Thread: Economics of old trucks vs new trucks

With most of the mid-late 90's mid-size trucks, prado's mistrals,hilux's bighorns etc now mostly having huge k's and then all the untouchable late-90's early 2000's dodgy diesels like nissan zd30's and isuzu 4JX1? it is getting tough to find a decent older truck. I was wondering how the maths works out when you factor in depreciation etc a cheaper brand new truck vs an oldy if you are doing say 25,00k a year.

I am thinking an older truck say 10k -maybe 2k per year depreciation, probably average 1.5K per year running costs brakes tires, usual hassles, occasional starter, alternator radiator. there can always be the odd biggy cracked head, stuffed diesel pump, auto, clutch etc. After four years truck might be worth 2-3k -advantages, it's an old truck barging down gorse-lined tracks scratching the paintwork backing it into the sea launching boats etc no worries just adds character

New truck say 38K for a black series triton, more comfortable, safer more fuel efficient, warranty, family happy to travel in it versus stinky old truck but depreciation? hard to judge but with say 100,000k on it at fouryears old still worth 20K?

Obviously you have to have the available coin/finance to throw into a new truck, what do you reckon the best strategy is for the $ old truck, new or newish 2nd hand?

New ish second hand is so close your almost better to push into a new one, Talking 3 - 5 year old trucks.

If you have the coin i would go for it, so much better in many ways and nicer to drive then most cars out there. Not many downsides apart from cost.

Take into account if you buy a new truck you pay for oil with gold sparkles in it (or so the bill seems) and get serviced from the dealership for the next ??? Years to maintain the warranty

Originally Posted by 223nut

Take into account if you buy a new truck you pay for oil with gold sparkles in it (or so the bill seems) and get serviced from the dealership for the next ??? Years to maintain the warranty

You must have a mitsubishi? they seem to be the worst for servicing costs

I have an older 93 SWB Pajero. Done 217K when I got it, now done 277K it Cost me 4 tyres @approx $2400, 1 Gearbox Service $800 buck and the DIY oil and filter changes + usual ruc's etc. Its paint is rooted so I don't cry when it gets scratched up. Other than that has cost less to maintain than our 2016 Colorado.
I will be replacing it with another when it finally croaks or getting it fixed as for what I use it for its perfect

Originally Posted by 199p

You must have a mitsubishi? they seem to be the worst for servicing costs

Yeah, its a Mitsubishi.... ! Also have a 95 landcruiser 80series, has 360 on it. Plenty of bumps and scratches and still getting wof but repairs are getting up there, cvs brakes transmission etc. Looking back i should have brought another 2 80series for parts and not bothered with the new triton

mitsi service costs are ridiculous, an oil change needs a re-mortgage.
we bought an ex lease triton that had been serviced by mitsi all its life. gear oil, diff oil etc were all low and dirty too. radiator was pretty much filled with 100% water and zero antifreeze.
looked at a new triton a few years back but the service costs to keep the warranty were ridiculous

@mudgripz (and yes will give you a call) I think you might be able to add some constructive comments here, as I’m rather biased in my assessment of new verses old trucks, I would never buy new, I would only ever buy a certain make and model with a certain engine, Yes I forgo some pleasures of new, but I certainly make up for it with the engine capability and other areas!

My 80 series land cruiser cost me more to own for 2 or 3 years than a brand new Triton cost me and the Triton is still worth x amount so definitely winning on that one.

If you can get lucky and keep getting good second hand and move em on before they need anything major you can do alright but I am not lucky.

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Originally Posted by mimms2

Environmentally, keeping old gear going is leagues ahead of buying new shit.
Old large displacement engines are idling along everywhere. I can get through town without changing out of 5th if I time it right. Newer are highly strung revvy pieces of shyt.
Also much more computers and electric crap to go wrong, and as soon as it does, you usually throw 50 sensors at the thing, at it shits something else. Yuck.
Auto boxes are good for about 400km max, then they're shat, whether you looked after it or not. Manuals will last approximately forever.

I don't factor in depreciation because I never plan on getting rid of em.

Which late model ute, suv did you own?


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Originally Posted by mimms2

.Auto boxes are good for about 400km max, then they're shat, whether you looked after it or not. Manuals will last approximately forever..

Crap, anyone gotten more than this off an auto? My 80series had transmission serviced 2years ago and they didnt mention anything horrendous and that would have been around 340km when it got done

I have been running a 94 HiLux Surf 3T diesel for 16 years and there is at least another 5 years in it, probably even more. I paid $16K for it with 65,000 K's and it is now up to 280,000. Total spent apart from tyres and regular maintenance is a new cylinder head (genuine Toyota for $800 in 2004) and a new conventional clutch for $600 when the original 'million piece' clutch gave out about 2008. It goes wherever I point it and there is some steep country around here. I have given it a bit of 'kiwi pinstriping' from the briar and crap and simply wouldn't be without it. I do my own servicing and it always gets a WOF. I wouldn't have a new or near new vehicle as they just lose too much money in the first few years you have it. I bought a brand-new truck once and it depreciated by 40% in the first 12 months - a bloody waste of money!

I've got a 2014 hilux sr5 brought it with 6000km on the clock had it for about 5 years. Its done about 115000kn now, all its had is tires and servicing. If i was to sell it now/trade its right now its depreciated $15000- $20000 over the five years. So about $3500 a year of trouble free motoring.
Yep a new truck you cant bush bash up tracks and when you park up it is in the back of your mind about in getting broken in to but even when i had older truck with good tires i always wonder if i was going to come back to a no wheels or broken windows. That's why i pay insurance for.
Also a modern truck you don't have to worry when you about to clock up thou kms thinking are we going to make it. Just jump in and go

7k for td27 nissan terrano with an auto..bought 5 years ago...costs me 500-1000 a year or about that every 2nd WOF..... tyres were $20 less than a grand for good muddies from tonies tyre service.
she does what we ask and goes places when we ask it to that surprise the hell out of me.
not got any power to spare when towing but Im not in a hurry.

There is no value in spending more than 12k on a 4wd unless it is a business vehicle that is used to make you $.
I have had a number of flash 4wds and all of them have been an absolute waste of money apart from my landcruiser which I will probably own forever.
I just bought a 12k hilux for our batch up north and it is awesome! Drives nicely and will probably go for ever. Also plenty of available parts and easy to fix.
My 2 cents