97 V8 AWD vs 99 V8 AWD

[jremington59]

Does anyone know how the two compare in mechanical parts compatibility? I went and looked at a 99 tonight with 130,000 miles on it for 1500. Exhaust is shot, brakes need replacing and it needs a tuneup but other than that it looks pretty good. No visible rust or dents. The problem is it's one of them deals where it's off the road and you have to take the persons word. The owners a single mother and said the shop wanted over 1500 to fix everything so she went to something more economical. I have a 97 now but it seems like it might be worth picking up. I have an exhaust after putting the catback on mine, a few hundred for new brakes, calipers and rotors and a set of plugs and wires and I'd have about 2 grand into it.

Whats everyone think?

 

[RomeovilleIL]

See if she can get a written estimate from the shop & go from there.

 

[Steeda90GT]

$1000 tops. +1 on the written estimate.

 

[corkey]

ask her if you can look it over real good,
than jack it up one wheel at a time and check it out,,
start it , run the engine up,
check the wheel bearings,
shift it in drive and reverse,.make sure it goes in both,
$1500 for a 99 v8 is damn good price, if i found one for that i would get that one,,

 

[jremington59]

I'm going up this afternoon and take a closer look. I don't plan on crawling under it today as we got that rotten snow this morning.

The hardest part of buying a used vehicle is picking up on the persons lies, lol. She said she bought it 5 years ago and never put a dime into it though, so I guess that's probably the truth.

 

[jremington59]

Well I went and looked at it and there's many many issues.

First, when it turns over there's an ungodly grinding noise. Either the starter or flywheel is damaged. While running there's a loud humming sound that sounds like alt bearings at the best. The back lid won't open and they've removed the inside skin and left it in the mud outside the vehicle. The rubber needs replacing and the Limited caps for the wheels are missing. The oil was blacker than anything I've ever seen in a running engine. Nasty black and thick. I'd guess about 15 thousand since it was changed last.

The inside's a pig stye. She told me she has three kids and it needed cleaning. That's an understatement. It's filthy with ground food into the carpets and the message center screen is coated in pepsi. The tailpipe is broken off the muffler and gone.

I didn't bother telling them what I thought when they said they wouldn't go less than 1500. But I did get a little satisfaction when I showed them mine and told them I had about 1500 into it. To be honest I don't think I'd have given them 750.00.

Back to looking again.

 

[Joe Dirt]

"...it's so reliable, it'e the most reliable vehicle I've ever owned- I bought it 5 years ago and never put a dime into it...

Translates to:

"I've owned it for 5 years, and need to get out before it starts to nickel & dime me to death. I haven't put a dime into it, but you will..."

 

[jremington59]

Translates to:

"I've owned it for 5 years, and need to get out before it starts to nickel & dime me to death. I haven't put a dime into it, but you will..."

Exactly, LMAO.

We should start a thread of "craigslist lingo" and their real definitions.

"Tires slightly worn" means they are bald but the belts aren't showing yet.

"A little bit of rust" means there are numerous rot holes completely through the metal.

"A couple dings here and there" means at least one quarter panel is smashed in.

"The exhaust will need replacing soon" means there is a hole blown out in the one on it but it hasn't fallen off yet.

Feel free to add some more.

 

[deadernie]

Craigslist lingo. . . New (insert name of part here)= that sometime during the past X years they've owned the vehicle that part has been replaced. Either recently, or 10 years ago.

 

[Varsity]

That sucks how abused it is. I know its a single mother, but come on, is it that bad that she can't get the oil changed here and there or vacuum it once in a while? People's laziness kinda gets me sometimes.

 

[shadowless127]

After I sold the 98 mounty I went to look at a 2000 Mountaineer with 200K on it for 1500, but it was fully loaded and white. I talk to the people on the phone and they just say their kids used it to go back and forth to college blah blah blah. I get there and the truck is all keyed up, pop the hood and the coolant overflow is filled to the top with oil, open the radiator cap and oil comes spewing out. "It worked fine for them...." was the gentleman's remark.

The next day I find a nice 99 XLT V8, paint is in better condition, 164K miles, $1500. Get there, the coolant overflow is empty, unscrew the radiator cap and it had the "head gasket" residue all over it, and if you took a wiff you could smeel oil and coolant. I point this out to the guy and he goes "That's just a Ford thing." I then let him know I've had one of these trucks previously and it's 'not a ford thing'. He was then baffled and didnt say anything except "oh"

 

[taker]

Im not sure a person should really expect a whole lot though for a 1500 dollar 99 or 00 rig though???? I mean I have a 97 mounty that has 180+ miles on it and I wouldnt even consider less than 3 for it so If I were to read an ad on CL talking about a 99 for 1500 im not even sure id waste the time to go look as it has to be a ragged out POS no???

 

[jremington59]

I wasn't expecting a whole lot. I was expecting it was going to need an exhaust, brakes, a complete tuneup and possibly tires. These repairs would have taken it up near book value. What I saw when I got there was a whole different ballgame, lol.

 

[taker]

Yeah I do hate the CL posts that give a description that is nowhere near what the actual situation is and fact is that lady could have been brutally honest in her ad and said it was a ragged out POS and had you been expecting that you may well have purchased that rig for 1500 but since it was way worse than you were led to believe you were automatically turned off and there was no chance she was gonna be able to sell you that car. HONESTY IS THE VERY BEST POLICY!!!!

 

[Fezik]

I agree. I was car shopping since my car got killed, and wasted probably over 100+ worth of gas driving around looking at vehicles that looked good in ads, had clear Carfax and all, only to get there and have them be utter crap.

In my pursuing I came across a Jeep Grand Cherokee, gorgeous body, no rust, premo interior. I get it started and it sounds like someone is whacking a sheet of steel with a ball-peen hammer in time of the cylinders. Another sploder I looked at the door lock mech was fubar, locked me out when I went to listen to the motor, even though the door locks were up. xD

I also know that dealers are pretty much useless gits that want to get older vehicles off their lot for as much as they can, no matter how bad of shape they are.
I dunno, I'm happy with the one I have now, it just needs some small dents and nicks cleaned up.