It's my first time buying a car, and my budget is 6,000 absolute maximum.
I'm looking for a good 4x4 mid sized truck, and I found one that is good.
It's a Dodge dakota 4x4 listed for $6000 with 180,000kms on it. It has remote start, after market stereo, etc. He claims it has brand new tires, new breaks, etc.
([URL]http://calgary.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-cars-trucks-Dodge-Dakota-slt-4x4-all-offers-considered-W0QQAdIdZ417346760[/URL])
So I went to look at it, and it was in very good condition. When I looked under the hood, everything was pretty much spotless and it looked almost new. The interior looks almost new as well.
So I took it for a drive and realized it could do 2wd OR 4wd wich is perfect for what I need.
This car has some minor rust and scratches, but has a pretty cracked winshield, but when I was driving, I noticed a feint grinding sound from one of the back wheels mostly when I was breaking (it may have been grinding before I breaked but it was a loud gravel road).
Anyway, he's dropped the price to $5000 for me, and he seems to be dropping the price so easily maybe he is trying to get rid of it because it has a major problem. He seems depserate to sell it to me, saying he will even drive it to my house if I buy it tonight. However he also did mention he needed money for school so maybe he is deperate to pay for school.
I need some advice here. How do I know if he is trying to sell me a piece of shit or not? I looks like an awesome deal but maybe it has an underlying problem.
Am I being to skeptical? I'm just worried about buying a car from the owner because it could break down days after buying it and I have to pay the bill.
The grinding noise is probably just brakes that need replacing, but that happens to [I]literally any[/I] car so don't worry about that. The rest seems reasonable to me, the guy wants money to go to school so he really wants to sell it. Might be too much to pay for it for him.
I have literally zero experience with Dodge but it looks nice and all that I don't see a problem.
[QUOTE=Ldesu;37828327]The grinding noise is probably just brakes that need replacing, but that happens to [I]literally any[/I] car so don't worry about that. The rest seems reasonable to me, the guy wants money to go to school so he really wants to sell it. Might be too much to pay for it for him.
I have literally zero experience with Dodge but it looks nice and all that I don't see a problem.[/QUOTE]
He said he just replaced the breaks a few months ago so I'm worried it may be a bearing or differential.
Well hopefully it's just a bearing then. They're not that hard to replace as the differential and just a fraction of the price (at least in Norway)
Grinding in the rear could also mean the rear diff is toasted, or in the process of breaking. I had a 99 Jimmy with that electronic switch over (4x4hi/4x4lo/2wd) and it started grinding when I used the 4wd for the first time, then shortly broke and would no longer move shortly after.
[QUOTE=Serj22;37828486]Grinding in the rear could also mean the rear diff is toasted, or in the process of breaking. I had a 99 Jimmy with that electronic switch over (4x4hi/4x4lo/2wd) and it started grinding when I used the 4wd for the first time, then shortly broke and would no longer move shortly after.[/QUOTE]
Thats interesting, because We noticed the grinding after we put it into 4x4hi. Didn't notice anything in 2wd
Way too expensive for what could be a scam. Good-conditioned cars; the owners will not be in a hurry to sell.
This guy knows his car is a junker and is itching to sell it to Joe Schmoe (you) dont do it
Also, Dakota's become dirt cheap once they break the 150k mile mark; at least for the ones I've seen. They are usually about $3,000 or so depending on the year. But just like the other dudes, I believe he is trying to pawn it off on someone else before it does break, that way he isn't stuck fixing it himself, or having to give it up to the junkyard for $300. That way it's your problem, not his. Electronic activated diffs, and those "real time AWD" thingies that kinda resemble 4wd tend to dry up, and you're supposed to change the fluid out at certain intervals. Most people do not change it until it starts grinding/humming. But still, I would seriously pass on the Dakota. It's not even a decent truck to begin with. A Small Ram would probably work out much better, or just an F-150 or Z-71 anything.
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