Reckon this is a good deal?

[cmjust0]

2003 Dodge Ram 3500 1-Ton
Dual rears (of course)
"Quad Cab" four door
Cummins 24V Turbo Diesel
Automatic transmission
Power everthing (windows, locks, etc)
New-looking, but plain-jane flatbed made by "CM Trailers"
144K Miles

The only thing I could see wrong was that it had a little bit of paint damage and a light dent in the driver's door, and I wouldn't be surprised if the flatbed was added on account of the OEM sheetmetal bed having been trashed or crashed..

Price -- $18,900

This particular dealer seems to be a "stack'em deep, sell'em cheap" kind of place where they deal almost exclusively in 3/4-ton trucks or bigger.. They don't really do trade-ins unless they actually want your current vehicle (most times they don't), they don't arrange financing, and they won't really work on their prices very much.. It's a non-typical, but seemingly no-nonsense approach, and it must work since they've been doing business this way for about 21 years. Their lot turns over pretty quick.

Anyway, is this one worth a closer look, or does it strike you guys as just an average deal?

 

[Outrigger2]

4wd?

 

[Brute 23]

NO... That is not a place you should buy a vehicle from,,, in my opinion. ;-)

 

[Legacy38464]

Go to Kelly Blue book and NADA.com and look at the prices and compare, chances are they will be close. Probally a few thousand over, do a little research on that truck, Title search for damages (flood, wreck fire, etc...) and then get a good mechanic to look it over for a second soundness check (always a subjective process) There is a place like that near where I am and they usually have good quality vehicles as they are filling a niche market, but as for your question as to whether that is a good deal or not noone can answer that one for you, what I usually say when asked this is "do you feel like you got the shaft, did you want it, answere these and you have whether you are getting a good deal or not. As my criteria for that same deal is different than anyone elses's....But most of all do your research...Good Luck

 

[oscar p]

$14,000 tops. Then I dont like the auto tranny.

 

[bigbull338]

id say that truck is worth $17000.from the way you talk about the ding in the door.the auto tranny isnt bad.i know a guy that had 4 speed an he blew 4 clutches back to back.then he traded that truck for a 3500 auto tranny an hasnt had any trouble as far as i know.an he puts 50,000 mi a year on 1 tons.

 

[tom4018]

Just amazes me that these high mileage truck are selling this high.

Would this dealer be in Frankfort? Just thought I may know the one your talking about?

 

[Just_a_girl]

Just amazes me that these high mileage truck are selling this high.

Same here.


My nephew bought a used truck, same year as the one mentioned, all power, but standard......the price was about that much.

Good luck

 

[Bullbuyer]

I'd take a pass on that. A lot of miles in a few years and there's no way to know how it was maintained. I always wonder - if the truck is good - why is it on a used lot?
You need to head North to find good deals on used, heavy duty trucks.

 

[rdbigfarmboy]

Those lots sometimes buy fleet or construction trucks and fix them up. Thats why they dont want a trade and they dont deal much. Fleet sales that truck might have sold for 8 to 10 they took it in patched up, cleared codes, cleaned put a bed on and detailed.
Most drivers love the cummins diesel and will tolerate the problems that pop up in order to drive this powerful RAM.
I always go with the edmunds.com values. Its amazing how overpriced some trucks are and they sell.

 

[cmjust0]

Sorry it took so long to get back to this thread, gang.. I've got entirely too much on my plate right now.

Anyway, I appreciate all the input.. At the end of the day, I decided I'd rather have the money than the truck, and considering I didn't actually have the money anyway, it sorta became a no-brainer.. :lol: That is to say, when it comes right down to it, I definitely didn't want the debt..

BTW, tom4018 get's the "Astute Observer" award for knowing precisely the truck I was eyeballing. Small world, huh?