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Your opinion on which to buy-Truck or Jeep
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huxley
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Mar 30, 2008, 1:45 PM
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Your opinion on which to buy-Truck or Jeep
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Hey guys,
Pontiac is doing pretty well...but I'm in the market for a hauling/when the sh*t hits the fan vehicle and I've found two I'm interested in. In short, this will not be a daily driver-it'll be something I kick up when I have stuff to haul or when I need to move a non-running motorcycle or need to help out a friend, etc. (life story right there). Here are the two vehicles that I'm looking at...
Up first is a 1991 Ford Ranger XLT with a 4 liter engine. It's an automatic and according to the advertisement it "HAS A 4.0 ENGINE, AUTO TRANS, NEW BALL JOINTS AND BATTERY, GOOD TIRES, BRAKES, A/C(DOESN'T WORK), CRUISE, GOOD EXHAUST, POWER DOOR LOCKS AND WINDOWS. DRIVES NICE, SHIFTS SMOOTH, RUNS STRONG. IT HAS TYPICAL FORD "OVER THE WHEEL WELL" RUST AND THE HOOD NEEDS TO BE REPAINTED. BOX IS REAL CLEAN. THESE TRUCKS ARE VERY DEPENDABLE. 44,000 ON ODOMETER"
Sorry for the caps-theirs, not mine. Still waiting on an e-mail back but they want $590 for it and I assume it to be firm. I'd love to hear what other questions I should ask and I'm also really curious if that mileage is true-did that model only have space for 5 digits on the odometer?
Next is a 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee sport with 190,000 miles on it. Has a class 3 hitch, 4 wheel drive (works), unsure if manual or automatic (guy forgot to answer that question in his e-mail) and according to him it was driven 70 miles daily, it was just taken off the road, the tires aren't great, it needs brakes (not sure if he means pads or the whole shabang) and "At about 35 to 40 miles per hour once in awhile held at that speed you can feel the transmision slip. It does run good." He's asking $800 or best offer.
The ford body is rusty in the ford spots but solid looking everywhere else. The jeep looks ok but I only have one picture of it and it's very poor quality (guy is on dialup). I've wanted a ford or jeep for some time now and I'm wondering which one here is the more reliable vehicle that can sit for a while and then fire up when it's needed and really work it.
The jeep has higher than average mileage and at that many miles I don't know how much use it has left in it-then again, I've never owned a jeep.
I like the truck just because I can throw anything in the back in short order without having to purchase and hook up a trailer hitch-but I like the covered jeep in case I need to move something fragile. I'm torn here. Which one is easier to work on by yourself? Which one is more reliable after sitting? (I'll seafoam the hell out of either but still) Which one is a better option for random use?
Opinions either way would be great! If I get more info on either I'll post.
Thanks,
Nate
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huxley
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Mar 30, 2008, 1:48 PM
Post #2 of 19
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Re: Your opinion on which to buy-Truck or Jeep
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Update on the ford truck-it is a 2WD.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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Mar 30, 2008, 4:18 PM
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Re: Your opinion on which to buy-Truck or Jeep
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Jeep's tranny slips, 4X4 (more complicated) and tons of miles - I know it newer but that counts.
Ford: Check on the miles - could still be good even if 144K but why is someone unaware of that? Watch out for the rust - take a good look at floors, frame and gas a brake lines!
I'd say the Ford is more serviceable but you gotta go check it out in person - check everything you can - fluid for color, rust, did I say RUST!, and drive it. If it starts and runs well it's probably worth $590 - heck - I just got a flyer in the mail saying $200 for any heap for scrap and they'll pick them up - guess vehicles are worth a bit in just metal and eco credits to squish in some places.......
T
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Guest
Anonymous Poster
Mar 30, 2008, 4:26 PM
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Re: Your opinion on which to buy-Truck or Jeep
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I'd pass on both. Tom is right about the Jeep tranny slipping & if you are looking for a hauling truck & not an every day driver then you won't be happy with the bed size of a Ranger.
If you want space & not MPG then look for a good full size...
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DrElectrics
Enthusiast
Mar 30, 2008, 6:04 PM
Post #5 of 19
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Re: Your opinion on which to buy-Truck or Jeep
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My wife owned a jeep
No good on gas milage and the others are right, the haulage capacity isnt too flashy. It will eat even more gas than ever. Jeeps were just rated the WORST vehicle to own in Australia for safety, gas consumption, and price.It was rated 14/100 by the National Motoring Body. Pass it up and get a truck bro.
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huxley
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Mar 30, 2008, 11:45 PM
Post #6 of 19
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Re: Your opinion on which to buy-Truck or Jeep
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Thanks for the replies everyone.
