped functioning. Supposedly those two repairs would have cost me $1400 without the warranty. Then I had to replace the steering shaft, a control arm, and a few other parts which without the warranty would have cost $900, and just 2 weeks ago I had to replace the water pump because we lost heat in the truck at the best time possible--going down the highway in the middle of an ice storm. That would have been a $700 repair. I have the warranty for another 2 years or 22,000 miles...I am terrified to know what its going to cost me to keep that truck after it runs out.

This is why I decided to go new. Used means used....you never know why someone traded it in or what problems they had. That and used means there is already wear and tear on simple things like that switch for the fans you mentioned. All kind of little things were wearing down on my old truck, not enough for me to get rid of it, but annoying. When I had this intermittent engine issue that was enough for me.

Especially with trucks and your average cars. A guy here at work buys used BMWs, Mercedes, Audi, etc about a year old or so which to me makes sense. My thinking is people who buy high end cars new usually are well off financially. I'm thinking a doctor, lawyer, company owner, company VP/director, high end realtor, etc. people who want the best, in best condition, new, flashy either because they like that or they have a need to impress due to their position. Just a hunch, but I think it more likely to be the case with those cars than a pickup truck.

 

[onthekeg]

I buy brand new trucks (not real often) I usually go 5-7 years. Nearly new cars every 2-3 years. They have less than 20k on the ones I buy and usually only a year or so old.

I have had good luck this way, and usually the issues people complain about don't bother me too much.
Most are warranty issues with the cars, and the trucks, knock on wood have held together for the most part. I do regular maintenance myself, I have a shop with a carlift (oil changes and easy fixes) and that is crucial to the lifespan of any vehicle. I can't do much of the electronic computer controlled stuff though, those are stealer hijack issues.