2004 F350 XLT Lariat 6.0 CC LB 4X4 it is one sweet ride. I got it at Corning Ford in Nor Cal. I paid $41K out the door. But in the process of shopping, the salesman showed me a nearly identical truck, but a 2003 6.0 with 8K miles on it for $33K but it was a "lemon buyback". I had, until yesterday, never seen a big red window sticker screaming 'LEMON BUYBACK". The salesman explained to me that Corning Ford is one of like 3 dealers in CA that is authorized to sell them and there fore they had a ton of them. He also went on to explain that the "Lemon law" is a frequently abused law and people use it to get out from under a truck they decide they don't like or whatever. He showed me all the paperwork on the truck which noted the date time mileage and owners complaint. The most serious complaints were leaky rear main seal (Fixed under warranty), irregular idle, several recall repairs initiated by Ford and many nit picky things such as "battery cable rubbing on intake tube" (cable replaced under warranty).

The salesman assured me that once these trucks are biought back, they go back to Ford to undergo a complate inspection and reconditioning and sent back to these certain dealers with FULL ORIGINAL FACTORY, plus an extended warranty on certain components (I don't remeber which it was though). They then sell them at wholsesale book.

I was very close to buying it, but was afraid of the "Stigma" attached to it for a future sale or trade becuase the title/carfax etc is branded LEMON more so than future problems with it.

What do you guys think? Would you have bought it? Have you bought them in the past?

Ill post pics of my new truck soon!!!

 

dg -

Not saying Corning's wrong, BUT it's hard to believe Ford eats over $1000 in shipping both ways + inspection/reconditioning + a better-than-new warranty just to be able to sell a lemon buy-back at wholesale. Like you, I'd be afraid of the title stigma but I'm not sure this applies in all states. I think you made the right choice - JMO.

Steve

 

Reminds me of an old Cheech & Chong routine.

" Looks Like..." etc. etc. etc.

The old guys know what I mean.

 

my mother was looking for a new small car. She did not a ton of money to spend on one. We looked at hyundai elantra. She liked it. But there was another car there that was way cheap. I was a hyundai accent. It was 6 months old and 2100 miles. It was a lemon buy back. The problem was a "check engine light" always coming on. The dealer cound not fix it in the three times allotted before they had to buy back the car. The dealer did not originally sell the car. They received it from Hyundai as a lemon buy back. The dealer was very upfront about the car. Hyundai put a new wiring harness in the car. It has been great ever since. She put about 15,000 on the car and everything is fine.

 

I dont think you can envoke the lemon law twice on the same vin, Its only for new sales. Hmmmm.............Na I dont think I would do it. Who needs the headache with payments. These things can get expensive.

 

You couldn't give me an 03 PSD..... an 04 for that matter. Too bad you couldn't talk to the previous owner of that truck. I can just imagine the hell he went through befor Ford bought it back.

 

Back to FORD could well mean a dealer not the FACTORY. Depending on the vehicle, price and warranty i would considerate it. joe

 

around here 8k on the truck, Lemon for 33k.. Not a chance. They would have to knock a lot more off that price.

 

Would I buy a Lemon.......Maybe. For that price........No.

It is possible that the manufacturer could make the vehicle like new for resale. My fiance's sister bought a '97 tahoe a few years ago that was a lemon buy back for a steal of a price. She had it for many years without a single problem. I think it would be just the luck of the draw wether or not you will have any problems.

I definately would not have purchased a 6.0L for that price considering that I bought my brand new '04 (see sig) for 33.5K in Auburn.

 

I recall seeing a couple 2003 6.0's with 200 miles at a GM dealership a while ago. Wonder if these were lemons bought at a dealer auction. They were both fully loaded and looked pretty cheap.

 

When buying a lemon buy back, it is still very prudent to research it to the max. And to know what prices others are getting their trucks for. Then you can make a wise decision. But, knowing what I know regarding some '03's, I wouldn't touch that one for that price.

Ex: I got mine new for 34,800.

 

That reminds me, when I was going through the glove box on my wifes 95 Bronco I saw some literature that looked like her truck was a "reclaimed" vehicle acording to Ford. She was the third owner at 60K miles and the 5.8 motor was shot by 75K miles but lasted until 98K running on 7 cylinders. Other than the motor problem the truck runs perfect. But for some reason nobody wants a gas guzzlin Bronco even below wholesale with a fresh 5.8 litre.

 

$41,400 list...Drive out with equity '02 F-150 gasser trade $ 34,200 drive out + they forgot to add the dealer install Ford security system to the price.

Dang the luck.

New not a lemon at 4,200 miles and very happy at this point in time.

 

do any of these lemons make it to canada do ford have to tell you they are buy backs if not how would you find out the status of your 250 psd...

 

Maybe Ford should sent buy backs over to THE DESERT and leave the keys in them.