I've scrapped the idea of a Jeep (always had an interest in Wranglers thanks to a book character who romanticized it-but they're overpriced and overrated) and am looking at cheap old beater trucks instead. I'm gonna at least check out the ranger-I don't need a hell of a lot of room, just something bigger than my small 4 door Pontiac sedan-I know my motorcycles would fit in the bed and I'm creative when it comes to making room. Any opinions on the best trucks? Again, I'm going for trucks that are older and cheaper and preferably 1995 and before because I don't want to deal with stricter emission testing. Not against foreign or domestic but I do want to do most work myself regardless.
And I hope I'm on the right track with trucks...I used to have a station wagon and was amazed at how much I could fit in that thing-I moved using that vehicle 3 times and I have a lot of random crap. I also thought about a full size van but don't know that they'd be much better.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Mar 31, 2008, 1:16 AM
Post #7 of 19
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Re: Your opinion on which to buy-Truck or Jeep
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Is a trailer out of the question? For general light duty Home Depot has one the gate is a ramp and holds as much as a full size PU but open to weather. That thing is just $699 right now NEW and if I didn't already own a truck that would be my choice and was for ions. Never had a sealed trailer for lousy weather transport - seems like it's one or the other. Truck is open and did haul a houseload of fine furniture 130 mi but had to plan weather with it as there was no practical way to cover it. If that had a cap it wouldn't have held what was stacked up in there either.
I guess if weather is that important I'd rent the appropriate trailer - it's a pain to find a place to just have them stored for rare use.
Watch out for owning a truck - you become everyone's best friend when they move or something
T
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huxley
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Mar 31, 2008, 12:53 PM
Post #8 of 19
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Re: Your opinion on which to buy-Truck or Jeep
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Hey Tom,
Yeah I thought about that route (even looked into building a trailer myself with a welder-though it's a little bit above my skills right now) but the problem then becomes what do I tow it with? The pontiac is out-it's a 4 cylinder no tow. My parents live across town but they're both running 4 cylinder "do not use for towing" sedans. Well, ok, dad has a ford escort wagon but I wouldn't trust that thing to pull much aside from itself-and it even has trouble doing that sometimes.
The idea of this vehicle serves many purposes...first and foremost is that I tend to find large stuff that I need to haul and I'm always scrambling around to find a vehicle large enough to fit it. Can somebody say packrat? Never used to be a problem when I had a station wagon, but now that is gone and I've downsized. The second issue is I have two dogs-one being a newfoundland. He's not so thrilled with the backseat of a grand am. Then I have the motorcycles...all 5...1983 and older...that I often need to get from one side of town to the other since driving them currently isn't the safest option. This next one may make me sound a bit weird, but I'm also wanting to have a larger vehicle that can take a little bit of a beating in case things really go south in a quick way. A SHTF sort of vehicle-I don't want to make myself out to be a survivalist because I have some problems with that attitude-but I do see collapse on the horizon eventually and it worries me, especially being a relatively young guy and seeing my options for careers and happiness disappear before my eyes-not to sound TOO depressing haha sorry. Hunting...I've decided to start hunting my own meat instead of using the grocery store and I don't think a deer would really fit well into the trunk of a sedan. And I've got no problem helping friends move as long as they provide a couple thousand dollars for a tank of gas.
So it came down to what vehicle to get as opposed to should I get a vehicle. When I say rarely used, I mean probably 4-8 times a month. I drive every day for one reason or another and I can see myself using this vehicle at least enough so it won't rot. I made a list of vehicles that would fit my supposed needs and came up with the following...
Truck
Station Wagon
Tough SUV
Van
Minivan
Trailer
I've crossed out minivan because I don't think it has the room for the heavy things I may haul or the power that it would need to climb all the hills we have around these parts. I've pretty much decided against a SUV because they just seem to be more trouble than they're worth and they have a ceiling which can only stack so high. I haven't completely crossed out a station wagon but the 95 ford taurus I used to have left a bad taste in my mouth. I've really thought about a van but just can't see what use that has over a truck minus the covered portion and I'm pretty much set on a truck since they're everywhere and seemingly easy to do your own work on (well, easier anyway). The goal is cheap/inexpensive, running, and meets the demands I'll put on it. Getting a trailer to boot might even be a possibility further down the road if needed.
Anyway, that's where I'm coming from with this.
Thanks,
Nate
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Mar 31, 2008, 5:08 PM
Post #9 of 19
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Re: Your opinion on which to buy-Truck or Jeep
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What's the budget for a vehicle anyway? That matter a lot of course.
Truck - F-150, 4.9 or C/K 1500 305, 1980s no rust.
Station Wagon Ford Country Squire, GM full size with chev 5.0 - 1980s no rust.
Tough SUV s-10 blazer 4.3, 1980s
Van Ford has easier doghouse
Minivan Astro or Aerostar RWD only
Trailer If new - Home Depot. Used - find an old boat trailer and make box - nicer ride!
