Hi guys! I think I may have come across a good deal, need your opinions ASAP. In 6 hours I'm going to look at a '97 LT 2500 4x4 with a 360, 4 speed automatic, cold AC, towing package and 4.10/1 rear axle with 39K original miles. The guy says he bought it at auction from the Dept. of Homeland Security. He also says it is in excellent condition and runs like new. He is asking $7200. I looked this vehicle up at various web sites and see the value is somewhere in the neighborhood of $5k and $8k. I know this truck will get poor mpg, but I need a good vehicle for towing to replace my tired F250. If this truck is all he says it is, everything works and so forth, is it worth the asking price? I thought I may peel out 65 one-hundred dollar bills and watch his reaction if I really like the truck. Any and all advice/suggestions will be appreciated. Any known inherent problems with this model?

 

There are a few problems, but they all have a fix for them. Check out the 2nd Gen information and Dodge Ram FAQ stickies at the top for a rundown of these. Depending on what you tow you may want something bigger than a 360, it is a good strong engine but a V10 or diesel might be more what you are looking for. Anyways sounds like a good deal to me. Good Luck and welcome to the forum.

 

I would really prefer a diesel or V-10, but those are a little too far from my budget in low-mile vehicles. My F250 has a 302 and it does the job, although a 351 would be better. That is why I became interested in this Dodge. It supposedly is very low miles with a 360. I expect my 200K mile Ford to throw a rod any day now.

 

Sounds like a decent enough deal. If it is a quad cab. If it is a single cab I would say $6500 might be pushing it. There is a 2001 QC 4x4 for sale in this area on a dealer lot for $9995. If it is really nice I would say "go for it"!
Welcome to DF!

 

I wouldn't worry about it at all then. If you like it and it drives out alright I'd say go for it. You won't be dissapointed with a Dodge. Just out of curiousity what are you pulling?

 

This truck is a regular cab, which is fine with me. I rarely carry any passengers. I regularly haul biulding materials to job sites & construction debris to the landfill. The 4x4 may come in hand at the dump as it gets pretty muddy up there when it rains. I have been stuck with my Ford & 16' trailer on several occasions up there. I did read the FAQ and didn't see much to worry about. I do like Chrysler products, as my first car was a '48 Windsor, my second a '50 Dodge Business Coupe and my third a '65 Dart GT.

 

You guys are on the ball! I don't know if my typing is slow or my dial-up connection is to blame, but I can't keep up! I haul a 16' trailer loaded with building materials or debris on a daily basis. On week-ends, I haul antique furniture that my wife buys at auctions and estate sales. I don't haul passengers, unless my dog Lizzie counts as a passenger. I'll take a good hard look at the truck and maybe offer $6k. It is always easier to go up than it is to go down.

 

Buy it, you can't beat a dodge, and welcome to the forum.

 

welcome to DF....

sounds like a good deal for such low mileage, do a car fax report on it and see what the history is. if everything checks out, make your $6500 offer and go from there. Read the FAQ at the top of the forum to see what kind of problems the rams have, (all cars have problems, we just prefer to help others get them fixed when they need it).

If you do get it, we will require pics