Fair price for '04 2500 Quad Cab, 4x4? Dealers high, or am I out of line?

[Mawgie]

Barleysoda sounds like he sings my song. A minty used one, plus the exorbitant fee for a factory extended warranty sounds good. Problem is, I am going to mod this truck to outerspace: exhaust, box, and a top of the line two tank veggie oil conversion kit. (The goal is 600 foot/pounds at the rear wheels, running on B100 60-75% of the time). So, any warranty work involving the engine is going to be either disclaimed, or I will have to fight like crazy for anything to get done.



As such, a new truck doesn't make seem to make any sense for me. If I bought new, it would seem to be economically unsound to mod the truck until the warranty is expired. I don't want to drive a stock truck to 36k miles.



I am presently driving a Toyota Tundra Double Cab (a Camry with a V-8, 4x4, and a full-sized bed!!), and the local private resale market and ebay only seem like they will get me around 19,000-20,000 for it. The dealer on the black truck offered me $22,000 for my Tundra, but held firm on his price of $30,995 for the '04 minty SLT Cummins, with 28k miles. That was a very solid price for my truck, and would save me significant sales tax.



Also, with all due respect to previous posters, I have called twenty plus local dealers, as well as a local used car center specializing in truck sales. (This guy has a good reputation, and attends all the auctions. ) My conclusion is that a comparably equipped new SLT will cost me around $33,500-34,000, not $31-32k. That's $5500+ more than my target price.



I'm interested what other people think a new Cummins 2500 SLT 4x4 quadcab, power seat, fogs, fold flat, and adjustable pedals (if possible), should cost new, or used.



Thanks to all.



Regards-Mawgie

 

[Turbo Tim 1]

If you know where to look you can take about $10,000 off of the sticker price pretty easy. I can buy through my company and that discount along with rebates gets me $9,500 off right now.



When I bought my 2001 it had 24,000 miles on it and was just a year old, the original sticker was $38,000 plus and it blue booked for $33,000, I bought it for $24,999. It was one of those deals where I wasn't looking for a truck because I loved my 93 but in the end I couldn't pass it up. If you want the truck you found buy it, if you're happy, then it's a good deal.

 

[Cummins Cowboy]

Barleysoda sounds like he sings my song. A minty used one, plus the exorbitant fee for a factory extended warranty sounds good. Problem is, I am going to mod this truck to outerspace: exhaust, box, and a top of the line two tank veggie oil conversion kit. (The goal is 600 foot/pounds at the rear wheels, running on B100 60-75% of the time). So, any warranty work involving the engine is going to be either disclaimed, or I will have to fight like crazy for anything to get done.



As such, a new truck doesn't make seem to make any sense for me. If I bought new, it would seem to be economically unsound to mod the truck until the warranty is expired. I don't want to drive a stock truck to 36k miles.



I am presently driving a Toyota Tundra Double Cab (a Camry with a V-8, 4x4, and a full-sized bed!!), and the local private resale market and ebay only seem like they will get me around 19,000-20,000 for it. The dealer on the black truck offered me $22,000 for my Tundra, but held firm on his price of $30,995 for the '04 minty SLT Cummins, with 28k miles. That was a very solid price for my truck, and would save me significant sales tax.



Also, with all due respect to previous posters, I have called twenty plus local dealers, as well as a local used car center specializing in truck sales. (This guy has a good reputation, and attends all the auctions. ) My conclusion is that a comparably equipped new SLT will cost me around $33,500-34,000, not $31-32k. That's $5500+ more than my target price.



I'm interested what other people think a new Cummins 2500 SLT 4x4 quadcab, power seat, fogs, fold flat, and adjustable pedals (if possible), should cost new, or used.



Thanks to all.



Regards-Mawgie

Its your money, I pointed out all the #'s some people say my discounts can't be had, because of the farm beareu and business discounts, it costs $65 to join the farm bearau, pay your city $50 bucks and get a business licence, that is $115 bucks to save 1k, all my #'s are legit, don't believe me Call Dave Smith and ask them what they will do, They will give you the same thing I just said!!! Remeber 4 yrs from now when you want a new truck, you will be selling a 6yr old truck instead of a 4yr old truck, but you paid more than a new one for it, but its now worth 3k less than the 4yr old truck, some not only have you paid too much in the beginning your are loosing money in the end. I have nuked the thinking on a slightly used truck from one side to the other, like I said its your money



They say nothing grows out slower than a bad haircut, well nothing sucks for longer than paying TOO much for a new truck!!

