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I am tired of riding the bus (a 2 hour round trip) to get to work when I could drive and make it 20 minutes each way.
For my birthday, my parents agreed to loan me the money to buy a car. This'll be the first car I've ever owned and I'm a wee bit nervous. I'm looking to get a small(ish) pickup - I plan on using it to haul around some inventory for a side-business - specifically, this one: an '01 Ford Ranger.
I was originally looking at getting a Toyota Tacoma, but had a hard time finding one that wouldn't cost more money than I'd be comfortable borrowing from my folks. Said folks have owned a Ranger ('97 I think) for a while, it seems to be working well for them, and I'm pretty comfortable with how it handles.
The Ranger I'm looking at Blue Books for about $600 more than they're asking, so now I'm a little worried that something might be wrong with it. Before I go in to take a look at it, what should I look for? I know to check the tread length on the tires, and for rust damage, but are there any other major things I should be looking for?
Please bear in mind that my knowledge of mechanics is pretty minimal. I know how to do things like change oil and spark plugs and where the different fluids go, but I doubt I could pick out the timing belt, for example. Basically, I just want to avoid overlooking something monumentally stupid.
Thanks in advance for any help you can give. Posts: 2907 | Registered: Nov 2005
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Kelly Blue Book tends to run high. Check Edmunds and Nada Guides to get a better idea of what it's really worth. Also check completed listings on eBay Motors to see what similar Rangers have gone for. You'll need to sign in with an eBay account to search for those.
Check the engine oil and transmission dipsticks. Make sure they're not dark or sludgy. Transmission fluid looks about like cherry cough syrup when it's new. If it's more of a brick red and has a burnt smell, that spells transmission trouble. Look in the oil filler cap. Look for deposits and other crud. I believe you typically can't see the timing belt anyway—it's under a cover. But do inspect the serpentine belt for cracks.
Get a mechanic to inspect it if possible, or take along someone who's very mechanically inclined so they can look it over closely. It's also a good idea to get a Carfax report or something similar. Accidents and other problems don't always show up, but it can still give you some useful information, like how many owners it's had and whether it's had any recalls or warranty work.
Also, I know you didn't ask this specifically, but I'd be wary of that truck. It's got awfully high mileage for something its age. And the price does seem low, so that's another warning. I'd guess that you could expect some problems either right away or in the near future.
Posts: 9945 | Registered: Sep 2002
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Why buy a used car and buy some one else's headaches when you can buy a new car and have headaches of your own.
That about sums it up. Cars need care. New or old, they always need to be fixed. They need oil changes, they need new tires, they need brakes, and they need new shocks every now and then. A timing belt usually only needs to be replaces one in the lifetime of a car. The belt itself is not that expensive, and I have changed my own, but it's not easy. Plus, and this is probably the most expensive aspect, they need insurance.
All that is part of the cost of ownership in a car.
For the record, I'm driving a 1993 Ford Probe and dreading the maintenance that I know is coming up.
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When you're looking at Craigslist, keep in mind that for a variety of reasons, almost all cars are listed below their KBB value. The biggest reason is that because it's free to list and free to browse, there's a LOT of competition: in a given week there will likely be dozens, if not hundreds (in the case of more popular models) of people listing similar cars.
Unfortunately, I'm going to recommend against that particular one you've listed because I've been to First National, and they're the epitome of sleazy, con artist used car salespeople. I was interested in two cars there; both were priced and on display at the lot and NEITHER car started when I turned the key.
Posts: 4313 | Registered: Sep 2004
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Find out what your local lemon laws are, if there are any. Even a car that seems fine at first can have a difficult-to-spot flaw that might lead to a costly repair shortly after purchase; it's good to know what recourse you have if it comes to that.
It probably remains true that you should be careful of cars that were recently registered in Louisiana. For a time, there were apparently a lot of flood-totalled cars coming out of Katrina held together with paint and bailing wire, so to speak.
Posts: 3826 | Registered: May 2005
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No problem. I just recently bought a car, and one thing that really hit me is that there are a lot of decent used cars for sale at any given time. If buying a car is not urgent, then take your time and check out as many as possible.
Posts: 9945 | Registered: Sep 2002
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If you are looking at an 01 Ford Ranger, just be aware of the most recent Ford Recall, which includes that model - and get that cruise control switch replaced that is causing fires.
