Do I buy brand new truck ????

[benedmonds]

If you are spending a lot on a truck (New or used) might be worth registering for vat. Worth looking into flat rate scheme.

[PeteB]

Ranger is a commercial vehicle with private car warranty! 

[Treeman123]

Buy new!! best thing I did was buy new trucks. Forget the money. Looks smart and nice to drive!

[GardenKit]

I realise that Arb trucks may be a slightly different beast to buy, but I would give new ones serious consideration.

I had always been a 'secondhand' buyer, feeling that vehicles depreciated too much to even consider new ones. So never actually checked out new prices until a couple of years ago.

 

We were looking for a good, nearly new car (Subaru Forester XT) but there was little choice and all tidy ones were fetching good money. Almost did a deal on an 18 month old demo model until I just threw the question of new in. This dealers price was high to be fair, but by shopping around I got a new one for less than the price of the demo model, and at the local dealer.

 

So when I wanted to replace my 2012 business Transit Van, I looked around again at all sorts. Having not been too impressed with the Transit I looked at Peugeot Boxers. Used ones, about a year or two old, with high mileage and marked bodies were going for around 13K plus vat, so I bought a new one, H2L2, 130Ps for £14995 plus vat. Less than 2k more than used ones. This deal was also done locally.

 

To be fair, I did not think the Peugeot would be as good quality as the Transit (The best price I could get on the Ford was 6k more than the Boxer), but in all honesty this van is superb!

 

[josharb87]

Unclear if you're looking for a pickup or a tipper? Business doing well?

 

Either way, and especially if a tipper, If you can't find a tidy used one, then buy new.

 

Either replace it when the warranty/finance finishes - 3 years, or run it into the ground, then repeat.

 

No point paying for it outright, you'll still have to write it off on the books over X years. (My accountant explained it to me but forgotten most of it, that's the gist of it though)

 

Interesting comment about arriving in a shiny new vehicle putting customers off. My old boss (in the UK) had an oldish 5k Saab, many commented on "how hes doing well for himself" but turn up in a brand new 30k sign written tipper, and no one notices! 

 

New vehicle you can also advertise on socialmedia/website that you care about emissions and want to be running to the highest emission standards 

 

Choose a popular one, and you won't loose too much over 3 years. (here, Sweden, Hiluxes hold their money VERY well, Mitsubushi l200's depreciate horrendously quickly)

[Mick Dempsey]

I don’t go for the theory that a new motor puts people off.

 

Rather it lets people know you’re serious about the job, and that (in theory at least) you’re good at it.

[Steve Bullman]

2 minutes ago, Mick Dempsey said:

 

I don’t go for the theory that a new motor puts people off.

 

And if it does, sod em

[Mick Dempsey]

Exactly

[Mike Hill]

If you look like you are doing well,likely you are and the customer will give their money to the the company looks the best.

 

Take a lesson from the "Caravan Club",very often them and their wagons are done up to the nines.It impresses the clients because they look the part.

 

If I turned up to a quote in a rusty Nissan Micra and tried to charge £900 for clearing a Spruce hedge,somehow got the job and then spent all day cutting and chipping it though a 6" Chipper.Or turn up to the quote in a sign written American Pickup,charge £1100 ,arrive in a £80K Valtra and Cranefed chipper combo,obliterate the job in 2 hours and off to the next one clients feel they get the best value out of the latter version of events than the first.Strangly the bigger the kit the less likely the "Could you justers" come out.

[Peasgood]

Knew a chap that had a successful gardening business in a very affluent local town.

He ran it with a presentable but oldish Transit van but socially he drove a brand new top spec Range Rover.

He said round here it would be almost suicidal to turn up in a vehicle newer or better than the customers own vehicle.