At one level that big F-350 I test drove the other day really would check all the boxes for a camping rig. Great big 8 3/4 foot long bed, dual alternators and batteries for power, remote start, rolldown rear window for heat/air conditioning (to use with a boot and a truck cap that has a front window that opens), off-road package, and without all of crap that I don’t care about like heated seats, big screens, or emergency braking. I could see getting a camper shell for it, installing a 400 to 450-watt large panel, potentially going to a lithium ion battery or batteries I would mount in the bed, adding a cellphone booster and a diesel heater by winter. It would be a pretty awesome camping rig to replace Big Red, which was good for the 14 summers I enjoyed him from 2012 to 2026. By 2040, assuming the Godzilla Holstein lasts as long as Big Red, it will be not just my truck but my own retirement. I really do love these nights spent in the wilderness, and this truck or one similar to it would be an awesome platform to build on.
On the other hand, I just have a lot of doubts in my mind. I didn’t love how it drove. The steering wheel was very plasticiky, the visibility was even worse then my lifted rig. Everything in the interior screams work truck with all the hard plastic. No modern safety features like emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane departure, or blind spot detection. There are some design issues with the 7.3L engine, despite it robust simplicity and widespread application in commercial vehicles. The whole Middle East crisis with the War on Iran is on my mind, as is Climate Change. I am buying a truck that will likely be my primary vehicle through 2040, though if I have to become a car commuter (eww…), I guess I can get a fucking 25-year old Honda Civic to drive to work. Or even a cheap electric car – they are surprisingly affordable on the used market compared to well the Godzilla Holstein. Nobody knows what gas prices well be by summer with the Middle East blowing up – or if even gasoline will be available at local gas stations or subject to rationing. That is short-term thinking, as if gas prices really spike this year, I can just plan shorter trips and travel less in the Godzilla Holstein until thing change. And there’s the cost – big truck cost big bucks. But I make good money, save and invest a lot, and the truck won’t having a meaningful impact on my long-term finances as I put money to replace Big Red in a pot I’ve long planned to burn on a new truck.
There is some risk in taking my time to consider my options further. Could after going on 175 days of rotting on the lot with rusty hubs and patina on the muffler – the Godzilla Holstein I test drive sell? Of course, but I have seen similar spec trucks at least 5 or 6 dealerships within 50 miles of Albany, often sitting on the lot just as long, so I am not that worried. Nobody is going to be rushing out to buy an overpriced big-block truck during an impending fuel crisis and recession. And who knows if I get a price I find acceptable at the local dealership compared to others around. So I have some time to chew this over, and if anything the longer the various trucks rot on dealer lots, prices will only go down, especially if the Middle East continues to burn and economy goes into the tank and fuel prices go through the roof.
Well maybe, no slogging it through the snow to get to work on the mountain bike, taking the bus in today. I don’t know when the rain is going to start or if it’s going to turn to ICE but honestly I don’t care that much as bus will slog through it all.
Cornmeal and onion pancakes this morning, 🥞 really sweet skipped the carrots 🥕 in the mix for now. More things broke in the office last night, 🏢 I reported it to the appropriate people who know how to fix it, and we’ll see what happens when it gets done. Computers are great when they actually work properly 🖥️ which is less frequently then you might think.
It was a complete slog of a ride back home last night, 🚴 the packed snow and ice trail while not rough to ride, was soft and slippery in parts, and at times I had to push it through the snow. Between leaving the office late and the snow and ice on the bike trail, it was close to 6:45 PM by the time I got home. Heated up some onions and shrimp, hopped in bed and was asleep 🛏️ before 8 PM. I think I was just so amped up over the battle over the test drive yesterday that was kind of a nothing burger 🍔, drove the truck, looked at it, noting all it’s defects, and then left within a half hour. Popped the hood for good measure, just because I saw on the internet people who aren’t buying usually want one last look under the hood.
