Neighbor has a 1999 Ford Explorer 4WD for sale, asking $3,500. Its an Eddie Bauer with 144K miles, was garage kept and the body is in pretty good condition for a 17 year old car. She is the original owner. We have been looking for a 4WD beater for a while and this one is high on our list. I just dont want to over pay. KBB lists the value at $3,200 +/- for a private party sale, while Edmunds lists it at $1,947 for the very same vehicle. Which is more accurate? Thats a pretty big difference for a car this old. Any thoughts are appreciated, including whether this would make a good 4WD beater to own over the next 5 - 7 years.
Used Car Value Question
- Thread starter cwing6
- Start date
- Status
Have you looked at NADA? What about prices at local used lots and/or CL?
Have you crawled under it to check for rust?
What are the typical problem areas for this vehicle? Is it a V6 or V8? Can you get maintenance records?
If it's your neighbor, and you buy it, and ten miles later the transmission drops out right after it blows a rod out the block, will you still smile when you see them? Not that it will happen, but sometimes it's best to not buy from family members or neighbors.
Have you crawled under it to check for rust?
What are the typical problem areas for this vehicle? Is it a V6 or V8? Can you get maintenance records?
If it's your neighbor, and you buy it, and ten miles later the transmission drops out right after it blows a rod out the block, will you still smile when you see them? Not that it will happen, but sometimes it's best to not buy from family members or neighbors.
A few hundred bucks more for a very clean 4WD Explorer is worth it.
Dealers seem to be asking in the $3K- $3.5K range for this type of vehicle. I don't think C/L is a trustworthy place to price a used car. People can ask whatever they want.
Yes, I have looked underneath for rust and there is some surface rust, but nothing major.
Its a V6. The 4WD only only comes in V6. The V8's are all AWD.
She told me she has all the maintenance records, but I havent reviewed. I asked her a couple of questions about maintenance and all she knew was she had it serviced regularly, so I'll need to see what was and wasnt done.
I have looked for the "typcial problems" with this vehicle on the internet, but dont really see one. The transmission comes up from time to time, but thats on about any vehicle you research. If I could readily find all the issues and concerns, I wouldnt be asking here. Plus this board has tons of knowledge on all kinds of vehicles so like to tap into it on this.
Technically, she is a neighbor, but we dont know her personally and rarely see her. She lives a few blocks over in our neighborhood. If those things catastrophically happened, it would just be my bad luck. Wouldnt blame her.
Yes, I have looked underneath for rust and there is some surface rust, but nothing major.
Its a V6. The 4WD only only comes in V6. The V8's are all AWD.
She told me she has all the maintenance records, but I havent reviewed. I asked her a couple of questions about maintenance and all she knew was she had it serviced regularly, so I'll need to see what was and wasnt done.
I have looked for the "typcial problems" with this vehicle on the internet, but dont really see one. The transmission comes up from time to time, but thats on about any vehicle you research. If I could readily find all the issues and concerns, I wouldnt be asking here. Plus this board has tons of knowledge on all kinds of vehicles so like to tap into it on this.
Technically, she is a neighbor, but we dont know her personally and rarely see her. She lives a few blocks over in our neighborhood. If those things catastrophically happened, it would just be my bad luck. Wouldnt blame her.
The price should be lower since it's private party, $2500 would be fair around here, anything over that you're paying for cosmetic not mechanical because while some run well over 200k anything major will be an expensive repair and a 17 year old vehicle is still a 17 year old vehicle which means it's subject to rotting, rust, dried rubber components.
Pull the atf dipstick and see what color it is. If it's black or brown I'd prob pass. If the oil level shows much below the add mark I might hesitate as well. Check levels and condition of other fluids as well. Hopefully, she has maintenance records. Not sure I'd pay much more than $2500.
Go way cheaper. For a year or two newer you'd get the widebody with IRS. This is the dirty old Bronco II/ Ranger platform with solid rear axle.
OTOH running costs might be more reasonable, especially stuff like tires. But price insurance!
UHaul will treat you like a pariah if you ever want to tow with one as well.
OTOH running costs might be more reasonable, especially stuff like tires. But price insurance!
UHaul will treat you like a pariah if you ever want to tow with one as well.
Originally Posted By: eljefino
UHaul will treat you like a pariah if you ever want to tow with one as well.
I think they treat everyone like pariahs.
UHaul will treat you like a pariah if you ever want to tow with one as well.
I think they treat everyone like pariahs.
Is that the explorer with the problematic timing chains on the rear of the engine?
Originally Posted By: Chris142
Is that the explorer with the problematic timing chains on the rear of the engine?
It could be. In 1999, there were 3 engines available: The 4.0 OHV (pushrod) V6, the 4.0 SOHC V6, and the 5.0 V8. The 4.0 SOHC V6 is the one with the timing chain issues. The pushrod V6 doesn't really have any issues and is very reliable. Ford eventually got the SOHC figured out too with updated timing chain tensioners, but 99 was still a "problem year." It's possible the tensioners were already replaced with the updated parts, so I would check for that.
Is that the explorer with the problematic timing chains on the rear of the engine?
