Has anyone else noticed...

[koda2000]

I just took a quick look through CL in my area of Explorer's and Mountaineers '98-'01 just to see what prices are doing now that gasoline is so cheap. From what I can tell prices for half way decent 4-dr V8 Ex's and Monty's are up. 18 months ago you'd see them for around $2000 (bargains for $1500). Today, a year and a half later, I'm seeing nice ones listed for over $3000-$3500. Good news if you're selling.

My more recent purchases:
8 months ago - 2001 Sport Trac $1000
18 months ago - 2000 XLT V8 $1500
2 years ago - 1997 Sport with rebuilt engine $1400
3 years ago - 2000 Monty V8/AWD $2100
4 years ago - 2000 Monty V8 $2200

 

[mark2016]

Nice ones can be a challenge. Even the nice ones seem to need a lot of front end and rear suspension work that even original owners didn't completely do.

 

[koda2000]

Nice ones can be a challenge. Even the nice ones seem to need a lot of front end and rear suspension work that even original owners didn't completely do.

True. You're not likely to find a "nice one" that doesn't need some work after 15-18 years, but parts are cheap and if you do your own work they're still a bargain if the body and interior are still in good shape. I missed a super clean, 1 owner, 68,000 mile, loaded '98 V8 EB about a year ago for under $2000. I still wish I'd just driven right over there and given the man his asking price.

 

[SoNic67]

Yeah, one for example I know that I am not really gonna sell my V8 AWD for $3000 today, don't care what KBB says. Especially with all the maintenance that I did, the cheap ones are the neglected ones.

Is just nothing else that you can get out there that is worth it, it seems that everyone has plenty of money...

 

[redexplorer5.0]

i paid $1300 for my 2001 Mercury Mountaineer 5.0L V8 AWD
it was a bargain

 

[97MarkVIII]

I picked mine up for $700 in early 2014.It needed brakes,upper control arms,battery,tires and cam synchronizer which was messed up and I'm surprised it ran.It only had 105.000 miles and now has 124.000.The body is pretty clean considering it's from Chicago.The pic is from when I bought it.

 

[sirdigalot]

yes I noticed, my v8 97 cost me $900 2 years ago, most things worked (had a drivers window issue and the drivers door was also only openable from the outside - both was a $10 fix) i cannot find one for less than 2000 now in any decent shape, even the junky POS ones are quoting KBB $1400, i was looking to get another one because my head gasket is going and i was weighing up, a.) repairing myself, (pain in the booty for a daily driver) b.) getting a mechanic to do it (trust issues, cost, and time again) or buying a replacement.

option 3 is a no go they are just too expensive right now

option 2 is close to option 3 as well as to not really be worth it (and again, trust issues esp. in C.Florida)

so i guess one weekend i am going to have a curse induced hell of fixing it, not that i can't, it's more of a "want" thing..

however i think it is worth it, for all it's quirkiness i do like it, and besides even if gas hits $6 a gallon or even $10, it is still cheaper than a car note *LOL* (heck the way i drive i still get close to 20mpg so a tank lasts me almost 2 weeks! - not bad for an old timer)

 

[1997XLTRollover]

I paid $500 for my 96 V8 AWD 2 years ago, I'm now somewhere around $5,000 into it and it still needs work.

 

[marcjagman]

You can buy them in the UK for around £500, that's about $600

 

[juggar]

My friend bought my 1998 AWD 5.0 for $1200 in 2008 from the South Carolina Sewer works.

I bought it from him in 2015 for $1000 with 216K miles on it and that was a bargain since he literally a few months prior put $800 into it in tires(mich MS/2's) and ball joints.

The same truck in he bought in 2008 for $1200 with 140K miles is now at least $2500 on craigslist and thats bare minimum.

I just saw an AWD '97 eddie V8 with ~150k miles go for $2500 on craigslist, it was sold the next day. Granted it is tax refund time + winter and any AWD truck in decent shape will fetch a decent sum but still....

Gotta remember, with AWD and a standard rear LSD these are some seriously stout and reliable trucks.

Id certainly say that values are up though. I just wish mine had less miles and that my idiot friend didnt rear end someone in it.

 

[alohamonte]

They make very reliable used cars. I bought my 1998 in 2006 for $3500. It had 120k on it. I now have 235k on it.