Okay I have a 2WD 96 F150 Eddie Bauer 300 Inline with the M5OD. It has been a great truck, but it needs some maintence now. It needs ball joints, tires, 2 new fuel pumps, a radio, and it's starting to rust. Also, it pops out of 3rd sometimes when I am letting out the clutch.

I need a truck that I can take hunting (BTW I have gotten around fine in the Nebraska winters with my 2WD for the past 3 years). I would also like to pull my Cobra to the 1/4 mile track about 200 miles away once in a while. So I guess that leaves me 3 choices:

1) Fix the 96 and keep driving it- the only thing that really scares me is the transmission.

2) Buy a newer (98-03) F150 extended cab shortbox with a 5.4. Don't care much for the styling, but I could find a loaded one in my price range.

3) Get a regular cab, long box 4x4 F250 5.4 (99-01). I'd be giving up the extended cab, but I LOVE the styling of these with a regular cab/ long box setup. I'd just be giving up a backseat.

I'm kind of torn. If I do get something else, I need to get the dealer down to around $10,000 so that with my trade I'd hopefully only OWE around $8,000 on the new truck. I'm just need some opinions on what may be the best decision for me.

 

HA HA HA HA Your tuck is not even close to being worth 8k. I would say fix the truck and run it. As far as you trans, have it fixed before it lets go and your screwed.

 

. I would say fix the truck and run it. As far as you trans, have it fixed before it lets go and your screwed.

 

No no no no no.....

My truck would MAYBE be worth 2 grand tops to a dealer. Maybe I typed it wrong. I would OWE 8 on a new truck and get 2 out of mine. Lol I'm not a moron.

 

I don't think he was talking about his truck being worth $8000, that's what he would owe on the new one. He's hoping to get around $2000 for his 96.

 

Fix your truck, spend a little $$$ on it, you know whats wrong with it. Why buy a slightly newer truck and inherit someone elses troubles you dont know about?

 

I would fix it. You can use the extra money you would be spending on a payment on that cobra.

 

fix yours, the 300 will pull the car fine and get better mileage than the 5.4. About your trans, I'd say get it fixed up but keep an eye out for donor trucks, especially if you can find one with a solid ZF, but good luck with that

 

Fix it , the newer trucks will cost alot more in the long run ...Lew

 

"The devil you know is better than the devil you don't"

I'd think it would take a lot less than $8k to fix the problems with your truck. If you're trying to save money, unless the vehicle is just plain worn out it's always cheaper to fix it than it is to buy a new one.

 

Lol yeah but the Cobra's got everything done to it I wanted to do. It's a 97 and I put in 4.30s, an intake, short shifter, new clutch, 03 wheels, and Nitto 555R's out back. Probably some other stuff too that I'm forgetting. It runs pretty good for what it is.

Eh you guys are talking me out of getting something new haha. I just want a 4x4 to play with, and I don't think I can sell mine outright with the issues it has right now, which is why I'd want a dealer to take it on trade. My truck's in decent shape and I used to LOVE it, but now I'm just bored with it. Had it a few years, but the problems have started to add up.

 

You'll get even less from a dealership than you would private party if they're both aware of all the issues with it.

 

the ? is you want a OPTIONAL monthly payment or a guarenteed one?

 

it's also alot less than 8k to fix your problems AND get the parts for a 4wd conversion, hell maybe even the heavier duty ZF if you really wanna get technical. Junk yards are like gold mines man

 

Another thing to consider is that even though you get it at a dealer, the new truck may not be perfect. My dads 97 was bought in 98 and a few years later the clearcoat started peeling off the drivers side door only, not the fender or bed. Around then we realized a piece of plastic trim on the floor was cracked, and that there was no way to drop something on it or kick it. So we got sold a truck that had been in an accident without being informed of it. Carfax exists, but honestly, unless you just want to throw more cash around than necessary, you should keep what you have