So I bought a truck.

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I had been thinking for a few months it was time to move on from my CTS-V. I either needed to use it more, or get something else I could get more use out of. With Section 179 bonus depreciation deductions being available again, I figured I could get a truck with my business and get the money I put into a new vehicle back out. Now I can get an enclosed trailer for the RX7 and also use it to tow my RZR around for off roading day trips a little easier.

So I was going to buy a 2018 Silverado. I can't stand the 2019. I was ready to buy one and decided I should at least test drive a Ford. While the Chevy was good, I felt the Ford was a little bit better in every way. It was quieter, it rode better, it was more comfortable, and the fit and finish was a bit better. Plus I could order all the specific options I wanted in the trim level I wanted in the Ford. With the Chevy I was compromising because getting what I wanted resulted in too many option packages. One example - bucket seats and a full center console in the Chevy was $2000. In the Ford it was a $350 option. Plus I was stuck with the 5.3 and the 6 speed in the Chevy. The 6.2 and the 10 speed transmission only came in LTZ and higher trim, and I didn't want leather. Ford lets you put any engine combination in any trim truck.

So I ended up spending more on the Ford, but got exactly what I wanted. A F150 Super Crew XLT sport, with the 3.5L TT V6 and 10 speed transmission. It has the Max Tow package which includes the 3.55 locker, 36 gallon fuel tank, integrated trailer brake control, upgraded cooling system, bigger oil cooler, bigger trans cooler, etc. etc. etc.

I am really liking the truck so far. I got it all dialed in how I want it.. Tint, bedliner, STX front grill, 2 inch front level, Icon wheels and 33" tires. Here is where I am at today.


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[blacksi]

For a stock vehicle those motors are impressive, it ALMOST makes me want to buy a ford.

[digitalsolo]

Looks like a really nice truck.    The 3.5EB is impressive for sure.

[largeorangefont]

Thanks guys. The 10 speed trans is really impressive. For a truck, this thing moves.

[wickedrx7]

Nice truck!  I hate the look of the new Chevys so think you made a good choice.

I will be in the market for a new truck to replace my old 2500... might go small truck though and get a Tacoma. It will be hard to stomach 40k on a truck that can’t tow much but I just don’t have need to tow anymore....

[largeorangefont]

Nice truck!  I hate the look of the new Chevys so think you made a good choice.

I will be in the market for a new truck to replace my old 2500... might go small truck though and get a Tacoma. It will be hard to stomach 40k on a truck that can’t tow much but I just don’t have need to tow anymore....

The stupid part is that all the 1/2 tons get better fuel mileage than the V6 Tacoma.

[Chigliakus]

Nice truck!  A friend at work got one of those EB V6 F150's for a loaner while the dealership waited on parts for recall airbag replacement on his SUV.  I was surprised how luxurious it was, and also how quick it was!  I loved the cooled seats. 

[kinger]

Been a ford guy for years, not because I am loyal, but they just kick the crap out of everything else for what I want to do.  Love the STX grill I was going to do the same.  In the end I flopped to the high side price and went full Raptor 802A bonkers but its an amazing daily and there is not a thing I don't like about it.  Been playing with forscan mods changing up the dash and screens with it.  Also looking for a tune.  The raptor gets a 100hp jump from the regular 3.5 (which i had in my last one and was so impressed) and a tune gets you ANOTHER 100hp on top of that.  The raptor is so fast for a truck.  I clocked off a 5.2 0-60 run on the drive home!  LOL  The aluminum body really was a upgrade I came from a steel body F150 and was able to tell. 

ALL that technological goodness aside...the thing that keeps me hooked on ford...the flat rear floor!  Its like a couch back there with leg room for miles.  Works great for kids in booster seats like I have.  No bending over to help them buckle in a raptor either LOL  Its about 2" taller then my previous 16' Lariat. 

I have been in them all from all trim levels and they all are solid and very well designed and built.  I just like fancy high end stuff but my friend bought a XLT and added a Katzskin leather covers to it, feels just like a lariat.  His truck was 50% of the cost of my raptor.  So the value for the money is definitely in the XLT's.  Lots of parts switch over from trim levels so they are customizable both from the factory and if they cant get it the way you want get it close and buy the parts you need to swap it.  (like you did with the STX grill)

The RX7 feels even older now when I swap between raptor and it LOL. 

Enjoy!

[freeskier7791]

nice truck, as much as I hate Fords their new trucks are impressive, especially that motor.

