Questions on a used 2500HD

Kblalock21 · October 7, 2004

I am new here, but i do have a question. I am looking to buy a 2003 Silverado 2500 HD ext. cab from a construction company. They have put about 72k miles on it and I would have to buy two new tires for it. Also, it needs a new cluster for the speedometer to work. There is also a knocking in the engine. ( I was told this by the dealer that i had check it out.) Its loaded, the bluebook is $24,000 and he is going to give it to me for $16,000. It has a few dings and alot of miles from driving around to all of the job sites. Its the 8.1L gas engine. I was just wanting some feedback. I was told that a new engine would be 6-9 thousand and to get it rebuilt would be half of that. I am in construction and need a truck, but should I find something else?

Kris

Nashville, TN

JRKRACE · October 7, 2004

Run! Don't even walk from this one. Your better off with a 2002 or 2003 for 20K-to 24K. Lower mileage units allow you to get an extended warranty easier and I don't trust anything that needs a speedo cluster. Don't forget that if you own your own company, you can write off the whole purchase off your taxes which will ease the pain of a new truck. Just my .02

VegasDude · October 7, 2004

ask yourself one question..........do construction people, in general, take care of stuff.....................? In my experience.............HECK NO!!!!!!!! Don't even consider it.............................

bigdogs · October 7, 2004

If the speedo is bad how do you know the mileage is even accurate?? In general if you know it already needs an engine, what else does it need, a tranny, transfer case, axles, etc??? Unless you are planning on getting a project truck I would look for something else.

whitesnake01 · October 7, 2004

If the speedo is bad how do you know the mileage is even accurate??

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The question is really: how does the truck keep track of mileage? In the old days all you had to go on was the mechanical odometer, which could be tampered with. Does that truck really keep this information in the instrument cluster or is this information just displayed from a computer register, in which case changing the cluster would only reveal what the computer already knows. Your dealer might be able to read the odometer with a scanner.

Whenver I am serious about buying second hand, I ask to take it for an evaluation with my mechanic. And I pay him for an hour or two of labor to go through it. If you like this truck, and it appears to be ok, you may want to do this too. Does the owner have service records without gaps? Does it come out clean with Carfax? I doubt that rebuilding an engine will cost you only 3-4.5K. That is what a rebuilder will tell you before they pull your engine out. Once out, a lot of things not covered in the estimate suddenly turn out to be marginal or broken... been there. And why are they selling a 2003?

whitesnake01 · October 7, 2004

I am looking to buy a 2003 Silverado 2500 HD ext. cab from a construction company. They have put about 72k miles on it and I would have to buy two new tires for it.

That is a lot of miles. When was this truck built? You'd have to drive 180 miles per day, assuming you work 200 days a year, for two years to reach that (or 100 miles per day 365 days a year). This assumes this is an early 2003. It gets even worse if it is a mid-year truck.

bigdogs · October 8, 2004

The question is really: how does the truck keep track of mileage? In the old days all you had to go on was the mechanical odometer, which could be tampered with. Does that truck really keep this information in the instrument cluster or is this information just displayed from a computer register, in which case changing the cluster would only reveal what the computer already knows. Your dealer might be able to read the odometer with a scanner.

I understand newer trucks do keep the mileage in other locations (computer for example) but unless you have access to a scanner or tech2 probably you have to rely on the odometer and hope that is accurate...

tmf6902 · October 8, 2004

LMAO....I checked yes before I read the post.....I vote no now that I read what you actually said about your post.....I'm not in construction....but I imagine it would be like buying a rental car......and I know I how treat rental cars

8100 Power · October 8, 2004

Hey Kblalock, i lood at that truck myself, you dont wont it, it has been hit on the right side, you could tell where the door and been repainted(dirt in the paint) and the pin stripe was not put back on. I thought it was kinda in rough shape my self, but its your descion.IF the guy was smart, he would have put the pin stripe back on and people probably wouldn't of notice it was hit.

Daubs · October 8, 2004

It all depends on how much work you are willing to put into the truck.

Back in 1987 I was in college and desperate for a 4x4. Limited funds. Came across an old farm truck on a local dealer lot. Drove it and realized quickly the clutch was trashed. Got permission and took to mechanic and had her hooked up to computer. #1 & #3 cylinders were blowing oil and bad, and the locking hubs were trashed.

Called original owner and he said he abused the truck -- pulled horse trailer, tractors, basically beat the hell out of it. Dealer wanted $6,000 for the truck, but that was before she knew about all the bad things (was really pissed at other dealership for selling her a beat up truck). Book value was $5,600. I figured $1,000 for engine rebuild and another $500 for clutch and hubs.

I walked out of their with the truck having paid $2750. For me it was a good deal.

If the body and interior are in good shape, I'd offer them something closer to $10k. But make sure you know going in what repairs you are going to have to make. Check with local machine shop and see what rebuilding an 8.1 will cost you. The Allison tranny might be loads of $$$ to rebuild also. But they are pretty tough, so you might not have to.

At the price you say, I'd tell you no. But if you do your homework and get a much better price, might be worth it.