Would you buy a 4x4 Dodge 1500 '99 w/147k for say 6400?

[KeepTryin]

The search continues. This is the latest. I think it's too high $ (I'm a cheap SOB) but it seems to be a nice truck. Nobody had a dead wet dog in the cab for a month or smoked cigars in it as far as I can tell. How long do the trannys last in these things? My FIL has a 96 and I borrowed it for a week when it was cold here in Northern WI this winter, his has 86K on it and it acted a little weird first thing in the morning. Like put it in gear and nothing happens for a bit, that sort of thing.

Oh, and the one I'm looking at is a club cab, whatever... Fluid looked good (nice and red) but so what, they mighta just changed it.

Thanks
KT

[Graybeard]

Nope but then I wouldn't buy a Dodge period. 

[30-30man]

The weird thing you experience is just the torque converter draining overnight.  This happens in most Dodges that I've driven. It's not harmful and does not mean the trans is about to blow.  Dodge makes a good truck and those who have owned them like them.  They are just as good as any out there.  They have more power than Chevy or Ford.  The others will feel like a dog compared to the Dodge.  I've driven Dodge trucks most of my life and have never had any major problems with any of them....As far as the truck you listed, I would not buy anything with that many miles on it.  I don't care what it was but that is just.  With that many miles, expect to replace stuff and that goes for any make not just Dodge.

I just noticed the year....A 1996 is going to have a 318 or the gas pig 360.  They will also have the 46re transmission.  All of these are almost bullet proof and will last as long as anything out there.  It will just suck gas like no tomorrow.

[hillbill]

just check the value on kbb.com or nada websites.we have a 98 at work and its been a pretty good truck. the only prob we had is when we got it, it really spark knocked a lot.took it to one tech and he said there was nothing wrong with it, took it to another and he replaced intake gasket and it fixed it.he said its a common prob. been fine ever since. tranny has never give us any prob and im thinking its at way over 150,000 last time i looked.we really have it loaded down and pull a small but heavy air compressor with it constantly.

[KeepTryin]

Thanks guys. 30-30 man, the one I'm looking at is a 99, the one I borrowed from my Father-In-Law for a week is a 96 and has the 360. You're right, that one burns gas like a fire. I was in a hurry over lunch when I looked at the 99 and need to go back. But I was initially balking at the miles and price and was sort of going through the motions. Dear wife informed me of it's presence at a lot near where she works, she's trying to help me which is nice of her. Trucks in usable condition of any kind seem to bring super big bucks where I live, which curiously is a fairly poor area. Go figure.

[30-30man]

I've personally put over 250k on a 78 Dodge Prospector with a 318, so I know the pre hemi/magnum engines will go the distance.  They have more torque than horses and like to lug in the low rpms when pulling a load.  This is opposite of the newer hemi which likes the higher rpms. I miss my old 5.9, but I don't miss the gas it used. I might would bite on that Dodge if it was a 2wd.  The 4x4s of that era have more problems mainly when they tried to use electronic transfer cases.  The intake problem can be found on about all of them sooner or later.  They will start to use oil really bad, but is easily fixed.

[teamnelson]

You lost me at Dodge ...

Unless you find one made in the 70's. Had a 73 that was tough.

[skarke]

No, too old.  Look around, there are lots of newer trucks for that price.

[hillbill]

if its at a dealer yu will be getting screwed.thats all they is to it. i aint bought nuttin from a stealer in 20 yrs.look around locally, shud be lots of trucks for sale as high as gas is, just arrange yur money and be paitent, thats how yu git a deal.

[kyelkhunter3006]

Tranny tranny tranny....  Love the 318 motors, and everything else on the truck is as close to bulletproof as you can get, but everyone I know that's had a Dodge anything ends up with tranny issues.  Whether it's front, 4, or rear wheel drive.

I'd consider a new one, since they have lifetime powertrain warranties on them now.  But, I've yet to buy a new vehicle, and may never do so.

[scootrd]

http://consumerguideauto.howstuffworks.com/1994-to-2001-dodge-ram-pickup-6.htm

[KeepTryin]

Thanks all, yeah tranny stuff... keep hearing about that... bottom line on this unit was that as far as I could tell with options, trim level, condition, mileage, etc. the lot was 5-700 over max KBB retail on the thing. No budging. So they can keep it. Been there 9 months or so, they must like looking at it.

