should I buy one of these Rangers (Option 2 & 3)

[YT-1300]

The flipper has another one. He's asking $6,500. I have pictures:




Here's the description:
Up for sale is my 1999 Ford Ranger xlt v6 3.0 with a 5 speed manual transmission. Just passed smog this week , registered in my name , registration valid through July 2022. Clean carfax on hand , 120k original miles , no accident history whatsoever ! Very hard to find a truck with this low mileage and no accident history . Ice cold a/c , heater works great , no issues whatsoever runs and drives very smooth . This is the flex fuel version , you can fill up with e85 fuel for under $4 a gallon!

MY COMMENTS
Looks really clean.
I have not driven it yet.
Carfax mileage does not match the mileage in the description. He's a flipper, so maybe he's confused.
The last one I saw that this seller had was listed at $7500 and he said he sold it for $6500.
Bluebook is $2900-$6000 ($4400 avg) in "very good" condition, $3000-$6300 ($4700 avg) in "excellent"

What do you all think?
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Here's option 3:
This is the cheapest one I've found so far ($2600): https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1192690028156288/?ref=browse_tab&referral_code=marketplace_top_picks&referral_story_type=top_picks
It has "head gasket problems"; that's not good. I don't need a 4x4 either.

 

[1990RangerinSK]

I think he's put 20,000 miles on it since the reported mileage on the carfax report. It's a nice, clean truck, body almost looks like it was just driven off the showroom floor. Have a mechanic check it over. If the mechanic finds no problems, offer his asking price.

I wouldn't buy the one with the head gasket issues.

 

[Uncle Gump]

If number 3 is really an FX4... something tells me it isn't... but those are pretty rare.

 

[rubydist]

imho the 4,0 is worth 10x what the 3.0 is worth.

In 2003 the FX4 did not come with those wheels. He didn't list the vin that I saw or I would have tried to look it up for you. Fairly good chance its not really a FX4, but if you don't care about 4wd, then you don't care about FX4 either. Fixing head gaskets in that engine requires pulling the engine, and a full rebuild is not cheap, so you will have the same money in either when you are done, but the 03 4x4 is a way better truck imho.

 

[superj]

the green truck is nice looking, for sure. go drive it and let us know how it goes.

the 3.0 is a great engine. it gets really decent gas mileage and will spin the tires when you want to

 

[dvdswan]

Well, IMO its been in an accident. look at the telltale front bumper difference in angle from the fender on the side. Pass. side is lower than the dr. It was a 5 mph or less crash or bumped another parked car. Regardless, that is in your favor. Just a point that not all accidents are reported. I'd go there and offer 4800 cash and see where it takes you. If he laughs or acts insulted walk away. Otherwise, he/she will counter or say 6500. You go from there. The truck is 20 years old, it's not a collector vehicle (too many were built), it's just a nice looking truck.

 

[Shran]

Green one looks pretty nice. I would not pay what he is asking, it's somewhere in the "very good" range in my mind... seats and carpet have some stains, bumper isn't on straight, I am sure you can find some other things to nit pick.

I would just pass on the other one. Maybe if it was a thousand bucks and you were just dying for a project.

 

[Blmpkn]

That green one looks super nice.

I agree with having a mechanic look it over and going from there. If it's as nice mechanically as it is looking I almost wouldn't mind paying the full 6500.

My buddy has a 98 3.0 5 speed with 350k original miles.. so they'll definitely go the distance.

 

[Saddle Tramp]

I'd argue the price down on the green one.

 

[YT-1300]

I looked up the price on FB marketplace while awaiting his response to me asking how much he wanted. He texted me the photos. He told me he'd do $6,000, so the price went down without me even asking.

 

[YT-1300]

Well, IMO its been in an accident. look at the telltale front bumper difference in angle from the fender on the side. Pass. side is lower than the dr. It was a 5 mph or less crash or bumped another parked car. Regardless, that is in your favor. Just a point that not all accidents are reported. I'd go there and offer 4800 cash and see where it takes you. If he laughs or acts insulted walk away. Otherwise, he/she will counter or say 6500. You go from there. The truck is 20 years old, it's not a collector vehicle (too many were built), it's just a nice looking truck.

What would I look for when I go see it in person? I'm assuming I look under the car for telltale signs of new parts, bent components, etc.? Anything in particular? I'm also not shy about asking why the bumper looks crooked.

I was thinking the same about offering less than $5,000 and going from there. I'm using Kelly Bluebook values, but I'm not sure how they account for an overheated used car market.

 

[dvdswan]

Body lines matching. Doors sagging, if the vehicle has been rear ended, the door gap can be large at the bottom of the door and small at the top. How do the doors, hood, tailgate latch? How is the bed gap on both sides?

Key thing is just remember this is a 20 year old vehicle, it's not perfect. You just looking for clues of someone hiding something.

How's the tire wear? uneven? alignment issues? shock issues?

There's tons of info on the net about inspecting a used vehicle. Study a little and you decide which items work best for you. Ask them if you could have your mechanic look at it and take it to a shop for a free inspection. What's the worst they could say... 'no'?

 

[Shran]

I would also advise you to keep in mind that just because someone flips vehicles, does not mean that their particular vehicles are worth a premium. Book value and condition still apply and I would happily walk away if the seller can't wrap their head around that. I also believe that an "overheated market" does not really apply to vehicles like this, no bank will loan you more than book value on an old truck. It will almost certainly end up being a cash sale, so book value is what you need to follow.

I flip old trucks on occasion and I never ask a premium for them. I am not special. Although, I do go out of my way to fix everything within reason and the buyer always gets a stack of receipts and detailed information about what I did to make them feel like they are getting a good deal.

 

[55trucker]

The flipper has another one. He's asking $6,500. I have pictures:
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Here's the description:
Up for sale is my 1999 Ford Ranger xlt v6 3.0 with a 5 speed manual transmission. Just passed smog this week , registered in my name , registration valid through July 2022. Clean carfax on hand , 120k original miles , no accident history whatsoever ! Very hard to find a truck with this low mileage and no accident history . Ice cold a/c , heater works great , no issues whatsoever runs and drives very smooth . This is the flex fuel version , you can fill up with e85 fuel for under $4 a gallon!

MY COMMENTS
Looks really clean.
I have not driven it yet.
Carfax mileage does not match the mileage in the description. He's a flipper, so maybe he's confused.
The last one I saw that this seller had was listed at $7500 and he said he sold it for $6500.
Bluebook is $2900-$6000 ($4400 avg) in "very good" condition, $3000-$6300 ($4700 avg) in "excellent"

What do you all think?
-----

Here's option 3:
This is the cheapest one I've found so far ($2600): https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1192690028156288/?ref=browse_tab&referral_code=marketplace_top_picks&referral_story_type=top_picks
It has "head gasket problems"; that's not good. I don't need a 4x4 either.

Nice truck,

front bumper has been goinked, for an XLT it doesn't the XLT mirrors, it is also minus cruise, it also doesn't have the front tinted shaded windshield, as well I see no tilt steering, odd for an XLT.
The only item of note I see is the optional cd/tape player.

 

[superj]

That's what we need. Someone who knows the items for the trim levels