I just bought a 2002 F350 with 169K on it for $8000. I feel like I got a pretty good deal as everything is stock except for a transmission cooler and air intake. The previous owners were kind enough to include all their receipts since they bought in with 135k on it. I did a spread sheet on the maintenance and repairs. They spent over $9k just in repairs! Not including oil changes, tires and batteries!! Nothing major either (head gasket w/ wiring, alternator, water pump, starter).
Now I look at these costs and wonder if I can really afford to drive it. Any input, condolences, dope slaps are appreciated!

 

You might not need any or many repairs but your maintenance costs might be double that of a gasoline engine over time....but if you need to power and torque then keep it and preform the maintenance.

If not needing the power and torque, you might look at trading it for a gasoline burning truck down the road.

 

You made a very wise decision to "do the math"..... I personally appreciate you sharing this with the guy's here. This is one more ongoing topic that has recently been looked at from many angles....

One perspective is can an owner do the repairs himself / herself ? A deep subject as we see here on the board. If, in the PO's case they had all the work done by a dealership then the reality is that a DIY owner could have repaired the truck for 50% of that cost.

Warranty / Extended Warranty: I'm listening to the guy's purchasing the 2021's (Ford, GM, Dodge) all talking about the extended warranty. I often wonder would they buy should there be no extended warranty. I see that X warranty like walking in a casino and trying to "beat the house"... No, it's not insurance. It's a gamble.

A very general statement: The age group and how they view this... The old guy's lean towards older vehicles. The young guys lean towards the 2021's... Yes there are many exceptions.

Looking forward to this discussion.

Best of luck with your "new to you" truck..... I think you made a fair deal.

Hobo

 

Diesel or gasser? Diesel will be more expensive to maintain.

$9k must have been shop labor included if that's all that was done. If you are proficient with a wrench and can become a DIYer, you'll save bookoos. That's why I drive my old dinosaurs. They're reliable and when they do need love, I can provide it myself.

Alternator should only be a couple hundred and with warranties from box stores you may never have to buy another. Mine went out after 3.5 years, and advance replaced it free for me. Water pump also a couple hundred and easy to DIY. Starter $200-400 and shouldn't be a recurring purchase if you buy quality and/or one that you can rebuild yourself.

If you have the 7.3L, you'll have 15qt oil changes which can add up. Also, you won't want to skimp on cheap aftermarket sensors. Buy once and cry once with OEM Motorcraft sensors. Seek the brotherhood here at FTE for help and your operating costs will be mitigated.

 

What type of repairs were done and were they major repairs? How long did the seller own it? Did you ask him why he only drove 34000 miles?
IMO, all the repairs were done, op provided all the receipts so it appears he was on the up and up and apparently were satisfied with the condition and price so drive it like you stole it.
Is this a case of buyer remorse?

 

Do 90% of the work yourself and you'll spend hardly any money. You'll learn what issues to fix and which to ignore. Sounds like your previous owners went to the shop for every little thing.

I was given a vehicle for free from a family member because their shop said it needed $4,000 of work and was "unsafe." I installed a $20 water pump, installed 4x $80 goodyear tires, changed all the fluids and did a bunch of basic maintenance. The list from their mechanic was like 6 pages and they wanted to replace a bunch of unnecessary parts. I've been daily driving it for about a year now and I haven't had an issue with anything their shop wanted to replace. It's been the most reliable vehicle I've ever owned. 2002 Grand Caravan. My point is any vehicle can be a money pit if you go to the wrong mechanic.

That might be a bad example because car parts are cheaper. 4x4 trucks have a lot of moving parts wearing out with tons of fluids to change. Tires cost a fortune too. My advice would be to buy a beater car for daily driving and drive the truck on the weekends. Also find a good mechanic. A small shop or a mechanic who works from home is your best bet. The chain garages are in the business of making money.

 

True enough but just the parts added up to $3657

 

Not sure yet if it buyer remorse. Once I get a repair bill it might be. Horsepower and torque come at a price!

 

The previous owner had it for about 5 years and his wife sold it to me (with his consent) because Alzhiemers has made driving not safe for him. He rode along for the test drive and we had quite a conversation!

 

I really get the DIY ethic here. The Montana weather with no garage makes that pretty tough. Gotta plan all the big jobs for the summer when I am busiest with other things. I really like the truck and could use the towing capacity (I train horses and sometimes pick up and deliver horses), so buy new or repair old, it's gonna cost me somewhere.

 

HP is for racecars and torque is for pulling heavy equipment trailers up mountains. The majority of us here use our trucks for light work. How much towing do you do and how often? Maybe a 1/2 ton or a Ranger would be a better fit for you.

I own a 3/4 ton because they're easier to work on. I could get by with a 1/2 ton. I just don't like the front axle setup. It's much simpler on an HD truck. Every single contractor I've ever worked for buys old used 2wd 1/2 tons. The only reason they buy an HD truck is when they need a flat bed dually for deliveries.

Torque and HP really isn't important unless you're towing full time. Going to get a lot of hate from the diesels guys I'm sure.

 

I will be pulling about 12k up and down some mountain passes. 4x4 cuz I use it every month of the year in Montana.

 

You know, horses are 4x4 and require no maintenance. Just grass and water. You don't even need plates or insurance.

 

Geat point! That's basically why I have not owned a tow vehicle for years. Just need to live close to work and make sure clients pick up and deliver their own horses! The last few years I have been a "mobile trainer" carrying my gear in a small car. Some horsey types look at you pretty funny when you get out of a Prius! (4 years and 40k miles, NO repairs)

 

7.3 will fit your needs just fine. Venture over to the 7.3 subforum here. Lots of info and help when needed.