Hey Guys,


OK I found a sweet deal on a 2003 Chevy..Its everything I want and need for my buisness...Crew Cab,Dually,Automatic,Diesel,etc...


Anyways, it has the Duramax and everyhting,and I might be able to pick it up for $22k they are asking $25K...But it has 91k miles on it...So I am asking for the price is this a good deal even w/ the miles?They will give me a 100k mile extra warrenty on the drivetrain for $1500 more..


Also what should I look for and w/ that many miles will I have anyproblems soon?


Also,i know you should change tranny fluid every 30k miles,but what if this guy never did?Should I do it a.s.a.p or could it mess it up?(you know how that goes)


I just need a heads up and stuff guys..Its is some big$$$ for a young guy like myself..


I will be using it for hauling boats for our buisness..





Anyways thanks guys,and hope you can help..





Joe

Speaking as an ex-car salesman, high mileage is a real killer on resale value. Much more than the deductions listed in the various price guides when it comes to trying to sell them. People just don't like to see that many miles on a late model vehicle.


From my own personal preferences, all you are buying with a vehicle is future miles. Why start with so many? Previous maintenance history is also a concern, as is how it was used.


Others on the forum who depend on these trucks for a business as you are talking about may be able to give you some other insights, but I believe that the cheapest purchase price is not always the best buy.


I don't think I'd buy it...http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Ermm.gif

OK thanks Zeeb....I am goin to look at it today and see how it is and all..Its just so hard to find a truck i need in my price range w/out so many miles...

My .02


The owner and the maintenance records. Since it is a diesel and the serviceable mileage is forecasted to 200K it is not a bad deal. You can check the VIN with GM to see if it has been in for service or has been a troublesome vehicle. It sounds like a nice deal and if it is in great shape, fits your budget I would think you would have many more years of service from it.


One sad thing is there still remains a stigma about high mileage vehicles. Technology has come a long long way and vehicles last a lot longer. The "Makers" would like you to believe that high mileage is bad and to buy new, when in fact it is no longer the truth. Maintenance and the owners previous use are the key to longevity.

High mileage scares many people away, but that leaves room for some pretty sweet deals for those of us who don't care. I'd just check the service history, and give it a good long test drive - get the tranny good and warm, and run it as hard as you will if you buy it.


Keep in mind - you have to start somewhere. Not everyone can drop $40k on a new truck. Be cautious, and have someone else drive it, too. They may notice something you don't.


My .02

Light truck diesels aren't what they used to be. When they were 150-200 hp they lasted long. The Ford 6.0 PSD projected life is less than 200,000.... Dmax.... 200,000, Cummins... still 400,000

At 91,000 you are looking at a higher probablity of injection system problems. The rest of the truck should be fine if it was well maintained and not abused. Did it or does it have any aftermarket equipment? gauges? ehaust? Is there a plugged hole in the exhaust manifold from a pyrometer? Who ownwd it? Why the high mileage? Was the hitch used?

Don't forget to do a carfax and check for accidents. Look close for signs of bodywork or replaced panels.

Look clos at the engine... especially fasteners. Look if the fasteners have boogered up edges like they were removed. That's a sign of engine work. Did it have a plow? Look under the front to sse if a plow was attached.

Sounds like a truck Broker would buy. He'll put 300,000 more on it.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/HiHi.gif Edited by: hoot

Hoot,


Out of curiosity, where do you get that the Dmax will only last 200,000 ? Not talking about inj. life here. From My personal experience 200,000 is not even good for a gas engine. Why do you think the Cummins will last twice as long? Not bashing the Cummins here, I think it's an outstanding engine, but I don't see it lasting much if any longer than the Dmax.


BTW, If you buy the truck, change all of the fluids, not just the tranny fluidhttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Wink.gifEdited by: a64pilot

Hey Guys,


OK I found a sweet deal on a 2003 Chevy..Its everything I want and need for my buisness...Crew Cab,Dually,Automatic,Diesel,etc...


Anyways, it has the Duramax and everyhting,and I might be able to pick it up for $22k they are asking $25K...But it has 91k miles on it...So I am asking for the price is this a good deal even w/ the miles?They will give me a 100k mile extra warrenty on the drivetrain for $1500 more..


Also what should I look for and w/ that many miles will I have anyproblems soon?


Also,i know you should change tranny fluid every 30k miles,but what if this guy never did?Should I do it a.s.a.p or could it mess it up?(you know how that goes)


I just need a heads up and stuff guys..Its is some big$$$ for a young guy like myself..


I will be using it for hauling boats for our buisness..





Anyways thanks guys,and hope you can help..





Joe





If I were looking to buy this truck I would try and locate the original owner to find out about how it was serviced and if it has had any kind of a programmer or tuner module on it.


