New truck! Found what I wanted.

LoboGunLeather

LoboGunLeather

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In 2015 when I retired I had my wife convince that I was going to buy a new truck. Had her pick me up at the shop, take me to the dealer, then watched her expression as the guys rolled out her new car. Priceless.

I took her old car then, and have driven it for 2-1/2 years with no problems. But I still missed having a truck. My old truck was a 2004 Ford F150 XLT Super Cab 4X4, great truck that gave me nearly 12 years of excellent service, but the plush interior and carpeting just weren't the best for fishing, hunting, or other activities for which I like to use my truck. It took a beating over time.

So what I really wanted was a basic 4-wheel drive 1/2 ton rig, extended cab (not crew cab because I seldom carry passengers, just like to have some secure space for my gear), V8, air conditioning, cruise, but with a utilitarian interior, rubber floor mats, and ready to get dirty while being easy to clean up.

Stopped by the Nissan dealer this morning. They had exactly one new Nissan Titan, very basic, 5.6L V8, automatic, 4X4, tow package (I like the larger radiator and transmission cooler), AC, cruise, AM-FM, power windows (I would be just as happy with crank-ups). Since everybody else seems to favor the higher end trucks, this one had sat around for a few months with no action (I've dealt with this dealership several times, they know me, and they wanted to make a deal on this sled). Sticker price $36,860. Bought it for $27,500. NADA average trade for the wife's old car was $6600, and I got $7500 for it. $20K trade difference, plus sales tax, and they filled the gas tank before I drove it home.

Then I got to face the music. "Honey, look what I brought home!" Suppertime was pretty quiet.

It should be pretty quiet at the fishing holes I haven't been able to get to without 4-wheel drive for the past couple of years.

Driving into retirement with a little bit of style!
 
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I have a 2006 Titan. It is the best truck I have ever owned. It just turned 99 thou. and has never been into the shop except for a couple of factory recalls. I like it so well that I decided to buy another. Ended up with a Titan XD (full size truck). I like it also but not as well as the smaller one. The older truck is my everyday truck(hunting, fishing, range truck) and I hope to drive it for a few more years.
 
The Nissan Titan is a great truck. We bought one in 2016 and really enjoy it. Since it is used for long distance highway driving, I opted for the Cummings diesel powered model. and its is getting 18 mpg in the city and 21 mpg on the highway. Not bad for a large but very comfortable truck.
 
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I bought an 04 Titan which is when they first came out, kept it 10 years and 260K miles. I spent no money on repairs until about 180K and then it was pretty minor stuff like a power window motor and things like that. When I sold it the truck still had the original ball joints, muffler, spark plugs, timing belt, rear shocks, wheel bearings, transmission, starter, alternator, fuel pump, air conditioner compressor, water pump, etc. They are an underrated truck in my opinion.
 
Once you get used to a truck you can never go back to a car, I tried it once, I had the car for about a year, one morning I took it to the dealer for a oil change, I went outside for a smoke and saw this nice blue truck, I went in to see the salesman and said what kind of a deal can you make me on that truck, he said are you kidding, you just bought that, he said take it for a ride, I didnt go 200 feet and I said oh yeah, this is what Im missing, when I got home I said to the wife, dont look in the driveway, she what did you do now, she looked out and laughed and said I knew it was only a matter of time, I said how did you know, she said when ever we go out and a truck passes us on the road, you always say, thats a nice truck, she asked how I paid for it, I said I wrote a check, she said check, you never carry a check, I said I know but this morning I thought I might need one. [emoji1]

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Your thread brings to mind the amount of money people spend on floor mats to protect from spills. Maybe if they just put in vinyl flooring in the first place.....or even better yet just rhino line the floor from the factory instead of carpet-got to be cheaper!!! Years ago ( I mean years) a friend had a 74 Bronco. He fixed the rust and then removed the seats and fiberglassed the whole inside. Looked like you were driving from inside an icechest:D Perfect!
 
vonn said:
Enjoy! Getting hard to find a truck that isn't set up like a high end luxury car. Did a little looking when the 18 models came out and they just load them down with things that I don't need or want. You did well finding one.
Click to expand...

About 11 years ago when I bought my new Chevy pickup they still had lots of those work trucks on the dealer lots. Roll up windows, bench seats, std. V8 and zero carpeting. When I go to the dealer for service I look at the new trucks and prices. They've gone up about 30% in 11 years. I think that has really slowed new vehicle sales. All I see on the lot is high end models, some diesels around 60K msrp.

Being retired it's important to me to pay cash for everything. There is no way I'm going to pay 50-60K for a new 3/4 ton diesel pickup. Looks like I'm going to drive the one I have into the ground. I'm pretty sure the new ones won't get avg 18 mph with the 500 lbs of emission gear hanging off of them.

LGL enjoy your new ride.
 
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Nice to see that I am not the only one around who likes a truck built like a truck instead of a luxury sedan. When I come home after a few days of fishing or pheasant hunting I don't want to have to take the truck to a detailing shop, just unload it, open the doors, hose it out and mop it dry. After 100K miles I don't want to look at the hole worn in the carpet by the heel of my boot, just pick up another set of rubber mats and put them on the floorboards.

I tend to keep my trucks for 10 years or more, so I pay attention to routine maintenance. That is plenty of attention to give to any truck. I don't need to spend the time or money to pamper a piece of equipment. I just want it to keep doing what it was designed to do.

Air conditioning is a must around here. Cruise control is nice on road trips. A radio to catch the news and weather updates. Beyond those items all the rest is just more toys to require repairs and maintenance.

About the only things I plan on doing to the Titan are to put some seat covers over the factory upholstery to protect it, and a hard-shell bed cover so when I am carrying anything it remains out of sight and away from temptation.
 
CAJUNLAWYER said:
Your thread brings to mind the amount of money people spend on floor mats to protect from spills. Maybe if they just put in vinyl flooring in the first place.....or even better yet just rhino line the floor from the factory instead of carpet-got to be cheaper!!! Years ago ( I mean years) a friend had a 74 Bronco. He fixed the rust and then removed the seats and fiberglassed the whole inside. Looked like you were driving from inside an icechest:D Perfect!
Click to expand...

Yeti Bronco?
 
My first truck was a 1967 F100, it had rubber mats and vinyl seats, no padded dash and the headliner was like a thick piece of cardboard. It was 4X4 it was a good truck. My next truck was a 1974 F100 a little bit fancier but not much.

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I keep vehicles a long time............................. 97,2006,2010 and two 16s at the moment



Check out ARE caps..... the one I put on my Frontier crew cab is great..... excellent paint match.... with the 4door crew cab...... looks like a SUV in the "Burbs of the Burgh" but built/runs like a truck in "Penn's Woods" !!!!


LOL a true "Cross Over"!
 
I am driving a sedan after 17 years and 223K in my 2000 Explorer. It was a basic 4 door, 6 cylinder, ac, and power locks. I did not want anything more. When it was time to replace her I could not believe the cost and the number of gadgets and gizmos they put on new trucks. I could not justify the cost of another SUV full of things I don't want. I do miss the Explorer.

Mals
 
When I bought my first truck it cost about half the price of a full size Ford, now they cost twice as much as the car.

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