Dave:
> If the only reason you order 4wd is for resale value you will lose money
> over purchasing a 2wd vehicle. Granted the 4wd will be worth more but not
> the cost of the 4wd option more. 4wd cost approx. $2500.00, if you keep the
> truck 5 years the 4wd only adds about $1900 to the value of the truck.
> That's $600 you could have saved.
What geographic region of the U.S. do you live in? As I mentioned in my
earlier post, *anything* with 4wd is selling like hot cakes this time of year
in Wisconsin. The temp dips below freezing for a day or two and everyone is
scanning the Sunday paper for used 4wd vehicles. Four-wheel-drive Blazers
and such really go up in price this time of year. By the same token, would I
try to sell my '68 Camaro right now? Not on your life. No one is going to
buy that car and then shove it into storage right away. If I wanted to sell
the Camaro, I'd wait for the first warm, sunny, Spring day and then drive her around
with a "For Sale" sign in the window.
It's all a matter of timing. If you live in Arizona or Southern Texas, this
reasoning will not hit home with you. It's just a fact of life "up here".
Four wheel drive trucks sell very well on the used market. Two wheel drive
trucks sell well in the summer but everyone hates them in the snow.
Where did you get the "$2500 vs. $1900" figures?
Also, would you spend the extra jing for the "Sure-Grip" rear axle?
> Car truck purchases in general are a poor investment. You lose $1000.00 or
> more just driving of the lot.
Agreed. But I'm not looking at the '97 Dakota as an investment. I have plenty
of "investment" sitting in the knowledgeable hands of the folks at Vanguard and at
Norwest. I *do*, however, want to be able to sell this truck for as much as
possible when I decide purchase a different vehicle.
Is my Camaro an investment? I'm not sure yet. Talk to me after I get the bill
from the engine rebuild in a few weeks. Ha ha ha! :^)
-Scott Vieth http://www.msn.fullfeed.com/~scottv
'68 Camaro RS, 327/PG
'97 Dakota Sport 4x4 Club Cab, 5.2L/5-spd (on order)
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