How Much Should I Offer?
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How Much Should I Offer?
First off I am new to the site and currently drive a 97 f150 with 386,000 miles on it but I am in need of a diesel for my current job and I am hoping to buy one and become an active member of this forum.
Well i am looking at moving up to a f350 diesel since I tow almost everyday for landscaping. My question is I found this f350 about 10 mins from my house and plan to look at it tomorrow how much should I offer for this truck blue book is about 500 below there asking, its needs new tires, and I know its been there a few months. Theres no hitch receiver or 5th wheel so I am assuming it has had an easy life.
1997 Ford F350 XL 4X4 Pwr Stk. Diesel 196464 miles, Green
Plan to take a look tomorrow.
Check front end
back up 10 ft or so and look at the front end see to check the bushings
Take the turbo inlet tube off and check plan
Check oil color same with transmission
anything else? I should look for
Well i am looking at moving up to a f350 diesel since I tow almost everyday for landscaping. My question is I found this f350 about 10 mins from my house and plan to look at it tomorrow how much should I offer for this truck blue book is about 500 below there asking, its needs new tires, and I know its been there a few months. Theres no hitch receiver or 5th wheel so I am assuming it has had an easy life.
1997 Ford F350 XL 4X4 Pwr Stk. Diesel 196464 miles, Green
Plan to take a look tomorrow.
Check front end
back up 10 ft or so and look at the front end see to check the bushings
Take the turbo inlet tube off and check plan
Check oil color same with transmission
anything else? I should look for
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2003
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From: San Jose, CA
Well it will probably need a new tranny pretty soon since it's an auto. I would offer $6000 because they start high and see where it goes from there...maybe 7 out the door taxes license fees included?
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 247
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From: NC
Hey Nick.....welcome to the forum. Looks like your from my part of town. I live in Claremont N.C. If anyone can steer you in the right direction it's the guys here. The know these trucks inside and out. Good luck on the hunt. That truck looks pretty clean, but the tranny is the weak link in these things. See if they have any kind of service records or repair records for the truck. Maybe you could talk to a previous owner if it was a local trade and not an auction truck.
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2009
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From: Monroe/Ellensburg, WA
My guess, being an auto tranny owner, is that with almost 200k on her, she already had the tranny replaced. So... dont worry about that right now. If it runs good and drives good and you like what you see. Offer them 5500 for it and see what they say. I bought my truck in Washington which has way higher value on these trucks with 220k for 6200 bucks so there is no way you should pay more than that anywhere else.
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 12,177
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From: Newport, WA
I bought a 96 F350 XLT crew cab long box 4x4 with 147k miles from the original owner a month ago for $6200. No way is that one worth more than that. Nice clean truck, and appears to be all stock which is good.
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I would say $6000 if its in decent shape and with no lift, and more if it has extras with it. The reason for that is because your most likely going to have at least $800 to put heavy rated tires on the truck and maybe more if its a dually. Even if it doesn't have a hitch doesn't mean it never had one in the past. My current 1997 diesel didn't have one when I bought it, but after close inspection later down the road I discovered it did have one. I would also add, checking u joints, carrier bearing and axle shaft unjoints, to your list of things to check. Good luck and hope its a good buy.
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Thanks guys I am planning on running up there later today I talked to them over the phone and they seem to know nothing about diesels. I would think if I start saying its gonna need injectors glow plugs and the tranny may be week I should be able to pick it up for a decent price
edit: upon looking at the pictures it looks like the batterys will need to be replaced look at the volt picture its reading on the low side
edit: upon looking at the pictures it looks like the batterys will need to be replaced look at the volt picture its reading on the low side
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Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2009
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From: Monroe/Ellensburg, WA
Ya just make sure its what your looking for. And dont be afraid to walk away and sit on it. There was a truck for sale in my area a year ago or so, i went in drove it, liked it, gave them my number, they weren't budging on the price, told them to call me when they were ready to sell it for what the truck was really worth, they called the next morning.
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Ya just make sure its what your looking for. And dont be afraid to walk away and sit on it. There was a truck for sale in my area a year ago or so, i went in drove it, liked it, gave them my number, they weren't budging on the price, told them to call me when they were ready to sell it for what the truck was really worth, they called the next morning.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Oct 2008
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From: Avilla, IN
They probably just started it took the picture with the glowplugs still on.