(wish you had posted this about four weeks ago - I just sold my '02 Nissan Frontier for a very very reasonable price; and it was a very good, dependable truck)
Posts: 9538 | Registered: Aug 2003
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FYI, I checked, and WA has no applicable used car lemon laws if the dealer has a posted notice and has you sign the appropriate paperwork indicating that the car is sold As Is No Warranty.
Posts: 4313 | Registered: Sep 2004
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I would definitely look into Nissan if you're looking at small trucks. Nissans don't hold their value like a Toyota or a Honda so you can get one on the cheap, but their performance and reliability are right on par with both of the other Japanese makers.
I recently bought a '03 Subaru Forester. I couldn't be happier. It has affirmed my love of Japanese imports.
I just wish I could get my hands on a Toyota HiLux Diesel. I'd be a happy man.
Posts: 4753 | Registered: May 2002
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I personally wouldn't go with a Ford Ranger. That's according to my own research a few years ago when I was buying a small truck. After reading a bit, I decided only Toyota or Nissan trucks were worth it. So I just held out until I found a good deal on one. I found a good deal on a little '96 Nissan pickup, and by that time I knew it was a good deal and fit what I wanted. And I've been very happy with it. Extremely reliable and surprisingly comfortable. Once I found a topper that fit it, I had everything I wanted.
Posts: 5957 | Registered: Oct 2001
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Find a local mechanic that you trust. Ask around and get referrals. Ask the mechanic for referrals. Talk to them, and ask them why they trust this person. A trusted mechanic will be your friend.
That done, you should *always* have a trusted mechanic look over a car you are going to buy before you buy it. Anyone selling a car should be willing to let you take the car in (or take the car in themselves) to a mechanic of your choosing. This won't cost much, and the mechanic will be able to tell you about the shape the car is in.
You are wise to buy used. Better to buy a less expensive used car that runs than a more expensive one that also runs... place the difference in monthly payments in a savings account to pay for gas and maintenance and by the time you run your car into the ground, chances are very good that you'll be in a much better position to purchase its replacement (perhaps even in full).
Posts: 4 | Registered: Jul 2004
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quote:Originally posted by Primal Curve: Topper? Is that wha-they-call truck caps 'round yer parts?
Truck caps? How quaint.
My high school's nickname was the "Hilltoppers," often called simply the "Toppers," so you can see how the word stuck.
Posts: 5957 | Registered: Oct 2001
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Currently looking at this Tacoma, and I'm planning on going to take a look at it this weekend. The miles are high on this one also, but it seems to be par for the course for most of the pickups in my price range. I'm also hoping to negotiate the price down.
Also, I've only heard of them referred to as campers or canopies.
Posts: 2907 | Registered: Nov 2005
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Currently looking at this Tacoma, and I'm planning on going to take a look at it this weekend. The miles are high on this one also, but it seems to be par for the course for most of the pickups in my price range. I'm also hoping to negotiate the price down.
Also, I've only heard of them referred to as campers or canopies.
I would definitely talk the price down on that one. 171K miles is high, even though it's still just midlife for a Toyota. My own personal price meter says it's overpriced by about $995.00.
Posts: 5957 | Registered: Oct 2001
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Price seems a little steep for the miles on that Tacoma, but that model is usually pretty reliable (just like my Nissan was) and if they have taken good care of it (ask for maintenance receipts) it will probably be good for another hundred-thousand miles or so, Jux.
How does their asking price compare to resell value price on KBB or NADA?
Posts: 9538 | Registered: Aug 2003
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That price is higher than the KBB private party value for Excellent condition - way, way too high. That truck had better come with SPINNIN' RIMZ.
Posts: 4313 | Registered: Sep 2004
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Can Juxtapose drive a stick? The one you link to is 5-speed manual. The one Jux linked to is Auto
Posts: 9538 | Registered: Aug 2003
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quote:My own personal price meter says it's overpriced by about $995.00.
eros said the same thing to me, and when I checked NADA* and KBB, they seemed to confirm it.
I have my parents to thank for making me learn stick to their satisfaction before they would let me try for my license. While a manual isn't a problem, I would prefer an auto. I'm still interested in checking out that Nissan though.
*Whoops, I meant Edmunds here. NADA was actually higher, for some reason.
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