Madrano's Wholesale Fruit Company located in McAllen, Texas is considering the purchase of a new fleet of tractors to be used in the delivery of fruits and vegetables grown in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. If it goes through with the purchase, it will spend

$400 comma 000

on eight rigs. The new trucks will be kept for

5

years, during which time they will be depreciated toward a

$40 comma 000

salvage value using straight-line depreciation. The rigs are expected to have a market value in

5

years equal to their salvage value. The new tractors will be used to replace the company's older fleet of eight trucks which are fully depreciated but can be sold for an estimated

$20 comma 000

(because the tractors have a current book value of zero, the selling price is fully taxable at the firm's

30

percent tax rate). The existing tractor fleet is expected to be useable for

5

more years after which time they will have no salvage value. The existing fleet of tractors uses

$200 comma 000

per year in diesel fuel, whereas the new, more efficient fleet will use only

$150 comma 000

.

In addition, the new fleet will be covered under warranty, so the maintenance costs per year are expected to be only

$12 comma 000

compared to

$35 comma 000

for the existing fleet.

a.What are the differential operating cash flow savings per year during years 1 through

5

for the new fleet?

b.What is the initial cash outlay required to replace the existing fleet with the newer tractors?

c.What does the timeline for the replacement project cash flows for years 0 through

5

look like?

d.If Madrano requires a discount rate of

15

percent for new investments, should the fleet be replaced?