A Bit on Buying Used SUV's/Pickups
Mar 16 '00
Now is the time to start making your move. With the price of fuel skyrocketing, people with these gas-guzzlers who don't need them are going to start thinking about downsizing. By summertime, when the price of gas hits $2.00/gallon, the papers should be full of them. Here are a few tricks on how to get a good used SUV or pickup.
The Four Wheeling Crowd
Avoid any truck that has been modified, for example, lift kits, large tires and/or engine modifications. These modifications were done for a reason. The owner might have gotten some perverse pleasure in getting all four wheels off the ground, or the extra heavy duty parts were added after the stock items were broken or torn off. In addition, most modifications are done piecemeal and don't take other factors into consideration. These factors might include: brakes, drive line angles and front end alignments. This can add up to some bizarre driving characteristics. A set of large tires, say 16.5x35's can set you back well over $100 a piece. Repairing someone elses modifications can also drive you to drink.
Also watch for large amounts of rebuilt items. A truck with all new chassis and suspension parts is telling you something. These parts usually have a very long life expectancy, but tend to fail under extreme use. Don't confuse this with a vehicle undergoing it's mid-life crisis; this usually occurs with most vehicles at somewhere between 80-120,000 miles. Most vehicles go through this. This is when you're dumping new parts into it every two or three months; alternators, water pumps, exhaust systems, etc. This is normal wear and tear. You have to look at what's been changed to tell the difference.
Look the truck over carefully. A good place to start is with the small rubber blocks called the Suspension Stops. These little blocks are mounted on the chassis over the movable parts of the front and rear suspension. See if you see any damage (they appear to be cracked or distorted), and see if the part opposite the blocks (the name and description of this part can vary, depending on the manufacturer) appears to be worn shiny and smooth. These parts only come into play if the truck is (A) Extremely Overloaded, or (B) Extremely Abused.
Check the windshield for cracks with no rock chips. This is a stress crack. These cracks usually come from excessive body flex. Trucks that have been overflexed usually have more squeaks than normal, doors that don't close easily or don't latch correctly the first time.
Another trick is to talk to the owner. Most men, with a little prodding, will openly brag about the time they got it stuck up to the headrests in mud. See if he's a fisherman who's been using it for surf-casting; that truck is soon to be a rotbox.
The Gypsy Crowd
Do you see a receiver hitch? Once again, start talking with the owner. Look for what they've been towing; check to see if the camper is bigger than the house they live in. Or if the boat is bigger than an aircraft carrier. Remember, the truck you're looking at has dragged this behemoth to every KOA within 5,000 miles. This is very hard on drivelines and brakes. On vehicles used for towing, take extra care with the transmission and engine.
The camper crowd also tends to modify trucks. These modifications are usually improvements to existing systems; tranny coolers and shift kits for automatics, and light load increases for suspensions. These are usually not a problem and tend to improve the truck overall. These trucks are usually in great condition, with enough power to rip down a house, BUT they are HUGE gas guzzlers.
The Forty-Something Crowd OR The Trendy SUV
This is the ideal person to buy a truck from. He got it because it was the thing to buy. The only time this pup went off the road was when he went on vacation, and his son stole it. The heaviest load it ever carried was when he stopped in at the grocery store on the way back from the golf course. These trucks tend to be well maintained and completely stock. These guys are usually upgrading to some luxury car. Their truck days are over, and they want to spend quality time in traffic on imported leather seats. Right now, there are lots of these trucks out there. Suburbia is just full of them. Once the price of fuel climbs over $2.00/gallon, the lots will fill with them and the trade in value will drop. More will start showing up in the Classifieds at a decent price.
Remember, only buy the size you need; overkill will catch up with you. No need to buy a Hummer when a Toyota 4-Runner will do the trick. A good rule of thumb is that the larger the truck, the more money it takes to keep on the road. That includes both fuel and maintenance. Also remember, however, that capabilities usually drop with size; for example power off road capabilities, and towing.
The best way to see if this is the truck for you is to bring it to your mechanic. Have him look it over, take a ride with him. With my good customers this service is free; after all, I don't need any more headaches in my life. Even if your mechanic charges you, this is worth it. If I try, I can always find a reason for the owner to drop his price.
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