2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Thinking of getting rid of the 2nd gen.

[cwarner]

I'm really torn about this. I truly love the truck and have it dialed in just the way I like it. But in the last year and a half I've had to do balljoints (out of pocket $800) , a transmission (partial warranty/upgraded out of pocket$1500) , VP44 (warranty) , FASS ($550) , and a MAP sensor (out of pocket($300) Recently I had some FASS issues which they took care of , but that ended up costing another $275 cause I wanted a spare motor/pump so I won't be stranded again. Then the damn MAP sensor went a couple of weeks ago, and now my Edge EZ took a **** (covered under warranty) Now the truck could use shocks, well I've been looking at the Kore "recon" system. Cause I spend a lot of time in the truck and tow a lot. There's another $1500.

The truck has 87,000 miles and will be payed for by the end of the summer. My intention when orginally buying this was to drive it till it dies, but at 87k I've had to dump this kind of money into it (granted some of it was me) do I really want to spend another $1500 then have something else go wrong. I just don't have the faith in this truck I once used to. Having it payed for will be great but not if it's unreliable and costing me money.

do I sell this and bite the bullet and buy a new one or keep it?

Any opinions ?

 

[Beach]

I have put about the same amount in mine for the 15 month's I've owned mine. I did choose to spend around $5,000 on a tran's and programmer but I had to do ball joint's, VP44 replace, and a FASS purchase to fix the LP problem. I'd love to have a brand new truck, but my truck should be payed for shortly also and I'd rather take my chances with my '01 then start over with payment's. I should be good for a while with repair's if I'm lucky, but this is just my opinion. I understand your reasoning though! Bye the way, I bought mine with 98K on it and now have almost 126! Hope this help's.

 

[RAJohnson]

Keep it and call it upgrade expenses



I have had to install a FASS on mine (good insurance) Clutch still holding as long as I keep it OFF of 5X5, so it will be coming @ $1200. 00. Need Bilstein shocks right now at 78K (normal wear and tear). Centermatics coming soon as well (no more balancing).



balljoints (out of pocket $800) NORMAL Wear and tear. Especially if you do allot of towing



transmission (partial warranty/upgraded out of pocket$1500) To be expected with towing



VP44 (warranty) Good for you. I am still on the original and mine will probably go right @ 101K



MAP sensor (out of pocket($300) WOW spendy. Sounds like this is the only thing that is out of the ordinary.



Keep it and at least you know what you got. Buy a new one and experience its short comings

 

[SCosgriff]

keep the old one you know what you got and now a new suspension will make it ride like a new truck without the BIG price of a new truck Oo.

 

[hammersley]

It's a lot cheaper than getting a new

quiet one... ... Unless you have $$$ to burn it's always cheaper to fix what you have - unless the body is rotten.....



Nobody needs a dependable car more than taxi drivers - when was the last time you were in a cab or saw a NEW ONE!



The 3rd gen injectors will kill you on $$$$$ alone..... stay with what you got... .

 

[Mishkaya]

hammersley has it right, keep what you have. I have an 05 in addition to my 02, and while I enjoy the quiet ride very much, that is about the only thing I like about it, I very much prefer the trusty 02 over the 05 any day. Of course the 05 has the G56, which I find to be quite disappointing.

mishkaya

 

[Gene Arnold]

I totally agree with Hammersley and Mishkaya. I’m an old guy now but I’d like to have all the money I spent a lot of years ago just to have a new or newer vehicle. :{ I bought the theory that if you traded pretty often you’d save a lot on depreciation. Boy was that a pipe dream! My bad habit was broken when my wife agreed that we could buy a near new 1969 Mercedes 220D. I, who had never kept a car more than three years, promised I’d keep the Benz for five. She mocked my promise, :-laf but I kept it almost seven. My record for longevity of service was my ’85 Lincoln Town Car I bought in ’90 with 22K on it. I kept it until ’01 when I started over again with my ’95 Continental, bought with 39K on it. The Continental probably won’t last as long due to the sophisticated electronics and suspension but I love it and hope I’m still driving it five years from now. I had an ’83 Chevy 6. 2L Diesel that I bought in ’86 and kept for twelve years. I spent a lot on it but it still made sense to spend the money on it. I always had the goal of owning a Cummins and bought my ‘96 in ’01, a year before I retired.



Given the cost of interest (and even if you pay cash there is still a value to the money that is not invested and working for you) coupled with the huge depreciation costs it is almost always cheaper to fix what you have. Two exceptions I can think of are those who absolutely cannot afford break-downs (professional haulers etc. ) or for whom a break-down might be dangerous (women who travel alone or persons with health issues).