I am undecided. 🤷♂️ On paper it would be an excellent truck based on the features list for my needs, though I watch what is happening in the Middle East and gas prices, ⛽ and noting the 7.3L or 455 cubic inch engine with absolutely no fuel economizing features beyond the plastic valance up front which I am sure won’t survive many a snow bank, and the somewhat problematic variable oil pressure pump, that supposedly has been reprogrammed not to starve the lifters when excessively idling. 🛠️ The truck shows signs of having sit on the lot since last August, the rear hubs have rust on them, the brakes are a bit grabby from rust on the rotators, and I’m sure the dual batteries are not at their factory capacity at this point, and it has 80 miles on it, 16 miles from factory testing – and then I assume the rest for test drives. I also forgot how the base model Fords drive, much stiffer steering and brakes, and a rock hard plastic steering wheel compared to my old Silverado. It reminded me a bit too much like my parents Honda, minus all of the technology. So much plastic, sticky, hard steeling wheel. Definately work truck.
And yeah, a $63,500 OTD which is not what I’m willing to pay for essentially a gasser worktruck, 🚧 that has no safety or convenience features, like braking assistance, blind spot monitoring or adaptive cruise control. Things that might save on insurance for the next 15 years. Tiny little screens, mechanical controls for everything. Heated nothing. Stuff that I think is more an annoyance then useful, but I shouldn’t pay for features the truck lacks. I am going to sit on my decision for a few days, see if the dealer follows up with a reduced OTD and then decide if I should put in my own OTD bid or just move on to another truck. If the truck sells, oh well. Lots others like it on dealer lots. Or maybe I’ll become a greenie and buy an electric car. 🔌 Maybe with the climate crisis, 🌎 and the Middle East blowing up, 🇮🇷 it’s silly to think about at big-assed truck with a big block engine and a diesel-transmission that shifts gears like well a commercial truck automatic transmission from the early 1970s. It is kind of fun. But not $63.5k kind of fun. And I don’t love the fleet white color, even with the nicer wheels and LED headlights that come with the STX package.
It’s a nice truck, though not as big or difficult as I might have thought it might be to drive, but I’m coming down from a half ton. I do really like the long bed – it would be awesome once I had a camper shell on it. The package it comes with while basic, has everything I want. On the other hand, it too much felt like driving my parents’ Honda minus all the cool technology. But the out-the-door price needs to comes down a bit, there was some cosmetic rust on the rear hubs, and while I love the big powerful engine, with the whole Iran situation, gas prices and availability are not guaranteed. I am going to chew over it for a ffew days.
Just visiting one dealership today, looking at a nice but quite overpriced, aged SuperDuty. But it will be interesting to see how this goes, even if I’m pretty certain not to buy today. At any rate, it will determine whether or not I want to keep looking at Ford or if I should consider other options.
I feel like I’ve studied the markets carefully, have a fair price to negotiate from, and are ready to take a look and potentially buy a truck, but not today. I am a bit concerned about buying a truck that has been rotting for so long, but like anything if the price is right and the dealership and truck is right.
I told them I would be at work by 11 AM, as today is a session day, and I don’t want to get bogged down or waste time making a deal today. Today is just for looking at defects on the truck, going for a test drive, developing a productive relationship with the salesman. Then if I decide to move forward, I will put in a bid for the truck, what I think it’s worth based on condition, market numbers and ultimately what it’s worth to me. Truck doesn’t have the slide-in camper certification, but it will have plenty of payload capacity, so I can add a sway bar later, but I’m leaning against a slide in camper.
Then I’ll ride to work. We will see from there what my impression of the truck is and if I want to go with the SuperDuty or if I should test drive some other trucks. The way I look at it is it just a start to figure out what direction to go. Then I’ll work, head home, and get some sleep. I am so high strung about this all that I didn’t sleep well last night. Maybe I fear I’ll love the truck a bit to much.
With maybe one of the last minor snow storms of the winter on the way, hopefully, the blood moon was not visible this morning, but the carrot pancakes were good though runny at first as I put too much water in the solution.
