Alright guys I'm looking at buying a newer truck and came across this. I've talked to the guy and he sounds pretty firm on the price. I haven't gotten to drive up and look at it yet since I'm 5 hours away but just wanted to get your thoughts. Price seems a bit high to me but then again it is the 7.3 with some decent mods and low miles. Looks very clean from what I can tell and as he puts it "immaculate". I'm located in Washington for those of you wanting to know my area. Thoughts and comments?

https://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/cto/5413245581.html

 

Value is always in the mind of the beholder. Truck looks nice, recent tranny is a plus, mileage is not excessive but that price is more than I would pay but that is just me. It's first posted for sale 1/21 so I must not be the only one who feels that way about it.

 

Thanks for the input. Can I ask what you would pay for it?

 

IMO the only thing going for that truck is the engine and mileage. It is an XLT. That is at least $6k too high for around the SE.

I would get him to give you the VIN so you can run a CarFax report before you drive 5 hrs for a look see. That will give you an idea if the mileage is reasonably accurate.

 

I agree with Walleye Hunter here. I personally would go no higher than $15K for the truck. Although, I don't have a need for the big wheels, lift, etc...

You mention immaculate, it looks like he has chips or something in the cubby in the dash. The engine bay is decent, I would not say very clean by any means, especially the air filter. The headlights do not look like LED bulbs to me, but the picture may have been before he installed them. What exactly is "fully wired for sound"? Straight pipe is going to be loud, a muffler/resonator is around $80. No shots of the under body? Do you use salt on the roads up there?

This is just my opinion though, too much money.

 

For reference I bought one that was bone stock 94,000 miles, lariat crew cab, 4x4, and nearly as spotless as that one for about 19,000. And I didn't feel like I got a great deal. Especially after I dropped another 3000 in parts to make it mechanically as good as it looked. To add to that, I would personally deduct price for mods, just because they suggest a hard life or juvenile driving habits. Not necessarily true, there are lots of guys on here who mod their trucks extensively and then care for them perfectly, but it could.

I wouldn't buy that truck without really looking it over. Ball joints, differential inspection front and rear, transfer case, check tranny fluid, and hook it up to torque pro at minimum to watch vitals while you test drive it.

Not trying to scare you off, just to trying to make sure you don't end up like me. Because it sure is pretty.

Good luck. And check it well.

 

Joe is right as well. No matter how good of condition it is in, there are parts that are going to need to be replaced. You are looking at a couple hundred dollars in fluids alone if you change everything out like you should including differentials, brake, power steering, etc...

This is a tough call, but 90% of the time dead on. You are going to have to see the truck, talk to the man and see what he knows about the modifications and if they were "cool" and made him go "fast past the Rams" or if they were installed and utilized to make the truck a better and more efficient machine. Typically though, they are installed to go fast and show off. The members of FTE are a very small percentage of the 7.3 owners and are an exception to the rule.

 

I am not sure what the market up and over there is, but that truck is at LEAST $4grand too high for my blood. It is low mileage, has a lot of extras but you usually don't get your money back on that, they wouldn't give him $10k for that truck on trade in I bet. It is nowhere near immaculate as Sous points out. It looks like a nice truck for sure, better aesthetically than a lot, but not $4-$6,000 more.

 

I like to be cool, and go past the Dodges...

 

Well sounds like an overwhelming "too much". Thanks for the responses all. I was hesitant also because I wouldn't think he'd need a new tranny at 133k = premature failure due to rough use and abuse? But I could be wrong. He did give me th VIN so I've got that. I would like to look at her in person as that seems to help gain perspective on anything. Yea as far as immaculate goes those are his words. The seats do look cleaner than most I'd say but I agree he didn't clean up the bay or anything else much. Seattle is known for rain and a general wet atmosphere so I'd guess there's salt up there? Not a whole lot where I'm at. But again something else to look at and consider. More thoughts welcome.

 

More than likely it was a mechanical diode failure, a known common affliction in a particular period during the 2001 MY. I wonder who built the tranny? Besides, the truck is far from immaculate. Too much emphasis on unimportant things, and way too much money.

 

I hear ya brother! There is a right way and a wrong way to get that task done though, and I am confident you are doing it the right way.

 

I'll sell you mine for that price.

Although perhaps I should try to sell it up there when the time comes. We bought my wife's 2001 with 169k miles, no dents, no rust, clean, lariat, 4x4 for $10k several years ago. Heck, the 2001 she bought new was only upper 20's.

Have you done the craigslist search thing down in Texas? Looks to be about a $12k - $13k truck if everything is in great shape.

 

That's a really nice looking truck. Like others have said the performance mods would not exactly be a plus to every buyer including myself. If I lived close I'd go take a look though just to see if it is really as nice as described. Heck that's almost 10K more than I paid for my crew cab with similar miles six years ago!

hmmmm...Tugly lives up that way doesn't he??? Just sayin....

 

One problem I have is lots of guys seem to think they can get this or more out of that era 7.3 with moderate use and miles or more: https://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/cto/5481966001.html

https://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/cto/5447217693.html

And these are just a few...