The decision to purchase a used vehicle is a wise one and, in recent years, has become a decision more widely embraced by an increasing number of car-buyers. At the end of the day, there are countless reasons why a pre-owned vehicle carries value that can’t be ignored, and might even be preferable to buying new. And this is applicable regardless of make, model or body style. Whether you’re searching for an eco-friendly coupe or sedan, a spacious and well-equipped SUV or a utilitarian truck, you should be conscious of all options that are available to you. For those looking at used trucks for sale, we’ll explore several options that might be worth considering, but first, let’s talk about some of the value in buying pre-owned.
Depreciation & Pricing
Consider for a moment that vehicles lose the majority of their value in the first 3-5 years. In fact, the old adage of a car depreciating the moment that it is driven off the lot is true…with it dropping approximately 11% in value before the rear tires hit the street.
After a year, a new vehicle is worth 25% less than what you had paid for it. After three years, it has decreased in value by as much as 46%; and after five years, it is worth up to 63% less than what it had originally been valued at.
Now, the decision to buy that same vehicle used means that you’ll be able to acquire it at a far better price. This empowers you to get a higher-priced model or trim level than might have been able to afford, had you attempted to buy it new.
Lower Up-front and Incremental Costs
A lower price tag is plenty of reason to consider buying pre-owned, but there are more savings to be enjoyed. With a used vehicle, you will pay less in terms of sales tax, title and registration fees. You will also be paying less in terms of incremental costs, courtesy of the lower insurance rates enjoyed by used vehicles.
Improved Dependability
Contrary to popular belief, when well-maintained, today’s vehicles are lasting longer than ever, enjoying lives well-above the 200,000 mileage mark. This means that with annual mileage estimated to fall between 12,000 and 20,000 miles (for the average American driver) countless vehicles can be expected to offer reliability beyond a decade of use.
Certified Pre-Owned Programs
And when exploring all of the options that are available to you, any discussion of used vehicles should include Certified Pre-Owned programs. Offered by nearly every automaker, these programs provide the added assurance of (i) clean vehicle history, followed by (ii) rigorous inspection (iii) refurbishment, repair or replacement of substandard parts and systems and (iv) extended warranties with scheduled maintenance programs.
But these are just some of the reasons why buying used might be in your best interests. Now, let’s get to some of the trucks that you might want to check out when exploring used inventories.
Dig Deeper
As Americans, we still have a focused perspective when it comes to trucks, favoring the “Big Three” of Ford, Chevy, and (somewhere down the line) RAM. And while there are plenty of reasons why they remain the preferred source for trucks, there are other options deserving of your consideration. Some of those options are simply less-popular offerings from those leading automakers that, while strong performers, remain comparatively undersold. Others rank among the upstart offerings that have been chipping away at market share in recent years.
So, embracing the value of pre-owned vehicles (as discussed above) let’s take a look at some of the great offerings from 2015, and before that, you might want to take a look at. While they may not boast the newest efforts in weight reduction, or new model year technology, each one is well-deserving of a closer look.
Nissan Frontier Pro-4X
While we seem to be experiencing the early resurgence of a midsize truck renaissance in 2018, looking back a few years makes it feel like reviewers were all-too-ready to bury the segment. 2015 proved an interesting year for the Nissan Frontier, first because of an impending overhaul to be released later that year and secondly, with the off-road Frontier Pro-4X, helping to continue the forward momentum. Boasting up to 261 hp and 281 lb-ft of torque (courtesy of its 4.0-liter engine and 5-speed automatic transmission) and with a modified suspension, the Pro-4X came equipped with the kind of juiced-up off-road that one associates more with domestic automakers.
Toyota Tundra
As of 2015, Toyota had all but eliminated V6 powertrains in the Tundra. Served up with one of two V8 engines (a 4.6 and 5.7-liter, respectively) the Tundra was capable of up to 381 hp and 401 lb-ft of torque. Opting for the latter all provides 9800 LBS of towing capacity, making the Tundra a surprisingly capable go-getter of a truck.
GMC Sierra HD
Despite their somewhat luxury aspirations, GMC trucks hold a precarious spot in terms of marketplace enthusiasm. Ranking below the ‘Big Three’ domestic truck makers, GMC tends to place comparably next to Toyota. That said, the Sierra HD models are deceptively appealing, and the option of a standard 6.0-liter V8 or a 6.6-liter Duramax turbo-diesel V8 (channeling 397 hp/ 765 lb-ft) make the Sierra hard to discount.
Ford F-150 (5.2-liter V8)
Do we really need to elaborate on the appeal of any F-Series offerings? Probably not, but the 5.0-liter V8 configuration always felt a bit under-appreciated. That said, it earns an automatic inclusion in this list of trucks that you might have overlooked.
RAM 1500 R/T Hemi
But for those who like a little more juice under the hood, combined with a subtly-distinctive styling the mid-level sport trim of the RAM 1500 is a perfect choice. With its standard cab and six-foot-four-inch bed, it encourages the unique aesthetic afforded by RAM offerings. But it’s the 5.7-liter semi V8 that drives its appeal home, serving up 395 hp and 410 lb-ft of torque
What Do You Think?
Are any of these trucks that you might consider in your search for a pre-owned truck? If not, let us know which makes and models are a better fit for what you’re looking for?
