1st choice:

96 dodge ram 1500 reg cab long bed
5.9L with auto trans
134,000 mi
Havnt looked at it, but pics show its in good condition
Being bought from a dealership (small one)
No records or maint or how it was treated
75% tread on tires
$2600 asking price

2nd choice:

96 Dodge ram 1500 Reg cab short bed
5.2L with auto trans
133,000 miles
The truck is in damn good cosmetic shape
Has new Flowmaster duals on it
New tires
The Trans needs rebuilt
Being bought from a guy at work that ive know for quite a few years.
$2000 with bad trans not willing to budge on price, $1300 for the best rebuild around here.



The second truck is most likely going to be better looking, but thefirst one is ready to go for the price and i could probably talk them down a bit. I am going to be driving around 500-700 miles a week, so would there be a big difference in gas milage? I know the trans are ticking time bombs, so am i better off just buying the second truck and putting a trans in for peace of mind? The First trucks trans could go at any minute...who knows or it could last 300K...

Any opinions????

 

Get the 5.9 and don't look back.

Mileage difference is only like .75mpg but the power potential is much greater in the 5.9.

 

i am going to test drive it tomorrow...what can i expect for mileage...I am pretty good at squeezing...my car is only supposed to get 22 highway and i average city/highway28 lol

 

get ready for a big shock on mpg.
little difference in mpg between the two engines, with 4wd - expect 12-13 city and 14-15 hwy when its in top tune, worse if running poorly. 2wd might get a little better.

if you don't mind a long bed, go with the 5.9. its got a good bit more power.

 

I will keep this in mind. I will be towing heavy (like 6000lbs) so i am worried about the trans in the 5.9. If the truck is in good condition maybe i could talk them down close to 2000 then if the trans goes...it goes.

Im not so worried about gas milage anyhow...they are already bending us over, why not take it a little deeper[:@]Plus i still have my car...it gets around 25-28 but has to have premium which comes at an extra 30 cents a gallon along with super high illinois prices.

 

Towing that much weight, you'll like the 5.9L a lot better.

 

well i am going to go look at it. Going to lowball him like 1700 then try to get it for no more than 2200.

 

With the towing get the 5.9L...just make sure you do a carfax on it. Also you could grab the vin and request a build sheet from dodge I think.

Only down side on the 5.9l is the long bed...Im not a fan of them.

 

eh..hard to find extended cabs this cheap, so i might as well get the longer wheelbase for better towing. I dont mind it, but would also prefer a shortbed. Tomorrow is hopefully the big day when i figure out which one i am buying.

 

Something you didn't mention. The short bed with the bad trans is owned by a co-worker. How well did he maintain the vehicle? You said it was cosmetically better, but if it was regularly serviced, that might be something else to consider. With a new trans you may have a well running, good looking truck.