It's been a while since I updated this post. I have been tinkering with Charlie and saving some money for a replacement. I did not take any pictures or document any of the latest modifications as I was planning to do that when I transferred everything to a new platform. None the less this is a long post.
In February I left Reno in a pretty massive snow storm and headed south to Johnson Valley for the 13th running of the King of the Hammers. Road conditions were pretty bad on 395 I averaged about 35-45MPH from Reno to Mammoth. A few times visibility was limited to maybe 10 feet in front of the truck. I never locked the hubs and drove pretty safely in 2 wheel drive, mostly because I was too lazy to get out and lock the hubs, but partly because I wanted to find the point in which the road required 4WD. CHP did stop me one time in Walker, but only to ask if I saw anyone stuck if I could help them. I did not see a lot of vehicles until I got to the June Lake cut off and then it got interesting with the Subaru crowd driving foolish. Fuel mileage was about 15 MPG at that slow speed (35-40) but after Bishop we digressed to 7MPG at best.
Truck ran great the whole trip, but did throw a code climbing from Bishop to Mammoth on the return. Climbing hills frankly sucked, with speeds down to 35MPH on any significant grades. The check engine light corrected itself, and I assume it was a emissions related issue since it seemed to have no change in performance.
Rooftop tent camping at the Hammers in February was not the most fabulous idea, but the tent did hold up very well in the high winds. Temps inside the tent in the morning measured about 20* with snow on one of the nights. I was able to quickly get the shelter up to about 90* with the Buddy heater, so it was bearable. The wind noise was the only real complaint, but even people in RVs complained of poor sleeping conditions.
It was on this trip that I seriously considered my options. I have not been able to find a suitable OBS Ford PSD to purchase. The trucks are around $15K - $20K for decent shape and mileage. Finding sub 100K mileage is like finding a four leaf clover. I started looking at Ram options and came very close to pulling the trigger on a 2015 truck that was already well equipped, but the cost vs. used gave me cold feet, and I backed out in the 9th inning. I also was having second thoughts about the size of the truck. Driving Charlie around town sucks. It sucks so bad I pretty much only drive to the Home Improvement store and work. I previously owned a four dr F350 long bed and was reminded of parking that beast. So the Ram trucks quickly fell off my radar.
Enter the Toyota Tacoma; this seemed a reasonable option. Tons of aftermarket support, good choices for use, but price creep pushed my budget up from $10k-$15K to $30K quick. That turned in to $40K when I started looking and realized I would have to rebuild or purchase things like bumpers and tire carriers. The biggest issue, I did not fall in love or like the Tacoma. The seat was not comfortable, the power seemed no better than Charlie, the fuel mileage was an improvement, but nothing to brag about. I even tried the TRD PRO and was not impressed.
"Can you see yourself in this truck?" NO!
"If you don't like the Tacoma, maybe you will like this?"
The salesmen were pretty good; he was not letting me off the lot without checking all the boxes. I was not interested in what he was pitching, but the wife was impressed. The GMC Canyon was a lot better ride, with the 2.8 baby Duramax giving me a much smoother power band and I was comfortable. Now I had to do research, so I was not buying the used truck today at a $40K price point. Sorry, Toyota I was not feeling it. GM is up to the plate.
I had not paid much attention to the Colorado the last three years. Sure I saw the Bison at the SEMA show, but never really expected that GM would green light the project, and it would just be another notch in the AEV belt. However, when I started researching the ZR2, it seemed the logical choice for my interest. I found a 2016 at Carmax and went for a no obligation test drive of a unit with 40K miles and a nonnegotiable sticker price equal to a new 2019 of the same features. I am not sure why everyone loves Carmax, but it is a great place to drive a car.
I Loved it. So if I am gonna spend $40K on a new truck I figure maybe I can find one of these AEV Bison trucks and see what that is gonna cost? Now you know where this is going.
GM produced only 2000 Bison truck for 2019. I don't know the mix, but I assume half are gas and half are diesel. The dealers don't seem to list them as a Bison on their websites, so you have to look at the options and window sticker to find them. Within a few hours, I see one about a 2-hour drive from Reno. MSRP $54K, lots of incentives bla bla bla. I finally get a hold of someone who knows about the Bison and learn that the sales managers friend has a deposit on the truck, but I am second on the waiting list. The truck is not on the lot yet. No chance that truck is not already sold, I go back to searching.
Now I am convinced I am buying the Bison, because its a game, to find one and see what kind of deal I can get. On Weds, I locate two Bison trucks in Carson City. Introduce the great salesman on the phone, he knows all about the truck and says they are stuck in California due to the poor weather we have been having this year, in fact, he tells me pretty much all their inventory is stuck in California, something like over 100 vehicles. On Friday (yesterday) the wife and I decide to see this salesman and see if we can put a deposit?
This is where it gets fun. The dealer knows the truck is in demand; they want $5000 above MSRP for the truck. $59K asking price. I can leave a deposit, but its gonna be $59K for the truck. Since they don't have any inventory on the lot, its Friday night and we are already in Carson; I ask if we can buy the truck and negotiate a price. I have no trade, a pocket full of cash and a good credit score, you guys wanna make a deal or what?
I will spare you the details of our 3 hour debate, but I am glad I took that class on mutual gains negotiations. Two salesmen, the sales manager, the wife and I sparing over a fair price for a truck that is not even on the lot was a party. The weather has been pretty bad in Northern Nevada this year. Not a lot of cars on the lot and some pretty hungry salespeople at mid-month gave us the upper hand. We bought the truck. Looks like from what others are sharing about Bison sales prices we did pretty good. Cost me $1,500 more than what I considered my best case scenario. I got some of that back in Finance
No idea when the truck will be here they are gonna track it down next week, I am in no hurry.
Charlie is gonna go back to work truck duties; I got a new project. AEV Bison.