You turn on the radio or read the newspaper these days and you see many alarming newspaper articles about how people upon the advice of a large language model A. I. response take upon themselves to make a wildly foolish decision, get trapped in a mind loop that leads to psychosis, or ultimately end up committing suicide. Much like those worry-worts who warn about the dangers of consuming marijuana – as if you look hard enough you’re bound to find people who have secumbed to psychosis, done foolsih things or killed themselves. It’s a big country, you can always find outliers if you sift through enough data.
Yet, I do find the popular free artificial intelligence models – especially Google’s Gemani built into their search – to be a powerful tool for brainstorming and pulling together information and thoughts that would otherwise require multiple Google Searches and not necessarily give you the clear, integrated answer you were looking for. Artificial intelligence has the ability to take all the facts you present to it, mix-and-mash it and give an informed answer based on the consensus of an internet-wide source of information. Doesn’t mean the information is always right, but is not personally judgemental but instead pulls bits and pieces from across the web to give you what is likely a personalized consensus answer to your questions and concerns.
Professionals like psychologists, life coaches and financial advisors look with quite an amount of alarm at the biases and mistakes that artificial intelligence presents when people describe their problems and thoughts to an artificial intelligence model. However, they suffer from motivated reasoning – A. I. directly competes with their business. But the bigger issue is that humans have biases and personal judgements, which aren’t there with artificial intelligence models. A. I. only strings together words based on likelihood of correctness based on the internet consensus, it doesn’t consider often irrelevant things not presented to the model. A. I. also isn’t selling you problems. Even the best psychologist or financial advisor hopes you remain a paying customer for a long time and that you consume many profitable services. While not all human advisors are sleezy car salesmen, many of the same biases exist whenever a human is rendering services. A. I. models can and sometimes are trained to market products, however their biases are usually easier to spot and may be required to be disclosed, unlike those of humans who can often render biases without even realizing it.
Really, I’ve discovered Artificial Intelligence to be a powerful brain storming tool. While I take answers as a grain of salt, and do often verify and question them, it’s hard to beat how it can bring several sources of information to a multi-faceted problem like a human but with less judgement or bias. No A. I. is going to ball you out for something you said or no longer be on good terms. You can be honest with artificial intelligence and consider it’s answers while be aware such answers might contain biases or be wrong. You can always pause an A. I. conversation and do other sources of research. Artificial intelligence is good when you think of it as a very personalized search result based on facts you sent it, and then verify the information it presents to you.
That’s such a great quote, when I heard it in Forrest Pritchard’s Start Your Farm audio book I’m listening to while riding today. Not that farmers always break the rules but some are stupid and in rural areas without nosy cops and neighbors everywhere you can get away with a lot of shit. Plus, it’s really something I’ve been thinking as a future property owner, hopefully of that off grid, how to comply but local rules and code but in ways more sustainable and better for my own land and life then what the government regulations would set forward.
“Whoever has made a voyage up the Hudson must remember the Kaatskill mountains. They are a dismembered branch of the great Appalachian family, and are seen away to the west of the river, swelling up to a noble height, and lording it over the surrounding country. Every change of season, every change of weather, indeed, every hour of the day produces some change in the magical hues and shapes of these mountains; and they are regarded by all the good wives, far and near, as perfect barometers. When the weather is fair and settled, they are clothed in blue and purple, and print their bold outlines on the clear evening sky; but sometimes, when the rest of the landscape is cloudless, they will gather a hood of gray vapors about their summits, which, in the last rays of the setting sun, will glow and light up like a crown of glory.”
I was looking at CarEdge Free Vehicle Search and one of the options is to search by length of time vehicles have been sitting on the lot. For shits and giggles mostly, I searched for F-350 trucks with the 7.3L gasser engine within 100 miles which have been on dealer lots for more then 100 days. I was surprised to find 95 trucks fall into the category.
Also, Oliver’s in Bennington has a 2025 7.3L FX4 extended cab long bed, which obviously they’ve had for close to a year at this point, listed for $57k but I’m sure I could get it out the door for close to $50k, as obviously it’s not selling, probably because cow shit slingers in Vermont can’t afford such a big ol’ rig. I guess there are options out there, I don’t forever have to be poor desprate individual without a SuperDuty. I don’t love white but I’d rather have a nice reliable truck that checks all boxes rather then a pretty color. Let’s ask the AI.
Here is what Google Artificial Insemination says about this …
Ford Super Duty trucks with the 7.3L V8 and FX4 package sitting for 120–170 days puts you in a powerful position. For heavy-duty trucks, which typically have higher margins and holding costs, this is considered “severely aged” inventory.
Why These Specific Trucks are Sitting
The “Diesel Preference” Gap: While the 7.3L “Godzilla” gas engine is highly capable, many Super Duty buyers still default to the 6.7L Power Stroke diesel for maximum towing. If a dealer overstocked gas engines, they often sit longer.
High Inventory Levels: In early 2026, some Ford dealers are seeing slower turnover for 2025 models, with national inventory for certain trims like the Lariat exceeding 60 days.
2026 Model Arrival: With 2026 Super Duty models now arriving or available for order, dealers are desperate to clear 2025 “old stock” to make room for newer units with updated tech like the Lariat Premium Package.
