I'm looking to replace my 97 F250, 7.3, with a newer F350, 7.3. I've got three vehicles to choose from, a 2000 with 130k miles, cab plus, automatic. A 2001 with 110K, crew cab, 6 speed, and a 2003 with 190k, cab plus, 6 speed. All 4x4, long bed, and single rear wheels. I've been told by a local mechanic that the 2003 7.3 is the best motor as all the bugs were finally worked out, but the earlier 7.3's are good engines with some electrical issues. I've experience these as my IDM just crashed and the valve cover gaskets are being replaced, 175k miles.

I do pull a heavily loaded goose neck (the reason for wanting an upgrade) with my F250, it's automatic, and is hard on my brakes, having just replaced them within a couple years. So the manuals look good.

Comments?

 

Should add asking prices:
2000 - private party 11,000 plus I'd have to ship from Oahu to Big Island, $300
2001 - private party 15,500 is 2 hrs away
2003 - dealer 11,995 plus ship from LA to me 1300

 

2001...manual...it closer...it may be a lil higher...but it fits what you need better

 

the 2000 will have forged rod but the auto is weaker than the 6 speed i think the 2001 or 2003 would be the best.

 

looks like the 01 & the 03 are pretty close with the 01 having less miles & private party would sway me towards it if they are the same trim level...XLT or whatever.
I've got a 2000 with the auto & pull a horse trailer quite a bit. It's got 191k miles on original trans, lucky so far but I'd think the stick might be better.

 

Thanks guys. I've had in my mind to get a manual for some time now.

With what I've seen on craigslist in the LA and Las Vegas areas, the 2001 at $15,500 is a bit high. I hate to say this because I'll want top dollar when I go to sell mine .

What would be a reasonable price? I know there's always room to haggle, but I don't want to insult and offer to low, but I also don't want to look the fool and offer too much.

 

Why ? Most they can say is no

I'd offer 12,000 on the 01 if it is a good truck then go from there....but that's just me

 

I'd go for the 01 as well, the ZF-6 is a great transmission, very tough and handles heavy loads and hard conditions extremely well-I sure love mine.

I'd try and hagle him down below 13k. Glad to see there are some PSD's on the Big Island, I have family on Oahu and visit all the time (thinking of moving down there actually) and it makes me puke how many lifted 2wd Tacos and Nissans I see crusing around. Not saying they are bad trucks though, just need more coal rollers over there.

 

I'm going to see the 01 tomorrow and will see what shape it's in. You know how the ad can say one thing, but.... Things can rust out pretty quickly here in Hawaii.
I have family in the LA area that'll look at the 03 tomorrow. So if things work out, I'll be moving from the 1994.5-1997 PSD forum to the 1999-2003 PSD forum. What happened to the 1998s

RainStoked, if you do decide to move over, bring your ride with you. Although I wouldn't recommend Oahu. To crowded. But you have family there. I'm on the east side of the Big Island. Yea, it's more wet here, although probably not much more than the Seattle area, but there's a lot more room to stretch your elbows. And yes, there are a lot of jacked up rice burner trucks here, and a few PSDs.

 

start at 10k cash...dont go past 13k....only go up in 200$ increments...haggling is what i do!

 

the early 1999 are the 1998 they made 99 for 2 years.

 

Yea it would definitely be shipped over, it's rust-free since we don't salt here, but I know that salty trade winds down there can be hard on cars. That, and the sun just absolutely bakes the paint and plastic lenses. I tell ya, I like the rain over there when I visit, the stuff we have here is a persistant (see 10+month) drizzle when nothing ever dries out until late August, just in time for the rain to start up again.

 

Just to throw this out there... If I remember the diesel mechanic right, (we talked about the 6.0s and 6.4s as well), the 2000s and up have bigger turbos and intercoolers. I don't know if I'll be able to tell by looking if the turbo is bigger. Is this true? I'd love the boost it would provide, especially with mods

 

The 2000's and up have a slightly larger turbo and someone will correct me if I am wrong, and three inch intercooler pipes compared to the slighty smaller turbo and 2 1/2" intercooler pipes on the early 99's like mine. So they also spool up slower then the smaller 99's. I can't imagine it is very noticeable but I don't have a 2000 and up to compare to either. I didn't think the intercooler on the 99-2003 7.3 were any different from each other. The 6.0 intercoolers are larger I think, a lot of guys swap them into there 7.3's

 

I vote the '01. Crew Cab, 4x4, ZF6, long bed.... perfect I say. See if you can haggle that price down some.