Why Buy A Truck Instead Of A Car
In 2020, the top three best-selling vehicles were trucks, with the Ford F-150 holding the title of best-selling vehicle for over 40 years. Unsurprisingly, trucks were also the most refinanced vehicles in 2020, holding down the top three places (as well as number seven) with the Chevrolet Silverado 1500, the Dodge Ram 1500, the Ford F-150, and the GMC Sierra, respectively.
why buy a truck instead of a car
Cars and trucks differ in more than just size or function. Some buyers might consider trucks too expensive compared to similarly-aged cars, while others may be head-over-heels for the speed of a sleek new sports car.
In other words, you may expect to pay a little more for a new truck than you would a comparably-sized car, but the difference in car prices between sedans and trucks skyrockets once you look at more luxurious offerings.
Prices between used cars and trucks are similar, with new vehicles costing an average of $25,890. Though used truck prices contribute to that number, the average wholesale price of a used truck is $30,093 due to continued ripples from the pandemic.
Nor is there much of a difference in the cost or difficulty of at-home vehicle maintenance. Other than dealing with the slightly larger size of a pickup and increased frequency of service and fluid changes, DIY truck maintenance is much the same as working on a car.
The RateGenius State of Auto Refinance: 2021 Report found that trucks carried a retail LTV of 104%, the lowest of all vehicles refinanced in 2020. At 118%, sedans had the second-worst average LTV, only beating out station wagons by a single percentage point.
If you frequently deal with small driveways, tight parking lots, and heavy traffic, a truck may not be the best option for you. In contrast, a small or mid-size sedan may offer just the maneuverability you need to fit into a compact parking spot.
If your weekends are full of off-roading, a truck may serve you better. But if you like the unbridled thrill of the wind running through your hair as you cruise along an empty highway, a sports car (or even a sporty sedan) may be the better choice.
Owning a truck makes you very popular among your friends, too. Any time someone you know decides to move, you can bet your phone will be ringing with a request that you help them out. After all, why else would you want all that cargo space?
When looking at pure data to decide whether to buy a car or truck, neither choice edges the other out to take home a clear-cut victory. As a result, the decision is personal, driven by preference, need, and budget, though one that should be influenced by research.
In reality, the type of vehicle you buy should be the one you need or want most. Though there may be a wrong answer for you, either choice you make is entirely valid and may be supported by cold, hard data. What matters most is choosing the car or truck that serves your lifestyle and needs.
First things first: Cars have trunks and hatchbacks. Trunks and hatchbacks are great, but there's a reason they don't name entire genres of outdoor parties after them. Much more than just the entranceway to the truck's bed, the tailgate is an idea, a state of mind, and, of course, a place to sit and dangle your legs while doing beer-commercial stuff at concerts, cookouts, and stadium parking lots.
Compared with cars, big truck engines generate far more torque, a twisting power used to turn the crankshaft, which is connected to the transmissions where vehicles convert torque into usable power. Horsepower, which is delivered at higher RPM levels, is great for highway passing; the availability of low-end torque, however, is what separates car from truck and what makes the pickup America's workhorse.
Among the latest fully electric pickups is the Ford F-150, a battery-operated version of the most popular vehicle in America, which will deliver more torque, more horsepower, and faster acceleration than any gas-burning F-150 on the market. Hummer, Chevy, and less-celebrated brands such as Bollinger, Rivian, and Lordstown also either have brought or will soon be bringing electric trucks to the market. If the notoriously poor fuel economy of trucks has kept you sedan-bound, your time to break the chains is near.
When most people buy a truck, the primary purpose of the vehicle is for work. For this reason, potential buyers are usually interested in features like towing capacity and maximum weight as their primary selling points. Pickup trucks are ideal for oversized loads, as they offer the best overall capacity of any commercial vehicle type.
Since they are large, utilitarian vehicles, it makes sense that trucks consume a lot of gasoline. While certain truck models can offer up to 25 MPG or so on the highway, that level of economy dramatically declines as the size and capabilities of your truck increase. All in all, most trucks are not exactly vehicles that are known for their excellent fuel economy.