 

[cosborne]

Well I just sold my 98. 5 (last week). I REALLY liked my old truck but of course I had spent lots and lots of time and money on that truck (2 VP 44's, 2 lift pumps, ATS transmission, Edge box, gauges, lots of tires, electrical upgrades (audio mostly)) and it had 185000 miles on it. The only reason that I even stopped by the dealership is that "something" was going to happen again. Fuel pressure fluctuated and I just didn't want to put any more $$ in it. So, I ended up with an 06', Quad, 6 speed (the G-56), 4x4, SLT "Big Horn", short box, anti-spin, with 46 miles on it. They gave me 11k for my old truck. Sticker was $41,800. I financed the difference of $26800 including all the taxes, dealer crap, etc. and yes I probably could have found a better deal, but I live and work in small communities and the relationship I have with the dealer is important to me. I even paid for the "simoniz" rip off paint protection. I like the new truck ok. I haven't really gotten used to it yet, but I'm sure that I will really like it down the road. The 325/610 feels about like my old truck did with all the performance enhancements, but this one seems to just keep pulling, if that makes sense. I have a friend that is a Chrysler dealer in Grand Junction. They had a used 06 with 20k on it for 35k! They sold it Monday for 33k! This area is a Dodge area, and the dealers can demand higher prices IMHO... .



I will drive this new truck until the wheels fall off of it too... just like the last one.....

 

[JBrincks]

Cummins Cowboy's numbers are right, I just bought an 06 quad cab 4x4 slt 6spd Lone Star Edition. The sticker on it was 40500 plus 1000 for dealer added options, for a total of 42500. By the time I was done I had the truck for 31500 w/ a spray in bedliner. Could of gotten it for 31K if I was a member of Farm Bureau but I wasn't at the time. Don't get me wrong this truck is pretty much the basic SLT package I didn't get the adjustable petals or fold flat rear set but it suits my needs. So a new truck can be had for 31-32K. In the end though it's whatever makes you happy since you're the one paying for it and driving it. So if you find a used you like in your price range get it or you may want to look into buying a new one.

 

[sevobuck]

I bought my 04. 5 4WD Laramie/Sport Group all options but power sliding rear with 69K miles for $26,00. It is by no means a steal but I think it was good deal.

 

[DZink24]

In one aspect I think I did pretty good, but I also wonder if I did pay too much. (purchased 11/05)- 2004 2500, 4WD QC SLT... with less than 6,000 miles. When I figure around 40K for a new one with the same options, the $33,995 I paid seems reasonable considering the miles. But man, these CTD are hard to find. Noone wants to trade them in!!

 

[crobertson1]

Check these out. These are ads here in Denver:



http://broadwaydodge.com/Specials-PrintAd.aspx



http://www.cdodge.com/plugins/upload/advertisement-10048064.pdf

 

[KSears]

I would think the trucks you mentioned are too bad, but I would also hold out being price of fuel is going north very quickly, the way I look at it , if you have cash or good credit, you can buy whatever ,wherever ,anytime you want,,,,,they are the ones with a parking lot full of vehicles to sell. . ,,, so who really has control??? In my opinion I do,, be patient ,,the deal will come,,

 

[lawdog]

My truck is a 2003. 5, built apr 03 HO with 48RE Quad SB Black Sport SLT Fold flat floor, Infinity with steering wheel controls, am/fm cass/cd, rear slider, 3. 73 limited slip, B&W turnover ball hitch, SRT hood, Tow mirrors. . blah, blah, blah... My lease buyout is in neighborhood of what you want to spend. truck has 44,500 miles now, nice truck, not mint, but A- condition anyways couple small stone chips, small dent on top of gate, small holes in top of rails from bolted on cap... . inside of bed has scratches and dents... not serioius work truck style, , but there. .

