buy a newer daktoa with higher miles or older with lower
Think about a poorly the stuff is made in newer vehicles and all the stuff they changed like I was disappointed when in 05 jeep got rid of the 4.0 l6 and went to the 3.7. Although it might be old school but it was a bulletproof engine and it worked. Just like the 5.2 and 5.9's both were great motors that could take a beating and still run for a hell of a long time.
Professional
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 228
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From: Okemos, MI
Just registered here, so I thought I would share...
Go with the older style...better looking plus fewer miles = no-brainer to me
Just as an FYI...
My '99 with the 318 (5.2 for you metric folks) has 165,000 miles. I am the second owner. I bought it with around 50,000 miles or so. Prior to my owning it, it had a K&N filter installed, regular maintenance, and no other repairs. Since I have owned it, I have removed the catalytic converter when it failed about 1,200 miles outside of a recall that I found out about after it failed, installed a dual exhaust with Flowmaster 40's (it is LOUD), replaced upper and lower ball joints, new pads and rotors in front, new shoes and drums out back, a speedometer sensor to fix the annoying half-working speedometer, new front shocks, and a couple sets of 31.5 x 10.5 15 inch A/T tires. All told, tires INCLUDED, I have put less than $1,200 into the truck in repairs (I don't ever pay a mechanic to work on the truck). For 110,000 miles of "spirited" driving (read: I beat the hell out of it), I am not complaining. I also replaced the radio, but I don't count that because I view it as a "luxury" item.
As of today, I need two new front fenders (damn Michigan winters) because they are rusting away (I hate the rust streak on my chrome bumper from this - I am constantly cleaning that off) which can be had for less that $50 each and I could use a couple of replacement headlights to improve my visibility at night.
In sum, I would say that this has been the single most trouble-free vehicle I have ever owned. Sure, I take care of it, but I am also really hard on it (stupid gravity just makes me mat the accelerator at every single red light). I can still snag second gear in 4 high. I can let go of the steering wheel and it will track straight (until it hits one of the ten million potholes in the road around here). It starts up when I touch the key. It burns less than quart in 3,000 miles.
Of course, my experience may not be typical - I just don't know for sure. But, that is what I have experienced in my ownership of the truck.
Go with the older style...better looking plus fewer miles = no-brainer to me
Just as an FYI...
My '99 with the 318 (5.2 for you metric folks) has 165,000 miles. I am the second owner. I bought it with around 50,000 miles or so. Prior to my owning it, it had a K&N filter installed, regular maintenance, and no other repairs. Since I have owned it, I have removed the catalytic converter when it failed about 1,200 miles outside of a recall that I found out about after it failed, installed a dual exhaust with Flowmaster 40's (it is LOUD), replaced upper and lower ball joints, new pads and rotors in front, new shoes and drums out back, a speedometer sensor to fix the annoying half-working speedometer, new front shocks, and a couple sets of 31.5 x 10.5 15 inch A/T tires. All told, tires INCLUDED, I have put less than $1,200 into the truck in repairs (I don't ever pay a mechanic to work on the truck). For 110,000 miles of "spirited" driving (read: I beat the hell out of it), I am not complaining. I also replaced the radio, but I don't count that because I view it as a "luxury" item.
As of today, I need two new front fenders (damn Michigan winters) because they are rusting away (I hate the rust streak on my chrome bumper from this - I am constantly cleaning that off) which can be had for less that $50 each and I could use a couple of replacement headlights to improve my visibility at night.
In sum, I would say that this has been the single most trouble-free vehicle I have ever owned. Sure, I take care of it, but I am also really hard on it (stupid gravity just makes me mat the accelerator at every single red light). I can still snag second gear in 4 high. I can let go of the steering wheel and it will track straight (until it hits one of the ten million potholes in the road around here). It starts up when I touch the key. It burns less than quart in 3,000 miles.
Of course, my experience may not be typical - I just don't know for sure. But, that is what I have experienced in my ownership of the truck.