96 Chevy 3/4T with only 14K miles

[oilpan49]

Hey,

Today I was cruising the lots and over at the GM lot there sat this 96 K2500 4x4 with only 14K on the clock. It couldn't of been 114K because the odometer is a 6 digit and the farthest left number said 0. So it said something like 014823 or something like that.

The truck is in flawless condition, obviously not driven very much. I noted it had a ball hitch on the back of it so maybe it was used only for towing a trailer, boat or something. Specs of what I know about it are below. There's no info tag nor price on it but from running a carfax and my limited knowledge thus far, the specs:

96 Chevy K2500 4x4

Auto/OD

reg cab, long bed

350 Vortec V8 engine

Light Blue/Dark Blue

Bench seat

AM/FM Cassette

Cruise Control

That's about it for now. There's no rust on this thing nor dings as I inspected carefully. Kelly Blue Bool says it's worth about $9,950 give er take a few bucks. I wasn't serious about buying a truck in the first place but a truck like this with only 14K on the clock, you just don't see that very often around here. I'm going to call the GM dealer tommorow and get the skinny on it. Thanks,,,,,,AR

 

[Matt_S]

This could be a real cherry if a mechanic could verify the condition for you. I think you'd be much better off if you could find the actual reason for those low miles. That's REALLY low for a '96.

 

[c_rossman]

Sounds like a good deal if you could get it for 10 grand. It really depends on how it was drivin. It could have seen alot of dry starts.

 

[oilpan49]

Hey,

For some reason, this truck is talking to me, lol Just looking at the truck, it's in very nice shape and no spots in the body where it could've been damaged or repainted.

Who knows, the truck could be already sold by now?? I'll find out everything when I call the dealer then reply back. Thanks,,,,,AR

 

[Ugly3]

NADA suggests the price should be between $9,100 and $11,600. By the way, this truck has been sitting somewhere doing nothing for the vast majority of 7 or 8 years.

 

[Chris142]

Pop the radiator cap off and see if it's a deathcool disaster.

 

[oilpan49]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ugly3:
NADA suggests the price should be between $9,100 and $11,600. By the way, this truck has been sitting somewhere doing nothing for the vast majority of 7 or 8 years.

---

Hey,

Ugly, good points made and those prices sound about right. What evidence do you have of this truck that it's just been sitting around?? I know it sounds like I'm ****** but I'm not, I only question it. It could've been sitting around for the last 7-8 years or simply used just for a specific purpose. What that purpose, I don't know. With the ball hitch on it, I suspect it towed a trailer, or a boat of some sort. Ya never know.

Chris, Now that you mention that, If I do get serious about the truck I will check out all the fluids. Being a 96 that it is I doubt it has dexcool but then again I don't know for sure. I might even test drive it just to be even more nosy, lol

Also, It couldn't hurt to track down the previous owners and talk to them about it. I did this before I bought my Ranger nearly 2 years ago. Thanks,,,,AR

 

[oilpan49]

Hey,

just got back from the dealer and the truck is really just a clean, low mileage straight up chevy. I test drove and it drives like new, it rides very nice, and a solid runner.

I checked out the fluids and it's standard green stuff, oil is nice and brown so I guess the oil was changed recently. The salesperson was a nice, professional one, the way they should be. Wasn't shabby or bs'ing me.

Now for the bad news, they want $14,995 for it!! Way out of my price range. The monthly payments aren't too bad at about $300 a month. More than I can afford. So anybody who wants it, they can have it. It's a shame I'll have to let this one go. You just don't see a truck like that come along too often, but hey, the numbers are too rich for my blood. Thanks,,,,,,AR

 

[XS650]

Airborne, the salesman saw you salivating over the truck. If you really want it, go to www.kbb.com and get the private party and retail prices for that model with those miles and it's condition.

If 1/2 way between those prices suits you, give him your phone number and your offer on a piece of paper and walk away. According to KBB $8k to $9K sounds like a more reasonable range, even consideing 14k miles and excellent condition. It depends a lot on how hot your local market is.

