looking at 01 sport with 127k

[Quadcammer]

saw an orange 01 for a good price.
mileage is 127, its a trade in vehicle.

few things i noticed. The rear wiper is kind of screwed up and the rear window won't open. its not centered in the frame and the key doesn't work(works in the doors though)

2nd thing is more serious
There seems to be some binding or problem with the drivetrain. it doesn't seem to roll easily. Also there seems to be a bit of rumbling in the drivetrain. The brakes also seemed to grind.

i am having a very hard time finding a good late model sport with decent mileage for under 7k, that isn't a pos.

The car drove fine, and felt ok, but the driveline problem made me nervous.

If this seems like an easy/inexpensive fix, then i'll probably pick it up. if not, then i'll have to keep looking, but i haven't found anything great yet, at all.

any advice?

thanks

 

[Quadcammer]

oh and the dealer claimed it was the tires (which did seeem to have a pretty aggressive tread) but i didn't think that was the case.

 

[00sport4x4]

My 2 cents would be to stay away from that one sounds like she's gonna blow

 

[EBInterceptor]

My 2 cents would be to stay away from that one sounds like she's gonna blow

Really? That's typically the first thing I look for in a girl.

 

[Quadcammer]

any other opinions. This was in 2wd.
im gonna go back on monday to give it a more thorough test drive.

give me ideas on what to do to check various things that could be the problem. I really like the car, its very clean. its either this or an audi.

 

[Hartman]

Do you really want to buy a vehicle with that many miles on it?

 

[Mbrooks420]

Whats the asking price? With those miles and problems I'd probably keep looking. If you buy it make them throw in a 2 year warranty. You'll probably need it.

 

[IAmTodd]

I wouldn't buy that. Its just waaay to many miles. With the problems you stated, it sounds like its been in a rear accident of something that has cause the hatch to bind. Drivetrain sounds like it could be $$$. If by chance you do get it, get the longest warranty on it as possible.

 

[yada yada yada]

STAY AWAY! thats WAY tomany miles for a 2001! find one with less. if you get that your just asking for it! sorry but it seems like bottomless pit just waiting for your money IMO.

 

[MONMIX]

127k is kinda high for a three year old vehicle

 

[Quadcammer]

i agree that the miles are high and that it didn't seem right.

my problem is that i cannot find ANYTHING decent for 7k.

am i not being reasonable to find a nice looking 97 and up 4wd sport for that much?

 

[Mbrooks420]

For 7 grand you should be able to find a clean 97 4x4 with under 100k.

 

[jprin]

Awfully tough for anyone in here to give you sound advice without being able to see or drive the truck. If you are serious about it, take it to a dealer (or trusted Indi) and pay for a mechanical inspection. With that mileage and your concerns, it would be money very well spent.

 

[IAmTodd]

I would say go for an older one with less miles. It will pay off in the end. And make sure and get a CarFax. Its definetly worth the money.

I would also check to see how long the car has been on the lot. I got one that had sat on the lot for about a year and I'm having some issues with stuff that has aged over that time from not being used.

I would definetly keep looking. And I think the price you have is a little low for the year you want. You want newer for a low price, you'll have to go for high miles. Which can mean more problems in the end.

 

[raptor86]

i agree that the truck is probably a POS, but i dont understand why everyone is discriminating against the high mileage. I mean, yeah 50k miles is usually better than 100k. But you guys are saying it as if its better to have a truck thats old enough where 100k makes sense(typical) rather than one that seems to have a lot of use on it based on its age. Maybe the guy did a lot of highway driving...then again maybe he didnt. but my point is that i had a truck with 330k all original. That truck ran as good as most vehicles with 90k.

the X i have now...ive had it for six months and but 20k miles on it. My stepmom had it before me and put 38k on it in three years. All that truck was used for was groceries, stop and go driving to work and picking up her son. I bet my 20k does as much wear as her 5k of driving.

 

[IAmTodd]

I see no differene wheter it is highway or non-highway mileage. There is still the same amount of where on the TC rear end, bearings. The motor and tranny may not have spun as much, but thats still a crap load of mileage for that year. Who knows the maintanance on it. Or even if there has any. I would rather have an older vehicle with normal mileage than a newer vehicle with a crap load. And yes I am "dicriminating" against a high mileage vehicle.

From what he's said is going on with it, I'm sure he's only seen the tip of the iceberg.

 

[BBQ_HotDogs]

I wouldn't touch it for anything. There is no way that someone could tell me that they changed the oil in that vehicle every 3k miles. Put the paper and pencil to it. 127K divided by 3k = 90 oil changes due. OK so 90 oil changes were due in 3 years times 12 months a year = 36

Now do you really beleve they changed the oil and did the required maint. on that vehicle more than twice a month? Those rings and pistons and cylinder walls have taken on some abuse to say the least. Let common sense take over on this one for ya. If you think the truck is worth the money now plus a new engine later, then do the deal. But buy it knowing you will have to replace the engine soon. 127k in 3 years is a hell of allot of miles. I would bet it hasn't had 20 oil changes if that in it's history.

Save your money, pass on this one.

 

[aldive]

Ronnie, what if they did extended OCI using synthetic oil? I go 10k per change and the oil is still excellent as shown by UOA.

 

[Doug]

Where in Jersey are you from? I can reccommend some decent dealerships. I picked up my 97 sport 2 years about with 93k miles on it for 6100, there are deals out there to be had. Also check out www.truckshopper.com they have alot of cars on there that are local.

 

[MONMIX]

Hey Todd
CARFAX is a J-O-K-E JOKE !!!!!!!!!!!

We did $7,000.00 worth or reapir to a vehicle and ran it through CARFAX to see what was what.
It provided zero information of our repair three months folloing the compleation.

FWIW, this repair involved removing the engine and replacing all the rails from the fire wall forward.
Lets say it was a singificant repair.