Opinions please, found an F150 I want

[shane96ranger]

Hey guys, I found the possible Ranger replacement today. I've driven so damn many F150's today, it ain't funny. We had just given up for the day and was on our way home. I stopped at a stop light and looked to my left and saw it. I won't bore you anymore with the story, but here's what I'm looking at.....

98 F150 XLT Supercab (3 door)
4.6 Liter (Romeo)
4R70W Trans
4X4
Light Blue Paint
Vinyl LeBra Tonneau Cover
Gray Cloth interior, no rips or tears
No rust

BUT, it has 211,000 miles. The only thing I can tell it needs is an alignment.

He wants $4,750 for it

I know, I need pics. The guy told me he had it on his webpage, but it is not. So, sorry I don't have any.




Waddya think?


.

 

[Metallheadd]

mileage is too high i think.

 

[shane96ranger]

That's where I'm at (MILES). I have seen claims as high as 600,000 miles on various Ford forums on Crown Vics though.

I have a Carfax for it. It's had the same owner for almost 10 years. It's obviously been very well maintained. The logs also tell me he did a lot of highway driving.

The guy told me he got it from the Ford dealer up the street, and they told him the guy traded it in on a brand new F150.

 

[Sunk]

I'd rather spend a little more for a 'Stroker, but that's just me.

 

[Twister]

my dad has a 97 F-150, 2wd long bed single cab with the 5.4. It has 265k miles on it and it still hauls ass. The 4.6 and the 5.4 seem to be long lasting.

 

[Hahnsb2]

Miles don't scare me.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

The 4.6 and the 5.4 seem to be long lasting.

They are a darned fine engine.

Work him over on the milage, he probably won't have a ton of interest in something with that kind of miles on it.

Not saying it will need it, but be prepared to do a lot of work on it. Bearings, seals, transmission, balljoints, CV joints... none of that stuff lasts forever.

I looked at a light blue one (I think it was even a '98 too) personally I am glad I held out and got a different color (among other things) That one also had purple graphics which didn't help any...

I love my '02 with the 5.4 F-150, it has 87k on it though (got it with 25k six years ago).

 

[Mr 85Ranger]

Mileage isn't a problem as long as it's had regular maintenance done on time. The 4.6 is a good engine as I had one in a 99 f-150 but I wouldn't recommend towing alot with it. It just seemed to me that it struggled too much pulling my 16' tandem and my tractor. I also had the 5.4 in my 2001 f-150 and it pulled the same load with no trailer brakes and you couldn't hardly tell it was behind me. Don't get me wrong the 4.6 is a great engine but if I could choose it would be the 5.4 for me.

 

[shane96ranger]

They are a darned fine engine.

Work him over on the milage, he probably won't have a ton of interest in something with that kind of miles on it.

Not saying it will need it, but be prepared to do a lot of work on it. Bearings, seals, transmission, balljoints, CV joints... none of that stuff lasts forever.

I looked at a light blue one (I think it was even a '98 too) personally I am glad I held out and got a different color (among other things) That one also had purple graphics which didn't help any...

I love my '02 with the 5.4 F-150, it has 87k on it though (got it with 25k six years ago).

I've worked him over as far as I can on price. I've done a blue book on it, and it books at just under 7,000 even with the high miles. Luckily, it doesn't have any graphics on it though. I'm glad because I hate when a truck has graphics, it looks rather sissy to me.

Mileage isn't a problem as long as it's had regular maintenance done on time. The 4.6 is a good engine as I had one in a 99 f-150 but I wouldn't recommend towing alot with it. It just seemed to me that it struggled too much pulling my 16' tandem and my tractor. I also had the 5.4 in my 2001 f-150 and it pulled the same load with no trailer brakes and you couldn't hardly tell it was behind me. Don't get me wrong the 4.6 is a great engine but if I could choose it would be the 5.4 for me.

If I could judge the internals of the truck by the condition of the outside, I'd say it's been very well maintained. I don't plan to pull much more than maybe a tent trailer. It should tow that OK, shouldn't it? Since you've owned both, is the 5.4 a lot worse on gas? Judging by the numbers I've been looking at (mostly at fueleconomy.gov) the 5.4 likes to suck fuel down. This is my main reason for liking the 4.6 engine.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

My brother has a '97 with a 4.6, we get about the same milage.

Driving the trucks around empty they feel about the same. Pulling a heavy load (a lot more than a tent camper) and the 5.4 comes out the winner. The 4.6 is still no slouch, but the extra stroke makes a difference.

 

[94 lngbd]

Mileage isn't a problem as long as it's had regular maintenance done on time. The 4.6 is a good engine as I had one in a 99 f-150 but I wouldn't recommend towing alot with it. It just seemed to me that it struggled too much pulling my 16' tandem and my tractor. I also had the 5.4 in my 2001 f-150 and it pulled the same load with no trailer brakes and you couldn't hardly tell it was behind me. Don't get me wrong the 4.6 is a great engine but if I could choose it would be the 5.4 for me.

Here's the real determining factory between the 2 trucks your mentioning & that's was the gear ratio the same? The 5.4 may of had 4.10 gears & the 4.6 may of had 3.54s. That my friend would make a world of difference & make one think that the 4.6 is a dog

 

[Mr 85Ranger]

If I could judge the internals of the truck by the condition of the outside, I'd say it's been very well maintained. I don't plan to pull much more than maybe a tent trailer. It should tow that OK, shouldn't it? Since you've owned both, is the 5.4 a lot worse on gas? Judging by the numbers I've been looking at (mostly at fueleconomy.gov) the 5.4 likes to suck fuel down. This is my main reason for liking the 4.6 engine.

My 2001 f150 with the 5.4 averaged about 16-17mpg constantly. I drove it out to Missouri once and I averaged 21-22mpg cruise set on on 65

 

[shane96ranger]

I appreciate all of the input guys. I'm 90% sure I'm getting this truck now. I am slightly scared of the miles, but the thing has not been beat. This is key for me.

I went looking again today. It's pretty obvious that my interpretation of saying a truck is in "excellent condition" is much different than many people. I'm looking for something in comparable condition to my Ranger. Excellent condition to me means minor scratches and maybe a door ding or two, and no rips or tears in the seats.

So, to me, the price is well worth it for what this truck has to offer. I will fine tooth comb it tomorrow before I hand over the check though. Admittedly, it was a wanderlust type of deal after all of the trash I'd looked at all day.

 

[Beef52751]

i would wait a week, let it settle so you dont buy it because it looked great because you had been looking at junk all day. make sure your not buying it out of impulse, but that's just me

 

[RangerBoy94]

I know someone who has a 98 2wd 4.6. Its a dog. He barely gets 14 mpg in town.