Guys,

Sorry to bust in here on my first post with this type of topic. I have a nephew who's dad has not been in the picture much, and certainly won't financially help his own son with a vehicle. Despite this, my nephew is quite a good young man. He had a hooptie 2003 Dodge Ram that crapped out on him about 6 months ago, and has been working and borrowing cars and getting dropped off since then. He's working a pretty regular job now, at a manufacturing plant for a while now.

He is not brand partial, but wants a 4x4, crew cab, in any color other than red ... if he could find such a thing. I found him a 2008 F-150 FX4, 4WD (of course) in white. It looks really nice. And the carfax looks good (although I know a carfax can be misleading).

I've heard of an OASIS report, but don't know how to go about obtaining one, aside from going to a dealer. But I think I might have to lie to a dealer and claim the vin number for that truck is my truck. And I'd rather not lie.

I've heard of the spark plug issues, and the cam phasers etc. I can check all that stuff out if/when I get to the truck in person. The truck has just ~110k miles, and they're asking $8k for it.

The interior pictures of the truck look really nice and clean. I'm doubting I could find any better truck for the money for my nephew, including all other brands, than this truck (aside from any unknown potential engine issues).

What do you guys think? Should I pursue this truck? How can I get an OASIS report?

Thanks!

 

Well, if only it was red ....

I don't know "book", but since it's white .... I like white too .... I would not even listen to an offer so cheap on my '07, it has only 78K though. I put plugs in a couple three years ago, otherwise totallt trouble free.

 

tbear - I had the dealer make a recording up under the hood with the engine idling. He was nice enough to do it. And he replied something along the lines that it, "has the cam code, that's why we're selling it so cheap." And yes, the sound under the hood was a bad as I've ever heard from my research on here.

Now ... if I were looking for me, I would be tempted. Because I would imagine I might be able to pick the truck up for $7,250 and put $3,000 in repairs in it and have a solid truck for a good long time. It looks darn clean, and I like the style of those years.

But for my nephew, I doubt he'd be as willing as I would be. He's more strapped than I and probably wouldn't be able to loan enough to cover the purchase and repair. We shall see.

Oh, and it's not that he doesn't like red, he does. He seems to think insurance would be higher for him on a red truck. I don't know if it's true or not (and I don't care).

 

Your heart is in the right place man. We've welcome a disadvantaged senior in high school to stay with us for her senior year. Then get accepted to college in the honors program.

Here's what I learned. What he wants vs what he needs is a tough pill for him to swallow but a place that you need to go. If mechanically inclined, then he can work himself up in vehicles. Help as much as you can for free, it is exhausting and rewarding in spades. Springing for a battery or wiper blades is fine, just keep it limited. Teach him.

You are doing a very great thing and you really don't know it yet..... People like you make me smile.

 

IMHO, having owned an ‘08 SCrew of my own, it’s 4.6 or bust if going used. You won’t find as many out there, much less 4x4, but it is a way less risky gamble with that engine. You just found out why most being sold are 5.4s.

Or hop back a generation to the 2V 5.4. I’m sure there are plenty of those in SCrew form still drivable.

If 4x4 is a must, an ‘11-14 SuperCab with a 3.7 v6 may make budget. Pretty peppy and reliable.

 

Thanks, I'll give those a look. I'd be guessing he's not V8 particular ... meaning, a V6 would do.