Winter is quickly approaching, and you may want to prepare yourself for the impending road conditions by pursuing a pickup truck. Unfortunately, if you’re operating on a limited budget, this might not be all that realistic. New pickup trucks (even Ford’s offering of vehicles) tend to be pretty pricey, making them unrealistic options for a large percentage of consumers. However, that doesn’t mean you still can’t drive around town in a pickup truck. You could easily switch your focus to used Ford trucks, which provide you with the best bang for your buck. There are a number of underrated incentives that accompany a pursuit/purchase of used Ford trucks, including the financial benefit, the ability to research, and the lack of sentimentality toward the purchased vehicle.
Below, we’ve detailed the major reasons why customers should consider opting for a used Ford pickup, and we’ve even provided an alternative option:
Reason #1: They’re Inexpensive
Well, this reason is rather obvious, but some customers may be undervaluing how much cheaper used pickup trucks can be than their newer counterparts.
Pickup trucks tend to be pretty pricey, with the lower-end offerings usually coming in around $30,000. Unless you’re operating with a relatively large budget, you’re going to have to dish out a pretty penny for your new ride. While Ford offers great value on their new rides, even this car brand is forced to offer these higher price tags.
Furthermore, new vehicles tend to lose a chunk of their value the moment they’re driven off a dealership’s lot. This certainly applies to Ford’s crop of pickups (after all, there aren’t any vehicles or brands that are immune). Ultimately, you should expect to lose around 20-percent of your used truck’s value the moment you’ve officially made it your own.
However, there’s no saying how big the savings can be if you opt for a used Ford pickup. Depending on the year and model, you shouldn’t have any issues finding a vehicle that costs less than $20,000. If you really keep your options open, you might even be able to find a Ford truck that’s priced at less than $10,000.
This is also an important factor to consider for those seeking a non-commuter pickup. In other words, if you’re solely looking for a vehicle that will help you on the worksite or get you through the winter, you may not want to dish out whatever it may cost to get your hands on a new truck. Ultimately, if the pickup isn’t going to be your primary vehicle, it probably makes more financial sense to opt for a used truck.
While you’ll surely be sacrificing some newer amenities and features by opting for a used ride, the financial benefits of a used pickup are undeniable.
Reason #2: You’ll Have the Ability to Research
If you’re always pursuing the newest trucks, you might be missing out on some incredibly useful information. While you’ll surely find plenty of articles regarding a brand-new pickup, there’s a good chance that the majority of this information is coming straight from the brand. At the end of the day, these companies are looking to appeal to as many customers as possible, and you probably won’t be reading too many opinions on the nameplate.
However, there should be a wealth of information if you decide to pursue a particular used truck. In this scenario, pundits have had plenty of time to get behind the wheel of the ride, meaning they’ll be able to zero in on the various advantages and disadvantages. They’ll also be able to highlight some of the understated features and amenities, allowing you to understand what Ford nameplate actually fits your needs.
Speaking of research, you’ll be able to pull up the vehicle history report of any used Ford pickup that you’re targeting. This isn’t necessary when opting for a new vehicle, but this could be quite the concern if you’ve decided to target used trucks. These history reports will alert you to any previous accidents or mechanical issues, allowing you to avoid any potential lemons.
Reason #3: There’s a Lack of Sentimentality
This may be a bit of a silly reason, but there’s a good chance you wouldn’t test your recently-purchased new pickup truck to the limit. Instead, you’re going to try to preserve the vehicle for as long as possible, and this might force to sit out on some enticing off-roading adventures. At the very least, you’ll think twice before you take the vehicle out on a snowy excursion.
However, you probably won’t have these kinds of concerns if you opt for a used truck. Since you didn’t pay nearly as much for the ride, you might not be as sentimental when it comes to preserving the exterior aesthetics. While a scratch or dent would be devastating to a new truck owner, this really shouldn’t be all that bothersome to those who opted for a used pickup.
Reason #4: You Can Upgrade
If you’ve ever purchased a new truck, we’re sure you were enticed by the sparkling new model that was stuffed full of innovative features. However, once you saw the accompanying price tag, you realized your pursuit wasn’t all that realistic.
Well, if you pursue a used Ford truck, you may be able to fit that targeted nameplate into your budget! As we previously mentioned, new vehicles drop in value the moment they’re driven off a lot. You should see a significant discount if you end up pursuing a used version of that targeted truck.
So while that spiffy infotainment system or opulent sunroof might be unrealistic in a new pickup truck, you shouldn’t have to pay significantly more for these features when they’re included in a used ride.
Reason #5: You Can Capitalize on CPOs
Even after reading all of the incentives that accompany a used vehicle, we’d understand if you’re still a bit wary about your impending pursuit. Well, in that case, it may be in your best interest to opt for a Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) truck.
These vehicles are indeed “used,” but they’ve been backed by the brand or dealership for their reliability. You can never be entirely sure of the condition of a targeted used vehicle, but you can rest easy knowing that your CPO is ready to hit the open road. These trucks go through an extensive inspection process, assuring that they’re worthy of being put back on the lot.
These vehicles tend to be a bit pricier than their generic used counterparts, but they’re still significantly cheaper than new pickups. If you’re looking for the financial incentive of a used Ford vehicle without the mechanical and reliability worries, then you may want to consider opting for a certified pre-owned pickup truck.
Reason #6: Ford’s Reliability
Some car brands aren’t necessarily known for their reliability. Their vehicles tend to break down relatively quickly, and you’ll be lucky to get more than 100,000 miles from a particular nameplate.
This won’t be a concern if you opt for used Ford trucks. The brand is known for their dependability, meaning you won’t be purchasing some end-of-the-road used truck. Instead, you’ll be purchasing a used pickup that should be able to last you for several years.
