Looking for an older truck

[Marinski]

I want to buy an older truck around $1000 or under. This will be a second vehicle. I already have a 06 Dakota that I leased but that will be up next year. This truck will just be a spare one. I want a manual trans since I've never had one and want to learn to drive one. I've never bought a used vehicle before either. What are some of the things I should be concerned with and ask about when looking for an older truck?? Heres a couple I found on craigslist that i may go look at - 1, 2.
what do you think?

 

[Pliablemoose]

I'd look at this one first...

http://detroit.craigslist.org/car/401396662.html

Matter of fact, I'd run to go look at it & buy it, Lariats are more desirable and it sounds as if an adult maintained it.

You'll pick up driving a MT in a day or two, not that big of a deal, just embarrassing at first.

 

[thedarkwolf]

It does have the indestructible 4.9/300 straight 6. The 302 ain't too shabby either though. Really though when talking about $1k or less vehicles you just have to go look at them and drive it. If the steering or suspension is really lose, the brakes are crap. engine barely runs, trans makes lots of noise, etc pass on it. Don't worry too much about minor things like miles, interior, body, small fluid leaks. Just make sure all the electronic do dads that you need work and it runs and drives well. You can get more bang for the buck with a compact truck if you don't need a full sized. The rangers and nissans are pretty nice and pretty worthless.

Hope you can do at least minor mechanical work yourself 🙂.

 

[Marinski]

Originally posted by: Pliablemoose
I'd look at this one first...

http://detroit.craigslist.org/car/401396662.html

Matter of fact, I'd run to go look at it & buy it, Lariats are more desirable and it sounds as if an adult maintained it.

You'll pick up driving a MT in a day or two, not that big of a deal, just embarrassing at first.

Didn't see that one. Will check it out though since the area code is the same as me so Its probably close.

 

[mooseracing]

Check to make sure everything shifts fine on that tranny and check its fluid level. It should have ATF oil in it. Also check at the back of the shifter rails to see how much they leak. Very common on the Mazda 5 speed trannys, you can easily put some silicone on the back and sel it up though. But if the oil is low the damage could have been done already. I've rebuit a couple with no teeth left on the cluster and main shafts a few times.

 

[Marinski]

what kind of regular maintenance / mechanical type problems can I expect from a truck at this age? I can do small stuff but I'm no mechanic and don't want to be tearing a bunch of shit apart, know what i'm sayin?

 

[Sniper82]

Well if I was guessing that truck likely has a timing chain so you should not need to change it. But with a truck with that many miles(regardless of age) you might or might not have things like Alternators,water pumps,fuel pumps,ect go out. You just never know, also aswell as transmissions. Things go out with no warning or they can last another 100,000 before they do. But other than those things just normal oil changes and checking fluids regularly.

I just bought a 96 Geo Prizm a couple month ago. I've done had to change the Oxygen Sensor,Timing Belt,fix turn signals(I was dumb and didn't check these when bought) and thats about it. This car has a timing belt which is required maintenance every 60,000 some miles. It had 135,000 on it when I got it so I just assumed it had factory belt on it and I was right. The mechanic told me it had the factory belt on it. Had I not changed it, it could have broke at any time which would have likely killed my engine and I would have been out the money I gave for the car. I am also planning on doing a fuel filter change as a spark plug change aswell since those are likely factory.

But anytime you buy used your gambling no matter what. It might sound,drive and shift good but that don't mean it will a month or two after you buy it. Things wear out.