I am looking to buy a 2001 dakota. it is the quad cab 4.7L v8 4x4. It has the tow package on it as well. The truck is in very good conditions besides the rear. its making a grinding sound like when brake rotors are rusted when you step on the brake. He tells me the rear needs new bearings but i was thinking of buying a used rear and putting it in. The rust and slight rot on the rear driver side quarter over the rear, and rust on the tailgate where it was backed into something. Other than that the truck is good. paints good, brakes are good, the water pump wasnt leaking like i heard they like to do, bed liner, chrome step rails. the price is $4000 negotiable with a set of american racing rims for it. Is this a good deal or what price would make it good? And is there anything else to look out for? Thank you 5N95P35Ma3E23Fc3J3c73ead366a2fe3612db.jpg

 

How many miles on it? Doesn't sound like a horrible price I paid $5500 for mine and only a 2000 regular cab 4x4 5 speed manual with the 4.7l. It also only had 52k miles on it when I purchased it and no power anything no tilt wheel but it does have cruise control. I would ask the guy if you could take it to a mechanic and really find out whats going on with that rear end before you jump at it

 

It has 92,000 miles

 

Can't really help you on mechanical but can share what I paid for my 2000 Dakota quad cab slt with 76k miles on it. I paid $2900 for it but had to sink about $1000 for mechanical/electrical issues. Body has a large dent, scratches, minor rust on the body and on the frame/rear end.

 

I took it for a test drive its also going to need new ball joints in the front, it has typical scratches for an 11 year old car, and rust in two spots but the price is at 3800 now and definitley needs a new rear

 

This is what I did kbb it and be realistic about the value. Price out the repairs it needs, you don't want to spend more than its worth.

 

I agree with LAUP2011. When we purchased my 16yo's Dakota, we found one he liked. The seller was asking a fair private party price (for a truck in fair condition), but the truck needed a new radiator, door lock, headliner, axle seal, and speaker repair (important to a teenager) and I looked at what it would cost me to do the repairs (I'm moderately handy) and reduced the price accordingly. If you hire a mechanic to do a pre-purchase inspection, they can do this. Confronted with the list, the buyer accepted the reduced price. If you're dealing with a dealer, all bets are off.

 

I would be doing all the repairs myself maybe not so much if the quarter needs to be replaced but the kbb value is around 9,000 in good fair condition which seems high, but realisticly i see it being worth 5,000-6,000 so 3,800 seems like a good deal but what else would i have to look out for down the road.