Extremely nice, low mileage…what’s it worth?

[starquestbd22]

I’ve been looking for a near mint 3rd gen and just as I had pretty much given up, I stumbled on a unicorn.

05 quad cab Hemi 4x4 with 36k miles. Been stored inside, only driven in rain a few times, meticulously maintained, etc. Looks as close to new as any I’ve seen. Literally pristine. The question is, what’s it worth? I’ve been looking and asking other places and I’m getting numbers that I feel like don’t even come close.

 

[diymirage]

20 year old truck ?
Every bit of rubber is probably dry rotted on it, between 5 and 10 k?

 

[jws123]

id agree with whats mentioend above no more then 10k

 

[Lysergic]

If it's been maintained and properly cared for, I would have no problems purchasing a 20-year old vehicle. Just be aware going into the adventure, you may have a few repairs or parts replacements.

I recently purchased a very well cared for 2012 1500 Laramie Longhorn 5.7L (120K miles) for my son. The dealer went through it, but I also went through it and did quite a bit of general services the dealer did not do that I felt needed to be attended to for my own peace of mind.

Transmission pan drop, total coolant flush, diff fluids, plugs, a few hoses, oil change, tires, etc.

It's turned out to be a good purchase.

 

[starquestbd22]

I appreciate the input. But honestly, 10k seems insane to me. I know values vary by area but where I am, 10k will get you a 125k mile truck in average condition.

Recently on Marketplace near me:
2003 with 123k - 10k
2008 with 150k - 12k

A few hours from me:
2005 with 119k - 10k

Also, ran across a pretty nice truck out in the wild and approached the owner. Granted, he didn’t want to sell it but it’s an 08 with 150k, hail damage on the hood, clear fading on the top, and he wants 16k.

About 10 hours from me:
2005 1-owner old man special with 60k. Beautiful truck but it’s lived in IN and the underside is rusty. 15k.

I understand what you guys are saying about it being a 20 year old truck but I feel like y'all are almost saying it’s worth less because of the low miles.

 

[Dean2]

I appreciate the input. But honestly, 10k seems insane to me. I know values vary by area but where I am, 10k will get you a 125k mile truck in average condition.

Recently on Marketplace near me:
2003 with 123k - 10k
2008 with 150k - 12k

A few hours from me:
2005 with 119k - 10k

Also, ran across a pretty nice truck out in the wild and approached the owner. Granted, he didn’t want to sell it but it’s an 08 with 150k, hail damage on the hood, clear fading on the top, and he wants 16k.

About 10 hours from me:
2005 1-owner old man special with 60k. Beautiful truck but it’s lived in IN and the underside is rusty. 15k.

I understand what you guys are saying about it being a 20 year old truck but I feel like y'all are almost saying it’s worth less because of the low miles.

Are you buying it as a seldom drive collector, or as a PU to drive and use like a PU? From my perspective, not a lot of point in paying a huge premium for a 20 year old PU that you are going to thrash on, even if it is low miles. The other thing to consider is at 20 years old, parts are going to get to be a lot harder to find.

That said, a 20 year old pickup in great shape is worth about 10,000 to 15,000 due to newer used PUs having shot up so much in value. A five year old 1500 with less than 50,000 miles would be in the $30,000 range, but it is 20 years newer.

 

[Mojo88]

@starquestbd22 - I am a HUGE fan of low mileage vehicles, and I am absolutely ready, willing and able to pay a premium price. It all boils down to storage, condition and maintenance.

It sounds like you found a real gem. What is the seller's asking price??

Post a few pics..............

 

[Daw14]

Where did this truck spend its life at ?

 

[Marshall]

Next question, what does the seller want, They should have a price in mind.
If they are looking for a offer, then 10K is quite resonable.
BTW, a truck sitting for yrs with out driving is usally a pita.
seals dry up, mice live in it, fuel system is shot.
tires are no big deal.
I had the same truck as this , great truck.

 

[Bigskyroadglide]

As much as you might think this truck is worth, it's only worth what a willing buyer and willing seller agree upon.

Book value is right around 9 to 10k depending on trim and options. High miles will get you a small deduction in price.but low mileage does not add much.

If the seller wants 2 or 3x of book look elsewhere.

They are not unicorns, they made a bunch of them.

 

[diymirage]

I appreciate the input. But honestly, 10k seems insane to me. I know values vary by area but where I am, 10k will get you a 125k mile truck in average condition.

Recently on Marketplace near me:
2003 with 123k - 10k
2008 with 150k - 12k

A few hours from me:
2005 with 119k - 10k

Also, ran across a pretty nice truck out in the wild and approached the owner. Granted, he didn’t want to sell it but it’s an 08 with 150k, hail damage on the hood, clear fading on the top, and he wants 16k.

About 10 hours from me:
2005 1-owner old man special with 60k. Beautiful truck but it’s lived in IN and the underside is rusty. 15k.

I understand what you guys are saying about it being a 20 year old truck but I feel like y'all are almost saying it’s worth less because of the low miles.

Is that what you saw them sell for ..or what people who are on fakebook are asking ?

And low miles is only good up to a point, in my opinion, highway miles are less of a stress on a vehicle then sitting is

If something is driven, it's probably taken care of, if it's parked, it's probably forgotten

 

[Thom storey]

i bought a 2007 2500, i paid 42k 47000 miles, i love the truck, but i had to replace the clutch, which is common with a dual mass, the ac compressor, 6 months later it needed everything ac related under the hood, now the mixer actuators are messed up, i now have 68k on it, it was repainted, and im getting a lot of chipping, when bought it, it looked like brand new, it still does, the chips so far are hardly visible, all the rubber looks good, do a carfax before you buy, if they used a dealer for servicing, the history will be there, i also put an exhaust brake on it, clutch 3200 - ac 2800 - exhaust brake 2500 - air bags 500, its worth about 30k, but then thats probably what it was worth when i bought it, i saw it and had to have it

 

[Dean2]

Just did a search within 100 miles of me, there are 30 Ram 1500s with less than 50,000 miles on them for under $35,000 Canadian, which is $26,000 U.S.. The newest is a 2022, with 34,000 miles for $22,000 Canadian. There are a bunch of 2021 and 2022s with 30,000 miles in the 30 to 35,000 Canadian price range. Gives you a bit of perspective on what one 20 years older should be worth

https://www.autotrader.ca/offers/ram-1500-tradesman-gasoline-red-37f4f0d8-3fad-4af0-adee-b575375181b9

 

[rick phillips]

Be'ins as this is the type truck you've been wanting, it'll be worth more to you than others. That being said, the condition you explained, to me, will make it worth quite a bit more than just a 119K, 123K, or 150K truck. This seems to be a very very nice with 100K less than the others you showed. The earlier $5K to $10K seems more like a good "05" truck, doesn't seem realistic for this one. My opinion, If you can get in for $15K, or so, you should be happy. and as said there may be a couple of things that need adressed, hard to imagine everything A/C related under the hood nor a clutch, no clue how age can afffect clutch life... Good luck, let us know what happens..

 

[Tominator223]

I’d say 6-12k. If they have all records of maintenance . Kept inside rubber should be good. 1st thing I’d do if I bought it. Is put a 180-190 t-stat in. And replace all fluids. They’re only worth what someone will pay

 

[Jim Bowker]

Things often rust out before they wear out. If it looks really pretty, that's an emotional response, not a logical one. Stuff is still going to break, even if it looks really really nice. That's why it's not worth much more than $10-12k.

 

[Harry Paratestes]

Price is HIGHLY dependent on location. Without pictures and location, anyones number theyve thrown out means nothing