Dodge Ram Guys How Did I Do

2142 Views 29 Replies 17 Participants Last post by scaldwellk, Jul 24, 2008

thedukeryan

Discussion Starter · Jul 22, 2008

Not sure if I'm nervous, excited or both but I just purchased my first vehicle online. Its a 2002 Dodge Ram. After talking to the seller we agreed on $6500 delivered. He also agreed to include a new diamond plate aluminum tool box with the deal. Seems like I did pretty good but I am new to the online thing. Should I be worried??? Its a 4.7 V8, 98,000 (I drive roughly 4k/year), 4x4, automatic, power windows, locks etc... He said it was a local dealer trade in but who knows... The guys seemed real nice and sincere... Not the wheeler and dealer type that I have talked to before. He is even delivering it himself so I guess if there is a problem we can work it out mono e mono...

Here it is...... Tell me how I did... I want the good, the bad and the ugly

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... 0283725348

1 - 20 of 30 Posts

BrianWV

· #2 · Jul 22, 2008

Hey, if your happy thats all that matters. I think you did all right.
I have had a 95, 98 and still have a 2001 4x4 and had no trouble out of any of them.
I just wish the 360 in the one I have now didn't like gas so much.

nalioth

· #3 · Jul 22, 2008

What BrianWV said. If you're happy, everyone's happy. I like Dodge trucks.

I just bought my first vehicle from a dealer a couple months ago. It's a 2005 Dodge Ram 2500 that was owned by a little old lady from Pasadena ( very low miles ).

New silver Dog with old red Dog

I downsized from my previous Dog (it's a '94 Dodge 3500 4x4 dually).

Nice thing about 'em is that they run on used vegetable oil.

See less See more

EXPcustom

· #4 · Jul 22, 2008

Re:

I had a 05 Ram1500 with the Hemi and 4x4. I thought it was an excellent ride and a great truck. My complaints were bed was too short and it got horrible gas mileage 12.3MPG average. This was a first year hemi that did not have the cylinders turn off when you were not under load. In the end I did not regret selling it but it was a good truck.

After buying a few different trucks both foreign and domestic I would only buy a Toyota truck brand new unless I got a Cummings Diesel Dodge new or with really low miles.

Most of the American trucks seem to fall apart after 100,000miles Toyotas just keep going but I do know someone with a late 90's Ford F250(I think) with 300,000+ miles no rebuild. I am sure this is more the exception than the rule.

For me buying used I always try to get docs of oil changes and maintance. Some people buy cars and drive them never changing the oil, Ever!

All that matters in the end your happy and for 6500 you did pretty good just make sure you maintain it and it should treat you good. Also did you get any maintanace records with the truck.

See less See more

WarBaby

· #5 · Jul 22, 2008

Re:

EXPcustom said:
Most of the American trucks seem to fall apart after 100,000miles

:bullshit:

EXPcustom

· #6 · Jul 22, 2008

Re:

WarBaby said:
EXPcustom said:

Most of the American trucks seem to fall apart after 100,000miles

Click to expand...

:bullshit:

Maybe I should clarify "fall apart." Lights come on that should not and water pumps go. Air conditioner blows warm air. Paint or interior starts flaking and falling apart. O2 sensors crap out then wierd electrical problems start that are impossible to trouble shoot or pin point. Leaks start happening then it becomes a money pit that you have to keep replacing small parts here and there till its time for the rebuild at close to 200k.

heimdal

· #7 · Jul 22, 2008

Re:

EXPcustom said:
WarBaby said:

EXPcustom said:

Most of the American trucks seem to fall apart after 100,000miles

Click to expand...

:bullshit:

Click to expand...

Maybe I should clarify "fall apart." Lights come on that should not and water pumps go. Air conditioner blows warm air. Paint or interior starts flaking and falling apart. O2 sensors crap out then wierd electrical problems start that are impossible to trouble shoot or pin point. Leaks start happening then it becomes a money pit that you have to keep replacing small parts here and there till its time for the rebuild at close to 200k.

