# Old or New? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [August 15, 2008, 8:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/old-or-new/18222 "2008-08-15T20:01:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MissEve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ba0ec/32.png) [@MissEve](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MissEve)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2008, 8:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/old-or-new/18222/1 "2008-08-15T20:01:03Z")
Well… my boyfriend totaled my truck. it wasn?t his fault… but the old ?96 F150 is gone. I have a ?04 Mustang. The question is do i take the settlement money and get an old used truck or do i trade in the Mustang with the settlement money and get a year old truck. I do trailer horses… But i want a truck with reasonable gas mileage. My Mustang gets 20mpg. I have found an old 86 F250 Diesel for $2500… any input would be very appreciated. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![jayhawkroy](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/jayhawkroy/32/33_2.png) [@jayhawkroy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jayhawkroy)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2008, 8:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/old-or-new/18222/2 "2008-08-15T20:13:59Z")
I would have potential issues with body and frame rust for an '86. Hard to call without inspecting the truck. I think you need to stay in late 90’s minimum for model year. ---
**Author:** ![Triedaq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@Triedaq](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Triedaq)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2008, 8:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/old-or-new/18222/3 "2008-08-15T20:14:03Z")
If you trailer horses on a regular basis, you should think about a 3/4 ton (F250 in the Ford line). The 3/4 ton trucks aren’t known for great gas mileage–a 3/4 ton truck certainly won’t get anyplace near the 20 mpg on your Mustang. You may do well to get 15 mpg. The important variable is how many miles a year do you drive the Mustang? If you drive less than 5000 miles a year, maybe the newer truck is the answer. I don’t know how far you travel trailering the horses. If the distance you trailer horses is not more than 100 miles, you may want to shop for a 3/4 ton in the age range of your '96 F150. ---
**Author:** ![MissEve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ba0ec/32.png) [@MissEve](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MissEve)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2008, 8:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/old-or-new/18222/4 "2008-08-15T20:30:52Z")
well… i do drive the Mustang allot… prob around 15000 a year. ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2008, 8:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/old-or-new/18222/5 "2008-08-15T20:42:51Z")
I agree with Jay…I would NOT buy a 20 yr old vehicle and expect it to hold up to the punishment of hauling around 6k+ lbs without putting some MAJOR money into it. ---
**Author:** ![fordx4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a183cd/32.png) [@fordx4](https://community.cartalk.com/u/fordx4)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2008, 11:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/old-or-new/18222/6 "2008-08-15T23:49:51Z")
Let’s do the math. 15K @20mpg and $3.50/g = $2625/yr. 15K @14mpg = $3750/yr. You will save at least $1,000/year in fuel cost by not driving a truck full time. I would buy an 8-10 year old truck and keep the 'stang. ---
**Author:** ![MissEve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ba0ec/32.png) [@MissEve](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MissEve)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2008, 2:12am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/old-or-new/18222/7 "2008-08-21T02:12:03Z")
🙂 yea… i think i will. ---
**Author:** ![andrew\_j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/91b2a8/32.png) [@andrew\_j](https://community.cartalk.com/u/andrew_j)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2008, 1:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/old-or-new/18222/8 "2008-08-21T13:55:12Z")
Look at the math deeper. Owning a 2nd vehicle means at least another $1000 in registration/insurance/maintenance fees at a minimum. ---
**Author:** ![Roadrunner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@Roadrunner](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Roadrunner)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2008, 6:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/old-or-new/18222/9 "2008-08-21T18:21:09Z")
You’re absolutely right Andrew. Funny, how often we forget about the added insurance costs when we buy a vehicle.