Buy or no? $3900 '99 154k miles

[wafflepunk]

I'm shopping around for an SUV, trading up from a standard sedan. I won't be driving it into the ground, I'd just like something I can easily pack all of my fishing gear into ( i.e. two large coolers & rods ) for weekend trips. I drive 400 miles round trip maybe once every month to visit family out of town, but other than that I put maybe 20 miles a day back and forth between home, the stores and work.

I'm looking to get $1500 in private sale for my current car, and spotted a '99 2D Explorer today on the side of the road at a sports & import shop with a sticker price of $3900. I called in on it and found out it has 154k miles. I asked for the VIN number, ran a Carfax and found it has a clean history, only two owners, both locally here in Florida. I'm going in tonight to take a closer look, but was also told by the dealer that the tires are all in great shape and the interior was either heavily cleaned or stripped and refinished as the most recent owner had a couple of dogs.

For me, the price is right. $2500 after the cash from my current car is something I can actually afford, and I don't have any fantasies about driving this thing for the next ten years. If I can keep it running with minimal investment for two or three years, I'll be happy. The mileage does scare me a little though. If I can talk the dealer down in price a bit, is this truck worth buying? Am I going to run into problems a week or two down the road with the timing belt, or transmission, or otherwise? I don't want to buy a vehicle that's going to need $500 worth of work within the first 6 months.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[X98limitedx]

my sister had a 98 mountainer that had 160 x.. on it when my dad bought it... ran perfectly no ticks, spudders, etc etc. ford SUVs can last a long time if taken care of. My dads expedition was running fine after 220 x.. and then he decided to trade it in. So i say take it for a test drive and look everything over.

 

[Abom]

Is it a 4 wheel drive ? If so, make sure you test out all the 4 wheel drive modes to make sure they all work. Have a peek also at the transmission dipstick, make sure the fluid is red (slightly dark red is ok too). Make sure you shift between all the gears and that everything feels right in the transmission.

The biggest thing on these SUVs is indeed the 4 wheel drive systems and the transmissions. A lot of people don't take care of them properly, and therefore they get worn out and ruined.

If everything checks out OK, I'd say it's a good buy. If you don't buy it, lemme know, cause that's a smoking deal if it's in good shape

 

[dynamite196]

Wow you think 3900 is a smoking deal?? Book value on that is about 3000, I doubt the dealer will go that low. I picked up my 97 sport with 130k on it for 1500, for the record it had a burnt valve and the windshield was cracked. Now that's a smoking deal.

 

[CDW6212R]

If it's the SOH V6, run. If it's the V8 it could be a fair deal, depending.

 

[wafflepunk]

Ok, I checked out the truck and here's some more details.

It's a 5 speed manual '99 Explorer Sport, 154k miles, 2WD 4.0L V6. The suspension and transmission seem good from little I could tell in the dealership parking lot. The muffler has a hole rusted through it, I figure that would cost $100 to fix with a bolt-on replacement. Tires are new. Air and electronics all seem to work fine. The rear windshield wiper arm needs to be fixed/replaced, it doesn't mount flush to the windshield but the motor and fluid squirter-thing do work. The cruise control panel on the right side of the steering wheel seems to be dislodged from it's assembly, it was sort of loose/hanging out. Maybe a glue or snap-in fix. Everything else looks good, body work, roof, etc.

They say they've had it on the lot for three weeks or so. Is it worth my time to try talking them down to under $3500?

 

[CDW6212R]

I'd look some more, take your time. See what other colors are out there, and search online for a better idea of pricing. Watch some eBay auctions, if you are an eBay user you can look at a history of previous completed auction sales. I think you can find a whole lot more truck for that kind of money. Be patient and good luck,

 

[offset_98]

Seems like a good deal...my Explorer was just appraised at $4,950 and I have 175k on the clock.

 

[Abom]

Wow you think 3900 is a smoking deal?? Book value on that is about 3000, I doubt the dealer will go that low. I picked up my 97 sport with 130k on it for 1500, for the record it had a burnt valve and the windshield was cracked. Now that's a smoking deal.

Mind you, remember that I live in Canada, and vehicles in general in Canada cost more than in the USA. My 96 V6 4.0L 4 door with 110k miles (175k km) cost me just about $5000 CDN (about $4200 USD). And I looked through hundreds of ads until I found it (bought it last month).

 

[dkolewaski]

my smokin' deal

I just got a 96 4.0L 4x4 XLT in really nice condition w 165 000km (102 000mi) on it for $4000 CDN ($3500 US) and I think I got a wicked deal.. I want to keep it so I just dumped $1000 CDN into it doing all fluids in synthetic, new rear leafs w aal and all new shocks all around, new plugs, wires. And it runs nice so far..

