Looking for an older truck

[paulieg]

OK. I'm looking to live without payments. So, I'm gonna trade in my 2008 Frontier Nismo for a minivan for my wife. I'm then gonna buy an older truck in cash as a daily driver, as I'm sick of payments. I've got about $5000 to work with. I want something reliable, 4x4. I don't care if it's mid size or full size. I would love a older Frontier or Tacoma, but they retain value so well that it's near impossible to find one of them in my price range. I also will go as old as the early 90's, with 100k miles or more, if it's been well taken care of. I'm looking for suggestions...so let's hear them!!

[JC316]

I am partial to the 92+ F150's. Gas mileage isn't the greatest, but they are unmatched in ride and comfort. If you want a small truck, go for a 94+ Chevy S10.

[1Kurgan1]

You really can't go wrong with American made, as long as you stick away from early 90's Rangers (they have junk transmissions). Mid 90's Chevys with 350/4L60E are great, and late 90's with the 4.8L (or 5.3L) are even better. My 91 Silverado (granted it's earlier 90's with the weaker 350) is at 286k right now and going strong. I'm not sure what transmission the F Series are backed by in the 90's, but I haven't heard of any issues for the most part. And the 302 or the 4.6L are great engines as well. If you wanted to go for a minitruck, S10's with the 4.3L aren't a bad choice and Rangers with the 4.0L are good as well.

[paulieg]

Originally Posted by 1Kurgan1

You really can't go wrong with American made, as long as you stick away from early 90's Rangers (they have junk transmissions). Mid 90's Chevys with 350/4L60E are great, and late 90's with the 4.8L (or 5.3L) are even better. My 91 Silverado (granted it's earlier 90's with the weaker 350) is at 286k right now and going strong. I'm not sure what transmission the F Series are backed by in the 90's, but I haven't heard of any issues for the most part. And the 302 or the 4.6L are great engines as well. If you wanted to go for a minitruck, S10's with the 4.3L aren't a bad choice and Rangers with the 4.0L are good as well.

There is a guy in town with a 92 Silverado Z71, 166k, new paint and tires, but he's asking $5k for it, when book is just over 3k. I'm gonna go look at it, and see if I could get him close to 4k.

[twilyth]

I understand what you're trying to do Paulie but there are different kinds of payments. There are the kind that come like clockwork each month and then there are the kind that come at the worst possible time and in amounts that are unpredictable. Repair bills seem to be of the latter sort.

[yogurt_21]

Originally Posted by paulieg

There is a guy in town with a 92 Silverado Z71, 166k, new paint and tires, but he's asking $5k for it, when book is just over 3k. I'm gonna go look at it, and see if I could get him close to 4k.

high miles for a truck that's unlikely to be driven gingerly on a gas motor. Also for a 92 that price is out of the park.

dunno how it is out there but for 4400 here there's a 99 F150 with 84k miles that's a 4 wheel drive. 7 years newer, half the miles and the starting price for negotiations is 600$ less.


I say keep looking.

Originally Posted by twilyth

I understand what you're trying to do Paulie but there are different kinds of payments. There are the kind that come like clockwork each month and then there are the kind that come at the worst possible time and in amounts that are unpredictable. Repair bills seem to be of the latter sort.

which imo is why you need to be under 100k miles, well under if you can help it.

5k should be plenty for a 90's truck with low miles.

[1Kurgan1]

Originally Posted by paulieg

There is a guy in town with a 92 Silverado Z71, 166k, new paint and tires, but he's asking $5k for it, when book is just over 3k. I'm gonna go look at it, and see if I could get him close to 4k.

Yeah thats way too high, remember though 92 will be TBI, it's a bit weaker of a 350, also that will be a 700R4 transmission vs a 4L60E, though 700R4 isn't bad. If it's in great shape, 2500 - 3000 would be fine.

[erocker]

Ford F Series truck. Nothing else should even be considered in my opinion.

[Frick]

VW Transporter!