Most standard pickup trucks can only fit two or three passengers in the cabin, and accommodating three requires the use of the middle bench seat, which can be awkward. Furthermore, this front-seat-only arrangement makes it unsuitable if you need to transport young children.
Pickup trucks tend to be wider than most passenger vehicles, and as a result, have a relatively narrow turning radius. They can be tough to maneuver in tight spots or to fit into narrow parking spaces. Maneuverability is particularly challenging when driving a truck with a dual rear axle.
In a basic sense, pickup trucks are mostly for work, while SUVs are more for recreation. But you can make a great argument that they may be the better family vehicle of the two. Though they lack the overall power and towing capacity of a large pickup truck, they can still be used for transporting goods if needed and can even be used for towing.
While a large truck with a crew cab can seat five, that is about the lowest seating capacity you would see for an SUV. Compact SUVs, for example, may only offer seating for five. But most SUVs can seat at least seven or eight people. Carpool, anyone?
Though many trucks and SUVs have a similar rating for miles per gallon in the city, SUVs tend to get much better highway mileage on average. So unless you do most of your driving in parking lots, an SUV will almost invariably get superior fuel economy to a truck.
The decision around which type of vehicle you should buy lies in the needs of the potential buyer. The pros and cons listed above should provide a solid comparison and contrast to the benefits of both trucks and SUVs. At the end of the day, which features matter most to your everyday driving needs? If towing capacity and power are your primary needs, you may be inclined to purchase a truck. If increased seating capacity and fuel economy are what you need most, perhaps an SUV is your best choice.
Trucks obviously have a size advantage over cars, but when talking about a vehicle, bigger is not always better. The compact size and lower ground clearance of cars makes it easy to drive and maneuver in traffic, which is perfect for your daily commute. You also get the advantage of easier parking. A truck can easily take up your entire garage and hog a parking spot or two.
Along with the bigger size, trucks also come with a bigger price tag. For the same price as a basic Ford truck, you could get a brand new coupe with all the features and latest gadgets. If you want upgrades on your truck, the cost only increases. For a truck lover the price can be justifiable, but you will definitely get more features for your money when you purchase a car.
While that large truck bed is great for hauling furniture, it forces the rest of the truck to be smaller. A regular cab style truck has two doors and no back seat at all. You can upgrade to an extended cab (with a small back seat) or a crew cab (with two full rows of seats), but this will add to the cost. Cars generally have five seats, and some bigger SUVs can seat six or more.
When purchasing a new car, it can seem like the possibilities are endless, and they practically are! With so many different makes and models to choose from, it is easy to find something that fits your needs. You also have a good chance of getting a great deal because the market is so competitive. With trucks, your options are much more limited.
With less powerful engines and transmissions than trucks, cars do not make good vehicles for towing. A truck has the power to tow another vehicle or a trailer easily, making it ideal for 5th wheel or boat owners.
A truck bed can store a lot of items, but it leaves them vulnerable to the elements and to thieves. The solid roof and enclosed trunk of a car can keep your belongings safe, secure, and out of sight. In a truck, you either need to remove all your cargo or invest in a cargo cover.
There is no one car or truck that can do it all. To have one feature, you may have to compromise on another. When purchasing a truck or car, keep in mind the pros and cons of owning each type of vehicle. Ask yourself questions about what you are looking for. Can it haul my construction supplies? Do I need more than three seats? The important thing is finding a vehicle that is right for your lifestyle, needs, and price point.
The name could be an excellent reason in itself to choose the truck over a car. When hauling loads is one of the primary requirements, you will need nothing short of expertise built into a pickup truck, delivering the expected weightlifting capabilities across miles and years. Cars may bungle up this task, hauling not more than a few bags and essentials. On the other hand, you get exceptional perks with the adjustable frames of the bed of a truck.
You can transport goods and packages on a truck; however, the same might appear self-sabotaging to the interior of a sedan or SUV. With the pickup bed accommodating all items, you need not worry about your truck being smeared or damaged in the process.
Ford, Toyota and Jeep among others had record SUV sales for the month of April. Last month, like for most of the year, Americans bought more trucks and SUVs than cars. So what's become of the four-door family sedan? For the answer, we turned to NPR's Sonari Glinton. 041b061a72