Chevy Truck

[Sean Feeney]

The Miss thinks I'm crazy,I went and looked at a 2003 GMC 1500 Ext Cab 8' bed 4x4 auto. dents here and there pretty dirty 200k miles. I haven't driven it yet,he said it drives o.k. except makes a sound going into 4 wheel. Hes asking
$3700, kelly blue book this at over 7K, one owner truck was far from babied, but I surly wouldn't call it beat. Hope to drive it Friday, if its still there. I'm I nuts, with this kind of milage. Anything special to check or look for.
Thanks Sean

 

[omahagreg]

Depends on what you can stomach. Dad and I often buy vehicles at the 100,000 mile mark, and we figure the first set of problems are over, and if fixed properly, they will not show up again! At 200,000 lots of wear and tear will be present. Greg

 

[Goose]

Take it for a drive and go with your instincts. I have the same thing in an '89 with close to 300K miles and it's still solid and going strong. I bought it on an auction, so I have no idea if it's had any major work done, but when I serviced the transmission the pan was clean on the bottom.

The noise going into 4wd is probably the actuator motor as long as the driveline is quiet once it's shifted.

Also, I once owned a '76 Chev 3/4 ton 2wd with 368K miles. You could drive it down a brick street and that old gal didn't have a single rattle.

 

[Anonymous-0]

It may be only a 2003, but sounds like there is good reason that it is so cheap. From what you describe, I would consider it to be in "poor" condition, as the average 2003 pickup is in much better shape. Sounds like it has been beat pretty good and not taken care of.

 

[RobMD]

It's had a rough life. End of story. Don't buy junk like I do, or you'll have to dump money in things like I do.

 

[Mathias NY]

Glad to know I'm not the only one that buys junk and dumps money into it... I don't recommend that approach.

 

[landlord7012]

In '03 bought a '99 Silverado 3rd door 8' box with 233,000 one-owner miles on it for $5700. The first time I pulled in to look and saw the mileage I got scared and left (even though I was in a '92 Silverado with 195,000 on it). As the days went by I came to realize that neither my truck or the one I looked at were anything to be afraid of. They didn't come to have that many miles on by being abused or poorly maintained or for that matter poorly manufactured. I now have 281,000 miles on the '99. Current owner of my '92 has 225,000 on it. The key is maintainence. Ask for records which I doubt they will have a hard time producing for you, Don't be afraid, just be cautious. The price is likely what it is because everyone else looking at it is scared and won't even give it a second look.

Good luck,
Bill

 

[buickanddeere]

Run an oil test on the engine and trans.

 

[Dave from MN]

I bought a 97 chevy 4x4 454 1 ton 196,000 miles. $3500. Trannie did go out on it about 202,000 miles, but it spent it's life pulling a long full stock trailer. $3700 for an 03 is pretty decent even if you would have to do some trannie or engine work in the next couple years,

 

[Anonymous-0]

Sean I own 5 pickups, all GM's three of them have over 300000 miles on them and are everyday drivers. My cabs and doors are still tight, they have had very little done to them. One is getting ready for a fuel pump. At 66.00 it will be the highest price repair, outside of tires. Drive it, if your not sure take it to a good independant mechanic for a look.

 

[ELD]

Run, dont walk away from it. It might not be beat to death, but its probably not far from it.

 

[02XLT4X4]

I would say it is a pretty decent deal, you could put a new engine or transmission in it with a warentee to get to the total price of one with fewer miles... that doesn't have a warentee on it and could go out just as easy.

A 5 year old 4x4 truck with a couple dings and high miles, if it runs good it would be a great work truck.

$3700 might get you a early to mid 90's 4x4 truck that has been flogged to death's doorstep in my area.

Keep in mind, that many miles in that short of time are probably mostly highway miles, which isn't near the wear as city miles. But if it was a fleet truck all bets are off...