Hello Folks

I'm from Italy, I already own 2 Corvette C3 but dunno almost anything about Dodge Rams:

I would like to buy one, my budget is about $7000-8000 because i have to add about $3500 for shipping and import duties here.

i need it for daily driver, very few miles a day and occasionally some weekend trips. I saw many ads for 97-98 Rams with 70k-90k miles on them. I need an affordable one since repairs here on US vehicles are very expensive.

Is a 10 year old Ram still strong? I think 90k miles on a V8 is like 45k on a 4 banger, but what about tranny, suspension and so on?

do you suggest a 4wd or 2wd?

thanks and ciao from Italy!

 

alot of fellas on this forum have rams with 100+ and others with 60+ on there rams... and i dont think i ever read that they had to rebuil a magnum b/c of milage...only b/c they wanted to..not cuz they had to.. magnums are great when it comes to highmilage... the only thing you gotta be really carefull in your situation is the trannys on these rams.... its the weakest part of the truck and generally been rebuilt as low as 40thou... and all the wayup to 100 thuo... but with proper maintence.. (come people here dont think i do my maintence) you can make your tranny and t-case last for years like i have... 90 on mine with no tranny problems what so ever ... strong as the day it came from detriot.. make sure you spend your time looking and good comunication with the seller and get a carfax for every vehicle your interested in!!!!!! it could help in swaying your decisions... id suggest a 4X4 .. but thats just me and i like to get dirty sometimes and i live where the snow is terrible and 4X4 or frontweel drive is needed...and youll never catch me owning a front wheeldrive compact ..... i dunno bout the gas prices in italy... its been a few years since i was there... but magnums arnt great on gas...but you dont buy a dodge ram for economy...you buy one b.c they are the baddest trucks out there... and they look better than any other fullsize truck.. good luck hunting.,.. WELCOME to DF!

 

i got 173000 with no much thats need to be done i have had to replace one cylinder head because it was cracked and the other needed a valve job and this was because my radiator stoped flowing when i wasent paying attention. but besides that it's been fine.

 

Ive been to italy. I guess with 2 corvettes you wont care but filling up a 90+ liter fuel tank when 4.80 euro ($6.00) a gallon is no fun. Thats a $150.00 fill up. Expect about 400-450km (240+ miles) per tank. I live in europe and I cant wait to get back to the states for cheaper fuel. Maybe I'll go buy a neon. [8D]

 

thanks for hints!

I just bought 1 month Carfax Subscription: the report matches what I was told by the seller, I put my eyes on a '97 SS/T with 89k miles. 2nd owner

Yes I have a 454 Vette and another '69 350 but 4 sale. Gas it's damn expensive here, but my wife and me cannot resist to those big bad Rams :-) I would suggest her not to sell her economy car...

I also would prefere a 4x4, it snows at leas twice a year here, but it's only a few hours trouble on the roads... maybe we could keep it for a cuople of years then look for a 4x4.

I would happy to move to US one day... i love America, not only for the gas LOL

will let you know about my Ram progress
thanks for now

 

Well then it looks like you have a plan.

You will be the king of the road with a ram down in italy. When I drive in germany and france with my ram people just stare. (Im sure they want to shoot me for adding to global warming) I do - for some reason - get any lane I choose and never have to back down when fighting for the right of way.. Only thing that sucks is when I park it. if I park it next to another car they will open there doors right into me on purpose. I was at a grocery store about a block from where I live and i was coming out of the store. Some young kid and his grandfather came pulling up next to my ram. Now mind you I was one of 4 cars in the whole damn parking lot. They had to park next to me. The old fart opens his door into my truck so hard my ram rocks left to right. I started screaming at him - in english - since hes german he has no clue what Im saying. I point to the truck and he shrugs at me and walks away. When i looked I thanked god for the ram having strong sheet metal. The lower part of the door had some paint missing but no dent. Im not sure if anyone knows what the car POLO is but its very light weight and very easy to pull with a tow rope even when the emergency brake is left on. Im sure he followed the skid marks but I towed his car - in 4 wheel low - behind the store and up into the shrubs. I really expected someone to get my plate and show up at my house but its been almost a year.. hehe..

Anyway - Good luck on your truck buying but beware . You will move into the stage of everyone hating you cause they cant afford what you have.


chow

Zeek

 

Haha zeekxxx, that's a lot of fun towing a Polo! ROTFL

I know what you're saying about those looking at you just because driving something different! I'm not rich, I made a lot extra work to buy my Vette and i'm proud of that. Envious people maybe are driving an Italian or German or Asian car that cost twice mine... but in a couple of years is worth almost nothing!

I'm still laughing for that towing hahahaa. Great! you could even have asked for a damage refund from his insurance... but that way is much more fun!


Italy has very small parking lots, I live in a country place so I have no parking problems, but going to the mall would be funny!

I just did the maths: driving 20.000 kilometers per year, 5 kmper liter... it's more than 5000 eur spent in gas! a fortune..

Someone puts G.P.L. tanks in the back, but i don't like that way too much!

I will think about al those thing once brought a Ram home.. then had it registered here, which is a real pain in the ***! But my wife and me really love that big bad boy!

thanks alot again!

 

Hey, in the meantime I got that one I missed last week:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...RK%3AMEWN%3AIT

I hope transaction will go smooth

Carfax says it' ok, and give these info:

Estimated Owners: Date: Location:
1st owner 10/31/1997 New Jersey
2nd owner 03/27/2002 New Jersey
3rd owner 11/26/2002 New Jersey

Date: Mileage:
10/31/1997 102
08/29/2000 33,780
03/27/2002 43,658
11/26/2002 44,873

will let you know the progress

thanks for support