O2 sensors on any vehicle will wear out before 100k, and if your air conditioner lasts even remotely close to that long without service(other than refrigerant check/add)i then you're lucky as well.

The paint thing I might agree with. The Dodge I owned was painted in Mexico, then again it was white and white will oxidize in the sun a lot more than other colors but it still shouldn't have been chipping off like it did.

What are you comparing a rebuild to? European car?

I've had Chevy, Dodge, Mercedes, and Honda cars and trucks. They all had their downfalls. American made is sure as shit cheaper to repair regardless of mileage.

Q-gunner2

· #8 · Jul 22, 2008

Is that normal?

Hell, the O2 sensor in my Honda hasn't crapped out, and its at 178 or so K, a 1997 model. Same with a few other things mentioned. Never had a failure with it, besides the radio, which I replaced anyway.

BillC

· #9 · Jul 22, 2008

Q-gunner2 said:
Is that normal?

Hell, the O2 sensor in my Honda hasn't crapped out, and its at 178 or so K, a 1997 model. Same with a few other things mentioned. Never had a failure with it, besides the radio, which I replaced anyway.

Not rare at all, my Jeep has 178+ and no replacing anything but some bulbs..

EXPcustom

· #10 · Jul 22, 2008

Toyota truck I had did not need anything done to it till it was 160K plus. All the American trucks were just right around 80-100k before they needed alot of stuff done to them.

I am not saying American is junk I am only saying if I need a truck that is reliable that can get me TO work everyday I would buy a new Toyota truck. I just could not count on an American truck with over a 100k miles to make sure I got to work.

If I need a truck to actually DO work with I would get a diesel. Those things are awesome especially the torque on the Dodge Cummings. You cant match that with any import truck.

Stazi

· #11 · Jul 22, 2008

First thing I would do is clean that engine bay with a "CD2 Engine Detailer Kit". It's a can of degreaser and a can of Armor-All type spray. Works awesome and then engine bay looks like it is brand new when you're done!

doneking

· #12 · Jul 22, 2008

I've had an '02 Ram and now have an '04. They both had/have the 4.7l engine. Like mentioned...Dodge trucks don't have a good record for mileage, but then again it is a big truck.

I enjoy mine and had only minor issues when I bought my '02 Ram. It was a first year model in 2002 and like normal there are some kinks to work out of the design. Being older you shouldn't have any issues that the previous owners haven't already taken care of. Most were small little recalls and adjustments that needed to be performed.

You might want to check and see if the particular truck you purchased came with the factory 7yr./100k mile warranty on it. There was a short period during the 2002 model year that they offered it for the '02's. If your's was during that period of time it might be worth paying the warranty transfer ($100 I think) and getting all of the major things checked out. Your really close to 100k but still within the years. A local dealer should be able to take your VIN # and see if it was a truck that fell under that warranty period.

The 4.7 V8 isn't a huge powerhouse but it is a very strong engine when it revs up. If you drive w/your foot out of the floorboard you can squeeze 15-16 mpg normal driving and I've had luck with easy cruising on the hwy. and gotten 17-18 mpg.

Looks like a nice truck.

DK

See less See more

Sidecarnutz

· #13 · Jul 22, 2008

That era of Dodge truck was known for weak trannys. But it was mostly a problem with the hemi engines. It was late '03 before they beefed up the drivetrains to handle the big engines better. I know a couple guys down here who got their trucks cheap with blown transmissions! They just built new ones with the factory improvements and now they're enjoying them. But with the 4.7 liter, I doubt you'll see the problems their big hemis caused.

That 4.7 liter eight is a great little mill. Very under appreciated motor until recently! That's what I had in my '04 Quadcab. It did damn good on gas mileage too. 17 hiway pulling a ton of trailer plus some load in the bed. It got a high of 21.7 mpg with no trailer on one trip. That was cruising a blue line hiway at 55 mph. But the engine still had plenty of tire barking torque on tap. It could haul that ton of trailer up steep hiway grades in WV at 70 mph! In three years and 33k miles it had the drivers side grab handle come off. These are really cheaply molded on the inside! Don't depend on it. You'll wind up on your ass on the asphalt holding the whole thing in your hand! Don't ask me how I know. It had a leaky power steering hose that took an hour to replace under warranty too. That was it. Easy to service too! It got broad sided last summer or I'd still have it. It was the best do-everything truck I ever owned.
Hope you enjoy yours too!

