Used truck advise!!

Monofletch

Monofletch

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Jan 14, 2010
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I am wanting a used truck. I need something bigger than my Jeep Liberty!

I found a 2007 Ford F150. It is white with a camper shell and running boards 2x4 Crew Cab short bed w/liner. FX2 (I think) It has the Triton V8 5.4 with only 21,000 miles!!!!! The truck is priced VERY low compared to other used F150's I looked at. This truck drives fine-looks new, but---
I have got to be missing something with this truck. It has been on this dealer's lot for a long time at a crazy low price. It kind of worries me.

What should I be concerned about?
 
Dealers often lower the prices of vehicles that have sat on their lots a while. After the price gets lower and lower, they shuffle it to another lot or send it off to auction.

Without seeing or driving the truck, a couple of things come to mind:

Two-wheel drive trucks aren't often popular around here, and I can't imagine the hit someone would take trying to sell a used one.
Personally, I wouldn't shop for a white truck. Blue, red, black... not white.
Option packages have a significant impact on price and desirability. XL, XLT, Lariat, King Ranch, etc.

I drove a '12 F150 recently, a 4WD rental with the V8. Nice truck, definitely better overall than the Tundra or Dodge I drove the same week.
 
Thanks BW.
2wd does not bother me it will just haul bicycles and I won't have to put my dead deer in the Liberty!!. White just happens to be the color available. It has all the bells and whistles XLT. I was more worried about mechanical problems from sitting. But I do agree with what you said. I'd love to get a nice blue 4X4 crew cab!!
 
I doubt there's something everyone else knows that you don't. It's probably because it's a 2wd. The guys over at ford-trucks.com could help you look for anything specific but it's hard to imagine there being anything wrong with a 20,000 mile truck.
 
I'd guess that the 2WD, plus a camper shell doesn't give it all that much lot appeal, even if its a good truck. I'm assuming its a good title, not salvage title.
 
Like everyone else said:
1. 2x4= no appeal.
2. V8 with $4/gal gas. No one wants. Gas guzzler
3. Camper shell
4. White. Not a popular color
5. Aged inventory. Dropped price to keep from losing money at auction.

Use all of the above to get the price even lower and buy it!!
 
If you don't know mechanics, find a garage that will evaluate the mechanical condition of the vehicle. A small price to pay that may save you thousands. ...Teddy
 
FORD found on road dead. they have the highest prices on parts. if the heater core goes out on you you are screwed. you have to tear apart the hole dash just to get to it. down here in florida they are all over the place selling them. but just try to find a gmc at a good price.
 
Goldsmithy said:
If you don't know mechanics, find a garage that will evaluate the mechanical condition of the vehicle. A small price to pay that may save you thousands. ...Teddy
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Exactly. Drop $150 and have it inspected by an independent mechanic. Also, buy a CarFax report on it; this will tell you if this specific vehicle was in a bad accident or something.

But keep in mind that all of the factors listed that lower the price of the truck to you also lower its resale value should you ever want to sell it or trade it in.
 
I think you have gotten some good advice here, brand prejudices aside. I drive a '91 F-150, 22 years old, and don't have any trouble finding parts at reasonable prices. Of course I don't buy them from a Ford dealer. But then I don't get parts for my '03 Impala from a Chevy dealer either. White would not be my first color choice, but a substantial discount over a darker, more popular color would sway me. You could always have it sprayed bi-color if fashion was a concern. Equifax the title to see if it has been wrecked and repaired and have a mechanic inspect it.
 
medicevans said:
2. V8 with $4/gal gas. No one wants. Gas guzzler
Click to expand...

The one I drove recently had a wonderful V8. Tons of power, super-smooth acceleration and shifting, and I drove it for days without ever buying gas. No doubt that was partly due to the Exxon Valdez-sized gastank, but still it must have been getting OK mileage.

It's not the gas money I mind; it's constantly stopping for fuel that sucks.
 
Bob W said:
The one I drove recently had a wonderful V8. Tons of power, super-smooth acceleration and shifting, and I drove it for days without ever buying gas. No doubt that was partly due to the Exxon Valdez-sized gastank, but still it must have been getting OK mileage.

It's not the gas money I mind; it's constantly stopping for fuel that sucks.
Click to expand...

Yeah, my 1991 (5.0 EFI LWB) carries 36 gallons.
 
Codger_64 said:
Yeah, my 1991 (5.0 EFI LWB) carries 36 gallons.
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Nice. :thumbup:

I think my '94 had the same, split between two tanks. The new F150 I drove had a single tank, must have been around 30 gallons but I'm not sure.

Sadly, my '04 F350 has a single tank that's only around 20 gallons (the V10 is 'famous' for sub-average fuel economy). Still, most of the time I buy gas only once a month since my daily commute is 2 miles each way. Should have checked mileage yesterday; I filled up in Carrizozo, meandered through the mountains for hours looking for ghost towns, drove all the way back to Raton, and still have a quarter tank remaining. :thumbup:
 
Zidfeldts said:
I have a 2012 F250 4x4 crew cab with the big V-8 and I get about 22 mpg.
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That's excellent. :thumbup:
My '94 V8 F150 consistently scored 13mpg. The few times I've checked the '04 V10 F350 it's gotten 13mpg also.

Should start shopping for a new truck to 'save' money. Of course $40,000 buys a lot of gasoline for the truck I already have. :D
 
Get the VIN number and pull a Carfax report. It is right around $25.00, and well worth it if you are serious about buying it.

Better yet, ask the dealer for the Carfax report, so you don't have to pay for it. (If they'll do it. Some won't.)

I pay for a report on every vehicle I'm serious about buying. It has paid off a couple of times.

Also, as was mentioned, have it checked by a mechanic; preferably by one who is ASE certified.
 
Bob W said:
Nice. :thumbup:


Sadly, my '04 F350 has a single tank that's only around 20 gallons (the V10 is 'famous' for sub-average fuel economy). Still, most of the time I buy gas only once a month since my daily commute is 2 miles each way. Should have checked mileage yesterday; I filled up in Carrizozo, meandered through the mountains for hours looking for ghost towns, drove all the way back to Raton, and still have a quarter tank remaining. :thumbup:
Click to expand...

My brother had a F350 with the same setup. I believe its a 17 gallon tank. Why they would put a 17 gallon tank in a truck that gets 9mpg on a good day is beyond me. On a trip up north we were stopping about every 120 miles for fuel.
 
Our '99 F150, 5.4, Lariat, ext cab has 241K miles and has been a good truck - 15 mpg..we're old folks and always stepping it up on our travels..pretty much our old country truck now but would not hesitate take anywhere. Routine maintenance only.
 
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