These would be on my list for price and for serviceability. With higher budget go truck into the 90s....
Just my thoughts,
T
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Jeepgoinfast
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Mar 31, 2008, 5:37 PM
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I Might Be a little Late but Dont count the Jeep out, yea it may have high milage but it still may run good and you wouldnt have had to deal with the rust like the ford. For example, I own a jeep and its a 1991 and has Just above 269,000 Miles on it, But only has a few Probs that im going to or getting fixed as we speak....and did i mention that its all on student Budget........Ive hauled more than its worth and haven't even used its 4x4......and once it got stuck in the lake after putting a boat in, and got water in the exhaust and it just blew it all out and kept running...I'm not saying that jeeps are the best, all im saying is just dont count it out.... Go take a look at it...
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Mar 31, 2008, 5:46 PM
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I'm suggesting NON 4X4 and not FWD for budget vehicles. 4X4 is almost always a waste unless specifically needed. FWDs are more labor intensive for most things and most aren't chassis vehicles - on a budget the chassis wins and better if overworked/loaded than most unitized body vehicles. The budget for this counts the most and we don't know that yet,
T
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Jeepgoinfast
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Mar 31, 2008, 5:51 PM
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True, If one thing goes the Whole dang thing will.. I think you should stick wit there ideas, forget i said that.....Srry
(This post was edited by Jeepgoinfast on Mar 31, 2008, 5:52 PM)
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huxley
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Mar 31, 2008, 11:26 PM
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Hey Tom,
I'm really looking to stay $700 or below. $500 would be ideal. I'm pretty good at talking prices down and walking away if I need to but I don't even pay a second glance to anything $1000 or more. I'm using immediate cash payment and that seems to talk a little. I also have a running but in need of TLC motorcycle to trade if the party selling the vehicle is interested-it's a 1978 400A Honda Hawk Hondamatic-an oddity in the motorcycle world since it's an "automatic" motorcycle but it's in damn good shape, runs, and just needs a new battery and some brake work. So that's where I'm at-I've given more thought to just getting an old trailer (and turning it into a box like you said) but I don't have a vehicle that can accept a hitch at the moment and I feel like if I'm going to get a second vehicle then it makes the trailer thing pointless initially. It could maybe be an addition down the road. I'll keep my eyes open for those things you mentioned and if anyone sees something for sale in the northeast that's worth checking out let me know!
Thanks for the help with this folks,
Nate
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huxley
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Apr 1, 2008, 12:15 AM
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Hey Tom,
Another one that I came across-guy is asking $1000 or b/o or a trade-haven't contacted him yet but is this something worth looking into or am I getting into a bit too much work with the exhaust manifold thing he describes and the fact that it's a 4X4 (and has a plow which would be easier around my neck of the woods but certainly not a priority or need)
It's tough around these parts because they cover everything in salt and it really wrecks vehicles unless you take extremely good care of them and have hot water and a heated garage to wash off your wheels every time you come home from October to April...
http://syracuse.craigslist.org/car/624926032.html
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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Apr 1, 2008, 3:48 AM
Post #15 of 19
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That truck is a bit of a rat - hacked up for plow, smashed side, color doesn't show rust in the pics. Something like that would be good if you could take care of the plowing stuff and go make some bucks plowing to pay for all the things that car break in doing so - been there done that! Have one now that doesn't leave the yard till the salt gets washed away if I can help it.
Your budget is a problem. Parts vehicles are worth that not running but don't quit. Could cost that to transport something good from somewhere else! You need to keep looking for something where someone just doesn't want to deal with the bull of selling it.
Perhaps look for vehicles that have KNOWN problems you can handle for fire sale prices. Trouble with those is you can't alway drive them to tell what else they might need. There can always be surprises.
Have you checked out new car dealers and ask what they took in trade that's below the "quarter" lot pricing - quarter meas $2,500 used cars dealer type cars. I'd ask around,
T
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huxley
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Apr 1, 2008, 5:23 AM
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Hey Tom,
You're up early...I can't sleep so I guess I am too...or up late?
Anyway, here is the link to that Ford Ranger that I mentioned before http://syracuse.craigslist.org/car/624178857.html
it's 2WD.
I'm assuming the mileage is 144+ but it could be 244+
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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Apr 1, 2008, 6:45 AM
Post #17 of 19
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At the price miles barely matter anymore - it's what still works well. If you can go check this thing out do so. The tires and brakes alone plus it's junkyard value are in that price. Hey - it could (anything can) throw you a $2000 problem right out of the gate which renders it junk! Rule out the obvious checking for fluids, leaks, smoke out exhaust etc.
