Saturday I was down at my friendly neighborhood Ford dealer getting the oil changed on the Mrs.' Edge. While there, I trolled the lot getting the hopes up of several hungry sales people. I came across three stripper '08 F150's. They were all 5 speed, 2wd, rubber mat, standard cab, poverty hub caps, am/fm radio, stripper models; basically, your typical work truck/contractor specials. What caught my eye was the PRICE! With rebates and dealer on the hood cash, these things were $10,800 out the door. I gotta tell ya, that's a heck of a deal in anybody's book. It was almost good enough to see how much cash I could get BACK if I traded in the Mustang.

Now is a good time to buy a new truck for sure. Last weekend the local mega dealership was offering F150 crewcab XLT 4x4s with leather interior for $20,000. That is what my '94 F150 standard cab XLT 4x2(which I still own)listed for new!

It is a good time to buy if you NEED a new vehicle.

Problem is that if you have anything decent to trade you will get below wholesale for it which will pretty much negate the good deal.

Straight sale outright cash, screamin' deals can be had!

You are absolutely right. Back in 2002 I was looking at a new left over 2001 SuperDuty diesel that they, for that time, had marked way down, $5000 off. When I went in to do some dealing that is the first thing the salesman said. "Since we are wholesaling this truck we can only offer you wholesale on your trade." I calmly explained to him that it was not my fault they couldn't sell the truck so why should I be penalized. They wouldn't budge so I thanked them for their time and walked away.

I had a similar problem when I could buy Fords on A Plan. The dealer was basically doing a courtesy delivery so he wasn't interested in anything but wholesale for the possible trade. I always found local buyers but it was extra work.

Its funny, just like you were saying at $5000 off, they were whole saleing the truck. 3 Years ago here, a new truck from anyone would cost you 40's, now I can walk in to the local Dodge dealership and pick up the same thing for 20k. At half price they are still making money. Defenetley somthing I will bring to the table when I look in to a new Jeep in a few years.

Providing Jeep is still around in a few years...and you're only assuming they're still making money at "half price". Just because they put up two or three stripper models at 40% off doesn't mean they're gonna sell all of the other trucks for that much off. It's classic bait and switch marketing to get folks on the lot. A new truck for $10K?? Wow!! But if you want automatic, and a cd player, and carpeting, and aluminum wheels and 4wd, and....it's gonna cost you "a little more per month".