Simple question: Would you do it?

[Flying_gage]

Small kids and and plans for trailer camping in the near future make the truck in my signature not practical. I found the following:

2003, (build date of 8/02) qc long bed with automatic and 3:73's in 2wd. Truck is rust free and comes with a thick stack of paperwork. Lift pump just done, new brakes, brand new tires and other misc stuff. 183,000 showing on the clock. Thing drives like a dream. It will see about 20k a year and I would hope to keep it for at least another 5 yrs.

Knowing what you know now would you pull the trigger on it for $8-8500? It has been partially re sprayed for box damage and it wasn't blended correctly. I would have to have it resprayed.

Thanks in advance.

 

[cerberusiam]

Considering what the 3rd gens are going for at times that is a good price if it works for you. You might have to do injectors in a year or so but that is still cheap enough to warrant a hard look.

 

[Ozymandias]

And ASAP the installation of a state of the art fuel filtration, the OEM is crap.

 

[Shadrach]

That will be a 250 HP engine and if IRC a 47 trans. Not bad but not as good as the 305 and the 48 combo. The back seat will be too small in a few years but will suffice for now. If you are happy go for it. David

 

[RVTRKN]

HP would be a issue for my decision, if it were up to me. HP could even be lower if it is a California CTD, and is why I waited for my 04.5 purchase.

 

[BLNRAY]

my 03 has alittle over 405,000mi,would not even consider taking 8500 for it,you've found a deal sounds like

 

[Prairie Dog]

Yes, that would be a great deal.

 

[NSperduto]

Sounds ok. I'm at 165 on mine, Never did injectors yet but have put on an aftermarket lift pump. Everything else is stock. I'm still towing a 34 foot camper with mine, 2 13 year old boys usually and our beagle in the back seat. All is good.
Just came back from a 10 hour one way trip last weekend and headed out on another in July and then again August...They are good trucks.

 

[Flying_gage]

Thank you folks for the collective wisdom. I ended up taking a pass on the truck due to the paint issue described. Having the one side of the truck resprayed would have put me upside down in the truck to begin. Someone will have a nice truck though. Even with only 250 horsepower, the truck ran good. I was very impressed. So much so, that I am making the stock truck in my signature, not so stock anymore... Have some brown truck time scheduled for my driveway.

 

[Motorhead]

A 2wd is great until you get the front end stuck in snow or mud. The 1000lb engine can sink the front wheels easily. How do I know this? My first truck was a 2wd, 2001.5 2500 quad cab and even with a posi in the rear axle, I got it stuck a few times. I realize that with kids, money is dedicated to things other than a truck. I knew that too. My current truck is a 4wd and although I use the 4wd very little, It is there when I need it. My recommendations would be to find a mega cab 4wd..... Extra room for your kids and a truck that can go places without the fear of getting stuck.

 

[MuddFlapp]

I had a '97 with the same set up. if you spent the same $8000 on your '96, (new SB clutch, fuel pump cam plate for HP, and almost anything else you wanted to do), what an awesome truck you will have!

 

[bighammer]

Automatic would exclude it from MY consideration, but other than that, it sounds like a deal.