Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Looking for a Truck In AZ - Where do I look?

[RSchwarzli]

Looking for a clean truck in Arizona. I will be there in a few weeks and would like to purchase a cleaner 4x4.



Issue I ran into is, where the heck do AZ folks list vehicles for sale? I tried the Autotrader but there was not many listed.



Guess this may be an easy question for some, but being in Canada, I am not even sure what are popular vehicle listing sites/magazines in the South West!



Any thoughts?



Thanks!



Robert

 

[budnate]

try craigslist.

 

[Grizzly]

Craigslist.org would be my first choice, as budnate mentioned. You can also try local newspapers and credit unions.

 

[SSell]

Craigslist, Backpage.com, Arizona Republic, in that order.

 

[Matt42]

Also try the third to fifth rate used car lots on Van Buren Street in Phoenix. Good luck. I think people from the rust belt have had this idea before. "Clean" is going to be a matter of opinion. In all probability, the paint is going to be shot unless the truck was stored indoors. The Arizona sun is deadly on the base coat and clear coat paint used on most vehicles. Underneath the peeling paint, with surface-rusted cab top and hood, you might find a high mileage truck in good mechanical condition. Mine is losing its second paint job. The sun also rots upholstery, with the same caveats on garage storage.

 

[RSchwarzli]

MAtt - There goes my theory that everything is great in the SW!



Yeah, will have to do some looking. Mechanically sound is the most important for sure.

 

[Grizzly]

Look at surrounding cities around Phoenix on craigslist.org , like Salt Lake, Denver, Albuquerque and Las Vegas. These cities have less sun, except for Las Vegas.

 

[Matt42]

After my pessimistic statement, I had a look on the local Craigslist. I found some nice looking trucks by using "Cummins" as a search filter. I know that pictures can be deceiving, but some looked gawrsh-darned nice. High mileage by the standards of my truck, though, which sits at 75K miles. But a 1997 12 valve with 130K isn't out of line. I can't say if the $14K asking price is OK though.

In years past, Arizona vehicles kept their license plates when they were sold, so it was fairly simple to tell if the vehicle had been in AZ since new from the number. Now the license plate gets replaced, so that won't work any more. I think a CarFax would be in order.

I had to quit using mine as a daily driver due to the high drug- and human-trafficking theft rate.

 

[RSchwarzli]

Thanks for the ideas guys! Please keep them coming!



Yes, I did notice the prices do seem to be a little high even for higher milage trucks!

 

[SRath]

Don't know if it is still around, but years ago I used to subscribe to the Texas and Arizona versions of Truck Trader magazine when it was time for a new truck. I can't fix much rust for the cost of a one way plane ticket out of the rustbelt when I need a different truck. You guys have such creampuffs down there, it is well worth the trip.

Don't overlook the value of placing a "wanted" ad in the Sunday paper describing exactly what you are looking for. There is always someone thinking about selling their truck but they just haven't gotten around to placing an ad yet. That gives you the advantage of time over other buyers. Let the sellers come to you.

I have used that technique to find and buy Camaro parts with good success.

 

[budnate]

scope out the retirment areas, you will find clean ones there as well.

 

[RSchwarzli]

Good ideas! I like em!



SRath - 100% correct! Cant beat clean bodies, even if the aint is a little more beat, they are still solid!

 

[DShore]

What year trucks are you looking for? Older 1st and 2nd gen seem to be more plentiful in the rural areas, where they are still used on Farms and ranches.


Kingman, Lake Havasu City, Bullhead City, Parker and Quartzsite and YUMA are good places to look.


Try the area White Sheets and Dollar Savers. You can access most of them online.

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http://www.greenandwhitesheet.com/whitesheets/

Most of the people in these areas do not use Craigslist. Paint and upholstery are the first parts to deteriorate in the southwest.

1st and 2nd gen trucks are more expensive here because they don't have rust to contend with, what you see is what you get.

Most trucks sold in the southwest are not undercoated.

 

[DShore]

What year trucks are you looking for? Older 1st and 2nd gen seem to be more plentiful in the rural areas, where they are still used on Farms and ranches.





Kingman, Lake Havasu City, Bullhead City, Parker and Quartzsite and YUMA are good places to look.





Try the area White Sheets and Dollar Savers. You can access most of them online.



Welcome To My Homepage



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Most of the people in these areas do not use Craigslist. Paint and upholstery are the first parts to deteriorate in the southwest.



1st and 2nd gen trucks are more expensive here because they don’t have rust to contend with, what you see is what you get.



Most trucks sold in the southwest are not undercoated.

 

[Grizzly]

Most of the people in these areas do not use Craigslist.



Most trucks sold in the southwest are not undercoated.

These are not true statements.

 

[RSchwarzli]

D Shore - Mostly looking for a truck under $12K or so and under. So that would likely say it needs to be a 12V 2nd gen. Thought it would be good to try a 2nd gen for a change as opposed to another 1st gen.



Good point as well on the rural areas.

 

[DShore]

The last time I looked at the map, Albuquerque was not in Arizona.



Most of the 1st and 2nd generation trucks I see in MY area…not a snow area…are not undercoated. I have checked Craigslist…didn’t find one listing from my area. Asked my neighbors about Craigslist, they asked me “What is Craigslist?” Go figure.

 

[Grizzly]

The last time I looked at the map, Albuquerque was not in Arizona.



Most of the 1st and 2nd generation trucks I see in MY area…not a snow area…are not undercoated. I have checked Craigslist…didn’t find one listing from my area. Asked my neighbors about Craigslist, they asked me “What is Craigslist?” Go figure.

Well, I'm glad to know that you know how to read a map, however you did say, "southwest", not just Arizona.



You said,

"Most of the people in these areas do not use Craigslist. Paint and upholstery are the first parts to deteriorate in the southwest.



Most trucks sold in the southwest are not undercoated. "

 

[budnate]

without sounding crass or rude, your looking for a snow birds rig that has cacked in... look up all the camp resort and retiree places you can and ask around, if really want to find a nice truck.

 

[RSchwarzli]

Valid point on the older generation vehicles. I hope that was also termed politically correct.