Tom,
My thought is, if you want the truck, go for it. If you can swing keeping
at least one Dak, I'd keep the 4x4 for plowing (I would never, personally,
hang a plow on a new truck).
Also, the truck looks good, and for a great price if they honor the $20,495
quote, but I suggest driving it again, and driving it HARD. The 360 V8 is
the lowest-displacement engine offered in 2500 trim (they offer it in Daks,
as you know, which are between 2,500 and 4,000 pounds lighter than a Ram
2500), and I'm wondering if it'll have _any_ gusto. Might be better to go
for a 1998-200 2500 with the V10, it's only an $800 option IIRC.
Hope this helps, and good luck!
-- -Jon jonsdak@midmaine.com http://jonsdakota.tripod.com 1996 Dodge Dakota Sport 4X4, 3.9L V6, 42RE, 3.92:1 8.25 axle, "BackRack" Headache Rack, Dodge Motorsports decals, steering wheel cover, and front license plate, diamond-plate bedrail covers, Lund VentVisors, Lund BugShield, Jensen MP-3310 CD/MP3 Receiver, Pioneer TS-G1347's in front, TS-A5713's in rear"andy levy" <andylevy@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:at94qr$vp6$1@bent.twistedbits.net... > > Terrible Tom wrote: > > > > Well I wanted to keep this quiet for a few reasons... but in the end I > > decided to come to the "family" for help. > > > > I have located a truck that I REALLY REALLY want. > > > > Here are the specs... > > > > 2001 Black Dodge Ram 2500 4x4 Quad Cab Long Bed > > 360 CI Magnum Engine, Auto Trans - Fog Lights, power locks, and windows, > > power heated mirrors, Back Rack, tow package, bed liner, clearance > > lamps, sliding rear window, 8 foot Meyer Steel snow plow with an E-60 > > lift, has overhead computer w/temp and compass readouts. I didn't > > notice if it has crusie and tilt or not but I'm willing to bet it does. > > With everything else there, cruise at least is a pretty safe bet. It'll > be right on the steering wheel. > > > It has 40,600 miles and overall is in outstanding shape. Its only flaws > > that I saw were a small dent in the tailgate and the front windsheild > > was cracked with a large chip. Looked like a rock hit it. They said > > they would replace it. > > Get that in writing before you get close to a closed deal. > > > He went to look for the key and to > > find out how much it was and said it was around $25K. > > > > Got in the showroom after the test drive and he said $29,995. From > > there on I haggled with them and the "sales manager" who was really > > pushy. But I kept my cool. He finally came to $20,995 as a price. > > I think you're right to have a funny feeling about this. That is way > low for an '01 with everything I think. But it does have the plow rig > on it and like you said below, it may be abused some. > > > KBB.com says the truck would retail between $24K and $26K. I'm > > wondering if he was just throwing a number at me without intension of > > honoring it. I kept telling the guy I wanted to think about it and I > > would call him back tomarrow. I have a feeling if I go back ther eand > > say OK I'll take it at $20,995 - he will say "I never offered you that". > > In which case its no loss I suppose - I just don't buy the truck. I > > did not get that quote in writing, no. He scribbled it on a peice of > > paper in a black marker - that was it. (don't have the paper) > > I know you know this, but you shoulda gotten it in writing. Maybe even > put a deposit on the truck to get it held - at that price - while you > check things out. It's refundable and if you do buy the truck, the > money goes towards it. Typically $100. > > > I'm getting to the part where I need help... My credit is very good - > > but I don't have very much of it. Basically a high credit rating - but > > not a large credit line. We are selling out house and buying a new one. > > With selling the house there might be enough left over to swing a > > large enough downpayment (assuming the offer of $20,995 is good) to > > auctually buy this Ram. But I would be in a much better position if ... > > uh... err... I sold my two Dakota Silver89's > > > For 3 years I have resisted selling those trucks. I have held firm > > against it. I have been told by everyone I know and talk to - that I am > > insane for turning down a new(er) truck for these old falling apart > > Daks. I don't even know how much I could get for them. One doesn't run > > and one barely runs. > > You might not get much for them, so I'm not sure what selling gains you. > Or is it more that you wouldn't have that liability hanging around? But > think about this - with a newer, far more reliable (and bigger!) truck, > how would that affect your plowing business (I'm thinking it would be > better)? > > > I just know that down the line - I will regret selling them. A friend > > told me of how he had an old pontiac 2+2 and how he poured money into > > the car and it was never right. Until he hated it so much he wanted to > > puke whne he looked at it. I look at those two rust buckets sitting in > > my carport and dream over how I want to build them up. They won't cost > > anything sitting in my new garage undriven. My family doesn't understand > > no one seems to understand my attatchment to those trucks. They see > > junk - I see a dream to complete. They arn't a pair of GTO Judge's or 59 > > Caddies or 69 Chargers or 71 Hemi Cuda 'verts. But they mean that much > > to me. (I suppose I answered my own question eh)? What does everyone > > else think I should do? > > If you've got the space, and they cost you nothing to keep around (aside > from registration/insurance), why not keep 'em? If you know you won't > be using them while you're restoring them, take them off the road. > > > Also - there is something else I need help with that I don't know if > > anyone can advise me on. If I do manage to finagle a way to buy this > > Ram, I want to have it inspected by an unbiased 3rd party. I wan't to > > know exactly waht mechanical condition that rig is in. I got shafted > > when I bought my Silver 89 Dak. (paid too much) - I got shafted when I > > got my 2wd's tranny fixed - I vowed never to get taken to the cleaners > > again. How can I make sure this truck is good? Plow trucks are > > typically abused and worked over hard. > > Take it to an independent mechanic you trust. I think you answered your > own question right away there - unbiased 3rd party. I really worry > about them dropping $10K off the price like that. >
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Fri Feb 06 2004 - 11:48:14 EST