Vehicle purchase food for thought.

[JD GUMBEE]

You have $8500 to your name and need a pickup.
You have decided to buy a Silverado. You are in the lot on auction end day and have decided on one of these two.
Color is not important to you...you could be happy with either one of them.

One with 15,808 miles, is going to sell for $6779.
https://gsaauctions.gov/gsaauctions/aucitsrh/?sl=31QSCI19100013

The other, with 47,700 miles, can be bought for $4,000.
https://gsaauctions.gov/gsaauctions/aucitsrh/?sl=31QSCI19100006

They have had the same upkeep and job. (Moving furniture for Vets and being used to haul groceries and navy supplies.)
Are 32,000 miles worth the $2800 more in this case...or should you jump on the 4K truck with 47K on it?

 

[MrNoodly]

I put in a lot of miles, so I would gladly pay more for the one with lower mileage on it.

 

[rvwandering]

I'd lean more toward the higher mileage and lower price. Past experience with high mileage vehicles has convinced me that proper maintenance is the most important factor and regular use is better than sitting for long periods. Also, 47,700 miles isn't very high.

 

[flying kurbmaster]

I don’t like the rust marks on the rear bumper of the silver one so I would pay the extra 2800 for the white one also I think 32000 is worth 2800. AT 47000 you will be looking at brakes and tires soon

 

[MrNoodly]

...proper maintenance is the most important factor...

There are parts that aren't maintenance items and have a limited life due to wear and age. For example, When I bought my van it had 115K miles on it and everything worked perfectly. But six years later, at 250+K miles, my engine mounts rotted, some steering linkage parts have been replaced, as well as some high-pressure hoses. New shock absorbers twice, new brake rotors... It's like the human body. The older you get the more frequently things need to get worked on and a bigger deal it is to fix it. So I'm a fan of starting with a younger vehicle whenever possible.

But, hey, the engine and transmission are still going strong. Knock on wood.

 

[ckelly78z]

A long time ago, I bought a 1985 Dodge Caravan 4 cylinder 2 years old, with 119,000 miles for $5000. My FIL showed me a different 2 year old 1985 Dodge Caravan with 29,000 mile for $10,000. I chose the high mileage one and drove it for another 110,000 miles. I was able at that point to sell it for $1500, so how much would the other van have been worth with 139,000 miles.....certainly not much more than $2500, so I would have lost $3500 in depreciation.

To the OP, They are basically the same truck, get the higher mileage one (which is historically, still a low mileage truck)...47,000 miles is just broken in.

 

[StarliteRambler]

I'd take either one of them. I ran the crap out of a couple of 2007 GMC Work Truck Sierras and neither had a single problem. Great vehicles...

 

[cortttt]

I'd take either one of them. I ran the crap out of a couple of 2007 GMC Work Truck Sierras and neither had a single problem. Great vehicles...

A 2007 with only 15K on it? A little over 1000 miles a year? Could driving a truck too little be a problem?

 

[JD GUMBEE]

A 2007 with only 15K on it? A little over 1000 miles a year? Could driving a truck too little be a problem?

The way they are maintained in the pool? Not usually.

Some of the more "varnish" tanks have popped a fuel pump later on, but besides specific bugs each model is well known for, there have been very few issues with the low miles GSA stuff.

 

[Gr8ful]

Both are over the prices, the low milage is over $8k & the reserve isn't even met. I do agree with the concept of each type & brand of vehicles with proper care should last X number of miles. The 4 busses I posted end today & I found a 1992 ambulance with 56k IDI diesel for $3k, not as nice as mine but still a good deal & a freightliner 14' alum box truckwith 35k with a 12v Cummins. All pre computer!

 

[cortttt]

The way they are maintained in the pool? Not usually.

Some of the more "varnish" tanks have popped a fuel pump later on, but besides specific bugs each model is well known for, there have been very few issues with the low miles GSA stuff.

good to know. Thanks

 

[Gr8ful]

Do you think the low milage one has a reserve of $9 or $10K. It's over 8500 & still not hit.