It could be. In 1999, there were 3 engines available: The 4.0 OHV (pushrod) V6, the 4.0 SOHC V6, and the 5.0 V8. The 4.0 SOHC V6 is the one with the timing chain issues. The pushrod V6 doesn't really have any issues and is very reliable. Ford eventually got the SOHC figured out too with updated timing chain tensioners, but 99 was still a "problem year." It's possible the tensioners were already replaced with the updated parts, so I would check for that.
Book values are pretty worthless on an older vehicle. It is all about condition. It could be worth more than 3500 if its really well kept. They don't make explorers like that anymore and the new ones are super expensive. You have to evaluate what it is worth to you in its current condition.
Originally Posted By: exranger06
Originally Posted By: Chris142
Is that the explorer with the problematic timing chains on the rear of the engine?
It could be. In 1999, there were 3 engines available: The 4.0 OHV (pushrod) V6, the 4.0 SOHC V6, and the 5.0 V8. The 4.0 SOHC V6 is the one with the timing chain issues. The pushrod V6 doesn't really have any issues and is very reliable. Ford eventually got the SOHC figured out too with updated timing chain tensioners, but 99 was still a "problem year." It's possible the tensioners were already replaced with the updated parts, so I would check for that.
That is worth checking out. Just before I went for our 2006 Ford Five Hundred I was looking a 2001 Sport Trac with the potential timing chain tensioner issue so I went one freezing morning and started but it was totally quite on start up.
Since it is the V6 you can check this out. For a beater I would prefer the push rod engine for sure. On a personal note I do not fight over the last $500 if I find something that is a cut above. There is local the guy is wanting 2500 but I think it has more miles and is not an upscale version like the Eddie B you are looking at.
Originally Posted By: Chris142
Is that the explorer with the problematic timing chains on the rear of the engine?
It could be. In 1999, there were 3 engines available: The 4.0 OHV (pushrod) V6, the 4.0 SOHC V6, and the 5.0 V8. The 4.0 SOHC V6 is the one with the timing chain issues. The pushrod V6 doesn't really have any issues and is very reliable. Ford eventually got the SOHC figured out too with updated timing chain tensioners, but 99 was still a "problem year." It's possible the tensioners were already replaced with the updated parts, so I would check for that.
That is worth checking out. Just before I went for our 2006 Ford Five Hundred I was looking a 2001 Sport Trac with the potential timing chain tensioner issue so I went one freezing morning and started but it was totally quite on start up.
Since it is the V6 you can check this out. For a beater I would prefer the push rod engine for sure. On a personal note I do not fight over the last $500 if I find something that is a cut above. There is local the guy is wanting 2500 but I think it has more miles and is not an upscale version like the Eddie B you are looking at.
None of those sources NADA, KBB, Edumunds actually buy or sell cars.
I tend to agree with the sentiments above that if you are close, like the vehicle and it's in good shape, it may be in your best interest to pay a bit more than the guide and then enjoy the time you were using to shop for a new vehicle doing something else you really love.
Are you really going to devote another week to shopping over a few hundred on a vehicle you may have for several years?
I tend to agree with the sentiments above that if you are close, like the vehicle and it's in good shape, it may be in your best interest to pay a bit more than the guide and then enjoy the time you were using to shop for a new vehicle doing something else you really love.
Are you really going to devote another week to shopping over a few hundred on a vehicle you may have for several years?
Originally Posted By: javacontour
Are you really going to devote another week to shopping over a few hundred on a vehicle you may have for several years?
Agree with the thought, but its not a few hundred, its $1,500. Plus, I'm in no hurry to purchase so dont have to have this one or spend lots of time shopping.
Are you really going to devote another week to shopping over a few hundred on a vehicle you may have for several years?
Agree with the thought, but its not a few hundred, its $1,500. Plus, I'm in no hurry to purchase so dont have to have this one or spend lots of time shopping.
So walk over with what you are willing to spend. Say hey, Edmunds says $2k, but it looks clean, how about $2500 if you like it.
Neighbor probably priced it based on the source most advantageous to the seller.
Again, if it's really clean, has the service records, etc, doesn't need new tires in the next 300 yards....
It just may be worth something in that $2000-$3500 range. Cash speaks.
If you don't need it, then wait. Or you might float the trial balloon, if you don't have any takers, I'm willing to buy today at $_______.
What's the worst thing she could say?
Originally Posted By: cwing6
Originally Posted By: javacontour
Are you really going to devote another week to shopping over a few hundred on a vehicle you may have for several years?
Agree with the thought, but its not a few hundred, its $1,500. Plus, I'm in no hurry to purchase so dont have to have this one or spend lots of time shopping.
Neighbor probably priced it based on the source most advantageous to the seller.
Again, if it's really clean, has the service records, etc, doesn't need new tires in the next 300 yards....
It just may be worth something in that $2000-$3500 range. Cash speaks.
If you don't need it, then wait. Or you might float the trial balloon, if you don't have any takers, I'm willing to buy today at $_______.
What's the worst thing she could say?
Originally Posted By: cwing6
Originally Posted By: javacontour
Are you really going to devote another week to shopping over a few hundred on a vehicle you may have for several years?
Agree with the thought, but its not a few hundred, its $1,500. Plus, I'm in no hurry to purchase so dont have to have this one or spend lots of time shopping.
- Status
Similar threads
