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

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

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

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!

Originally Posted by 223nut

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

Originally Posted by Tertle

@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!

Yeah, I replaced about $1000 of parts on mine (clutch, turbo) when I bought it a bit over 5 years ago. Maintenance since then has been a set of brake pads, timing belt, water pump (while there), alternator belts and lubes.

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 223nut

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

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

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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The 80's were very high maintenance. I looked at buying one a couple of times and all the ads listed the same things that had just been replaced. So many of them just chewed out the transmission system, and the older model kept chewing out bearings in the engine. I went for a Safari in the end and maintenance on that over 15 years (other than me drowning the engine) was about $250/pa on lubes, a couple of window regulators, the usual tyres when they wore out and replacing the drag link arm.

Originally Posted by gadgetman

The 80's were very high maintenance. I looked at buying one a couple of times and all the ads listed the same things that had just been replaced. So many of them just chewed out the transmission system, and the older model kept chewing out bearings in the engine. I went for a Safari in the end and maintenance on that over 15 years (other than me drowning the engine) was about $250/pa on lubes, a couple of window regulators, the usual tyres when they wore out and replacing the drag link arm.

Yep. The diffs are weak, brakes are woeful, manuals shit themselves but the autos last forever,12 valve turbos shit big ends and crack pistons and heads but the no turbo goes forever....which is good cos they take forever to go anywhere
Its a shame cos mine was very capable off road, very highly speced compared to other vehicles of the era and very nice to drive on road.
Its just it was unreliable and every bloody part on it had landcruiser tax on it....same part on a hilux would be less than half dollars usually and sometimes not even a tenth of the cost.
Second hand front diff was 2.5 k FFS.

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Originally Posted by veitnamcam

Yep. The diffs are weak, brakes are woeful, manuals shit themselves but the autos last forever,12 valve turbos shit big ends and crack pistons and heads but the no turbo goes forever....which is good cos they take forever to go anywhere
Its a shame cos mine was very capable off road, very highly speced compared to other vehicles of the era and very nice to drive on road.
Its just it was unreliable and every bloody part on it had landcruiser tax on it....same part on a hilux would be less than half dollars usually and sometimes not even a tenth of the cost.
Second hand front diff was 2.5 k FFS.

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I replaced my entire TD42 for $1625 including freight for one with only 118,000km on the clock. The transmission system was insanely tough. Lacked a bit of power (kiwi understatement), ground clearance and turning circle.

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

Yep. The diffs are weak, brakes are woeful, manuals shit themselves but the autos last forever,12 valve turbos shit big ends and crack pistons and heads but the no turbo goes forever....which is good cos they take forever to go anywhere
Its a shame cos mine was very capable off road, very highly speced compared to other vehicles of the era and very nice to drive on road.
Its just it was unreliable and every bloody part on it had landcruiser tax on it....same part on a hilux would be less than half dollars usually and sometimes not even a tenth of the cost.
Second hand front diff was 2.5 k FFS.

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Heck Cam thats full on chrome Molly prices

Originally Posted by BRADS

Heck Cam thats full on chrome Molly prices

Factory electric locking front diffs are hens teeth unfortunately.

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