Tip of the Week #324: How to Save on Gas, Insurance, and Repairs with One Smart Vehicle Choice
Tennessee confuses me. All around me, I hear people talking about money troubles.
And, all around me I see gigantic pickup trucks rumbling up and down the road. A quick search informed me the average cost of a new pickup truck is around $60,000, with some trucks costing as much as $100,000.
I don’t recommend new trucks. I recommend used vans instead. Personally, I am happier with a Dodge Grand Caravan than I am with a truck. I used to have a truck, twenty years ago, back in the “smaller” truck days.
If you are thinking of buying a truck, here are some things you might want to think about.
- Used vans are almost always cheaper. Even if you have to repair them. Stephen and Lauren at Trip of a Lifestyle go into detail here: https://www.tripofalifestyle.com/money/average-cars-are-money-incinerators/.
- It’s also easier to save up for a used van. You can avoid all the finance costs that come with a new car loan.
- Vans get better gas milage than the monster trucks on the road these days.
- The required insurance on used, older vans is almost always lower (often much lower) than the insurance on a brand new truck.
- Used vans depreciate slower than new trucks. New trucks depreciate rapidly.
- Vans tend to get better gas milage than trucks.
- Vans are smaller and easier to navigate. And, they actually fit in parking spaces.
- Ironically, smaller vans generally have more room than the monster trucks. Recently, one of the new giant trucks pulled up next to my wife at a yard sale. She and the other driver were both loading items into their vehicles. My wife was able to load more into her van. The other driver had to make two trips to carry the same amount.
And, it turns out, a van is a truck. Now that most of our kids have moved out, she keeps most of the seats down. Essentially, she drives a truck and doesn’t worry about the rain drenching the cargo.
In the end, I guess what I am saying to Tennessee is this. You don’t have to spend big to drive smart. And, yes. I am aware that minivans are not cool.
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