[paulieg]

Originally Posted by twilyth

I understand what you're trying to do Paulie but there are different kinds of payments. There are the kind that come like clockwork each month and then there are the kind that come at the worst possible time and in amounts that are unpredictable. Repair bills seem to be of the latter sort.

Yup. However, there is no promise that a late model vehicle won't have unexpected problems either.

Originally Posted by yogurt_21

high miles for a truck that's unlikely to be driven gingerly on a gas motor. Also for a 92 that price is out of the park.

dunno how it is out there but for 4400 here there's a 99 F150 with 84k miles that's a 4 wheel drive. 7 years newer, half the miles and the starting price for negotiations is 600$ less.


I say keep looking.



which imo is why you need to be under 100k miles, well under if you can help it.

5k should be plenty for a 90's truck with low miles.

Yeah. I kinda thought that already. However, I needed to see what he was offering for that price. Wanted to see if it was spotless or something. It was not. Not even close.

Originally Posted by erocker

Ford F Series truck. Nothing else should even be considered in my opinion.

I'll always take a trusted shop owner's advice. It's appreciated.

[1Kurgan1]

Originally Posted by paulieg

I'll always take a trusted shop owner's advice. It's appreciated.

I know erocker knows his stuff, but saying only to buy a Ford doesn't seem like advice from a non-biased person, that seems like a personal preference rather than an honest one. I personally like chevys more and would recommend those to people, but my unbiased opinion is what I posted originally, because the Fords are great trucks as well.

[twilyth]

Originally Posted by paulieg

Yup. However, there is no promise that a late model vehicle won't have unexpected problems either.

I think that's called a warranty.

[erocker]

Originally Posted by 1Kurgan1

I know erocker knows his stuff, but saying only to buy a Ford doesn't seem like advice from a non-biased person, that seems like a personal preference rather than an honest one. I personally like chevys more and would recommend those to people, but my unbiased opinion is what I posted originally, because the Fords are great trucks as well.

Not biased at all. I'm basing my opinion on what I do and don't see in my shop on a daily basis.

[1Kurgan1]

Originally Posted by erocker

Not biased at all. I'm basing my opinion on what I do and don't see in my shop on a daily basis.

So what your saying is 350 and the LSx platform is unreliable. Or 4L60E and 4L80E's are as well? Sorry, I just can't buy that. I know of numerous trucks with these engines/transmissions that are over 200k miles and still running like a top. To just say "buy a Ford" without specifying years, engines, transmissions, it sounds biased (just far too general of a statement without any information for this guy as to why you feel that way).

[erocker]

Originally Posted by 1Kurgan1

So what your saying is 350 and the LSx platform is unreliable. Or 4L60E and 4L80E's are as well? Sorry, I just can't buy that. I know of numerous trucks with these engines/transmissions that are over 200k miles and still running like a top. To just say "buy a Ford" without specifying years, engines, transmissions, it sounds biased (just far too general of a statement without any information for this guy as to why you feel that way).

Engines, transmissions, fuel pumps, emissions systems, sensors, etc. I see much less Fords with these issues than Chevy's over the past 12 years. I could give two shits on brands. And, yeah. I've worked in a shop for 12 years and 10 hours a day. I really don't feel like talking shop on the internet. It's job and I don't have much in terms of it being some sort of hobby or interest of discussion anymore.

[Reventon]

I can agree with an 93-97 Ford F-Series. I have a 96 Chevy 2500 and I would recommend it was well, but honestly I'd take the Ford over what I have.

[Triptex]

The only truck in that price range worth driving is a tacoma or Toyota pickup from before they were called tacomas.

[JC316]

Originally Posted by 1Kurgan1

I know erocker knows his stuff, but saying only to buy a Ford doesn't seem like advice from a non-biased person, that seems like a personal preference rather than an honest one. I personally like chevys more and would recommend those to people, but my unbiased opinion is what I posted originally, because the Fords are great trucks as well.

Originally Posted by erocker

Not biased at all. I'm basing my opinion on what I do and don't see in my shop on a daily basis.

I have had both chevys and fords. The 700R4 and 4L60E are good for about 170K miles and they crap out, it's just a fact of them. The Ford AOD and E4OD are about as bad, but the 4R70W is MUCH better.

