Decent used truck?

[Sigarms]

Here's my thoughts. Right now the truck is essentially worthless. If the rest of the truck is in good shape and the repairs cost less than the value of the truck then you are money ahead to repair. Btw my thoughts on the best repair for an automatic is a standard transmission but most people aren't into that.

A company I used to work for based replacement on the cost of repairs. If the cost in one year exceeded the cost of interest on a replacement then it was replaced.

One of my wifes preferences is if we get another truck for the home is that it has a standard transmission.

The T-100 is a 5 speed.

The rest of the truck is in pretty good shape other than some dickweed nailing us at a parking lot when we weren't with the vehicle and left a decent dent on the rear right panel of the truck bed. Still there as I just pocketed the 1k check to fix it as I felt the dink added character to the truck.

 

[MossRoad]

...

800 miles for a used vehicle? ...

We were out there because one of our kids lives there. So we'd planned on looking while visiting. If it weren't for the kid living there, we would have gone to Arizona where we also have family.

 

[MossRoad]

Any Vortec powered Chevy from 96 up. They have their issues but will keep running. I’ve had 3 at over 500k miles combined, no trans or engine issues.

Brake lines yes, fuel lines yes, exhaust work yes...

Not saying anything wrong with Ford or Dodge from that era.

That 2003 Suburban that we just picked up has the 5.3 vortec. Night and day difference from the old throttle body 5.7 in the 93 that we're replacing. I've never heard anything bad about the vortec engines.

 

[Sigarms]

That 2003 Suburban that we just picked up has the 5.3 vortec. Night and day difference from the old throttle body 5.7 in the 93 that we're replacing. I've never heard anything bad about the vortec engines.

That is good to know. Found a tahoe for sale at what I think is a good price but higher mileage (under 200k). It will haul the trailer and go out back, just no tuck bed.

I already called my boss and asked where the one F150 was at for work as I couldn't get mine out from the under the shed last week.

 

[Diggin It]

Amazing, went to look and look what I found right here in Winston Salem North Carolina...


Something tells me I'll be staying away from boobslot.com

I'd say those two 'prices' are the down payment. If not, I might be driving there this week to pick one of them up.

 

[MossRoad]

That is good to know. Found a tahoe for sale at what I think is a good price but higher mileage (under 200k). It will haul the trailer and go out back, just no tuck bed.

I already called my boss and asked where the one F150 was at for work as I couldn't get mine out from the under the shed last week.

Another thing about that 5.3 and most of the LS type chevy engines is that there is an absolutely huge aftermarket for repair/replacement/performance parts. Good donors are plentiful in junkyards across the country, are relatively cheap, and many are plug and play VS rebuilding anything. That's why we concentrated on a good body on that 2003 and didn't sweat the engine. I have a spare transmission sitting in my garage from past vehicle. I can do all the work myself if it comes to that. Anyhow, do your homework. Good luck in your search.

 

[Hay Dude]

Used trucks are crazy high because there’s not a lot of new trucks available.
A local Ford dealership in my area that usually has 300+ on the lot has 12 new cars right now that nobody wants.
Used lot is minimally full, too.
They advertise “top dollar paid for used vehicles”

Moss’s observations are correct. There are so many GM trucks out there and so many donor vehicles and parts.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

Depending on what I find wrong with my Toyota T-100, perhaps looking at buying another truck.

What I'll be looking for

1 - Used
2 - Generally under 150-100k miles
3 - Enough room "comfortably" for 4 people
4 - Primary purpose for hauling trailer when I need it that will have a ZTR on it or hauling brush from out back. T-100 is only a V6 and perhaps something with a little more power.
5 - 4X4 for out back going across the creek
6 - Since we use T-100 the least now out of all of our vehicles, would like something for the wife to drive if she doesn't want to take the Pilot out.
7 - Max budget is 15k cash (this is a "side truck", not primary vehicle and I can't justify spending more).