[largeorangefont]

Been a ford guy for years, not because I am loyal, but they just kick the crap out of everything else for what I want to do.  Love the STX grill I was going to do the same.  In the end I flopped to the high side price and went full Raptor 802A bonkers but its an amazing daily and there is not a thing I don't like about it.  Been playing with forscan mods changing up the dash and screens with it.  Also looking for a tune.  The raptor gets a 100hp jump from the regular 3.5 (which i had in my last one and was so impressed) and a tune gets you ANOTHER 100hp on top of that.  The raptor is so fast for a truck.  I clocked off a 5.2 0-60 run on the drive home!  LOL  The aluminum body really was a upgrade I came from a steel body F150 and was able to tell. 

ALL that technological goodness aside...the thing that keeps me hooked on ford...the flat rear floor!  Its like a couch back there with leg room for miles.  Works great for kids in booster seats like I have.  No bending over to help them buckle in a raptor either LOL  Its about 2" taller then my previous 16' Lariat. 

I have been in them all from all trim levels and they all are solid and very well designed and built.  I just like fancy high end stuff but my friend bought a XLT and added a Katzskin leather covers to it, feels just like a lariat.  His truck was 50% of the cost of my raptor.  So the value for the money is definitely in the XLT's.  Lots of parts switch over from trim levels so they are customizable both from the factory and if they cant get it the way you want get it close and buy the parts you need to swap it.  (like you did with the STX grill)

The RX7 feels even older now when I swap between raptor and it LOL. 

Enjoy!

Yea of the 12 grills they offer in the 2018+ F150, the only one I like is the STX grill.

I thought about a Raptor, and even with the 100% depreciation write off I just didn’t want to outlay the cash. The sticker on this truck was over $51k and I got is for $39.5k.. literally a little over half of a loaded Raptor. I wanted cloth interior and yea, with the XLT you can put almost all of the higher end features into it. The sport trim level makes it look really nice inside as well. And I agree, it has the roomiest cab, especially in the back seat area.

Yea Forscan is pretty cool, I started playing with it a couple weeks ago. I have disabled the stupid auto start/stop, turned off all the seatbelt warnings, enabled the nav touchscreen to be used while driving, and added a subwoofer to the factory stereo with the wiring already in the truck. The stereo was the only thing that kind of sucked, but after the sub install it sounds great. I may look into adding the folding side mirrors.

With the 2nd gen 3.5, the Raptor is up 75 HP. I think it jumps around 110HP with a tuner. I may do that eventually, but it is good for now.

[largeorangefont]

nice truck, as much as I hate Fords their new trucks are impressive, especially that motor.

I was a little disappointed the Ford was better all around. I was ready to buy a 2018 Chevy. Dodge was not an option, and the Tundras are basically 12 years old.

It really is a great truck.

[SuperSlow]

First of all, wtf is section 179 bonus depreciation?

I have never liked the fact that Chevy offers such crap options when compared to Ford. You should be able to get any drivetrain in any truck, there would be a lot more 6.2l half tons if it didn't have to be a Denali. Also, gm sucessfully went from possibly the best looking truck they have ever produced to possibly the worst. It looks like a Toyota.

That said, one of the only Fords I'd drive is an ecoboost f-150. I drove one of the early models towing about 8k and was very impressed.

[largeorangefont]

So if you have a business, section 179 let’s you write off the depreciation on heavy equipment for your business. 10 or so years ago people were using it to buy themselves luxury SUVs and writing them off, so they changed the regulations somewhat. With the tax changes last year, it was revised again, and you can write off up to 100% of the cost of trucks over 6000 GVWR (pretty much all 1/2 ton trucks). Most SUVs and cars have a $10000 depreciation limit.

So in effect I’ll be writing off the entire cost of the truck and the modifications over the next couple years. I have a DD car that is for personal use, and the truck will be used for business use. You have to use the vehicle more than 51% for business to get the deduction, and the deduction is based on the % used for business. If I used the truck 80% for business, I could only write off 80% of the cost as depreciation.

You can now do this with new or used trucks. I normally would not have bought a new truck, but since I will keep it awhile, and no longer care about the depreciation hit, I bought a new one.

[wickedrx7]

There are multiple ways to write vehicles off for businesses. We write my truck off against our rental property and the Mazda 6 was my wife’s business car when she was a 1099 employee. My Rx7 was listed as our daily....

Taking depreciation is far better than just writing off as an expense....

[largeorangefont]

There are multiple ways to write vehicles off for businesses. We write my truck off against our rental property and the Mazda 6 was my wife’s business car when she was a 1099 employee. My Rx7 was listed as our daily....

Taking depreciation is far better than just writing off as an expense....

Exactly. Truck is written off for my property rentals in AZ. It is now the vehicle I take there to check on my properties. By happenstance the truck is able to tow my boat and RZR.

My friend just did this for 2018. His federal taxes went from $28k to $3k. He elected to take the depreciation all in one year. He bought a used 2015 Silverado for like $22k and put a full Carli/King suspension on it.