I May Be Developing An Irrational Desire

"functionoverfashion" (functionoverfashion)
11/05/2019 at 12:14 • Filed to: None

For this particular truck:

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I mean, for an ‘02 with 168,000 miles, it seems high at $8,500. But it looks and sounds like a really solid, well-maintained truck. The plow was put on later in its life, supposedly, which seems plausible because the rest of the truck doesn’t reflect years of plowing. That, and an extended cab truck with a cap isn’t ideal for plowing either.

Beyond that, it’s not that exciting . BUT. I would love to have a truck that I could take the whole family in, for one. There are lots of times I’m cramming stuff into the back of the Volvo because I need to also take the kids to school - where a truck would just be better. And again, because it already has a plow on it, it would erase my desire for a shitty plow truck, or to put a plow on my ‘61 Ford, which isn’t the top of my list anyway.

I suppose it’s possible this truck is one winter’s salt away from being a rust bucket, but from the looks of it, I kinda doubt it. It looks just like a truck that a retired guy uses to tow his camper around in the summer - hence the mileage - but that didn’t get abused every day commuting to work in the salt.

I mean, it’s been listed for 10 days, so I guess people aren’t flooding the guy with good offers. Maybe no one wants a 17-year old plow truck for $8k? On the other hand, trucks really seem to hold their value well, because a 4-door pickup is the new Family Sedan, and in a rural area, it’s hard to beat having a 4-door pickup to do everything a family needs to do. I had a Suburban of this vintage years ago and it was very good to me.

But I just sold my other car, and really don’t need another mouth to feed.

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DISCUSSION (10)

benjrblant > functionoverfashion
11/05/2019 at 12:34

I would love to have a truck that I could take the whole family in, for one.

Careful there, this sounds a bit like feature creep if you’re going from $1k plow truck to $8k family hauler that can also do some plowing.

HoustonRunner > functionoverfashion
11/05/2019 at 12:52

The answer is Suburban. Probably GMT 800.

adamftw > functionoverfashion
11/05/2019 at 13:14

Hell, I’ll sell you mine ‘05 ECSB Z71 with 160k on it for $8500 right now.

Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom > functionoverfashion
11/05/2019 at 13:47

That truck has many windows. Too many windows.

shop-teacher > functionoverfashion
11/05/2019 at 22:29

I had a '00 Silverado almost exactly like that. Mine had stock wheels, no fender flares, and instead of a camper top it had a tool box and ladder rack. Damn good truck. Damn good. Price seems pretty cracky to me though.

functionoverfashion > HoustonRunner
11/05/2019 at 22:49

Indeed, I had one of those - the GMC version but whatever. My father-in-law has had 3 now, but none have been worth taking from him by the time he’s been done with them. 265k+ and totally used up in other ways. I was hoping he’d buy a decent one most recently and sell it to me in a few years, but he bought a 2010 Escalade. I can’t drive an Escalade in my town.

So yeah, I’d love another GMT800 Suburban.

functionoverfashion > benjrblant
11/05/2019 at 22:53

True, though I have long considered buying another Suburban like I used to have, but I figured it would be best to wait until my kids actually wanted more space in the back seat - they’re fine even in the back of my wife’s Mini still. But with the demise of my father’s truck, my only truck is my ‘61 - not something I can take the kids to school in more than occasionally, and not in the winter. And I really want to move snow myself.

But I probably won’t be able to pry 8 grand from my wife.

functionoverfashion > shop-teacher
11/05/2019 at 22:56

It does seem high, until you consider two factors: 1. Non-rusty trucks of that era are non-existent around here, and newer ones with that little rust are more expensive (that was one reason) 2. A decent used plow is $1000 and it would be at least another $1,000 - $1,500 getting it installed.

I probably still won’t do it. But I want to. It would make a lot of things easier in my life. Having a true third car that can do all the things the other cars can do and then some. And the plow, and the ability to tow my boat for real. And to carry all our bikes somewhere without a comical series of racks on the Volvo like we ran last summer.

Still probably won’t do it though. Can’t have it all.

functionoverfashion > Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom
11/05/2019 at 22:57

Interesting take. I want to see the underside of it.

shop-teacher > functionoverfashion
11/05/2019 at 23:12

Good point.

Its a great truck. I think the early GMT-800 trucks are the best looking modern trucks. By modern I mean post 80's.