Given the above, if a guy can afford a new vehicle and he wants it, then he should buy it. That is in the column of personal satisfaction and, like the Visa commercial says, that is priceless! Oo.



Gene

 

[MKinner]

You just can't beat a paid off truck! Just paid off mine and can't even imagine paying that kind of money for a new one. It might take a little money for repair and expenses but not having that payment is just the best feeling. Just my personal opinion.

 

[cwarner]

I will most likely keep it. Paid off is the way to go and I don't want to wait another 5 years to have a new one paid off.



Now I just have to save up for a Kore "recon" kit !

 

[Tomscreek]

I'm in the same boat with my 01. Lately it seems I've had my share of repair bills too. I even phoned Dave Smith for a quote and was surprised at how low the price was for a new one, actually the same price I paid for my 01. Trouble is the 01 has depreciated a LOT so it's still quite a bit of cash to trade up. My 01 just turned 80,000 and it's been babied and still looks new. Guess I'll just keep plugging away and drive it till the wheels fall off. Only thing I don't like about it is the wandering steering but I'm going to attack that this summer I think. Also I'm not convinced that the new ones are a total fix-all either.

 

[nps]

Only thing I don't like about it is the wandering steering but I'm going to attack that this summer I think. Also I'm not convinced that the new ones are a total fix-all either.

3rd Gen track Bar, DSS, and steering box bearing preload adjustment tightened my steering right up. Used to get alot of wander when towing, esp. when passing a semi. Now it tracks straight and true.



Besides, the 2nd Gens are better looking than the 3rd Gens.

 

[Joe G.]

When I read things like this I want to give my '95 a big hug. The front end stuff is all original except for one axle U-joint and the shocks I replaced at about 90K. Drives straight and steers good. I live on a rough country road which beats up the suspension every time I drive the truck. I have had a few air leaks in the fuel system. Fixing them didn't cost much. The engine dollars have been power stuff not repairs. Most money has been on transmission stuff. 240K and running great.

 

[wlowe]

I look at it this way, the average new truck payment is $500 a month or more plus higher registration and insurance fees. You can do a lot of repairs/upgrades for that much money, especially if you do your own work.

 

[EBottema]

Seems like you are running into issues with having to replace dead electronic sensors. 24V is a great motor, just too many extra sensors and stuff like that that cost lots of replace. That is why I love the 12V engine!



Maybe get a 12V, or just keep your current truck. You will have many more trouble free miles



Trust me, in 5 years, the 3rd gen will be more trouble than your 2nd gen.

Erik

 

[Grizzly]

It's nice to have a brand new truck every now and then. My 95 was great. I ordered it new with everything I wanted in it. It was never in the shop for repairs and it was a tough decision to buy a new truck since there was nothing wrong with the 95. However in 05 the incentives were great, the dealer price was as good as Dave Smith and the tax write off for 2004 was 50% (purchased the 05 in Nov 04). I was assured it would be built in Mexico. How could I go wrong. So far the 05 has been great. Only been to the dealer for free oil changes. (7 years of free oil changes). The 05 is quieter, almost twice the power, roomier cab, much improved towing mirrors, can haul more weight in the bed, far more bells and whistles. improved styling, better mileage, engine warms up faster, and much more.

Buying a new truck every ten years is not a bad thing.

 

[nps]

... improved styling...

We can agree to disagree.

 

[cwarner]

Wouldn't you know it !! I decide to keep the my 01 and today I heard some grinding coming from the brakes. I'm like what the hell , I know it doesn't need brakes yet. I buy a set of front ones , get that apart and the old ones were worn but fine. I replaced them anyway. I take the rear apart and WTF ! Pads would have been fine but the inner pad on both sides had come unbonded from the plate. The one side the pad was gone, so the rotor got chewed up some , I got lucky on the other side the pad was still in there flopping around.

One thing I do like better on my 01 compared to my dad's 05 is the mileage. What is up with the new trucks why do they get such poor mileage ?

 

[nps]

One thing I do like better on my 01 compared to my dad's 05 is the mileage. What is up with the new trucks why do they get such poor mileage ?

Three letters ... . E... P... A... But I'm sure that all the extra fuel they burn is cleaning the air - right?

 

[Grizzly]

We can agree to disagree.

Agreed and then I'll enjoy my new truck.

 

[jtwcummins]

They are going to have to pry my cold dead hands from the wheel of my 12V. On second thought crush it and bury me with it.