 

[rvrnsam]

I'd buy it, i had a 99 explorer i bought with around 160000 miles and it never caused me any problems what so ever. If its been taken care of your gettin a deal.

 

[MountaineerGreen]

Id almost stay a way- the manual trans is a plus in my opinion but money wise, it hurts the value. It being 2wd detracts from the value as well. If the interior was cleaned because of dog odor, it may come back unless it was cleaned properly.

I bought my 01 Mountaineer with just a touch over 100k for $5250- it needed a little tlc, but not much

 

[Abom]

I do agree 2 wheel drive isn't as cool as 4 wheel, but I suppose it all depends on where you'll be taking the Explorer. If it's going in the bush, I'd try and get a 4 wheel drive.

5spd is a plus though.

Seems like a trade-off of sorts.

 

[dynamite196]

To answer your question about talking it down, YES!!! Especially if you could somehow get cash. It's always worth your time to save a few hundred bucks.

 

[Abom]

To answer your question about talking it down, YES!!! Especially if you could somehow get cash. It's always worth your time to save a few hundred bucks.

Very true. If you're not purchase financing through the dealer, and you have straight cash, in bills, you can probably talk it down easy to $3500 if not less.

 

[biggs92EB]

Man living in california sucks, i can still get around 3000-3500$ for my 92! there is a 01 mounty for 10K right across the street. wow im goin out of state to get my next ride

 

[ma96782]

It's a 5 speed manual '99 Explorer Sport, 154k miles, 2WD 4.0L V6. The suspension and transmission seem good from little I could tell in the dealership parking lot.

Manual only IF you want it, over the auto trans........BTW, will you be towing?? 2WD on an SUV....why?? SUV = 4 x 4, IMHO. The 4.0 V6 sohc.....had timing chain problems......make sure you have a good one.....check the FORD records for recall (maybe the work was done?) or maybe FORD had fixed the problem by '99?? As for "sport".....IMHO..get the 4dr.

The muffler has a hole rusted through it, I figure that would cost $100 to fix with a bolt-on replacement.

Have the "used car lot" fix it.......or take some off of the price.

Tires are new. Air and electronics all seem to work fine.

That's nice.

The rear windshield wiper arm needs to be fixed/replaced, it doesn't mount flush to the windshield but the motor and fluid squirter-thing do work. The cruise control panel on the right side of the steering wheel seems to be dislodged from it's assembly, it was sort of loose/hanging out. Maybe a glue or snap-in fix. Everything else looks good, body work, roof, etc.

Again, have the used car lot fix those problems........or take more $$ off of the price.

They say they've had it on the lot for three weeks or so. Is it worth my time to try talking them down to under $3500?

Make sure all those problems are fixed. Or, you'll have to fix them.....and unless you know how and exactly what's wrong.....you might be in for unexpected $$$ or dealing w/ a can of worms. AS IS......Me, I'd walk away.......or they'll have to do alot better in price (a lot better than $3500).

IF everything was fixed....than, $3500 is a good price. But, I'd be worried about the: V6 sohc......high mileage.......2dr.......2WD (Sport).

Aloha, Mark

PS......FORD Explorers are popular around this neck of the woods (Pacific NW).....so, finding a good one, at a good price, might be easier for me.......so I guess, that colors my thinking.

BTW......here are some internet price sites:

http://www.nadaguides.com/home.aspx?l=1&w=28&p=0&f=5000

http://www.edmunds.com/

http://www.kbb.com/

With the interior being, "cleaned"...........hummmm...........make sure it isn't a KATRINA car.

 

[ma96782]

Since you said:

I'm shopping around for an SUV, trading up from a standard sedan. I won't be driving it into the ground, I'd just like something I can easily pack all of my fishing gear into ( i.e. two large coolers & rods ) for weekend trips. I drive 400 miles round trip maybe once every month to visit family out of town, but other than that I put maybe 20 miles a day back and forth between home, the stores and work.

I thought about it somemore:

Yup, 4 x 4, IF your fishing trips take you off road. A 2WD, if you're staying on the paved roads and you could get better MPGs.......but, your re-sale value will be lower. And, a 4 dr, will allow you to pack more stuff inside...........and will be comfortable when you end up sleeping in the back.

A manual transmission is usually cheaper (at re-sale too) and reliable, and "fun to have" if all the drivers in your household can operate it.

But, as for MPGs on the 400 miles or the daily 20 mile commute.........if you could live w/ an EXPLORER 2dr sport...........then perhaps you could live w/ one of those smaller SUVs w/ better MPGs? IMHO.......Don't only look at FORDS.

Aloha, Mark

 

[Lawdog1]

The price seems a bit high, but you can't go wrong with a manual transmission. I've got a 5 speed 2000 sport with 163 k. The same clutch and runs great. See if you can drive it, it will be worth your time.

 

[lander]

That was more than three years ago...the truck is probably in the junk yard by now.