05 Expo ST Adrenaline

[Ranger850]

Got a lead ona 05 Sport trac. My boss' buddy is closing his scrap yard. He's an older gentleman and not to be disrespectful, he's rough around the edges, andi think he just wants it gone.

Asking price is $2,500
2005 Explorer Sport Trac Adrenaline.
145k miles. 4wd. Every thing works. Starts right up, but runs a little rough. Auto transmission ( 5r55e?) NEW battery. He says he ran codes and it needs catalytic converter.
How can I tell if he's right? I don't remember seeing and lights on the dash except "door open" light.
Is it even worth it to try to get cats for it ( I have good cats on my 3.0 Ranger, will those work?)
I have seen it and started it but didn't drive it. What should I look for on a test drive?

(My boss' Maverick in the background)

2nd photo has a bad glare but the body is in good shape. Tailgate is missing a panel that covers the lower 3rd, but not a big deal to me. Standard black plastic is gray now, almost white. Small scratch on the PS I didn't even notice but was told about. Dark Grey leather seats not all cracked and peeling , but we'll worn.

 

[superj]

no idea but it looks nice

 

[Ranger850]

It really looks better in person. Im curious about the low mileage though.

 

[Blmpkn]

It really looks better in person. Im curious about the low mileage though.

I wouldn't worry about the mileage.. works out to around 7k a year. The national average is around 13k annually.. but there's lots of factors in play.. A/S/L are big ones..

Older people drive less than younger folks.

Men drive more than women, especially If they're 50+

People who live in urban areas drive less than suburbanites.. and way less than country folk (average mileage per year in Wyoming for example is 20k, but new Yorkers only average 10k annually)

Rolling back a digital ODO really isn't possible.. and the thing probably has PATS being an 05 so that helps rule out a previous owner just swapping out the cluster with a lower mileage one.. it's still a non-zero chance though..

Buy it.. if it does need cats just put some 100$ universal Flowmaster cats in it cheap cheap.. that way the filthy fed is happy and you won't have a CEL. I put a tiny high flow cat in the 96 and it cleans enough where I'm not getting codes from the 2nd o2.

 

[Robertmangrum.rm]

I had an 05 Sport Trac XLS 4x4. I loved that truck. Bought it with 5 miles on it. Drove and beated on it till 2015. Whe. I traded ot in it needed some ball joints pretty bad. But at 305k miles I suppose it was due. I drove that truck all over the eastern side of the US. I was super sad to see it go but with a new baby wife wanted me to get something lower milage at the time. Never had to do anything to that truck but change the thermostat housing. At the end I did the timing chain nightmare. Somewhere around 250k. But nothing looked bad. Guides and all looked good. Just was shocked when I pulled the covers and noticed it had that mess haha.

 

[MaicoDoug]

Looks like a keeper, aside from the normal things which every Ranger needs now or soon, she's a looker. Hope you bring her home and give her lots of deserved love. That will make the owner happy to hear coming from you.