I've got a 2000 Silverado. 4.8L V8/auto. I got it new in 1999 as my company vehicle when I worked for another company. I was sent to the local Chevy dealer to pick out my new ride. The Criteria I was given was a white, 2 wheel drive, (1/2 ton) truck, with a regular cab, and an 8' bed. In other words, a standard work truck. I suppose they meant a V6 crank windows am/fm.
Well since what I mentioned was the only criteria, I bought a "white, 2 wheel drive, (1/2 ton) truck, with a regular cab, and an 8' bed". The only difference was it was an LS Silverado, meaning that it all of the things they told me the truck had to have, plus pw, p.mirrors, cd player, 8 speakers (in that little cab) auto headlights, power locks, chrome wheels, chrome mirrors and bumpers, oh console, and a few other things.
Since it was a "company account" all I needed to do was sign for the truck, and the Chevy dealer billed the company I worked for. The truck was about $21,000 (in 1999 dollars).
I received a little flack for "Overbuying" but when I told them that the truck met the criteria they gave me, and they didn't set a cap on the price, and never said I couldn't have the "extras", the backed off. But from then on, the selection of trucks was left to the fleet manager, lol.
I left the company in 2003. They asked if I was willing to buy the truck when I left, since it was the only decked out truck in the fleet. I told them I would. They wanted to get the resale prices and said they would contact me.
I asked if they minded if I just kept the truck with me until they could come up with a selling price. They had no problem with that.
The truck was 3 1/2 years old, had about 36,000 miles on it, and since the drivers were responsible for being sure the truck received proper maintenance, at the first oil change I switched to Mobil One.
After about a week they called and said that the book value was about $17,000 on the truck, but if I wanted it I could buy it from them for $15K. I counter offered with $6000. I had nothing to lose, right?
They came down to $13K. I still declined, and then nothing for about 6 weeks. Remember, they still own the truck, still have insurance on it, and I'm now using it for my own business. After 6 weeks I received a call from the VP of the company. He told me that the President said, I either needed to buy the truck or return it. I repeated that I'm willing to buy it, but not for the price they are asking.
Nearly another week passed, before I heard anything more. Then I received a call from the President of the company (we were on a first name basis). He asked me if I wanted the truck. I confirmed that I did. He made what he called his "final offer". He said I can have the truck for $10K.
I replied, I'll take it today for $6000, and I'll write the check right now.
There was silence on the phone for a few moments, then I heard him take his hand of the phone and he said, "Write the Fvckin' check, Frank".
I told him I'd be at his office in a half hour, please have all the paperwork ready. I was, he did, and I bought a 36000 mile truck with a book value of $17,000 for $6000.00, and I also got to use it for nearly a month and a half at their cost!
I still have it, the truck has nearly a quarter million miles on it now, and still runs great, though I suspect the fuel pump is going. This will be the truck's second actual repair. The first was an AC compressor replacement.
That truck is probably the best deal I ever made on the purchase of a vehicle. Bar none. Come October it will be 12 years old, and I will have put 100% of the miles on it, and I will have owned it for 8 years, so far. Not too shabby, if you ask me.
I also have two Cummins Ram pick ups, a 2007 extended cab 2500, and a 2010 crew cab long bed dually 3500, and a 2008 GMC Sierra 1500 Crew cab that I use as my car. But I still drive that old Chevy just about daily.
