Used truck question

[grizzlyman]

My truck was totaled out last week. No one was hurt; the truck was parked and backed into by a mideastern person trying to paralell park.

It wasn't in the budget to buy a new truck this year, so I have turned to looking at used trucks. I haven't bought a used vehicle since 1979, so I'm a little lost. I would like to hear some of your experiences and advice as to what is the best way to approach this.

[Mayhem]

theres nothing wrong with used as long as you get some kinda warranty

[HUNTNETIME]

The only advice I can offer are these 3 things:

1. Ask lots of questions about the vehicle history(if they stumble on the answers, watch out).

2. Go for a lengthy test drive

3. Get it looked over by a trusted mechanic(all of us have to know SOMEONE who is a mechanic we can trust).

Good luck.

I've done these things with used outboards and boats before...a seller will get real uneasy if they are being shady and you ask questsions or have someone who knows what they are looking at helping you out.

[B4RANCH]

all of the above.......my lord its so nice to pay cash

[Texasredneck]

The only advice I can offer are these 3 things:

1. Ask lots of questions about the vehicle history(if they stumble on the answers, watch out).

2. Go for a lengthy test drive

3. Get it looked over by a trusted mechanic(all of us have to know SOMEONE who is a mechanic we can trust).

Good luck.

I've done these things with used outboards and boats before...a seller will get real uneasy if they are being shady and you ask questsions or have someone who knows what they are looking at helping you out.

What he said....plus get the vin# and run it with "carfacts.com" to check out the history. {I think that is the web site}

[wheat]

all the above Plus the bin # like he said. My son bought a used dodge truck called dodge dealer with vin #. Dealer gave all the information on the truck .like warrenty work and so on

[BrianL]

Take it to a dealer and ask to see the repair history for the truck. You can usually tell more about this than anything. You might want to have it checked to see if it has been repainted or wrecked. These don't bother me too much if I can tell the repaint and repairs where done correctly. Carfax.

[Roy D Mercer]

Run a CarFax report. Truck sales are slow so be sure and LOWBALL your offer. On another note there are thousands upon thousands of reposessed trucks out there, might check with your local credit union for an inventory list.

[Bill]

A CarFax will tell the history. Private party transactions will cost you less for the same vehicle than from a dealer. You can purchase the insurance yourself if you really want it, but many people say it's not worth it. A car depreciates the most in the 1st year, so somebody's already taken the financial beating, not you. Look at the local newspaper or craigslist, there are probably hundreds of guys who got in over their heads with a new truck payment and have lost their job, or they're having financial problems with a mortgage readjusting, and wanting to sell their vehicles.

You'll get a 1st impression when you meet the owner, trust yourself you're probably right. Insist to see maintenance records for the vehicle. Have it checked out by a reputable mechanic, I don't trust the guys in the local dealerships I'm sorry to say.

I bought an 01 RAM in 02 that was an Enterprise rentall with 20k miles, and with 170k on it now, it's been mechanically rock solid.

[Humper]

all of the above plus take it to mechanic that you trust and have him go over it with a fine tooth comb.

[Mike D]

Carfax is a rip off IMO. The information submitted is voluntary and not required.

I do agree having it looked over by a mechanic that you trust.

[tlm23]

I would at the very least get a carfax report.

[Bill]

Carfax will tell you who owned it, and at least in Cali when we get it smogged, the mileage/date of the smog is in the report which is useful to know the mileage at a certain date. Fire/ total demo and rebuild I don't know about.

Hummer's right about the mechanic, when I bring a car in o get checked, I tell the mechanic who I've had do repairs to go up to $100 if he does not find anything major wrong, and stop immediately if he finds a show-stopper, and I'll pay him whatever his minimum (generally 30 minutes) at his rate is. I had a Jeep for my daughter that the seller somehow 'forgot' had been in an accident and repaired. Worth the money to find out then.

[DJM]

Run a CarFax report. Truck sales are slow so be sure and LOWBALL your offer. On another note there are thousands upon thousands of reposessed trucks out there, might check with your local credit union for an inventory list.

The local credit union here has a bunch of repos.Most are still new enough to be under manufacturers warranty and they're financing them at 0%.

DJ

[bwssr]

and what will you be looking for?