Think I'll put the truck/SUV/4x4 search on hold. I haven't found anything resembling a deal since I started on this and it's been a good while, I get the feeling I'm trying too hard and it just aint time right now. Kinda like chasing women. Perhaps my money will turn green at some point, the stars will align, the truck will appear, who knows. I won't die from having cash in the bank. shrug

KT

[KeepTryin]

I should add that 6400 is what I *thought* I could get that Dodge for. They wanted more than that, just shy of 7K.

[kyelkhunter3006]

Throw KBB out the door.  Dealers could care less about it now.  More of them use the NADA value.  Cash for Clunkers ruined the used car market.  NADA has gone up on everything.  Anything 4x4 might as well be made out of gold.  I was shopping myself, earlier this year.  My '93 F150 4x4 has been nickle/diming me, and I was thinking of getting something else rather than put more money into it.  Everything I looked at $5000-$6000 was just a couple years newer, with as many or more miles than my truck.  Most of them weren't in as good condition either.  Nothing to gain there.  I decided to stick a couple grand into my truck rather than spend $6000 on the same thing, in a different vehicle.

Looked at a '97 Tahoe, 2 door, 4x4, base.  123,000, no options, 350, 4x4 on the floor.  I really liked it.  Ran like a beast. Dealer wanted $6000 for it, KBB was $4500.  It also showed an odometer issue on the Carfax.  I offered $4500 cash, out the door.  They'd had for a year, it had the odometer problem, needed tires BAD..  I thought that I was being generous offering KBB on it.  They said they wouldn't do less than $6000 out the door.  Needless to say, I guess it'll sit there another year or more.

Ended up with my father-in-law's 2002 Chevy Silverado 4x4 Ext. Cab.  He wanted a new truck for work, so he could have a better tax write off.  It's got just over 100,000 on it, but runs great and still feels tight on the ride.  4 doors are nice for the kids.  Base model, no power or push button crap to wear out and replace.  New tires, a good cleaning, a little PM, can't even tell it's the same truck.

I'll end up selling my F150 now and giving that $$ to the FIL as part of the payment for the Chevy.

Just looked on my local craigslist at '99 RAM 4x4 Ext. Cabs.  Couple with 110,000-125,000 on them, dealers and individuals, $6000-$8000.

Diesels of the same year, with 150,000-200,000 miles were $11500-$14000.

Craziness, I swear.

[scootrd]

Thanks all, yeah tranny stuff... keep hearing about that... bottom line on this unit was that as far as I could tell with options, trim level, condition, mileage, etc. the lot was 5-700 over max KBB retail on the thing. No budging. So they can keep it. Been there 9 months or so, they must like looking at it.

Think I'll put the truck/SUV/4x4 search on hold. I haven't found anything resembling a deal since I started on this and it's been a good while, I get the feeling I'm trying too hard and it just aint time right now. Kinda like chasing women. Perhaps my money will turn green at some point, the stars will align, the truck will appear, who knows. I won't die from having cash in the bank. shrug

KT

Here is the interesting thing, I'm gonna talk tractor for a moment but same applies to cars/trucks, there is no incentive to buy used. I recently needed to purchase a small tractor, I wanted a used Kubota with about 700 - 1200 hours on it .
There were a few in my area to choose from. (All required 10% down , and 9% financing over term of loan..

I ended having to buy new , no money down , 0% financing over term of loan.
 
Unless you have cash on the barrel head , all the incentives force you to buy new.

I purchased my 04 F250 V10 with 26,000 miles on it in '06 -  got a great reduced price and super rate . Back in '06 purchasing used was easy  -  money was flowing and you could almost set your own terms . Not anymore.  
I'll keep my '04 till the quarter panels fall off.

[kyelkhunter3006]

I know what you mean.  I'm planning on keeping that 2002 Chevy until it's going to pieces.  I have a different truck that I use for work, a 20ft straight truck, that's a 2003.  The only way I'd buy another, newer truck, is if I decide to stop using the box truck and start pulling a trailer, which is what a lot of the guys at my work do.  I'd have to have a 3/4 or 1 ton to pull the trailer and load.

[Savage .250]

Had one.  It was a brute of a truck but the gas milage was terrible.  Course paying for those few miles per gallon adds up.    Never again................

[KeepTryin]

I'm glad I'm not the only one thinking used prices are nutso. However with a barrel of crude at 84+ or whatever it is, and it isn't even summer yet perhaps people will sober up in the near future and I'll get my truck at some point. (diabolical laughter) or maybe not. Happy to pull the plug for now, it was getting aggravating...