Trust me, the Volt gauge is no where near accurate enough to tell you when the batteries need replaced.
It should crank at least 400 rpm if the batteries and starter are in good shape.
$5400 sounds like a good starting price. You should be able to tell if it ever had a hitch on it. I'm judging from the bumper ball that they just pulled a little boat with it.
I had to fix my transmission when I bought mine with 208,000 miles.
Then again at 219,000, but that's a different story. Anyway a updraged but not top of the line transmission cost me $2150 installed.
Trust me, the Volt gauge is no where near accurate enough to tell you when the batteries need replaced.
It should crank at least 400 rpm if the batteries and starter are in good shape.
$5400 sounds like a good starting price. You should be able to tell if it ever had a hitch on it. I'm judging from the bumper ball that they just pulled a little boat with it.
I had to fix my transmission when I bought mine with 208,000 miles.
Then again at 219,000, but that's a different story. Anyway a updraged but not top of the line transmission cost me $2150 installed.
Last edited by cowmilker08; May 17, 2010 at 03:20 PM. Reason: more info
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Well i looked at the truck today and found a few things that will help determine a better price for this truck.
It started right up and drove great however theres a few things
Pros.
-No Evidence of fifth wheel or receiver hitch
-Exterior in Average Condition Some dents in front of the bed on back of cab
-Only Rust on Body is bottom edge of tailgate
-No Frame Rust
-Engine Is Clean
-Cranked over no problem
-Tranny shifts ok
Cons-
-Rear Tires Shot
-Bottom of Motor Has Oil, Small Oil Spot on Ground
-Rear Bumper Is a lost cause
-Needs front u joints
-Rust on Tailgate
-Guages Do not work, Speedometer works nothing else does
-Front Bumper is Crooked (sp)
-Rear U joints bad
-Ball joints are seeping greese.
-No Service records
-196000 miles
-Rear Shackle Hangers are rusted through
-Spare Tire Carrier Doesnt Work
-They know nothing about this truck
Over all its a great truck but the salesman didnt seem to want to budge but I have my mind set I wont pay more than 5700 for this truck.
It started right up and drove great however theres a few things
Pros.
-No Evidence of fifth wheel or receiver hitch
-Exterior in Average Condition Some dents in front of the bed on back of cab
-Only Rust on Body is bottom edge of tailgate
-No Frame Rust
-Engine Is Clean
-Cranked over no problem
-Tranny shifts ok
Cons-
-Rear Tires Shot
-Bottom of Motor Has Oil, Small Oil Spot on Ground
-Rear Bumper Is a lost cause
-Needs front u joints
-Rust on Tailgate
-Guages Do not work, Speedometer works nothing else does
-Front Bumper is Crooked (sp)
-Rear U joints bad
-Ball joints are seeping greese.
-No Service records
-196000 miles
-Rear Shackle Hangers are rusted through
-Spare Tire Carrier Doesnt Work
-They know nothing about this truck
Over all its a great truck but the salesman didnt seem to want to budge but I have my mind set I wont pay more than 5700 for this truck.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2007
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From: knoxville, tn
what is funny is that the description says that it has a hitch and the "towing package" but 5400 shoudl be a good starting bid, let us know how it goes! oh yeah, I might swing by napa and get a coolant testor to check the SCA levels and the condition of the coolant, that will be a good indicator of how well the truck was taken care of
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what is funny is that the description says that it has a hitch and the "towing package" but 5400 shoudl be a good starting bid, let us know how it goes! oh yeah, I might swing by napa and get a coolant testor to check the SCA levels and the condition of the coolant, that will be a good indicator of how well the truck was taken care of
Alrighty I ll do that what kind of reading would be normal?
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2009
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From: Monroe/Ellensburg, WA
Sounds to me like a 15 year old truck. 
Gotta take the good with the bad. Now if you can get that truck for 5500 bucks, you might have yourself a good truck. You said it shifts "ok"... What exactly does that mean??
Gotta take the good with the bad. Now if you can get that truck for 5500 bucks, you might have yourself a good truck. You said it shifts "ok"... What exactly does that mean??
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Well the one to two shift was the same as my f150 with the e40d so i am assuming that was fine it was the shift from 2 to 3 that seemed to hang a little before "dropping" into 3rd, 3rd to 4th was normal