What to look for when buying new truck?

[BradR]

Okay, So I'm going to go look at a 2000 Mountaineer tonight, or tomorrow...

What should I look for on the truck? Mainly in the 5.0 area, as I don't know much about these motors (in these trucks) I knowit does have an exhaust leak and is gonna need a windshield, but other than that I pretty much have to find out everything else for myself...

So what are common problems that come up with these trucks and are they easy/cheap or hard and expensive?
Depending on what happens and what kind of condition it's in will depend on whether I buy it or not...

Here's the CL listing...
http://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/cto/2002057210.html

 

[robertoa1a]

The 5.0 is hearty and the best choice. No serious problems. My 50 gets better fuel econ and is more than my 6 cyl.

Check for sludge in the oil. Make sure the trans doesn't slip. look for any obvious signs of neglect. Any older Explorer that has been taken care of will last a long time.

Rust never sleeps. Look for rust on the roof and underneath panels. Rust in the radiator fluid indicates a possible overheated block and the truck may blow a head gasket.

The front end squeeks are common but acceptable shade tree mechanic fixes. If there are front end problems get an estimate before you buy, then negociate the price down. After that DIY the problem using advice from this forum.