Time for new F350, 2014 or wait for 2015?

I was recently asked my opinion by a business owner who decided he wanted a new diesel powered pickup and he wanted to take advantage of the depreciation rules - so the decision had to be made quickly. That 2014 Ford purchases at then end of '13 is doing fine.
The 2015 will be a second generation of their engine, so I am thinking do you keep the 'honed' version of the previous production, or do you get the first of the revised version? Wonder if either will be a difference onto which will hold resale?? As to the scorpion engine, it seems they really were given the budget and the company backing to make up for the previous engines (from what my research showed).
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As to all the big dollar horror stories, it makes me ask if the lease concept should be re-visited. Sometimes in business we have to move away from things as opposed to moving toward. Could it work similarly to where I rent a tractor and it breaks, they either quickly fix it or swap it for another one? If the lease is a good idea, isn't a lease a little bit cheaper when one buys the 'older' new truck? This lease cost could be a point in the decision if you decide this. Ownership cost may be less if you pick the 2014 since the 2015 will likely be a price increase.

I do see alot of these 6.7 on the road. Usually only a couple a week on the side. But the company's that have them are buying more so they can't be too bad? I suppose being informed by the dealer mechanic he may be a bit negative LOL

I talk to just about EVERY person I can who has a new truck. Last week, a landscaper with a 2014 F550, 6.7 diesel. I asked hows it running? He replied good this week, we'll see about next week. I'd say I talk to about 6-8 people with horror stories to the one person who is tickled pink.

I have to ask, how is your truck "nickel and dimeing you to death"? I'd spend 25k on a low mileage 7.3 truck any day before I went and spent 40-65k on a new one. If you already have a 7.3 truck, you can get a 500hp 7.3 crate engine complete with computer for 5 grand and an ATS automatic trans for 5 grand that carries a 5 year/500,000 warranty so for 10k you have a new engine and trans. The transfer case and rears seldom go bad. Replace the ENTIRE cooling system and add a coolant filter for about a grand, 1,500 for a complete front end, 1,000 for new brakes, 7,000 for paint, body work and sprucing up the interior. $20-21,000 you have an overhauled 7.3 that is WAY more reliable than anything new, will blow the doors off of a new one and has a good warranty to back the engine and trans.

Gooseidi said:

I talk to just about EVERY person I can who has a new truck. Last week, a landscaper with a 2014 F550, 6.7 diesel. I asked hows it running? He replied good this week, we'll see about next week. I'd say I talk to about 6-8 people with horror stories to the one person who is tickled pink.

I have to ask, how is your truck "nickel and dimeing you to death"? I'd spend 25k on a low mileage 7.3 truck any day before I went and spent 40-65k on a new one. If you already have a 7.3 truck, you can get a 500hp 7.3 crate engine complete with computer for 5 grand and an ATS automatic trans for 5 grand that carries a 5 year/500,000 warranty so for 10k you have a new engine and trans. The transfer case and rears seldom go bad. Replace the ENTIRE cooling system and add a coolant filter for about a grand, 1,500 for a complete front end, 1,000 for new brakes, 7,000 for paint, body work and sprucing up the interior. $20-21,000 you have an overhauled 7.3 that is WAY more reliable than anything new, will blow the doors off of a new one and has a good warranty to back the engine and trans.

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This pretty much outlines my plan for our 1999 F350 4x4 Crewcab that just turned over 300k. I got lucky last year and found a low mileage '05 Dodge 3500 flatbed. A lot of buyers had passed over it since it lacked cruise control and power windows. Perfect for me as an everyday work truck. My wife had been towing her BP horse trailer with a typically gutless 5.4 F150. She wanted a GN horse trailer, so I gave her the F350. I basically drove the thing into the ground hauling equipment and round bales, so I figured I'd be getting her a newer truck at some point. The only decent low mileage trucks available around here are 6.0 and 6.4's. No thanks! Anything Cummins typically has a ton of miles, so that's out too. Chevy's are very scarce. I not the kind to spend 50k+ on any new pickup truck. It makes more sense to use that money to purchase things that actually make money for my business.

She absolutely loves our F350 and it still runs like a scalded dog even though its had a programmer in it since 2004, but it is a bit ragged. I'm about to start the turn-it-back-to-new plan, but I'll run this engine and trans til they blow. First on the list is to seal up a couple of annoying oil leaks, then a complete front end rebuild and switching out the 3.73 gears for 4.10's for better towing. I have some funds set aside for it. For the rest I'm pretending I have a $600 a month payment on the truck and filling the coffee can.

Gooseidi said:

I talk to just about EVERY person I can who has a new truck. Last week, a landscaper with a 2014 F550, 6.7 diesel. I asked hows it running? He replied good this week, we'll see about next week. I'd say I talk to about 6-8 people with horror stories to the one person who is tickled pink.

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I have had the exact opposite experience with my '13 F350 6.7 and of the few folks I know who have have one, haven't had any problems either.