My husband and I have been married for 5 years and in that time he has been through Five trucks in the following order.
1)NEW 2006 Toyota Tacoma
traded in for a
2)USED 2003 Toyota Tundra, 4-door Crew Cab
which we dicided was too expensive so it was traded for a
3) USED 2003 Toyota 4-Runner, but then we had to drive accross country and move a trailer so we needed a
4) USED 2005 Toyota Tacoma, extra cab.which we then sold and were a single car family for 6 months, (HOORAY!), but the bug came back and he needed a
5)USED 2004 F250 Diesel, Crew Cab.
Which now needs a new transmission. We owe about 12,000 on it.
We use the truck 6 months of the year becuase he is merchant marine. It is not the primary family vehicle but we love having the space when we need it, and being able to haul a boat.
He wants another truck, a brand new one with no problems and a waranty. Whats a wife to do?
Is he crazy? Am I too stubborn and frugal?
Impractical, self-indulgent, egotistical… Maybe even crazy. If you can’t pay cash for a car (truck) you can’t afford it.
I agree. Owing 12 grand on a truck and wanting to trade it in is just insane.
My vote is with Rod Knox and bscar. Upside down on a 7 year old truck and wanting to trade is just digging the financial pit deeper.
It sounds to me like he works hard for his money and wants to spend it as he sees fit. How are the family finances? If things are tight, I agree with the others, and he should keep what he has until it is paid off (at least). If you can afford his expensive truck-buying hobby, that’s another story, and we have no business telling your husband what to do. That would be between you and him. I will say that replacing a truck because it needs a new transmission is usually the wrong approach.
I’ve had about 10 cars (mostly BMW, Mercedes, Audi, etc.) in the past eight years. I always buy well-maintained used cars with a full service history from owners (not dealers) and don’t pay more than NADA wholesale. I always pay cash and never finance. When I feel the urge for something different, I sell what I have and only lose a few hundred dollars (one some, I’ve made a few hundred). My advise:
- Buy from the owner
- Pay cash
- Don’t pay more than wholesale in today’s economy
- Get all the service records and a pre-purchase inspection
If you can’t do all of the above, buy one decent vehicle and keep it for at least five years. Part of being married is agreeing how money will be spent. How would he like it if you went out and bought a new pair of Jimmy Choo or Manolo Blahnik shoes every week?
Twotone
"Is my Husband a New Truck buying Addict? "
If you have the money…no
If it’s taking a big bite out of your living expenses…yes.
My recommendation would be to repair the 2004 F250, particularly since you still owe money on it. Drive the truck until it is paid off. You and your husband may like being free of payments so much that you will keep running the truck until it is ready for the junk yard.
I’m very familiar with the merchant seaman mind set and your plan though obviously logical and well thought out to the rest of us, makes no sense to some one 6 months at sea, dreaming of a new truck. At the risk of being offensive, again…"hence the term “drunken sailor”.
And warranty may not even cover a problem that develops, new vehicle or not.
If the hubby is flogging these vehicles while having no maintenance done then warranty could very easily deny any coverage at all.
(And I’m fully aware that 99% of people questioned over premature major problems will swear they do not abuse their vehicles and maintain them religiously.)
Just curious, pilot1, in the 5 years of truck trading what has been happening with the budget otherwise? What is the primary family vehicle? What’s in the closets? Often marriages decline into contests of who spends the most on themselves directly or indirectly. For someone who is away in 6 month stretches a heavily financed ‘personal’ vehicle takes a sizable chunk out of the disposable income every month they are away.