Hello to all Ram Lovers.
This is my first post here and I need some help in evaluating a used Ram Sport.
The Ram Sport Quad is a 1999, black with black leather interior.
THE Good: a rebuilt 5.9 with 80000 miles on it.
Rebuilt front suspension 3 months ago
Rebuilt transmission 2 years ago and
added a Trans cooler with new line without ck valve. ($1200.00 has receipt)
80% tread on tires
2" leveling kit
Pioneer Cd player with 4 nice door speakers and sub box with 2 -10's
Flowmaster 40 Muffler.
Cold AC
THE BAD: cracked dash and with pieces falling out.
Cracked windshield
Needs a new heater core.
Body in fairly good shape with minor dings and smal dents.
No clearcoat breakdown yet.
Interior in good shape except for dash
I think I can get it for $3800.00
Opinions Please
Thanks,
Rick

 

Derpends on where you live. Dash is about a $200 - $300 fix, worst case.
Check KBB.com for your area and see if this is about market price. Use the private party sale price. See how that compares. I would use "fair" condition.

 

Busted dash is normal for our truck. You can leave it be or fix it. Heater core isnt that bad of a job but in doing it you will most likely destroy whats left of the dash. Windshield is gonna be a little pricey. It looks to be a nice truck from the picture. Although depending on the miles i would try and talk the price down a bit more

 

Changing the heater core is easier when fixing the dash as the dash has to be pulled out to get to it. I did not notice the pic - it does look clean!

 

Any paperwork on engine rebuild?

 

Makes me curious as to why the engine was rebuilt.....

 

welcome to df

cracked dash is normal for these trucks, but fairly expensive repair. $200-400 for the dash itself, and several hours of work. expensive if you pay someone else to do it.

transmission rebuild is normal. these trans are weak from the factory. new parts improve it some. your trans cooler and check valve delete indicates someone knew what to do.

heater core is also an expensive repair because the dash has to come almost all the way out. do both at same time. if you were doing this separate, it be a $1000+ repair.

front end rebuild is normal. also fairly expensive, especially ball joints and hub/unit bearings. $1000 or more.

engine rebuild is typically not needed, however, the heads are prone to crack which requires a top end rebuild. it is somewhat common to just pull and rebuild the whole thing.


98+ are more desirable years than 97 and back.

be aware that your MPG will suck, somewhere in the neighborhood of 10-13 around town, depending on how big the tires are and how much you like the sound of that flowmaster.

other than your dash and heater core and tcase, all the other major systems have been taken care of, the seller does have about 1500 + 1200 + front end (maybe $3500+) sunk into repairs. he's probably regretting the day he bought the POS and is selling it because he's tired of dumping money into a 14 year old truck that gets 12mpg.

the one thing you don't say - is 2wd or 4wd.
price depends a lot on where you live. 4wd trucks up north fetch a lot.

if its 4wd, then good. but try to get it for some less. 3500 or less.
if its 2wd, then i'd want to be a lot less, maybe 3000.

negotiate based on what the truck is worth with dash and heater fixed. see KBB private party (not dealer) or other value guides. then deduct $1000 for dash repair. that's all it's worth to buy. that's all its worth to an insurance total out. that takes into account a running engine (rebuilt or not) and a working transmission (rebuilt or not) and a working front end (rebuilt or not).

don't pay extra for rebuilt items. only pay less for non-rebuilt items.