I'm looking at an super-clean '05 for $6500 - but it's got 150k. Anybody got a '05 with that many miles? What problems have you had?

Thanks!

 

Is it 4x4 or 2WD? There's been lots of issues with the factory limited slip diff on these models. Also, there seems to be quite a few issues with power steering leaks.

I'm not sure about higher mileage ones. To have that many miles, it probably saw a lot of highway I'm guessing, so you may not necessarily run into issues just because of the mileage, as some of the issues you'll experience come with age (rubber deteriorating, rust, etc.) Do you know anything about the history of it? How does the interior look?

 

A vehicle with that many miles on it is a crap shoot.

Although I've personally not seen a Hemi with over 90k miles on it yet, among any of my friends with Hemi's. The most miles I've had on a vehicle is 138k on an '89 Dodge Raider 2 door w/3.0 V6 (Mitsubishi Montero) that I bought new as a daily driver and became my hunting/play vehicle in about 1996. Had it 'til '98 when I sold it and replaced it with a '94 Jeep Wrangler.
I've got friends with 250k miles on Jeep Grand Cherokee's with the same 4.7 V8 that's in Dodge trucks and one particular friend with a '96 1500 4x4 with the 5.9 V8 that the Hemi replaced. Last I saw that truck it had 280k miles on it. (Yeah, I've almost always had a 4WD SUV for my daily driver and a 4WD lifted pickup at the same time. I ain't right in my head )

Tough call, it could be a great deal if the vehicle was taken well care of, or it could be a money pit if it wasn't...

 

That's alot of $$$$$ if it were me deciding. You can get a much lower mileage for about $10k. Like half the mileage. I would rather skip a few luxuries and get a lower mileage truck if it were me, but if that's all you can afford then ofcourse we all understand. I just want to bring a few things to your attention.

You have to forget about how long the engine or tranny will last and focus on more of the "unseen" or forgotten about items that will need to be replaced. Here's a short list of items that are overlooked in high mileage vehicles regardless of highway or not:
Balljoints, Tie-rods, front hubs(wheel bearings), control arm bushings, differential bearings, shocks/struts and springs, power window motors, power seat motors, and most of all with that many miles you need to make sure the interior isn't one big rattle bucket!
ANy and every rotating part on a vehicle is a wearable item regardless of how the vehicle was driven, city or highway. The main thing about "highway miles" are that the interior may be cleaner as well as the body and the main components like the transmission, engine, differentials have had an "easy" life rather than heavy city abuse. Another thing you should look at is the towing plug if it has a hitch and the hitch itself to see how much rust is on it. That will tell you if the truck was pulling a camper, boat...etc down the highway for all those miles. That would put a bit of stress on all the components.

 

Mine has 200009km's as of now,but it was well taken care of.Power steering rack and pump were replaced,rotors and brakes all around,tires,and other stuff as well.Interior and body is in good shape not excellent but really good shape,as well as can be expected for an 03 and for living in Alberta.No major problems other than ''the hemi tick'' which is no major deal.I believe that how it was maintained end driven are big factors.

 

I don't know about the Hemi itself but I have seen the Dodge chassis with some serious miles on it.

The most miles I've put on a vehicle was 186k on my 94 New Yorker. That was a excellent ride except having to put steering cooler lines on it regularly.

 

find out if they replaced the bearings in the rearend. i know mine went out several months after buying the truck. at like 65k miles or somethin. not too mention its so common dodge has a kit just for replacing it (shoulda been a recall)

 

Wow, thanks everyone for very good advice!

it's a 2wd for what it's worth...

I should have looked to see if the hitch was used; the truck is WAY clean; not a mark anywhere on the body, bed or inside of the cab (although I'm pretty sure the previous owner was a smoker)

I'm pretty sure they had to be highway miles to get so many so fast. The engine starts and sounds good, good response, definitely not missing on any cylinders or anything like that; no ticks or funny sounds. The big bummer is that the used car dealer has no records on anything done to the truck whatsoever so i have no way of knowing what has or hasn't been replaced.

 

if its that clean, i doubt they were rough on it. i havent had mine 10 months and the beds got scratches and dents (construction) and ive only filled the bed completely with crap maybe a 10 times if that.

 

is it at a dealership? If you tell them to get a sample of all fluids for you. They should have this little tray that they can put a drop of fluid from the engine, tranny, diff, power steering, brakes, anitfreeze to compare to what it should look like.

If all the fluids look ok, or close to new, then you know it was taken care of.

and I would jew em down to less than $6k