I've only owned used Toyota's, and know nothing about Chevy's, Fords or Dodges. I'm not a ford kind of guy or a chevy kind of guy if that makes sense.

Any recommendations, models and what engines to stay away from?

With trucks now going for more than my dad paid for his house back in '78 am I just living a pipe dream per my requirements and just shoot for a beater to use out back for around 5k?

Thanks!

Last night I met an excited 18-year-old who found a 2002 four-wheel drive Chevrolet crew cab for $12,000. It was clean truck. It had the 5.3 engine. Mileage was just under 100,000.

 

[Hay Dude]

That is good to know. Found a tahoe for sale at what I think is a good price but higher mileage (under 200k). It will haul the trailer and go out back, just no tuck bed.

I already called my boss and asked where the one F150 was at for work as I couldn't get mine out from the under the shed last week.

We loved our Tahoe. Kids and I were sad to see it go. Wife
”replaced” it with new BMW X5. Nice, but I liked the Tahoe way better.
Get yourself a loaded up Tahoe, a Z71 or a LTZ is a really nice ride.

 

[coobie]

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As you can see I am not brand loyal.My most dependable trucks were Ram/dodge..I read article yesterday truck prices are UP 25%-33% verses last year at the same time period..We had great luck with Toyota trucks in the past but need 3/4 truck to haul our trailers/equipment.

 

[Sigarms]

Perhaps it's just me, but something definitely looks wrong with this picture LOL...

 

[coobie]

Perhaps it's just me, but something definitely looks wrong with this picture LOL...

View attachment 700647

 

[MossRoad]

Perhaps it's just me, but something definitely looks wrong with this picture LOL...

View attachment 700647

hahaha!

Door swap?

 

[3930dave]

One of my wifes preferences is if we get another truck for the home is that it has a standard transmission.

The T-100 is a 5 speed.

The rest of the truck is in pretty good shape other than some dickweed nailing us at a parking lot when we weren't with the vehicle and left a decent dent on the rear right panel of the truck bed. Still there as I just pocketed the 1k check to fix it as I felt the dink added character to the truck.

Stick... changes everything (in my thought-train)....

If you both liked the truck before, I'd just put that "bonus" $1k towards fixing the transmission.

Sadly, fewer options exist every year if you want 3 pedals, and of the ones that are left, it's often tied into their Performance packages....

The repair cost from a reputable shop would have to be seriously high, to dissuade me from fixing a stick truck I liked that was still solid otherwise.

Good luck with the estimate, hopefully it's not too painful.

Rgds, D.

 

[Sigarms]

If you both liked the truck before, I'd just put that "bonus" $1k towards fixing the transmission.

I love the truck but for two things...

1- Gas mileage sucks overall for the actual size of the truck. If I get 17mpg, I'm lucky.

2 - Towing with that V6 makes for slow going with the Kubota F mower on the trailer (without the deck) to the dealers for any service I can't do (had to take it in twice over the years). My fault as I had no clue at the time a 6x14 trailer and some mowers were in my future that long ago LOL

That said, overall the truck has been very good to me. I'm kind of odd in that I feel like my cars are like my wife. When I find a good one, kind of hard for me to get rid of it even when my was screaming to get rid of my old avalon when it was pushing 400k LOL

My wife and I talked about it on a walk today. If I pay to have the truck repaired and work doesn't want to help with the bill, personal truck doesn't get used for work anymore. Reality is I drive the truck more for work hauling crap around than anything else. My counterpart has a nice F-150 with industrial racking where I got a new 2021 Ford Escape that you couldn't pay me to buy. I think what I'll do is just tell work that my personal truck is now off limits for work.

 

[MossRoad]

My wife's vehicle policy is that we have to have one vehicle that's nice enough to drive to weddings and funerals.... then whatever I want to drive.

 

[Sigarms]

My wife's vehicle policy is that we have to have one vehicle that's nice enough to drive to weddings and funerals.... then whatever I want to drive.

