I bought a vehicle for work can I deduct it

There are two ways to take a deduction for the business use of your car:

• Deduct the actual expenses of operating the vehicle for business, including gas, oil, repairs, insurance, maintenance, and depreciation or lease payments.
• Take the standard IRS mileage deduction. As of 2017, the rate is 53.5 cents per mile driven for business use.

If you use your car for both ride-sharing and personal transportation, you can deduct only the portion of your expenses that apply to the business use. 

Where do I enter my Uber or Lyft expenses? https://ttlc.intuit.com/replies/5370677

But the question was whether one can write off the PURCHASE price of the vehicle (different from operating cost) as a business expense. And that's my question as well. Does anyone have the answer?

That's what the Depreciation does.  You depreciate the cost.

 

IRS overview of Depreciation

http://www.irs.gov/Businesses/Small-Businesses-&-Self-Employed/A-Brief-Overview-of-Depreciation

 

2018 new IRS info

https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/new-rules-and-limitations-for-depreciation-and-expensing-under-the-tax-cuts-and-jobs-act

Thank you!