So glad with the snow 🌨️ melt I could ride the Rail Trail both ways to work yesterday. It beat some of the stress of dealing with car dealerships yesterday. Truth is that I hate driving 🚘 and Second Avenue was pretty stressful at times to ride with the traffic and parked cars. Bike trail is icy but well packed and not too rough to ride. Hopefully the mild temperatures and rain will thin out the remaining of the ice. 🚲
I did not sleep well last night, 🛏️ as the various dealerships I talked to yesterday where for the most part not pleasant to deal with. Keep listening to the news 📰 and reporting about the Iran war. 🇮🇷 And my SuperDoubts continue about the big truck with the whole Iran situation. I’ve started to look more seriously at Toyota Tacomas with the six foot bed, but they’re not that much cheaper and I’m not convinced the reliability is much better. You do get a lot more technology with the Toyota though, for good or bad, unlike the base HD work trucks. Like adaptive cruise control. And also electric cars, especially used electric cars, 🔋 they are so cheap for what you get. But I don’t want a commuter vehicle, but the price of fuel for SuperDuty gives me a lot of pause. Maybe I should look more at 6.8L Minizilla trucks. 😳 I also don’t love the look of me being in a big truck to my landlord, my friends, especially the more greenie and liberal persuasion. 🌎
And honestly, I kind of like not having a car, riding my bike everywhere. 🚲 Trash pickup isn’t an excuse to get a truck, nor the freedom of having fires in the woods. 🔥 March 16th is coming up, and all social media accounts are warning ⚠️ about coming fire restrictions and risk with spring brown season ahead. And don’t you even think of burning anything plastic, unless of course you are in frugal living group in a rural part of a free state where plenty of people live without trash pickup. 🤜 I keep thinking how much money I would save this summer if I skipped traveling, stayed close to home, and rather then doing a summer vacation just taking days off from work and going to bike rides around town, 🚲 maybe riding out to a State Forest like Cole Hill with just a hammock, some food, matches, and flashlight and doing nights up in the woods. 🏕️ I just worry a lot about gas prices sky rocketing, 🚀 ⛽ and all the costs of unreliable big Ford truck.
I got back both very large state and federal refunds this year, 💰 as I really over-estimated my withholding based on the previous year’s dividends and interest rates, but both of them fell last year. I was sure my tax forms would be rejected for mistakes as the refunds seemed to large, but my withholding needs to be adjusted. I was bit the previous year by not withholding enough, so I bumped things up way too much last year. 🤷♂️ I’m just glad my tax returns were approved, as while they were honest and accurate, I thought 💭 by the size of the refund. Plenty for the truck cap or a sizable down-payment on the truck. I know I made the government rich this past year but I didn’t want to get fined.
Truth is though I’m my toughest critic, 💢 and of course the dealerships want as much leverage as possible over me and accuse me of being difficult. But I’m also quite undecided and not very confident despite my months of study. Guess what, I have my position to defend, and if you don’t like it too bad. 🖕 I’m going to the Guilderland Town Board to argue for more land preservation tonight with the Save the Pine Bush, 🦋 much to disapproval of the some of leaders and developers. But you got to fight for what is right these days. 🇮🇷 I thought about going to some of the Iran War protests but it’s difficult to find time in my schedule.
and are ready to take a look and potentially buy a truck, but not today. I am a bit concerned about buying a truck that has been rotting for so long, but like anything if the price is right and the dealership and truck is right.
as today is a session day, and I don’t want to get bogged down or waste time making a deal today. Today is just for looking at defects on the truck, going for a test drive, developing a productive relationship with the salesman. Then if I decide to move forward, I will put in a bid for the truck, what I think it’s worth based on condition, market numbers and ultimately what it’s worth to me. Truck doesn’t have the slide-in camper certification, but it will have plenty of payload capacity, so I can add a sway bar later, but I’m leaning against a slide in camper.
We will see from there what my impression of the truck is and if I want to go with the SuperDuty or if I should test drive some other trucks. The way I look at it is it just a start to figure out what direction to go. Then I’ll work, head home, and get some sleep. 
I am so high strung about this all that I didn’t sleep well last night. Maybe I fear I’ll love the truck a bit to much.