 

[JD GUMBEE]

I would not be shocked if it goes past 10K.
Not sure about where they set the reserve.
(You know the reserve, unless it is like HALF of what they expected, usually does not matter, right? High bidder, even if the reserve is not met, usually is offered the unit. Very few get re-run through the website.)

 

[WILD@HEART]

I'd buy low $  w higher miles, Pad my pocket with surplus $ for options & flexibility, hold & re-sell later...(with all things being equal)

 

[Doubleone]

I do my own work so it's just cost of parts to me. At 47k it might need some maintenance, but $2800 will go a long way toward that with a surplus. As the auction is shaping up, the 15k was at $9385 (reserve not met) and the 47k was at $8776... A $600 difference would most definitely sway me toward the 15k truck. On a side note, another tangible factor for me is the fleet white paint will be more durable in the long run than the clear coat silver metallic.

 

[JD GUMBEE]

A $600 difference would most definitely sway me toward the 15k truck.

Yup.
For certain.

(But you cannot know prices up front.)

 

[WILD@HEART]

I do as well, it keeps labor costs down for sure & enjoy doing mechanical work. Every vehicle requires maintenance & repairs, I really don't mind, it's a necessary investment for most of us. Sometimes its worth paying to have pain-in-the-ars things done or for your convenience, or in an emergency situation. I understand not everyone has the know-how, skills or the willingness to do some or all of their own work & that's alright.
If that's the case, make sure you shop around to find honest, reputable, skilled people to rely on for advice & repairs. 
Whatever your situation... it's not just about the money (It's just a tool), it's about peace of mind too. (It's really hard to put a price on that!)

 

[Gr8ful]

Yup.
For certain.

(But you cannot know prices up front.)

I'm not hiring you to sell my vehicles, LOL!   Just kidding.

 

[Gr8ful]

I do as well, it keeps labor costs down for sure & enjoy doing mechanical work. Every vehicle requires maintenance & repairs, I really don't mind, it's a necessary investment for most of us. Sometimes its worth paying to have pain-in-the-ars things done or for your convenience, or in an emergency situation. I understand not everyone has the know-how, skills or the willingness to do some or all of their own work & that's alright.
If that's the case, make sure you shop around to find honest, reputable, skilled people to rely on for advice & repairs. 
Whatever your situation... it's not just about the money (It's just a tool), it's about peace of mind too. (It's really hard to put a price on that!)

I worked as a forklift mechanic for a short while & Just Hated it. I loved it before as a hobby but everyone is angry their forklift is broken, expect me to have a spare & every part made in the box truck, wants it fixed for free but the last straw was we were a Clark dealer made local & the company insisted we lie & pad the bill even on PM they  said if nothings wrong say you adjusted the steer axle so I said no, went back to the lumber buisiness which I really loved. It was over 5 years before I eben changed my own oil. Now I can't work on anything because of my mobility but I like low mile pre computer diesels so I can at lease figure them out.

 

[Doubleone]

^^^ Yeah, me too... I got into mechanics because I enjoyed it, but then it became work.  I was an ASE Master Auto Technician and State Certified Smog Mechanic and couldn't even stand to change the oil in my daily driver.  It was frustrating because as a mechanic you can run an honest shop, do the best quality work, use the best quality parts, charge a fair price, really look out for your customers, and the instant some $2 part fails they call you a grease monkey and demand all their money back.  People just need to understand that mechanics need dang-near a two-year degree to work on cars now days...   Funny thing though, I could work from dawn to dusk on the race cars because that was fun!  Same activity, different perceptions.  So I concluded it wasn't the activity, it was me that needed to change.  So eventually I got out and went into a more rewarding career.  I still do most of my own work, but I occasionally farm out certain jobs if I'm pressed for time, on the road, or just not feeling motivated.  I view it as 'buying my time back'.