Just browsing the classifieds and it just brought up a question. Why is the trend to sell a vehicle just under or just over 100k?? Especially a diesel truck? Isn't all the talk "they're just broke in at 100k"?? Yet folks get skittish around that time and jump ship on their diesel. I would assume because that's when the powertrain warranty ends. But why?? The truck is just getting broke in???

 

Because they bought the truck to "be cool" or "different" or "make a statement" and they don't have a clue how to maintain or fix 'em if and when they do break. If someone is dumping a diesel at 100K, I'd say they most likely didn't need (or use) the extra capacity or durability offered by the upgrade from gas.

Something else to consider: A lot of folks will dump a car at the 100K mark regardless of gas or diesel simply because they've always been told that's how long a car is designed to last. Just like 3000 mile oil changes, it's not true anymore, but it does make for good deals on used cars with really clean engines.

 

Warranty?

 

Dont know. Maybe its still some of the oldtimer mentality. When I was younger a car that had 80Kmiles was a beater. Automobiles just didnt last very long. Our 86 Subaru has 285Kmiles on it and is rusting away but I would trust the drive train on it to drive to Seattle and back. Like annabelle and Adaminak said. Must be warranty issues. They are willing to spend a lot of money on a new vehicle rather than take the chance on spending money on maintaining their old one.

 

Because if you look at the actual prices that are being asked you should notice that they fall dramatically once that odometer trips the 100,000 mark....
Plus I know that when I was in the market I always clicked on the "Under 100,000 Mile" tab in the lookup...

 

A lot of people still think old school on a vehicle lasting over 100K miles, so they sell about then. A new car should go twice that now days, and our trucks should go more than that.

 

SHHHHHHHHH!

Don't change peoples perceptions, you will blow my chances of getting great deals.

It has been so long since I owned anything under 100K that I don't remember it.

 

I think you guys are right. It's the old mentality thinking the life is up at that mileage. Also think the point about the ones who bought it for the wrong reasons too.

 

I'm surprised by the consensus answer here. I really think it has a lot more to do with the amount of buyers willing to pay a premium for under 100K mile cars.

A lot of sellers are looking at the value/premium they can get for their under 100k miles diesel and comparing it to what they can get at say 130k. People are willing to pay more for low mile vehicles.

So there's a window where you can make more money off your sale by selling at that 94k mile mark for instance. Not to mention the amount of buyers that will only look at under 100k mile cars (bigger pool of buyers equals faster sale) and the amount of banks that won't finance vehicles with over 100k miles.

Just my $0.02 though.

 

Well if its for business reasons then the depreciation of the vehicle is greatly reduced at the 100,000 mile mark regardless if its a diesel or not. At work we get ride of our trucks at 80,000 or under per our accountants request.