They have to save up to avoid or lower financing costs, so it may take a few months, depending on circumstances, longer. Before I blurted out anything stupid, I bit the tongue and searched Chinese EVs online. I didn’t see anything with a long bed available domestically, they don’t really need all the posh interior pluses. But then I also thought, “we’re in wetlands, and what if they bog down in the field?” And also thought they may need a longer fuel range, because summer days, starts and stops. So I’m wondering if a hybrid may be better; but also, this will need to be the last large vehicle investment they make, for farming. So my question is, should they go for hybrid or is some other option available. How long is petrol really going to last at an affordable cost? Long summer days into nights and bogdown may use battery life much quicker than highway. And it doesn’t have to be Chinese, I just feel (not know for sure) they will cost less and be more durable, in the long run, but I also haven’t factored in maintenance and repair. They do need the long bed, though. I guess this vehicle will need to last 25+ years.
Recommendations? Thanks in advance.
I’m not a car person so I have nothing useful to add but if I was forced to get a truck it’d be a 90s or 00s Tacoma. Newer trucks are so pointlessly big
I’m not sure the logistics pushing the 25 year requirement, is it just cost? Because getting a shitbox for ~3 grand every 3-5 years might be a better value proposition than hoping a 20 grand one lasts 20 years.
Paying cash to a human being also avoids the fucking dealership tax. Every used car dealership I’ve been to massively overvalues their cars, like $900 clunkers were listed for 4 grand. All my cars have been person-to-person sales.
For the specific use case of farming, also specifically in the US/Canada where most farmers live isolated in their land, just get a gas truck. It’s just easier to mantain and your friend should already have most of the tools needed to mantain a gas machine and the experience.
has he considered this one
Expecting to ship later this year, but always a gamble when you buy 1st gen so might not hit what they want on reliability
Well, if they go new, they will have to save, first. I was hoping to help them not give money to fascist nation companies. I eagerly await the day we can spend money supporting real leftists.
Edit: forgive my lack of manners. Thank you for the link. I’ve been watching them!
No worries, and I totally get the preference to support left leaning companies, unfortunately not many are in the auto industry and available in the US at the moment. Plus, remember the capitalists will sell us the rope!
Neither a current gen EV nor an ICE vehicle will be viable in 25 years. Current batteries will have significantly degraded in that time to a point of being largely unusable and petrol will be prohibitively expensive.
The country and climate you’re in will massively affect which vehicles will be available or viable, and it’s important to note that some countries won’t allow imported Chinese light EVs or kei trucks on any public road. Importing a vehicle also means you’re not going to have access to any replacement parts or service.
How cold does it get there in winter? How hot in the summer?
The three things that will help with bogging down are lower mass of vehicle, having 4wd/AWD, and having a winch to pull yourself out. Getting a winch is probably the best thing you can do for a work vehicle since the other two are harder to control.
Thanks for your reply. I’m in the core of the empire. The summers are getting longer and hotter. We have a byd-usa website, so they must be allowed for now?
This is a small, family farm, some years the actual profit allows it to function for another year, others they break even, but there have been losses. They’re good people, sell local for comparatively lower prices, donate surplus to elderly and low income, even deliver to some shut-ins. They need to be able to keep going, three underprivileged villages depend on them. Purchasing used any kind of used and keep making repairs is no bueno.
Nope! All Chinese vehicles have a 120% tariff and are not really eligible for registration. No Chinese manufacturer is willing to enter the market based on these conditions. The $3000 mini trucks are entirely banned from roads. Imports must be 25 years old at time of import, or older.
Eventually, they’re going to need repairs even for a brand new car and it simply isn’t a good idea to buy a vehicle that will forever be impossible to find parts for.
Do they actually need a large pickup truck? Would something like a UTV meet some or all of their needs?
Simply put, now is the worst time in American history to buy a new car. ICE vehicles are about to become unusable in the next 10-15 years, while EVs are using battery chemistry that won’t last much longer than that.
stanford has BYD ev buses… seems like if you’ve got money you can get them i guess
Yeah, the cost is already high, I can’t imagine import costs.
Institutional scale buys of buses which are mostly or entirely used on private roads are not at all the same thing as individuals purchasing consumer vehicles for use on public roads.
But yeah. If you have a couple dozen million to spare you can kind of do whatever you want.
Do they actually need a large pickup truck?
Yes. Well we’ll figure out something suitable. Where there is will, there is way. I refuse to accept defeat. I just have to rethink the situation. I’m open to suggestions.
Pardon my managers. Thanks for your thoughts.
Certified Pre-owned Ford Maverick Hybrid. DO NOT buy a brand new truck, it’s impossible to not be financially underwater on one.
Ewww. I’m ok with pre-owned but Ford?! The company who’s CEO drives a byd?!
Lemme hit you with the full list of all hybrid trucks available in North America and their MSRP.
Ford Maverick Hybrid - $30,000
Ford F-150 PowerBoost - $41,000
Toyota Tacoma Hybrid - $48,000
That’s it. Seriously, there’s just three somehow.
The F-150 is also considered one of the least reliable vehicles in the market.
I really do not want to go pre-owned ICE Ram.