 

[oilpan49]

Hey,

Thanks for the tip XS650. Now that you mention it I kinda kick myself in the butt for taking an enthusiastic approach to it. He knew I wanted the truck but I did not drool over it(even though I really am, lol) Man if the dealer could take $8K for it right now, It would be sitting in my driveway on my Ranger with a For Sale sign on it, hehe

I'll check out KBB and get some prices on it. Thanks again,,,,,,AR

 

[oilpan49]

Hey,

Ok private party value is $8,235

Dealer Retail is $9,820

Now I feel like I'm being ripped off! I have yet to speak with the previous owner of the truck. I'm still open to suggestions and all the advice I can get. Thanks,,,,,AR

 

[XS650]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Airborne Ranger:
Hey,

Ok private party value is $8,235

Dealer Retail is $9,820

Now I feel like I'm being ripped off! I have yet to speak with the previous owner of the truck. I'm still open to suggestions and all the advice I can get. Thanks,,,,,AR

---

It depends on the market in your area. If there are a lot of people with more money than they know what to do with and it's popular type of truck, it may go for well over KBB. If the economy is tight and the dealer is hungry, you should be able to get it for a bit under KBB retail price. It's not unusual for a used car shark, er salesman, to start negotiating at 40% to 50% over what they will actually sell a vehicle for. A few sales a month to complete suckers makes a good month for them.

 

[High Plains Drifter]

AR, my 96 GMC came with Dexcool in it factory fill. You said this had the green stuff in it. I wonder whats up with that? If memory serves GM changed to the Dexcool in 95.

 

[XS650]

quote:

---

Originally posted by High Plains Drifter:
AR, my 96 GMC came with Dexcool in it factory fill. You said this had the green stuff in it. I wonder whats up with that? If memory serves GM changed to the Dexcool in 95.

---

Quite a few people have switched away from Dexcool. There doesn't seem to be a problem going from Dexcool to the green stuff with a decent rinse in between. Going the other way is big problem according to web lore.

 

[oilpan49]

Hey,

As much as I love that truck, I just can't do it right now. $14,995 is way out of my league. Now if it gets closer to 9 or 10K, then I'll talk dollars with the salesdude.

They know what the truck itself is worth but it depends on a variety of things that I don't know about why there charging so much.

They gave the guy alot of money upon trade-in, the dealer has alot into the truck maybe for parts, or just plain and simple they want $15K for the **** thing. By the time that truck gets down to 9 or 10K it will probably be sold, but then again, you never know. I'll still keep my eye on it but right now, I just can't make the deal,,,,,,AR

 

[TheTanSedan]

Just bought a 2001 DODGE 1500, loaded, last week.

First order of business was to secure a CARFAX report on it (VIN), and the second was to go see my DODGE dealer service advisor to run the VIN also to see what, if any, problems may or may have existed.

Then, to see if there is a pattern.

Also, try to get it out and run it 40-50 miles to get all the fluids warmed up. I turned down a 2001 Cherokee a few months back due to (among other problems) a pinion bearing which revealed itself with some long highway miles.

As you know, time and mileage are both potential problems, but all new hoses/fasteners/fluids/filters, etc done in conjunction with FP, LC and/or A-Rx as necessary would cause me to feel okay about it.

Dry rot -- so to speak -- is going to show up somewhere; I'd start on it with new batt cables, fatter (and extra) grounds, replace all exterior and interior lamps, etc. The more, the better.

I'd be figuring on 5-10k miles before it was "broken-in" to my use. Just go easy a while
if CARFAX, etc, all work out.

Wholesale (auction) price is generally 1/2 of retail. Use that as starting point.

Try to do title search and find previous owners. Could be someones family member passed away, and they just didn't have the heart to do anything with vehicle awhile. My father-in-law picked up a 1992 loaded LeSabre with 20k on it for a little over $2000 this way. Needed some TLC, but nothing serious.

On the other hand, title washing (short time in an intermediate state) is a possibility. Had a friend who bought a Land Cruiser for a "too good to be true" price, and later -- after constant trips to shop -- found that it had been totalled twice in rollovers in different states. Took 6-months, but he came out with 6-figure settlement that allowed dealer to avoid prison time.

Good luck

 

[cousincletus]

If u don't need a 3/4 ton, u can get a new Dodge 1500 V-6 5 speed manual around here for the advertised price of $12,995. The new six has more power than the 3.9 in my 2001 and supposedly gets about the same mileage. My 2001 3.9 with the 5 speed gets an average of 19mpg. Something to think about when gas is 2 bucks a gallon.

 

[oilpan49]

Hey,

Thanks for chiming in. Yea, gas is stupid high right now. $1.96/9 for regular! When I got my Ranger nearly 2 years ago it used to take me about 18-$19 to fill it up, now it takes about $22, crazy!

I still kick myself in the butt for not having the money to buy that truck, sucks to just see it there. Oh well, maybe someday,,,,,,,AR