Your Negotiation Strategy for 120+ Days
At 120–170 days, the dealer is likely losing money on every day that truck stays on the lot due to floorplan interest.
Target 5% to 8% Below MSRP: On average, 2025 Super Duty buyers are negotiating 5.6% below sticker. For a truck sitting 150 days, you should aim for the higher end of that range.
Leverage Existing Rebates: As of early 2026, Ford has offered aggressive incentives including 0% APR for 60 months or up to $4,500 in Customer Cash on certain 2025 XL and XLT models.
The “Auction Threat”: Mention that you know the truck is approaching the 180-day mark, which is when many dealers typically send vehicles to auction. They would rather sell it to you at a slim profit (or even a small loss) than pay auction fees and transport costs.
Negotiation Tips for 120-170 Day Old Trucks
Since the trucks you are looking at are well over the average time on the lot, combine the high days on the lot with the incentives:
Start Below Invoice: Aim to negotiate the selling price significantly below the MSRP and factor in the rebates from there. Dealers have already likely discounted these units internally.
Prioritize Dealer Contribution: You’ve identified trucks sitting for 120+ days. Dealers need to move this “aged” stock to make way for the new 2026 models. Push hard for an additional dealer discount on top of the manufacturer rebates. An example offer on a different Ford vehicle showed a dealer contribution of over $5,000 on a single unit.
Be Specific: Mention you know the vehicle’s “days on lot” number and that you are a serious buyer for that specific VIN. This signals you are aware of their urgency to sell it.
Use the 2026 Models as Leverage: Remind the dealer that 2026 models are on the lot, making their 2025 inventory obsolete stock they need to clear.
Current Incentives (Valid through February/March 2026)
The following offers are available on eligible new 2025 Ford Super Duty XL and XLT models in your region and can be leveraged for your negotiation on a long-sitting vehicle:
$4,500 Customer Cash: This is a substantial cash rebate available on the purchase of eligible 2025 Super Duty XL and XLT regular cab and SuperCab pickup models. This money comes directly off the price.
0% APR Financing for 60 Months: For qualified buyers, you can get interest-free financing for five years through Ford Credit on eligible 2025 Super Duty XL and XLT models. This saves thousands in interest costs compared to standard rates.
$1,500 Cash Back: In the New York region, an additional $1,500 retail cash incentive may be available on XL and XLT trims.
Affiliation/Group Offers: Depending on your eligibility, you might qualify for extra savings:
$1,500 UAW Member Offer.
$500 Farm Bureau Recognition Exclusive Cash Reward.
$500 Military Recognition Exclusive Cash Reward.
$500 First Responder Recognition Exclusive Cash Reward.
What to Watch Out For
Lot Rot: Trucks sitting for nearly half a year can develop flat spots on tires, battery degradation, or rusted brake rotors. Insist on a fresh oil change and a battery health test as part of the deal.
Specific Configurations: If the truck has a very rare color or an unusual bed/cab configuration, the dealer might stay firm, thinking they just haven’t found the “right” buyer yet. However, for a standard 7.3L FX4, the volume is high enough that they should be moving on price.
Driving and riding these rural roads is really hard to describe how it makes me feel. At one level it’s home, the place of my childhood and growing up. The days exploring in that old Plymouth Sundance my parents gave me at High School Graduation. At the same time, things have changed as I have I, and it lacks some of the charm that it once had in my younger years.
I watch as more and more of the area, bit by bit gets developed. Just another house, another homestead on a hill or in a former farm field. Sometimes land once abandoned goes back into production, a brushed up field gets cows again but that’s rarely the case. Sometimes forgotten houses are restored. Other times they’re developed.
Time marches on so quickly but the mountains don’t change.
In personal finance, PERMA-V is a positive psychology framework used to move beyond “surface-level” financial goals (like “saving for a house”) to uncover “deeper” goals tied to core life values and long-term well-being. Financial advisors use PERMA-V prompts to help clients allocate resources in ways that promote “flourishing” rather than just accumulating wealth.
The acronym stands for six core elements of well-being:
P – Positive Emotion: Allocating funds for activities that bring immediate joy, gratitude, or optimism, such as concerts or hobbies.
E – Engagement: Spending that allows for “flow”—the state of being fully absorbed in an activity. This might include investing in professional development or specialized equipment for a craft.
R – Relationships: Prioritizing spending that builds or maintains social connections, such as family trips, dinners with friends, or gifts.
M – Meaning: Aligning financial choices with a higher purpose or personal values, such as charitable giving or supporting local businesses.
A – Accomplishment: Setting and funding goals that provide a sense of mastery or achievement, such as paying off debt or reaching a major retirement milestone.
V – Vitality: Investing in physical and mental health, including expenses for nutritious food, gym memberships, quality sleep, and medical care.
Advisors and individuals use these categories as prompts to audit their spending and saving:
Goal Discovery: Asking, “Which of these areas is currently lacking in my life?” to set more meaningful financial targets.
Intentional Spending: Organizing discretionary expenses into these six categories to see if money is truly supporting well-being.
Retirement Planning: Helping retirees replace the structure and social connections of work with intentional, PERMA-V-aligned activities
