New truck with hail damage

[RojoGrande]

Would you buy a new truck with hail damage? I've been pondering a new truck for the past 6 months or so to replace my 13 year old truck that has 170+K miles. Its a 2012 Ram 1500 5.7l. It's been a great truck. Only one issue with the shift solenoid at 75K miles. Looking to replace the truck before something expensive goes.
Through online searching, a dealer in the area has a number of new trucks with hail damage selling at a substantial discount ($12 to $17K depending on the truck and level of damage). Damage looks to be primarily to hood and assume roof as well. Otherwise the trucks are new, no miles, with full factory warranties, etc. If a truck met all your criteria for drive train, trim line, features, towing, etc., would you consider buying a truck with hail damage given the deep discount? Maybe spend a little on PDR (paintless dent repair) after purchase.

 

[Dave N]

Sure, why not? It's only new until you drive it off the lot!

 

[SD_Prairie_Goat]

How much value is left in your ram?

If it's working run it into the ground and then buy new? Truck might shock you and give you another five years without issues

 

[mtmuley]

I do damage just hunting in my truck. I considered a hail damage rig before I bought my current truck. Went the used Government way. Pretty happy. mtmuley

 

[Redmt]

Buy it. You won't have to worry about the first dent.

 

[RojoGrande]

How much value is left in your ram?

If it's working run it into the ground and then buy new? Truck might shock you and give you another five years without issues

Locally I could sell my truck for $10 to $12K as a private party seller, I might only get $7 as a trade-in. I live in a rural area, 40 miles to the closest major town with gas and groceries, so reliability is key. I think the truck still has a lot of life left in it, that's why its taken me over 6 months of pondering. My thought is to replace the truck before it starts needing major repairs. I know a new truck doesn't guarantee reliability these days but at least I'd have a warranty.

 

[mtmuley]

Locally I could sell my truck for $10 to $12K as a private party seller, I might only get $7 as a trade-in. I live in a rural area, 40 miles to the closest major town with gas and groceries, so reliability is key. I think the truck still has a lot of life left in it, that's why its taken me over 6 months of pondering. My thought is to replace the truck before it starts needing major repairs. I know a new truck doesn't guarantee reliability these days but at least I'd have a warranty.

If you can live with the damage I would do it. Bet you could negotiate even lower. mtmuley

 

[Dave N]

Take it for a test drive straight to a dent repair place for an estimate.

 

[D4570]

Often times the sun will pull most the dents out over time.

 

[406dn]

Generally speaking, I am a drive it into the dirt sort of truck owner.

Replacing a paid for truck before the dreaded something big going wrong, is essentially paying in advance for the expensive repair to a car dealer.

A truck with 170k miles has plenty of life left in it, assuming it has been well maintained. In your case you are putting ~13k miles/year. Another 4 years of driving it would put the truck with ~225k miles. I kept my 05 Chevy Duramax when I purchased a 2017 Duramax. The old truck has 292k miles on it, and still runs right on down the road, towing horses etc. The 05 was damaged by hail a couple of years after I bought it. I put the insurance settlement into my pocket. The dents were fairly large, now years later, all of the dents have healed themselves, by themselves.

If you are dead set on getting a new rig, I think a hail damaged truck would be a great buy. You are getting a good chunk knocked off the price. That is money that won't erode away with depreciation.

 

[bennett454]

Just bought a Honda accord with Hail damage. Great discount for something aesthetic. As long as it’s a clean title why not?

 

[NECALI]

I’d try to get more of a discount. I got $14,000 off dealer invoice on my 2014 Ram Cummins with no damage. All depends on what dealers are doing right now though. I’d check into that first. Might be a great deal, or maybe not?

 

[perma]

if you have to get rid of it for whatever reason, that’ll come back to bite you if it’s severe enough.

 

[Bonasababy]

What is the new truck? Another Ram? 6 cylinder pentastar or new twin turbo hurricane 6? The former has a rep of being a bit of a dog, the latter is very new. I'm shopping for next spring and have driven a twin turbo 6...impressive. better mpg and more power than the outgoing hemi. Like my 13 hemi a lot and only has 122k but rust has taken much of the lower rockers below the doors already. And when no truck manufacturer can be trusted to release a new redesign without major issues and recalls...even Toyota, replacing engines on thousands of new Tundras....I prefer to give them year to work out bugs.

 

[SD_Prairie_Goat]

Locally I could sell my truck for $10 to $12K as a private party seller, I might only get $7 as a trade-in. I live in a rural area, 40 miles to the closest major town with gas and groceries, so reliability is key. I think the truck still has a lot of life left in it, that's why its taken me over 6 months of pondering. My thought is to replace the truck before it starts needing major repairs. I know a new truck doesn't guarantee reliability these days but at least I'd have a warranty.

Ya, I understand the logic.

Also, if you go the hail route, you may be able to get them out on a hot day using dry ice on the dents. Can usually pop them back into place if they're not too bad

 

[NEWHunter]

Definitely if the dents don’t bother you. I’d work on trying to repair them over time.

I apply a similar methodology to my vehicles. Buy them new and take good care of them, put 150K on them in 10 years, and then sell them private party before any expensive repairs.

It’s a decent strategy from a financial standpoint and offers some peace of mind. Good luck with your decision.

 

[Mudranger1]

Generally speaking, I am a drive it into the dirt sort of truck owner.

Replacing a paid for truck before the dreaded something big going wrong, is essentially paying in advance for the expensive repair to a car dealer.

A truck with 170k miles has plenty of life left in it, assuming it has been well maintained. In your case you are putting ~13k miles/year. Another 4 years of driving it would put the truck with ~225k miles. I kept my 05 Chevy Duramax when I purchased a 2017 Duramax. The old truck has 292k miles on it, and still runs right on down the road, towing horses etc. The 05 was damaged by hail a couple of years after I bought it. I put the insurance settlement into my pocket. The dents were fairly large, now years later, all of the dents have healed themselves, by themselves.

If you are dead set on getting a new rig, I think a hail damaged truck would be a great buy. You are getting a good chunk knocked off the price. That is money that won't erode away with depreciation.

please expound on this dent fixing procedure lol I've never heard of such a thing or seen it for that matter

 

[JEL]

So the hail damage discount amounts to the depreciation when you drive it off the lot. I probably wouldn’t do it but I never buy new. I personally would try for a deeper discount.

 

[Tradewind]

yes

 

[ismith]

Do it!