I've been looking at used trucks recently. I've traditionally been a Chevy guy but with the recent bailouts I've soured a little on GM products so I'm looking at used Ford trucks.

My requirements are 4 wheel drive, crew cab and preferably long bed. I also prefer manual transmissions and I would rather have the larger gas engine (7.5L?).

When I look at the value of a truck like that I find that Kelly Blue Book appraises them at around $5,000. However, when I look for trucks that are advertised with those features (from private parties) I see prices more in the range of $6,500 to $8,500 and sometimes significantly more. These prices are for trucks from 130,000 miles on up to 200,000+ miles.

Are people asking too much for their trucks or is the KBB appraisal significantly lower than it should be? Thanks.

 

KBB has always been on the lower side when I research a vehicle. I also use AutoTrader and NADA as well as Edmund's as a cross reference.

 

I was just looking on autotrader for a truck like mine in similar condition. Man, if I could sell it for what some of these guys are asking Id be rich.

My truck
1997 F350 XLT, Crew Cab 5.8, 5 speed, long bed not a scratch on it.

I briefly entertained an offer of a co worker to buy my truck. He went to our credit union and they told him they would only loan rough trade in, which is $3050. Well there is no way I would sell it for that or even two times that price for that matter. Clean retail is $7123, but I dont think I would even sell it for that. I guess a vehicle is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it. BTW, I was suprised to find a $12,13,14K 1997 F350s for sale on autotrader. Who pays that kind of money for a 14 year old truck?

 

I recently went through the search for a truck...would have liked the crew cab but they command a much higher price. I finally found my 89 F250 Super Cab long bed on Craigslist asking $1,200, and bought it for $800...it needs an oil pan gasket that the guy didn't "notice" prior to listing.

Anyway, if you are looking for a rust free, not beaten, ready to drive cross country right now example of these trucks be prepared to pay. They have a following (hence why this is a popular board) and if somebody kept the truck in great shape for the last 15-20 years you can bet he isn't going to let it go for KBB value. Go price an unmolested 5.0 Mustang on KBB, then try and find one in that condition selling for that price...and if you find it buy it because you just found a steal.

Decide what kind of work you are willing to do, and find a truck that needs that work. I am good at the mechanical, and wasn't looking for a pristine body...so low rust and a solid foundation were my requirements. It is still a work in progress, but figuring in the $1,500 I sold my 85 F150 for I am still under a $3,000 investment so far and it is almost ready for some long distance driving.

 

Seconded. Special interest vehicles (e.g. older ford trucks cared for and in top running condition) can command a premium over what the "market" says they're worth.

The flip side of that coin is that sellers will often "ask" an unrealistic price that no one will pay.

I got a pretty good deal on my truck back in 2003 because the seller listed it in "Truck Trader", and it went on trucktrader.com 6 days before it showed up in the printed rag that most people (at that time) were looking at. So I was the only lead he had for a few days. Gave me time to check it out throughly and make an agressive offer. When the paper mag hit the streets, it was already sold.

Nowadays, everyone's looking on line and in craigslist, so that playbook doesn't work anymore.

 

Thanks for the help guys. Sorry it's taken me so long to get back. Things have been pretty busy lately.

I have been surprised to notice that I frequently can find used trucks like what I'm looking for advertised cheaper with a dealer than I can on private party deals. They seem to come closest to the KBB value when the truck has a flat bed on it. Seems that's something most people aren't interested in. It would work well for me though so I might keep looking for one of those.

The one that really interests me right now though is a private party deal where the guy has a truck with 126,000 miles with all the features I want. Even has rubber floor mats so it will be easy to clean out when I'm using it for work. However, he wants $8300 for it and I'm having a hard time imagining paying that much for a truck when very similar trucks are advertised at dealers for $2000 to $3000 less. The big thing that holds me back on the dealer trucks is they all seem to have automatic transmissions. That's not the end of the world for me, but ideally I'd have a manual. I think I'll probably just keep waiting and looking. Thanks again.

 

If the price of gas starts climbing again, go truck shopping. I got my 92 F350 crewcab 4x4, no rust, straight and clean with a fresh Ford reman 460 for $4400. Gas was at $3.50 and climbing fast and the previous owner wanted it gone, bad. 6 months later gas was at $4.80 and I was getting 7 mpg I wasn't sure I got such a good deal though..

I think KBB showed a retail of 7600, and a trade in of 4800 when I bought. I watched mine on TruckTrader for 2 months before I bought it, I wanted a 95-97, but the price and condition made the deal for me.

 

Good luck finding a F350 crewcab 460(7.5) 5 speed. They are a rare breed.I know, i have one i bought 10 years ago and i had to look for at least 6 months. I paid 16,500 for my truck back in 2000 w 44k on the clock and it was a one owner garage kept truck. With that being said if I was to sell the truck today i would want 20k for it w 80k on the clock now and all my add ons. Dont care if it wouldn't sell cuz it is only ONE of 5 built in 96 as a crewcab 460 5 speed xlt 4x4 truck

 

Makes me want to go buy the one I know about right now....only five? I wonder how many F350's like that there are. How did you find out there were only five?

 

5 in my configuration, in 96. My buddy used to work at ford in some part of R&D and he was able to get me the info on the truck. but mine was special ordered by the original owner

 

Just as an aside, I recently purchased a 97 HD F250 (old body style) off Craig's list in Arizona (I live in MN) for $2200! 460 5spd std cab and absolutly rust free. The underside of the box and cab floor are still like polished body color. The inside of the rear bumper is flawless! Talking with seller before I picked it up, no one wanted the 460, no one wanted the 5spd and no one wanted the std cab. So really good buys are out there and if its a truck and not a "car" you're buying just look a bit...........

 

Can any one tell me straight up n honest what an 83 ford 250 112,000 m bench cab is really worth?? Should i want to sell it.

 

Need more info. Engine, tranny, 4wd? Condition? Also might want to start a new thread in the 83 forum.

 

Good condition, some rust 2 whl rear drive auto tranny, mirrors do need replaced. 460 engine from what i know.

 

$800-$1200 is max I'd pay unless rust free sorry. It's not 4x4 and unless you know the original owner no telling if its 112 or 212 miles on the truck.

the problem is that just because its old doesn't make it worth more.