Vehicle conundrum - oilfield

[BRPORSCHE]

What the heck would you do?

(Financialy sound information only please)

September of 2017 I made a poor financial decision. I bought a 2017 Mazda6 Touring with all the options for $23,500 OTD. I owe $10,200 and could possibly private sale it for $18-20k. It now has just rolled over 16k miles. In my previous role I was extremely fortunate to have the ability to have access to a company truck. A 2015 Dodge 2500 4x4 with the long bed and hemi. Needless to say the company vehicle is just about overkill for any situation I found myself in.

This past week I have accepted a new position that will have me being in the field, the oilfield, that will be almost 80% of my driving. I expect to be in this position for at least the next 3-5 years. I will no longer have access to the above mentioned Dodge and will instead be given an extremely generous vehicle allowance.

I am going to have to trade in the Mazda. I absolutely love this vehicle and it is going to suck to get rid of it. It is a looker. Mazda came out with the turbo motor in 2018 that was announced I'mmediately after I made the purchase. Needless to say I just drove a car for a year and lost $5,000 bucks. I know this and have comes to terms with it.

So, to a avoid shooting myself in the foot yet again. What should I purchase that is 4x4 or AWD, decent ground clearance, prices around $30k, dead nuts reliable, and is somewhat fun (this is relative) to drive. I am in the boonies guys. These are extremely rough roads. There will be rock chips. I have looked at subi Crosstrek. Good cost, nice tech, horribly slow. I have looked at Tacoma's. Awfully expensive, ok tech, but great resale value. I have thought about Mazda CX-5 AWD and put more suitable tires on.

What would you do.

[911boost]

Your new job screams pickup truck. Will you be towing anything, or just driving around?

If you want the fun factor why not just keep the Mazda and use the car allowance for a truck? Never mind I just saw the other cars you have listed.

[unclebilly]

Get a tundra.

[Norm K]

If you'll be calling on rigs in oil country: no sedans, no import SUVs - some import trucks okay, but domestic preferred if you don't want to be the joke of the day.

_

[Pazuzu]

Find a Crosstrek manual, that's what Sue is driving now. Yes, still slower than a Mazda6, but much faster than that CVT piece of crapola...


And, you'll have only lost $5000 in value after than 5 year job Subi's hold value like a miserly old duck. Named McScrooge.

[911boost]

I agree about buying domestic.

[red-beard]

Go find a used F150, as new as you can for what you want to spend, and be done with it.

[Arizona_928]

Originally Posted by Norm K

If you'll be calling on rigs in oil country: no sedans, no import SUVs - some import trucks okay, but domestic preferred if you don't want to be the joke of the day.

_

This.
Get a Chevrolet with a 4.8, or 5.3. Dead nuts reliable, and you won't stand out like a sore thumb. Keep your car for daily driving.
Win win

[ckelly78z]

Jeep Cherokee, or F150, can't get more American than that !....totally agree with being joke of the day in a foriegn car on the oil fields.

[KFC911]

Mebbe a white F150? You can even add a tool box so it stands out from all the rest of 'em in the parking lots .

[LWJ]

Used raptor. Done.

[mattdavis11]

Want to be the king of the field? Unimog.

[red-beard]

Local - $28K

https://houston.craigslist.org/cto/d/2016-f150-4x4/6664803156.html

[red-beard]

Carmax has several in the area, including a couple of 2014 Lariat, Crew Cabs with under 40K, for under $30K.

Texas Autodirect has 2015 Lariat with the Ecoboost engine (better mileage) $29K

2016 - Aluminum and Ecoboost engine = 25 mpg

https://www.texasdirectauto.com/for-sale/Ford-F-150/vehicle/1FTEX1CP8GKF45247

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by LWJ

Used raptor. Done.

Agreed. If you are good with the extended cab there are plenty of them for $30k or less. Lots of guys in the KS oilfields drive them because the suspension is fantastic for rough roads and fields. Plan B would be to buy a nearly new domestic 1/2 ton truck and drop $2k on a proper suspension, of which there are many options.

I really doubt any sort of crossover will take the abuse long term of the oil field. Plus, do you really want to throw greasy clothes, tools, equipment, etc into your wagon trunk? Plus, you're going to have a real hard time with credibility if you pull up to the oil rig in your Subaru.

[Jay Auskin]

These are great off road with the standard bigger tires, and Multimatic shocks. Tons of great YouTube videos about them.

Chevy Colorado ZR2

https://www.sterlingmccallbuickgmc.com/VehicleDetails/certified-2018-Chevrolet-Colorado-Crew_Cab_Short_Box_4_Wheel_Drive_ZR2-Houston-TX/3231560653

[red-beard]

A 2018 F150 Extended Cab, brand new, $28K, XLT with V6

Lariat version of same truck, $40K

https://www.autonationfordkaty.com/new/Ford/2018-Ford-F-150-cff9c2e00a0d04fe2daf5401ff979245.htm?searchDepth=1 :8

In both cases, you could probably negotiate lower since it is near the end of the model year.

2012 Raptor

https://www.autonationfordkaty.com/used/Ford/2012-Ford-F-150-31f057e00a0d0cc71a39c0b188d7b5e6.htm?searchDepth=1 4:65

You might want to seriously consider an F250, for the durability

2012 F250 Lariat
https://www.autonationfordkaty.com/used-inventory/index.htm?start=16&sortBy=internetPrice+desc&make=Ford&model=F-150%2CF-250%2CF-350&

[David]

I prefer a Chevy truck myself but I guess a Ford is OK, but my vote would be a Chevy Colorado ZR2 with its Multimatic DSSV shocks.

The Toyota Tundra and Tacoma are the only trucks built in Texas so there's that.

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by red-beard

Go find a used F150, as new as you can for what you want to spend, and be done with it.

^^^^ this.
Yes you will take the depreciation hit on the mazda but if you replace it with a low-miles used pickemup you will offset most of that.
Unfortunately pickemups depreciate slower than mazdas but say la veee.

The F150 is not perfect but it is solid and reliable and does the job.

[BRPORSCHE]

Thanks everyone.

A lot of good suggestions in here. Yea the Raptor is the truck of the oilfield. But with the downturn of 2014 people have become a little bit more sensible. I am certaily looking at 3yr/30k mile trucks with 4x4. That seems to be the sweet spot for most of the depreciation. I would love a full size truck, but my masculinity is pretty safe in a small truck.