Posted 2005-06-04 3:59 PM (#26077) Subject: Buying a used diesel...what to look for?
New User
Posts: 2
Location: Brownsburg, IN
I am jumping into the world of trucks... as I already have a horse trailer but no truck... kind of a cart before the horse thing. I test-drove a 1996 F-250 Supercab XLT diesel today. It has low miles, 97K and a rebuilt tranny. Supposely owned by an elderly couple who used it to pull their trailer. It has some spots of rust, holes in the bed where the hitch was removed and a VERY worn drivers seat... almost worn through the cloth. Under the hood, the hoses look new. The tires are nearly brand new. It is on a dealer lot and the asking price is 12800. I guess what is worrying me is the fact that a lot of the things on this truck look new and the seat looks so worn. I recently got rid of a newer F150 with nearly twice the miles and that cloth seat was pristine compared to this one. Is this a red-flag and how can one tell if the miles have been rolled back assuming there has only been one owner?
Posted 2005-06-04 6:36 PM (#26081 - in reply to #26077) Subject: RE: Buying a used diesel...what to look for?
Expert
Posts: 2689
I don't know specifically about that model, but a worn out driver's seat at 97K miles probably only means a few possibilities, mostly bad.
Short trips, lots of getting in and out.
The clock may have been around more than once.
Replaced odo due to... whatever the reason for the other "newer looking than you'd expect" items, e.g. it could be an accident rebuild.
You seem to be looking at the right things and noticing inconsistencies, I don't know what else to suggest, just stay wary. BTW a couple of hundred thousand miles is nothing to worry about on most modern diesels, so just look at the regular used truck items. Also, it is quite common for a diesel's engine oil to be almost black within just a few miles of an oil change, even when quite new. So taking out the dipstick and wiping it is less meaningful than on a gas engine, though if the sales droid doesn't know this it could be to your advantage (-:.
Not to be down on sedantary old people who are kinda short for their weight, but slithering out of a truck can trash the left edge in fairly low mileage. Supposedly GM has had some problems with large economy size people busting up their seats and they've been replacing a LOT of seats under warranty.
The growing "middle class" or the "growing middle" class ? (-:
Anyway, that is a possible explanation, so check if the wear is primarily on the left edge.
Posted 2005-06-05 9:11 AM (#26090 - in reply to #26077) Subject: RE: Buying a used diesel...what to look for?
New User
Posts: 2
Location: Brownsburg, IN
The wear in the seat fabric is nearly right down the middle of the seat and not a mashing of the left side of the seat. I'll have a mechanic check out the truck if I decide to buy.
Posted 2005-06-05 10:10 PM (#26107 - in reply to #26101) Subject: RE: Buying a used diesel...what to look for?
Elite Veteran
Posts: 634 Location: Tipton, IN
Originally written by chadsalt on 2005-06-05 7:48 PM
Originally written by BigT on 2005-06-05 7:31 PM
If I remember right, Ford didn't put a good auto in diesels until mid 99. Mr. Truck should be able to answer this.
i didnt know ford made a good auto.
Hey, I had a 97 PSD automatic that I put nearly 200K on, and the only problem we ever had was a sensor in the tranny that cost $35. And we pulled with it weekly between 4000 and 14000 pounds.
Posted 2005-06-06 6:09 AM (#26109 - in reply to #26107) Subject: RE: Buying a used diesel...what to look for?
Expert
Posts: 1416 Location: sc
Originally written by efaubert1 on 2005-06-05 11:10 PM
Originally written by chadsalt on 2005-06-05 7:48 PM
Originally written by BigT on 2005-06-05 7:31 PM
If I remember right, Ford didn't put a good auto in diesels until mid 99. Mr. Truck should be able to answer this.
i didnt know ford made a good auto.
Hey, I had a 97 PSD automatic that I put nearly 200K on, and the only problem we ever had was a sensor in the tranny that cost $35. And we pulled with it weekly between 4000 and 14000 pounds.
