OT Economical "beater" Pick-up

Some of those late -80s ford 6-cyl inlines had the old Ford toploader

I am shopping primarily via E-bay and Craigslist. Both local to me in Metro Detroit and also in the Houston area (I have family there). Most people seem to get scared of mileage over about 125K and the demand softens a bit. I agree about your statement of low cost vehicles selling well - I certainly see proportionally a much greater qty of "rust buckets" currently on the road here as peoples leases expire and they can not afford the new lease (when available). Thanks about the heads up on flood cars - was not even thinking about that.

/ /While I cannot give you specifics, I can tell you that your price /range is unrealistic. / /In this DEEP recession, used vehicles are worth more than they were /last year. / /The pickups I have looked at in passing have been about double the /book price...and have sold quickly. / /The banks are NOT lending so low cost used vehicles selling well. / /The majority of owners are upside down on their vehicles...owe more /than the vehicle is worth..so they are stuck with them. / /People are also hanging on to their used vehicles much longer...trying /to squeeze more miles out of it. / /Also since a truck is typically a work vehicle, its owners tend to not /sell easily unless it makes business sense. / /I will also note that there are MANY flood damaged vehicles in the /pipeline..so be careful. / /What part of the country are you located in...it makes a difference as /to your used market. / /TMT

I have an 88 Ford F150 with 139K miles, a 300 FI 6Cyl. Manual 5Spd OD Transmission, runs, drives, rides very good, but No A/C. What is that worth? I'd be happy to get $1500 out of it.

RogerN

That's the Mazda five speed manual transmission referred to earlier. The biggest problem with those is the three rubber plugs in the top rear of the trans drying out and letting the trans lose all the fluid.

Steve

/ /Better to ask what will it cost you to replace it. / /When you determine that answer, you will likely keep your truck. / /TMT

I bought this extra truck late last year after my car got totaled by the deer. I have a 92 Ford F350 with the 7.3L diesel and E4OD transmission,

RogerN

Are those easy to get to? I was thinking I should maybe replace or have them replaced before I have a problem. That transmission shifts great but the whole thing is tall geared for a truck, low surely isn't a granny low.

RogerN

Pretty simple. Look for a truck in your price range. You will not be likely to find a good one without some problems. If the owner offers to take you for a ride in it over a decent range of surface road and highway speed roads, and volunteers to you what is wrong with it, that is most likely the one to buy.

Most of the compact trucks with manual 5 speed 1st is just a regular 1st gear. Not a granny pulling gear. Atleast among those I have driven.

Bob La Londe

I was about to offer my truck cheap, but after a month of weekends lost to fighting rusty bolts I think I just found the reason for the loud engine rattle after I changed the timing belt. The cat con heat shield had come loose.

jsw, disgusted.

I drive my $1500 '86 GMC half ton (305 cid/700R4 @17 mpg) on the days weather won't let my ride the Harley (80 cid V-twin/5spd @42+ mpg) the 40 miles to and from work . Summer's a-comin' , and the bike is gonna be pilin' up some miles ...

As long as you don't pile up the bike & yourself! :)

Been piled up three times in the last ten years . Every time it was caused by a cager with his head up his ass . One from behind , old guy was watching for a break to turn right on red - one from a pull-out-in-front-and-slam-on-your-brakes - and the last was a left-turn-right-in-front-of-me . All happened on city streets , during dec/jan/feb . Two totalled and one major rebuild ... and now I park it during the coldest months here .

I cringe every year during Daytona's Bike Week, with all the extra motorcycles around here. I am surrounded by old farts who should turn in their driver's licenses, but one of the largest retirement complexes in the country is ten miles sout of here.

Most of the bikers do their best to stay away from the heavy traffic, but a few fools constantly ride in blind spots of cars & trucks. That's fine, till someone fails to signal a turn, or has to make a lane change and can't see them in their mirrors.

Anyway, I still don't want you to go through it again. :)