See less See more

Hootbro

· #14 · Jul 22, 2008

I had a 02 Quad cab and enjoyed it. Put 30K on it and traded for something else. Really no issues while I had it and only traded because I wanted a F250 more.

I have read that many of the early trucks of this body generation had issues with the rear end. IIRC, some type of clip would fall off in the gear pumpkin area and may or may not grenade the gears.

G

· #15 · Jul 22, 2008

Re:

WarBaby said:
EXPcustom said:

Most of the American trucks seem to fall apart after 100,000miles

Click to expand...

:bullshit:

Funny cuz where i work, we have a 2000 GMC with 300000+ on it. It used to be mothballed, but they sent it back out on the road again. Plus the people I work with BEAT THE HELL out of the trucks and all of the Chevys have had just general maintence done, the fords on the other hand are crap cuz they all have the shitty 6.0 diesel, sad when they spend as much as the truck cost trying to get it to run right

BTW, EXP Its a CUMMINS diesel not cummings

scaldwellk

· #16 · Jul 23, 2008

I know a guy that has a Dodge with a Cummins in it with over 1,000,000 miles. Damn American junk that won't hold together.

EXPcustom

· #17 · Jul 23, 2008

scaldwellk said:
I know a guy that has a Dodge with a Cummins in it with over 1,000,000 miles. Damn American junk that won't hold together.

Hey I said I would take one of those over a import. Especially if I needed a truck to DO work with.

thedukeryan

Discussion Starter · #18 · Jul 23, 2008

Not saying Toyota's are junk but I will say that my first car was a Toyota Corrola with maybe 80k and the transmission went out... Put another one in and maybe 6 months later it went out as well. I believe it was a 84. Then shortly after that my dads 94 Camery had its transmission go out at maybe 90k. Don't get me wrong I would of been all over a Toyota 4 door 4x4 for $6,500 but I don't think they exist. My past three cars have been Jeeps my 94 had 128k my 97 117k and my 99 119k. The 99 runs as good as the day I got it minus the AC blowing warm and a lock actuator going out. I consider these problems to expect on any car thats 10 years old and has 119k on it. These problems just recently occurred. I also still have my 1989 F150 that runs like a beast... I think it has 170k on it. I put a new transmission in at about 150 but I think it only cost me $600 for a rebuilt. Ive always had a thing for American made cars I guess...

EXPcustom

· #19 · Jul 23, 2008

thedukeryan said:
Not saying Toyota's are junk but I will say that my first car was a Toyota Corrola with maybe 80k and the transmission went out... Put another one in and maybe 6 months later it went out as well. I believe it was a 84. Then shortly after that my dads 94 Camery had its transmission go out at maybe 90k. Don't get me wrong I would of been all over a Toyota 4 door 4x4 for $6,500 but I don't think they exist. My past three cars have been Jeeps my 94 had 128k my 97 117k and my 99 119k. The 99 runs as good as the day I got it minus the AC blowing warm and a lock actuator going out. I consider these problems to expect on any car thats 10 years old and has 119k on it. These problems just recently occurred. I also still have my 1989 F150 that runs like a beast... I think it has 170k on it. I put a new transmission in at about 150 but I think it only cost me $600 for a rebuilt. Ive always had a thing for American made cars I guess...

You got a good deal for 6500. I really did not mean to get the thread side tracked. I was just saying what my personal experiences were did not mean to offend anyone.

crazychris

· #20 · Jul 23, 2008

not bad man.but truck with black paint?whew!do yourself a favor and get some meguire's "hi-tech yellow wax 26".i used it on every black car i detailed.its a high quality carnuba(sp?) wax with no grit to it.

1 - 20 of 30 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.