Posted 2005-06-06 8:08 AM (#26112 - in reply to #26090) Subject: RE: Buying a used diesel...what to look for?
Elite Veteran
Posts: 954 Location: Hagerstown, MD
You are right to use the worn seat as a flag and I would too. I have 3 Ford trucks, all diesels; 1985, 1986 and 2001. The interesting thing about the 1986 that I bought used is the driver's seat. The back is bent and the seat is worn through. The rest of the truck is in great shape for it's age. I could only guess that a really obese driver cause the seat damage and found out later that was the case. Something to think about with the 97 you are looking at right now. Happy trails.
Posted 2005-06-06 10:14 AM (#26117 - in reply to #26077) Subject: RE: Buying a used diesel...what to look for?
Regular
Posts: 51 Location: Washington State
I recently bought a fairly high miles '92 F250 supercap XLT deisel with banks turbo , 5 speed manual tranny, for $5,000 total, including the taxes and misc charges. It has 175k miles, but the seats are in great shape, not worn down in the least. Actually the whole interior is in great shape. It has minor body damage, but doesn't look beat up or anything. So far, it runs great and has more then enough power for my weekend jaunts pulling a 2 horse trailer. What I like best is that it can maintain freeway speeds, even on the uphill. Like I said, it has high miles, but the engine checked out as being strong. I guess I would be suspicious of the seat wear too on the truck you looked at.
Posted 2005-06-06 11:50 AM (#26122 - in reply to #26077) Subject: RE: Buying a used diesel...what to look for?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 326 Location: Palmdale, CA
Hi,
"buying a used diesel, what to look for?" look for a Dodge/Cummins
Seriously, if you like the Ford and it is in good shape, getting the seat re-upolstered is relatively inexpensive. Although $12,500 seems high to me at first glance. If you aren't particular to Fords, at least test drive some Dodge/Cummins trucks so you can make a comparison.
I'm on my third used Dodge truck. I've had auto's and sticks, they all been good trucks. Frankly, I don't trust any auto to pull with, unless you upgrade it, so check out the 5 speed manual. My former Dodge had over 150k miles on it when I bought it. I took that truck all over the western U.S. pulling my 28' trailer. Now my dad owns it and it is still going strong. That's been my experience with Dodge/Cummins.
Posted 2005-06-06 1:07 PM (#26125 - in reply to #26077) Subject: RE: Buying a used diesel...what to look for?
Expert
Posts: 2689
I didn't comment earlier on the asking price for this particular truck.
I still don't know if it is bad/fair/good, but I think there will be a LOT of price pressure on used vehicles in the next couple of months. A LOT of it will come from new vehicle sales.
GM has just announced "Employee purchase price for EVERYONE !" or some such catch phrase.
I'm guessing Ford and Dodge will respond... in some way(s).
Nissan and Toyota are not in as bad of a shape as the domestics, maybe just seasonal promo sales.
Here come the '06s - summer clearance sales will soon be upon us anyway.
Posted 2005-06-06 9:43 PM (#26145 - in reply to #26077) Subject: RE: Buying a used diesel...what to look for?
Elite Veteran
Posts: 634 Location: Tipton, IN
Ok, you can check the facts on this. The MOST sought after used trucks in the US at this time are 1996 & 1997 Ford Power Strokes. They bring a premium price, even with high miles. I could buy a 1999 PSD with 100K cheaper than a 1997 with 160K off the Ford dealer.
Posted 2005-06-09 12:55 AM (#26255 - in reply to #26077) Subject: RE: Buying a used diesel...what to look for?
Veteran
Posts: 171 Location: Liberty Hill Texas
If you arent geeting a good feeling walk away. On another note. My cousin wears a leg brace. He always wears holes in the leaft and right side of the drives seat. Most of the time once it gets to 20,000 you really notice the wear. His brace also wears the carpet. Just a thought.
Buying a used diesel...what to look for?
I'll have a mechanic check out the truck if I decide to buy.
