At what point do I stop looking for a "better deal"? Found a 1995 Dodge Ram 1500 SLT, ext cab, tow pkg, bed cover, loaded, one owner, all maintenance records, fanatically maintained, recent new tranny, many items replaced, looks NEW in/out... 167k miles, $4250 (high side of average book value). Found another, 1998, lower miles, more owners (3), no real maintenance history/knowledge, $3700.00. Last week still another, 180k miles, 1994, $350.00 This has been going on for weeks. Prices seem all over the map around here. What's the biggest thing to look at? Is the one owner the winner? Or do you go for lower mileage?
I'm going crazy trying to decide. All test drive fine, but when I get real serious I'll pay 4 a mechanic to look it over & run diagnostics & ?? I obviously can't do that w/every truck in the running! $4400 is all I've got and it has to be well spent... I cannot afford major repairs soon after purchase. I need reliability above all else.
Thoughts? Thanks
2006-10-09 19:32:11 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Buying & Selling
Ugh.. obviously "350.00" should have been $3500.00" Doh!
2006-10-09 19:32:49 · update #1
I don't have any mechnically inclined friend to go along. Dad's dead, brother is in prison, and the only other men I know are absolutely cluless about cars.
2006-10-10 04:10:45 · update #2
well lets see
a good engine
not rust
good running gear
etc
sometimes high milage means it has been well looked after sometimes not
maintanance records can be forged
number of owners normaly does not matter
if you are after a good vehicle and dont know much about it then get a friend or mechanic you trust to look at it
2006-10-09 19:40:25 · answer #1 · answered by exchange 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I can tell you for sure one thing about the Dodge product, if it has over 75000 miles on it it will need an evaporator core. It is in the dash and cost approx. 1000.00 to replace. It is an A/C component that leaks in all the Dodge cars trucks and vans. Except the B series whick is the full size van. Also another pricy item is the fuel filter which is inside the fuel tank which requires the removal of the bed of the truck to access. That is the easiest way to change it I think.
2006-10-10 13:22:07 · answer #2 · answered by Danno 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
# of owners doesn't mean much. Consider lower milage and maintence records. A regularily maintained vehicle will last longer
2006-10-09 22:01:42 · answer #3 · answered by kidneyoperation 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
See how it drives when you take it for a trial spin. If OK, take it to a diagnostic station.Don't you ahve a mechanically inclined male friend to take along with you to help you decide?
2006-10-09 19:45:24 · answer #4 · answered by syrious 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The most important thing is the condition of its machine.Please bring a machine specialist to check the truck throughfully..If he says that its condition is good then you bargain its price.
2006-10-09 19:47:40 · answer #5 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
go with the maint records nd mileage. #of owners really don't matter. this is from a mech. but be sure u take it and have ur mech check it out also.
2006-10-10 04:28:35 · answer #6 · answered by w s 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