As for motors, I will take a 5.0L or a 5.8L over a 305/350 any day. Will take an LSx over a modular all day long.

When it comes to ride, turn radius and how it drives, I will take an F150 over the Silverado. Towing power goes to the Silverado.

[1Kurgan1]

Originally Posted by JC316

I have had both chevys and fords. The 700R4 and 4L60E are good for about 170K miles and they crap out, it's just a fact of them. The Ford AOD and E4OD are about as bad, but the 4R70W is MUCH better.

As for motors, I will take a 5.0L or a 5.8L over a 305/350 any day. Will take an LSx over a modular all day long.

When it comes to ride, turn radius and how it drives, I will take an F150 over the Silverado. Towing power goes to the Silverado.

All of that of that sounds pretty spot on to me.

[MT Alex]

Originally Posted by Triptex

The only truck in that price range worth driving is a tacoma or Toyota pickup from before they were called tacomas.

Damn trail mix eating Canadian hippie.

[3991v]

Get an old late 70's or 80's Chevy 4x4 with a 350 and a 4 speed manual (SM465). Reliable as hell (mine's been through hell and back a few times) and it's still chugging along somehow. The motor I swapped in it has over 350k miles and even with a failing camshaft, it still brings me to work every day and it still does OK on fuel (15 mpg). Not bad for a carbureted small block. And if something goes wrong, it can easily be fixed. No computers, no bullshit. Unless you get a 1987 K series with a TBI setup.

[paulieg]

Originally Posted by 1Kurgan1

I know erocker knows his stuff, but saying only to buy a Ford doesn't seem like advice from a non-biased person, that seems like a personal preference rather than an honest one. I personally like chevys more and would recommend those to people, but my unbiased opinion is what I posted originally, because the Fords are great trucks as well.

I'm not one to take just one opininion as fact. I take all opinions with a grain of salt, mix that with research and form my own educated opinion. I just put some weight in professional opinions, especially from tose who are not trying to sell me anything.

Originally Posted by twilyth

I think that's called a warranty.

Yeah. The only warranty worth it's salt is a new vehicle warranty. However, you pay for that by losing money on your purchase as soon as you drive off the lot. Not to mention, if you drive a decent amount, that new warranty lasts 3 years at most. Now consider that a decent, new truck will run 20k minimum, that warranty seems to have much less value to it. I've bought 2 brand new trucks in my life, and I'm done with that.

Originally Posted by JC316

I have had both chevys and fords. The 700R4 and 4L60E are good for about 170K miles and they crap out, it's just a fact of them. The Ford AOD and E4OD are about as bad, but the 4R70W is MUCH better.

As for motors, I will take a 5.0L or a 5.8L over a 305/350 any day. Will take an LSx over a modular all day long.

When it comes to ride, turn radius and how it drives, I will take an F150 over the Silverado. Towing power goes to the Silverado.

I'm looking at a 99 f150 4wd V6 today. It's a 2 owner vehicle with just over 100k. It looks well cared for from pictures. The guy is asking 4k for it, and is somewhat desperate to sell, since he's moving to Florida next week.

[paulieg]

I went and looked at this f150 today. He will take $4000 for it. Only thing I noticed was some minor scrapes, the emergency brake doesn't work well, and it needs new front tires. It will also need a seat cover, as it has some burn holes in it. It includes the bed toolbox. Thoughts? Things I should look for? My mechanic is going to look it over on Friday.

http://tricities.craigslist.org/cto/2838977985.html

[Reventon]

Looks nice but I'd try to get him even lower than $4,000. I'm considering on of these as my next truck as well, just with a crew cab instead of a regular cab.

[JC316]

Not too bad on it. Base truck. Shame you aren't closer to Texas, I have a 92 F150 extended cab that I am fixing to sell. Fully loaded, XLT, 5.0L with an automatic, 138K miles, bed liner, brand new tires. Only problems is that the rear gas tank doesn't work and there is a pretty good dent on the bed.