Normally hang-on to vehicles and sell them after SERVERAL years. Buy new vehicles either by paying $$$$$ or 0(zero)% financing.

Last impulse buy/trade was ...

• 2009 STX 4x4, supercab,4.6 3V that was purchased used Oct'2010 with 18,000miles.
  -for-
• 2011 FX4 OFF ROAD, supercab, 5.0 4V that was purchased Oct'2011 with 3miles.

Why?

• While cruising the local dealer's lot one weekend spotted the 2011 FX4. Figured it doesn't co$t anything to ask about a trade-up so stopped-in the next Monday to ask.
• With ...
  • rebates, incentives, discounts, etc..
  • trade-in. *Which was almost what I paid the year before after adding 10,000miles.
  The final co$t was a few thousand $$$$$ for what was IMO an MAJOR UPGRADE in performance, creature comforts, luxury ( spartan > lush ), etc..

After a month the 1st BONUS that I notice is that despite the increased weight, RAR difference ( 3.55 > 3.73 ), etc. the MPG is 15% better with only 1,200 miles on the vehicle.
.

Here's a theory. The number missing from a lot of these stories is what they paid for their trade in vehicle. If you overpaid for your current vehicle in the middle of the year with no rebates, and then trade it in at the end of the year with 4-5k in rebates and talk them down to x-plan price to boot, that could conceivably work. But then it's not so much a case of getting a killer deal on your trade, it's getting out of a crappy deal you made in the not-so-distant past.

"Call the Ford Credit Customer Service Center at 1-800-727-7000 Monday-Friday, from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Central Time); Saturday 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Central Time). Please have your account number ready!"

That's what fordcredit.com says to do. You really don't need your account number. Just follow the prompts and eventually you can get access to your account. From there, note your account number. After that, you can register for online account management and access everything. Using that info, I got payoff and account info to give to the bank I was refinancing with. Went from 5.25% to 3%. Of course, rates continue to fall and are now at 2.75%.

Anyway, best of luck!

No matter what, if you are trading a truck every 2-3 years, you should be leasing... you can lease an XLT crew 4x4 for $200 a month up here in Boston.

some people just dont mind having a payment and driving a new car... if you can afford the payment, who cares if its gone in 5 years since your goign to just buy a new car anyway

i wish i could lease. have equity in my loan thanks to rebates and low interest rates, and buying it when the economy collapsed, and now i cant get out without really killing that equity... it is tough to go from buying to leasing without feeling SCREWED even for someone who would prefer leasing...

would much rather lease a King Ranch for 450 a month then buy an XLT for 450 a month... 450 a month is 450 a month... unless of course the truck isnt my DD and it will be in the yard for winter use only or hauling

For me the choice was fairly simple. I started looking at the new ones with their $3000 off plus negotiation which I was told may get another $2000. The price was still $37000 for a new Lariat with EB. So, I started looking used. All I wanted was a trailer towing vehicle. This certified pre-owned 2009 4.6L 3V supercrew XLT with towing setup and 29K miles for $25K spoke to me. I am not sure that it was a steal but I got a 6yr 100K warranty, one year on a new car warranty left and a truck whose window sticker was $37+K.

Hmmm . . a new wife every 2 -3 years would be nice too if they weren't so danged expensive!

I have had 10 new Ford trucks since 1988. 3 in the last 4 years. I take very good care of my trucks and they are only driven on roads. Usually they still will pass for new when I trade. The most miles on one was 60000. My main rule is to never pay down at time of purchase. Ford trucks hold their value very well, unless excessive high millage or unusually rough treatment. I have an 2011 screw lariat now. Traded an 09 screw lariat and was allowed almost what I paid for it.