If it starts and drives well and RUST is not a structural issue I'd consider it. Here and probably in NY the rust thru is technically illegal. Doesn't need to look good but can't have holes. Bondo - whatever it has to go. Structual rust not allowed - anywhere I know of and I don't want YOU falling apart in front of ME on the road either
Again - you gotta go check it out yourself. Are you up to the body work? You can buy sheet metal and rivots or there are panel peices available for lots of Chev trucks anyway and I'd be Ford also. Trust me it doesn't last when you are starting from what that looks like - I totally did up an 84 S-10 Blazer rusted that bad or worse with the aftermarket panels. I wanted that damn thing for a yard type vehicle to plow snow and it did well for six years for me and needed it to be completely street legal with legit inspection. Tried but even plowing snow didn't make up my costs without labor (my own) over it's life. Ran when it left but needed both engine and trans job and I cut my losses on that one.
What's your pain tolerance for a total loss if something real expensive crops up?
BTW - forget A/C in this price range. Better yet are vehicles that never had it as even dead stuff is in the way of other work or more expensive because of it,
T
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huxley
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Apr 1, 2008, 7:41 AM
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Hey Tom,
I'm probably gonna go take a look at it early next week.
Something interesting I found about the guy who's answering the e-mails at least "This was the fourth straight year that a team from Chet Kuhn's auto repair class at Wayne-Finger Lakes BOCES Technical and Career Center in Williamson won the state competition and advanced to the national event." Chet is the guy selling the truck. Anymore info I should prod him on now that I know what he does? He teaches auto repair professionally.
That truck kinda looks like the old 95 Ford Taurus wagon did when it was still in somewhat decent shape. By the end I had trouble finding a safe place to jack the car up from...and for my own pride I need to say the car actually belonged to my girlfriend at the time and I would never allow my own vehicle to rot like she did. But yeah I'm up to the body work...no experience with it but I have about 3 different manuals on it and a friend who does bodywork on old CJ jeeps that can provide some help if needed.
My pain tolerance for a total loss is pretty good. If something big goes wrong like transmission or engine issues that I can't fix by wishing it away then I'll sell it to someone who wants a repair vehicle or scrap it for at least $200 (some people on craigslist around here are saying $400 running or not but I think they're full of sh*t). I just don't want to have it happen until I get a good year or two out of it hauling the crap I need to haul when I need to haul it. I at least want to get my motorcycles running well enough so I don't have to drag them around in the back of the thing.
But short answer is my pain tolerance is good. And yeah I could care less about A/C, I never had it in the taurus since it was shot. I have it now and it feels like a luxury-and I'm still somewhat apprehensive about using it because of the vicious rumors that it uses 18 billion gallons of gas when you turn it on. I know it's not that much in my head, but my heart just doesn't like to turn it on.
So how can I tell if rust is a structural issue for this vehicle? When is it too much?
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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Apr 1, 2008, 8:45 AM
Post #19 of 19
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If this guy teaches auto repair then he should be able to level with you on what he really thinks this thing will need. How many miles really are on it? Barely matters as it could be on second magor parts - who knows?
Rust: Get right under and look at frame and the "strong" spots for suspension and where bumpers attach. Check out floor boards, body to frame mounts, brake and fuel lines, support bar for trans at the frame ends. Brake and fuel line is cheap to do yourself with a flaring tool but a lot of work. They really need to be done such that they are routed properly like the orig - near exactly - poorly done new line can rub thru and fail or be in harms way for road debris or hoisting which is a no-no big time.
I think you should look at this. Set up a time and request that YOU get the first start of the day - check that engine is COLD first - carefully by hand. If it starts right up without smoke or noise there's a good chance engine is ok. Trans fluid color is telling - dark is not good. Put a drop on white paper - it should look red/pink or so. See how it drives, hard accelleration and hard stops will bring out the worst.
Body light metal rust: For butcher work just check out a whole area of the chain parts stores for hack stuff. Metal tapes, fiberglass stuff - all kinds of garbage to seal up insignificant metal holes and I've had my share of toilets - just spray over patch with flat black or paintable rubberized undercoat and it looks ok too - there are funny grades to how a vehicle looks..... a twenty footer, looks new from 20 feet----------- then there are the ones you can't get far enough away
Use of A/C or not. Has been a debate for decades on end. For most situations vehicles will get less MPG using it. Some exceptions noted for hwy use and wind drag with windows open might be a toss up.
Funny: With all my A/C crap on the web I still like my window open part way even in the hottest weather - just me?? With passenger's that doesn't cut it though.
Trucks and MPG funny too: I have a 97 full size pick up V8 and do a run about 300 miles round trip mostly hwy and see all the others with the gate open (don't know if that's even legal) as that's supposed to cut drag and increase MPG. Probably does and I won't do it. I'm the air head that would forget and the gate would hit something while parking or something costing much more than any gas that could be saved!!
Go check out that truck if only just for laughs. Make sure it's got a clean title (big time important here) or you can't even junk the thing!
T
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