If this truck has had the HP and Torque increased via one of the many devices available it may have been "run hard and put away wet" to many times. I would also try and find out how it was used and why the miles are so high and what percentage it used for towing.


Just my opinion but I would be real careful!


Good Luck,

[QUOTE=hoot]Light truck diesels aren't what they used to be. When they were 150-200 hp they lasted long. The Ford 6.0 PSD projected life is less than 200,000.... Dmax.... 200,000, Cummins... still 400,000

The Isuzu engine in the Isuzu and Chevy Forward box trucks will go 300,000 before any major service is needed. Isn't this an Isuzu joint effort? I would expect more than 200,000 out of the Dmax.

Whatever carfax shows, take with a shaker of salt...their reports are eroneous at times, and filled with a lot of false information a lot! I work for a Chevy/GMC Dealer and we run into false information all the time on trade-ins as well as auction cars all of the time. We have several contractors in our area that purchase the exact truck you are contemplating buying, and many of them have well over 250,000 miles without any major problems, other than the early injector problems. If you want to PM me the VIN I can run a GMVIS on it and see what kind of warranty work has been performed. Please make sure it's not a salvage title, ask the dealer to prove to you it's not. All in all, it's sounds like a good deal. Only time will tell how far one of these engines will actually go. The chassis is 1st rate though, and I doubt you'll have any problems there. Good Luck.

From my past experience, it better to buy a late model vehicle with high miles than an older vehicle with low miles. Newer vehicles with high miles usually mean lots of highway miles. Low mileage older vehicles typically mean lots of short trips where the engine never fully warms up. I bought a pontiac mini van once that was 5 years old and had only 34,000 miles on it when I got it. It went through a quart of oil every 800 miles!

Well I picked her up Wednesday....


Man I love it..Its soo much more comfortable than my moms S-Duty...Plus that 6.6 will get the job done..


Just changed the fuel filter and I am about to have the tranny done too..Chevy wants $140 to do it..( does that sound ok?)


Also contacted the fellow who owned it..He was an older man like 50's or so..Anyways he pulled a 57ft trailer w/ it..pretty much all highway miles..


No He did tell me one thing..the injectors went out at 80k miles..other tthan that he loved the truckkk..


Now I LOVE the truck


I try to baby it,but sometimes the idiots on the highways try to pass you at the same speed your goin,then they box you in but w/ just a push of the throttle the ole Max blows on by..heheWhat can I say I am just a young kid..(18)





joe

Congratulations and welcome to the Dmax owners. You are going to continue to love it. I have had mine for 2 months and am still growing fonder of it. Got mine with 70k miles on it and am probably beefing up my tranny since I thinks my tranny is slipping somewhat. Keep us posted.


Are you in Hastings,Nebraska?


CONGRATS and be careful!


Ben http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Rock On.gif

From my past experience, it better to buy a late model vehicle with high miles than an older vehicle with low miles. Newer vehicles with high miles usually mean lots of highway miles. Low mileage older vehicles typically mean lots of short trips where the engine never fully warms up. I bought a pontiac mini van once that was 5 years old and had only 34,000 miles on it when I got it. It went through a quart of oil every 800 miles!

That's normal http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/HiHi.gif

Probably really had 234,000

Wouldn't surprise me! So much for that Carfax crap!!!

Ben wrote:
"I thinks my tranny is slipping somewhat"

I'll bet you a six pack that it is not........... your
choice of beer.

Only caveat is that we'll have to drink it together
on our tailgates..................

What do you mean Nomad? I guess I dont understand what you were trying to point out to me or someone else?. Thanks all


Ben http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Rock On.gif

Hey Ben,

Did not you write: "Congratulations and welcome to the Dmax owners.* You are going to continue to love it.* I have had mine for 2 months and am still growing fonder of it.* Got mine with 70k miles on it and am probably beefing up my tranny since I thinks my tranny is slipping somewhat.* Keep us posted."

I doubt your tranny is slipping................ Just a hunch http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif

Why do you think that? I have noticed several times and also talked with some tranny folks and they agree. I have actually limped it out at 95 mph on several different occassions. So why would you doubt the slipping without knowing my experiences.


Ben http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Rock On.gif

Hey Ben,

Go to a good GM mechanic........ I'm just a crazy psychic guy from
Santa Cruz http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Hug.gif Edited by: 56Nomad

Gotcha, I already ordered the suncoast III and will be here soon. I must now wait. Even if my tranny is okay I will feel better after the beefing up is done. Thanx Nomad.


Ben http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Rock On.gif

Pro400exc You in Hastings, NE? I live in Lincoln. I got some family from out there. Im 19, thought i was the youngest person on here.

lol No Guys...its a lil Hick town in FLA....


I couldn't stand that cold weather,lol





anyways lemme fix the location...


By the way..and Dmax fellas in FL?