Technically, the nice car (the Pilot) is my wifes car.

We bougt a "family car" for the boys when they were getting to drive so they had a somewhat decent car to drive (4 door accord, 91k on it when bought).

After I donated the avalon pushing 400k, the truck now is my sole vehicle LOL

Your comment about a large suv as another option does make more sense to me. It can haul a larger load than my current truck and if my wife's pilot dies (don't see it happening as it just hit 210K and seems to be going strong), it would be nice to have a back up vehicle for her if anything happens to the Pilot.

That said, worst case, I'm either spending anywhere between 7-15k for a larger V8 suv or only spending 3k to fix the truck. That is assuming I could get another 3-5 years out of the truck which I honestly think I'd be able to do.

 

[Sigarms]

My wife's vehicle policy is that we have to have one vehicle that's nice enough to drive to weddings and funerals.... then whatever I want to drive.

Is that now the Suburban or would that still be the Subaru?

One reason why my wife and get along so well even though we're opposite of each other is that we never saw the value of owning a brand new vehicle with the payments.

60 to 80 thousand dollars for a new SUV???

I'll spend the money on what I want when I'm retired and not worry that a vehicle can cost as much as a small home. I finally conivnced my dad to do it when he was about age 76, 13 years ago. In that time, he's now owned 3 different new cars, all the same make and model LOL

 

[MossRoad]

Let me think...

We have a 2013 Impala that is wedding and funeral worthy. Charcoal Grey. My child calls it Dudley. I don't know why. It's the quickest car we've ever owned. I think she didn't like the stereo.

We have a 2004 Mercury Sable that is my daily driver. The Silver Beast! Trusty rusty. Looks like heck. Interior is immaculate! Super comfortable to drive. Our oldest kid bought it 2nd year in college, and we bought it from them after graduating with Master's Degree and upgraded to a 2014 Subaru Impreza. The Subaru is 100% theirs.

We have the 1993 Suburban. Clifford the Big Red Dog! As soon as I replace the broken driver side lower control arm, it goes bye-bye. I need to torch it off of the torsion bar. I have the spare control arm on-site. $35 shipped in from Wisconsin. They don't make those anymore, so had to get one from a junk yard. We've had that Suburban for about 13-14 years. Have a total of $6K into it over those years, so we got our money's worth. I'll guess I'll get $1-1.5K out of it, so it's easily the most cost-effective vehicle we've ever owned.

We have a 2011 Malibu that our youngest paid 1/2 for in their 2nd year in college. We rarely see that car.

And now we have the 2003 Suburban.

We've always liked to have a pair and a spare when it comes to cars. Ever since we were married we've had 3 for the 2 of us. Now that my wife is working from home, and it looks like that may become permanent, we may drop down to just 2 vehicles for the 2 of us for the first time in 35 years.

Hey, here's an interesting note:

We had 4 vehicles in our name. 3 drivers. Insurance was about $1750 per year, with collision on 2 of the vehicles, and only liability on the other 2.

We bought the 2003 Suburban and added collision on that.

Guess how much our insurance changed for the year by adding that 5th vehicle?

They're sending US a check for $137!

Apparently we haven't had a claim in 5 years, we are paying for a $500 deductible that has decreased to $0 due to no accidents, so they changed some things around, adjusted the deductible, and the annual cost dropped $137.

And, as soon as I sell the 93 Suburban, our rates will drop about $170.

That was completely unexpected.

 

[MoMower]

That is good to know. Found a tahoe for sale at what I think is a good price but higher mileage (under 200k). It will haul the trailer and go out back, just no tuck bed.

I already called my boss and asked where the one F150 was at for work as I couldn't get mine out from the under the shed last week.

My most recent was a 06’ K2500, zero rot, but 221k miles. Currently at 232k miles. Brake lines done, ac compressor and that’s it in my ownership. Runs/drives/tows well.