I was wondering if anyone could give me their opinions on buying a used 2000 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4. Here is the link

http://cnj.craigslist.org/cto/3208488643.html

I don't really know to much about these trucks I've been mainly looking at F150's and Silverado's but this one caught my eye.

I will be using this to go back and forth to High School and to do landscaping. I was just wondering whats a good price and if its even worth buying since it has 161k miles on it. Thanks

 

It not exactly worth the 4500 he is asking for. Ya, it does have the leather seats and whatnot, but it really isnt worth 4500. A truck like that is worth 2500-3000k here in the midwest. my buddy bought a truck like that for 4000 and ended up doing the entire front-end. It needed new everything. Make sure you bring an experienced friend down there to look at it. If all is good. Start at 3250 - make sure you point out all the loose ends and say that buying a dodge truck is like buying a mystery box. You dont know what could go wrong. check fluids and what-not too.

 

Too much money in my opinion. For that kind of Cha-ching find one with no rust.

 

Nada list Clean Retail price at 6300.00 for that area..... (assuming truck is in pristine condition....) 4000 for clean trade in.... so, his price really isn't that far out of line for the area.....

 

How would you all recommend a Cummins or Powerstroke I know I don't need all the power but I was wondering if I got a good deal on one would it be smart to buy. I would use it to tow my family's boat to a local lake, go to school, do landscaping, and possibly other random stuff sine I do Odd Jobs.

I know diesels are more to maintain but could anyone give be any estimates of how much of a difference there is in the Maintenance I would only be putting on 3k-5k miles on it a year.

 

Good thing about buying a diesel is they maintain their value better.

 

(Cummins all the way!! Don't get a powerstroke!!)
Is your budget around that $4500 mark or...?
A $4500 '94-'02 Cummins is gonna need some work done to it, unless you find a real good deal.

And If you're only driving 5000 miles a year at most, I really wouldn't even bother But if you insist...

Personally I'd look into 12 valves, they've got a more reliable fuel system to begin with. But 24 valves that have been taken care of can go a long ways too. Price wise, a big factor is whether or not your mechanically inclined and know at least some amount of info on diesels. As with any truck, but especially with diesels, spending a good amount of money on preventative maintenance first goes a long way to ensure you won't spend tons more on major things.

 

Could get a mechanic owned truck just like that with 100,000 mi for the same price, but in bum****N.D. with no rust.

 

So would this be something you all would think would be good?

http://newjersey.craigslist.org/cto/3181888329.html

 

The only issue I have with that truck is that it appears to be an automatic. If that doesn't bother you, and it's in good shape, that's probably a pretty good buy.