Originally Posted by OVERKILL
Originally Posted by ram_man
You know I'm going to assume you aren't on many other forum's at least not decent one's! I'm on several and none of them are as judgmental and ridiculous as it is here.
Boy, I guess you've never been on any of the Mustang forums then, LOL! This place is a LOT more civil.
Originally Posted by ram_man
Let me try this simpler one more time since complex English doesn't resonate here.
I've yet to see you use much beyond pretty rudimentary language, so implying that you are speaking with a degree of sophistication beyond the capabilities of those participating here seems a bit amusing.
Originally Posted by ram_man
I'm buying a truck for many reasons one of them is the new job another is I could use one almost daily another reason is because I want one.
That should really be the end of any of the issues that the keyboard haters have. That one line right there should end the issue or the concern.
But it really doesn't address the concerns, which, while seemingly tangential, are legitimate in nature. I think JHZR2 made some very good points regarding the financials here, have you actually run the numbers to see how much this is costing you versus how much you'll be earning?
Originally Posted by ram_man
Instead of going off on a tangent about how I'm going to spend money in gas.
But that's a VERY important point. The assumption here is that going into an $18/hr job you aren't rolling in dough, so people are just trying to watch out for your well being. That's not being mean, quite the opposite. People are concerned you might be making a financially unwise decision.
You say you want a truck to "have a truck", but you have a truck, albeit, one that needs some work. But the Dodge, fixed up, would likely satisfy your "local" truck needs, and you already own it and already know what it needs/doesn't need. I still believe another truck, ideally, provided by the employer and located close to where it would be used and you commuting with something that sips fuel makes the most sense if you aren't being paid mileage. If you ARE being paid mileage, that's a whole different story. I get $0.52/km for work, so if I'm driving to Toronto and take my own vehicle, that's $104 in my pocket (200km round trip) to cover gas ($40) and wear and tear. That kind of arrangement completely changes the logistics here.
Let's make some assumptions based on you not being reimbursed for mileage, just to see how this distills out (I'm trying to help you here, not trying to be a ****):
You buy a 1995 Ford F-150 with a 302 that gets 16Mpg highway, 12 in town for $2,000
- Gas is $2.04/gallon
- Trip is 60 miles each way highway
- In-town driving lets say is 5 miles doing running around
- You make $18/hr, you leave at 6AM, arrive on-site at 7AM, leave at 3PM, are home by 4PM.
This breaks down as:
- Wage if paid from point of leaving home: $180.00
- Wage if paid from time you arrive on/leave site: $144.00
- Cost of fuel to/from work: $15.30
- Cost of fuel from around town: $0.85
- Total cost of fuel: $16.15
- Take home: $163.85 or $127.85
- That's either $819.25/week or $639.25/week, minus whatever your taxes and deductions are (not familiar with US tax laws) if you get paid for 10 or 8 hours for 5 days; 50 or 40 hours.
- That's at bare minimum $80.70/week in gas just for work commuting; $323/month.
- Now, any repairs, maintenance....etc for that truck come out of that income.
- If gas prices go up, your take home is immediately reduced. If gas were to get to $3.00/gallon, the to/from work $ is suddenly $22.50; $112.50/week, $450/month.
- If you are hauling anything with some weight to it, gas mileage is going to go down, reducing your take home.
- This assumes you have $2,000 in cash right now to pay for the truck and aren't borrowing it, in which case that needs to come out of that income too.
Have you already done this and determined you are still ahead doing it this way? Again, assuming you are NOT being paid mileage. If you ARE being paid mileage, this entire conversation changes.
Originally Posted by ram_man
1st question, transmission reliability of early 90's fords and chevys e4od vs 700r4
Engine choices 300, 302, 4.3, 305, 350
I think I'll just stick to buying a half ton sounds like the better decision.
Another question I learned my ram has some sort of rubber coating under the carpet on the floor pan. Does Chevy or Ford do this, or did they do it in 90's I assume it was done for sound deadening but is very obnoxious to weld around.
Another thing that has always surprised me is how ford attaches their beds with big bolts through the floor bed where as Chevy and dodge bolt the bed channels straight to the frame is their any benefit to one way or the other.
The Ford, for fuel economy, the 302 with a 5spd if you can find one is probably the best. The E4OD isn't a bad tranny though. The 351 and 300 I6 will both be harder on fuel.
Going to be honest most of what you said doesn't mean much to me except for the last part since the points you quoted were off topic. Yes I have run the numbers on gas yes I'm fine with it. If I wasn't I wouldn't be looking at trucks to begin with. Especially not half tons. The loss in fuel mileage is worth it to me both financially and personally.
My comment about complex English was a simple one, I believe when I ask questions and create a topic that of people can read and comprehend correctly they would for the most part stay on topic. I am also not to surprised that you chimed in to rehash every point.
Besides all the bs about needing a truck which I already said I did. But whatever even if I didn't need one. Let's just say I want one. Is that ok? Or do I still need to justify myself repeatedly?
I say that because the need I do also want one. May sound crazy but i enjoy trucks. I enjoy what they offer I enjoy the ride I enjoy driving them. There is no better feeling in the world than driving an old truck on a rural route back road. I'm sure that is very weird to some but I love it. And you know with kids a fiancé and all the stresses of every day life sometimes it's nice to just be able to throw a tackle box in the back and drive your truck to the river and cast a line.
Everyone has their thing cars and trucks are my thing. I love to drive more than just about anything else. And I really enjoy an old truck so that is what I'd like.
Now regarding your last point. Would you prefer the 302 over the 300? I once had a 302 5speed truck I really liked it was probably the best ford truck I ever had also had a 5speed f250 with the 300 it was great all the automatic fords I've had have been less enjoyable, the last f150 I had the torque converter shuddered it was an e4od
It's been so long ago I don't really remember how the 302 felt.
Also if I work 20 hours or more a week I'll get reimbursed for fuel I believe it's .15 a mile. Which I will work the 20 hours a week minimum most of the time. I also get very good pay when I haul mulch or gravel and spread it. As I said its usually around $1000 to do so.