 

[tschwab]

Folks -



I am in the hunt for an '03. 5 (want the H. O. + 48RE) - '04, 2500, Quad Cab, 4x4, SLT, 6. 5' box, automatic transmission, Cummins (of course). After a fair amount of searching, I found, negotiated, then did not buy the following two trucks:



1) utterly, absolutely, mint, black '04 SLT, 28,000 miles: they would not budge off of $30,995;

2) excellent, but not utterly mint, a solid B+ truck, silver '04 SLT, 35,000 miles (no fog lights or fold flat option, which the black truck had): would not budge off of $30,995.



I wanted to buy the black truck for $28,000, and was probably pushing my luck a little. Still, I walked when the salesman sarcastically informed me that the black truck "will do $30,995 at Manheaim all day. " (Manheim is a dealer auction in Manheim, PA, frewuented by many of the dealers in Central NY where I live. )



Am I nuts to hold out and try to buy a 35k or less miles truck, in excellent condition, meeting the above year and feature description, for around $28,000?



I hope not, but ought to know, either way... ...



Thanks - Mawgie

WHERE were you this past month?? I had two ad's in the TDR classifieds for my '05 w/7k miles and my dad's '03. 5 w/13k miles, both w/48RE. Those prices are a rip-off by the dealers IMO. However - they will probably get the price or close to it, because they finance and take trade-in's. A lot of people like the convenience and tax savings of trading in and letting the dealer finance.



Both of our trucks are gone, I was quite suprised at how long they actually took to sell, but as others have mentioned, in this price range, you can spend a few thousand more and buy new and with fuel prices high and no end in sight, I think a lot of people are evaluating whether they need a big fuel guzzling truck/suv/Hypo car.



Sure, if you tow/haul then by all means you need it, but there are many on these boards who own a CTD or HEMI or (insert big fuel guzzling engine here) just for the fun of it.



You should checkout the TDR classifieds, I know when mine were listed, it seemed like there were a lot of bargains for the CTD listed, I dunno, I think some people were getting desperate.

 

[sevobuck]

Check these out. These are ads here in Denver:



http://broadwaydodge.com/Specials-PrintAd.aspx



http://www.cdodge.com/plugins/upload/advertisement-10048064.pdf

I bought my truck used from the Broadway Dodge dealer. Mike is a pretty nice guy.

 

[Cummins Cowboy]

just another tid bit for thought doing some checking on kelly blue book



a 2000 model CTD 4x4 SLT with 100k miles has a retail of 18,085



a 2002 model CTD 4x4 SLT with 70k miles as a retail of 22,440



more than 4k less money, So you can roughly expect the a 2yr old truck vs a new truck to have similar cost value ratios 4 years from now, So basically even if you paid 28k for the used 04 CTD It would still not be worth it.



Plus some say warranty is no biggie, they wanna bomb, Well my 02 has had 3 problems, clunk in front end, AC compressor bad, and peeling black sticker on the passanger door, all of this was fixed free under the 36k bumper to bumper warranty, So bombing or not It would still be covered, These used trucks are almost out of the 36k mile warranty,



I am sure you can see I am passionate about a new truck, heck I had to justify it for my own self, so I don't feel so bad for paying all that money for a new one.

 

[fkovalski]

Kinda' sums it up... . :-laf

 

[Blue Ox1]

Best place seem to look was autotrader.com and as long as the V. I. N. is showed you can tell whether it is a H. O. or not



Joe

 

[ZHutton]

The dealer I bought my 03 from thought a 59k mile truck should sell for 32k or so. It is a nice truck and is a lariet or whatever and with the long bed, quad cab, and 4x4, and 6 speed manual transmission it is a nice truck. Even had the banks 6 gun left on it from the previous owner.



Since I really wanted to get rid of my trade in I came out ok on the deal since I had very little money actually in the trade in vehicle.



Oh, that was in late feb of this year that the dealer said the 03 was worth that much.



Overall I would just keep looking until you find a private sale that fits your needs.



I rather like my used 03 because I don't mind adding some performance stuff or a small lift of some sort to it.



If I bought a brand new anything I know I would not mess with it because of warranty concerns.



And don't get me wrong, some of the new prices listed in this thread are great.



I just did not want a new one right now.



Once a few years pass by I can see messing with a new 4500 or 5500 if they do well.