My apologies for going slightly AWOL.......I have been trying to buy a truck six ways from Sunday.
Over the course of last week, I tried to buy FIVE trucks. Admittedly, three were at David Stanley, and you all know how that turned out.
So I tried a different tactic, let's switch to an older truck, but still with low miles. I picked out a '16 Ford F150 Lariat with the 5.0L engine, had 21K miles at North Central Ford in Richardson, TX. That deal didn't come together because at least while we couldn't come to an agreement, this dealer was at least forthright and upfront about things, not at all scuzzy. Whatever, these things happen, we move on.
I had pretty much given up at this point, and was ready to just do some work to the '09 and keep rolling. But my wife found what looked like a showstopper of a deal.
2019 Ram 1500 Laramie, Hemi, fully loaded, non-E Torque, 38,000 miles. Ask was 38,000 bucks at Landers CDJR in Norman, OK.
Seems to check all the boxes, the price is right, I call Landers, we came to an agreement that was right for us both, I went to my credit union, got a check, and drove down on Friday afternoon.
I got to checking this truck out, and it had more issues than National Geographic. To start, wrong FOBIK - no remote start, no power tailgate pop. Suspecting that someone pulled a fast one, I removed the emergency key blade.....it was blank. (No, we can't do anything about this, and we won't discount the truck.)
Then I start it, and it roars to life like a Hellcat Challenger. I ask the salesman "Did someone start one of them Challengers back there when I pushed the button?" "No man, that's THIS!"
Get under it, and I see A LOT of straight piping scabbed in. No muffler. (No, we can't replace the exhaust, or discount the truck.)
Went for a test drive, got on the highway, no MDS activation, and a terrible vibration in the rear of the truck. (No, we can't do anything about this, you're a mechanic, you can fix it.)
38,000 miles, and completely screwed.
Took the check back to my credit union, and bought $400 worth of parts for the big silver slutpuppy. I think I am done.
Tim