Well on Sunday the transmission went out in my 2000 dodge ram at 107000 miles. Today I finally was able to look into it, and it looks like it will be 2100 to have a rebuilt put in. Here comes the dilemma. I've been considering an upgrade in the past few months. I know I'll need new tires, brakes, and shocks in the next 6 months, and that alone is decent chunk of change. On top of that I know I need a new steering gear now. Pile that all on top of the 2100 and it is a lot. I found a nice truck a few years newer in great shape with brand new tires, and good brakes and suspension. It is a at 121000 miles though, and I've never purchased a vehicle over 100k before and that worries me. But after selling my truck as is I can get this truck for 3k more. After thinking about what I need to put into mine that's not bad. I would be upgrading to a true four door which is something I want. The problem is you never know what problems you are buying into. Current truck is paid off and I've owned it for the past 85k miles, and all deals would be paid in cash no loans. What do you guys think? Sell for what I can and upgrade or fix this truck and keep it until it dies completely.
Need to find out what kind of miles are on the truck. Most trucks are work trucks but some guys use them just to drive around. Other than that it is a no brainer to go with the newer truck.
I'd go with the newer truck personally. Are you buying from a dealer or from an individual? I bought my current truck with 94,000 miles on it, and it currently has 174,000. I put a new transmission in (my fault, towing a 7k lb skid loader on a 2k lb trailer), master cylinder for brakes, plugs wires cap and rotor, and u joints in so far. That exceeds my expectations for what I put that thing through. What are you looking at buying?
Oye, Id never buy a car at 100k unless it was going to be my beater car. Guess what, I did, guess what, it died within a year. Got another one at 100k, it was MY fault for not checking the fluids but within 3 months it overheated because the anti coolant leaked and the guages were depressed and hidden by my steering wheel so I didn't notice until my headers were warped and my car had smoke coming out of it. Ill only buy cars with 60k or less miles for commuter cars, for an actual car, 30k or less. I also have no kids. But, if you want my opinion on your situation. Sell your truck as is, and buy a vehicle with 60k or less miles, whenever I have big costs of repairs on my car, I just sell it, I dont want to repair it and have something else go out. Im also a terrible car salesman and a bit too honest which has cost me a couple thousand in letting the buyer talk me down. Im a terrible negotiator.
I bought my truck with 108,000 on it. I've had it a little over a year, put 20,000 miles on it, replaced the tires, and that's it. I would do it. You run a risk buying anything. I've had beater cars that lasted me from 150,000-250,000 miles without me doing anything to it outside of changing the oil. I also had a newer impala with 40,000 miles on it that got the transmission replaced about 8 months after I bought it. I would say, have it checked out by a mechanic that you trust, and if he doesn't find anything wrong with it, buy it. I mean, with your truck now, you could have all that stuff fixed, and your motor could go out in 10,000 miles. Then you'd be out the money anyway.
Run away from the Dodges. They eat transmissions and rust out on cab corners and box sides WAY before they should. There are also a lot of other issues with them. I probably like the looks of the Dodge pickups better than any other model, but they have too many issues. I am an insurance agent in a rural area and have hundreds of pickups insured and can tell you that I have more clients complain about issues with Dodge than all other brands combined. Unless you are buying new and have a warranty, I would stay away from Dodge all together.
I'd keep looking and stay away from Stealerships. If you can find one private party, you will spend 1-3k less on the exact same thing. Check your local Craigslist and I will just repeat whats been said. Dodge is a good engine, but the trannys and the bodies go bad pretty fast.
I agree. I've driven GM or Ford trucks for the past 20 yrs and have had very good luck with them...not a single engine or transmission issue and have always run very well
Having owned and sold a Dodge, once the tranny is gone, the truck is worth about what it weighs in scrap metal. You can throw alot of money at fixing your old one and still not have a truck thats worth much. Trading Dodge for Dodge, you will be in the same boat again soon. I'm like fletch, love the way the Dodge trucks look, but thats where my love for them ends. I'm not a hater, just a guy thats been in the same spot before.
Dodge trucks SUCK!!!!! That is all the info you need...I used to be a Fixed Operations Director for a Dealer that owned over 12 franchises... Dodge was one, GM was one and I am a Ford guy...the Dodges are the worst by far...ask Germ...he didn't listen to me....
I buy toyots. Sure it's a Japanese Company and doesn't support "buy american" but you can't say that Toyota Companies, toyota dealerships, toyota aftermarket accessories don't support Americans.
I don't know what's weirder... that Dodge still hasn't figured out how to make a decent tranny or that Dodge owners keep buying new Dodges after their last one failed prematurely.
Our dodge is still kicking! It has 210,000 with no major repairs...the box is very rusty around the wheels...other than that no major problems. We just decided to retire that truck to the cabin and only use it up there instead of driving it back and forth every weekend and were starting to look at new Rams. Now you guys have me scared!
