Posted on 08/26/2012 6:00:09 PM PDT by Chickensoup
OK FR Men! My Son Wants to Buy a GMC One Ton Diesel C3500 with 140K on it and New Brakes.
It is big. It is heavy. It goes vrooom vrooom. He wants it to upgrade with some friend's help. Near as I can figure out from the Net this thing must get about 10 miles to the gallon. It does not have the double wheels in the back. If that is the case it is 9.00 every time he drives to town. 2+K to insure and at least 4k annually to feed.
Price 3K. Edmunds says it is worth 2400. He has other transportaion, his school commuter car is Taurus that I chose after FreeperSummit on used cars.
The kid says he wants to mow lawns, we have other means and the reality is that he wants a toy. Vroom Vroom. He has worked all summer to save towards something special. I just didnt expect this would be it. He has no regular job, and is in school at a voc where many other kids have dads who own excavating companies or rigging companies and the kids drive a company truck.
What is a mom to do?
That probably doesn’t even register in my thought process one bit. I don’t care who bullies who. If the kid can pay for it himself let him buy the stupid thing and watch it eat up his money. If he has any brains whatsoever he’ll realize his mistake in about one or two weeks. Learn the hard way. Even tires on something like that are going to cost more for one tire than a set of 4 on a regular vehicle.
RED NECK
Question...how old is he? Is he over 18? No matter how much he may like it, or it goes vroom-vroom, if he is not 18 and lives under your roof, the final decision is still yours. If you do not think it is the right decision for him and/or his financial circumstances, you can say NO. I know not many parents like to do that today, but it still is your perogative. If he is 18 or over, it is his decision as are the consequences (of course after receiving your advice).
Get a horse.
Nothing wrong with him having a toy...as long as he is the one who pays for it. He’d have to be working, he’d have to pay his insurance and his gas. As for the upgrade- well, he’ll have to pay for that too. Bottom line, not without a job, mister. At least, that’s what I would tell my kids, if I had any, and what I would tell a student, if they asked me.
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He will have to find more tiling jobs. And get faster at it. He is laying a hearth this week for me for pay.
“What is a mom to do?”
Convince him not to buy a gmc, ( government motors corporation ) product.
I’m not a FR man but...
The father of a friend of mine used to tell him:
“I am not here to entertain you. I am here to put a roof over your head, feed you, and hopefully instill in you some good judgement and values. Once you are 18 you are on your own and you may do whatever you want.”
The guy turned out okay. Actually better than okay. And no, his dad never bought him a car. When he needed one he worked and bought his own.
Its a gmc.Pass.
Would he be willing to trade down the truck if it proves to be too much of a handful for himself? Sounds like it could end up as a hunk of expensive inert metal really quick.
Maybe some other information would be useful like what kind of education and vocation does he foresee. Does he want to be a truck mechanic? Maybe instead of this, he could buy a basket case and personally restore it, learning as he goes. And he could be proud of the result.
he needs to get a FORD.
I have a 1997 f250 powerstroker. Thats like your sons but smaller and a Ford. He would be better off getting a 3/4 ton
I think the one ton is too much truck, everything is more expensive for the one tone.
I would advise him to get a Ford f150. Its not as big or cool but theres tons of them out there at junkyards so parts, trannys, engines, ect are cheaper. Insurance, tires and gas will cost less.
You’re welcome.
One other thing, when I was ready for my first car, I got my dad to go look at it. It was a 1957 Ford Retractable Hardtop (found out later that Ford made only 50,000 of them, a miniscule number), 312 V8, dual four barrel carbs. Very fast, flashy.
He said no, and since I had spent my time working on the farm with no wages, I had no way to buy it on my own.
He probably saved me a lot of trouble, but I’ve always had a bit of sad regret about that car.
Good fortune to you and your son with his first vehicle, whatever it may be.
I am an old geezer who has always been interested in vehicles. I never could justify buying a diesel truck. I did buy a propane powered International. I would guide him toward a smaller unit or better still, a Honda Civic (maybe an SI). If he absolutely, absolutely wants a truck get a 1/2 ton unit.
Set him down and have him read this thread in it’s entirety and tell him to consider everything said here. If he pays the freight let him go for it.
“A diesel, at least, will not lend itself to drag racing.”
Tell that to Maddog!
Cummins powered F350 truck racing porn.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HH0Wkbr5Us
NOT A CHANCE...Maintenance costs will eat him alive. This is like a 16 year old buying a used Corvette...tremendous fun but impractical. Virtually no one, except for use in a going business, needs a 1 ton truck. If he needs a truck, a Ford Ranger or Chevy S-10 is much more his speed.
What year? Is it a 6.5L, 6.5L turbo or duramax?
Auto or manual?
The duramax bolted to anything is a good combo. the 6.5 tubro auto can have transmission issues with the 4L80E or turbo 400 depending on age.
Not sure about the 6.5 turbo with manual trans.
The 6.5 non turbo is a gutless wonder.
Funk Government Motors.
My son bought a F-150 King Ranch.
Sometimes the car you can afford when you’re young is the car you can’t afford.
Mine was a 1971 Ford F-100 that when it finally refused to start for the last time, I shot it in my driveway with a .357.
If he doesn’t need the 1 ton capacity, I’d buy a 1990 Nissan with 200K+ on it first.
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Hi there. My boy is growing up!
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