Would like some advice on a pickup...

[BigMan]

1) 2002 F250 Lariat with 97000 miles ~ $18200

2) 2002 F250 XLT with 129000 miles ~ $15500

3) 2000 F250 Lariat with 103000 miles ~ $14500

Considering all esle equal as far as condition and what not, which is the better deal?
Is there any significant difference between a 2000 and a 2002?
These are all 7.3s with automatic trans.
Thanks for any input.

 

[winter brew]

I believe the '02 had several upgrades in the tranny, my old man has a '02 with about 80K on it, all with the Banks junk and 90% of the miles towing a 15,000lb trailer....ZERO issues and stock tranny. Been a great truck.
Not sure if there are any significant differences, but the last/best year of the GOOD Ford was '02 IMO.

 

[Track Poacher]

Make sure you test drive them all and get it out on the highway. The older ones were notorius for front end wear issues. Some of them you really have to saw on the steering wheel to keep them straight at high way speeds. I know from experience!

 

[christian]

Only way to go wrong if previous owner didn't take care of them!!!

I would go #1 if any warentee is left??? if not then #3 the price looks good!!!

 

[Hunter2008]

Nothing wrong with any of them, take your pick

 

[Bull Elk]

#3 for sure it has forged rods and not powder metal.

better for handling cp's with bigger injectors.

 

[preston012088]

Get a duramax

 

[snoboy]

Number 1. Best year (of the 3), newest truck, lowest miles, best trim package. I don't think he's gonna see cps high enough for powdered rods to fail if he's looking at a truck with 100,000 miles on it. he he Besides he'd need headstuds before that anyways.

snoboy

 

[Hunter2008]

Forget the Ford and get a Dodge with the Cummins in it or buy one of these fords and put a cummins in it.

 

[Vern]

if the 02s do have an upgraded tranny from the 00 then if it were me i would go with #2, 129000 is not alot of miles, especially on a diesel. but if trannies are the same id go for the cheaper #3, cuz i dont like spending alot of money.

 

[CascadeXP]

Is this a daily driver, where you will tack on alot of your own milage quickly? If it isn't the daily driver and instead your weekend fun rig then #2 seems to be the ticket. $ is right, newer updates to tranny, etc., etc., and because you wont be adding alot (5 - 15 thousand) miles per year then the milage doesn't matter. If it is your daily driver and your fun rig, I would suggest #3, you pick up a years milage and for $1K less.
Good Luck

 

[BigMan]

Thanks everyone for the input. Yes, this is gonna be my daily driver.. not towing any real heavy loads.. a two-place will probably be about the extent of it. I was unaware of the tranny updates and since trannys are a sore spot with me anyway, that in itself sounds like a good reason to go with an '02.

Now, between the two '02s, I've been doing some figuring and this is what I've came up with. To me, the truck will be wore out (for the sake of easy figuring) at 200,000 miles. So, I will get ~ 70,000 miles of use out of truck #2 for $15500, so $15500/70,000 miles = $.22/mile to operate truck #2. Truck #1 will yield ~100,000 miles so $18,200/100,000 miles = $.18/mile to operate, so all else being equal, and if my logic is correct, truck #1 should be the better choice from the cost per mile perspective, and not to mention, truck #1 has the leather and a topper so it should retain better value.

By the way, how often should a guy change the oil in one of these? Would it be safe to run it to 5000?

Thanks again guys.

 

[jaimps]

5000 is plenty. I have a 99 250 with 5.4l gas and 315000 on it and i skip to 7500 frequently, with no problems yet. Just run a decent oil ant be consistent.

 

[OuraySledder]

I put 250k HARD miles on a '99 F350, it was either plowing my 10 acre lot, or towing a big gooseneck into contruction sites. That truck was tough as nails. Due to all the heavy towing I had the trans rebuilt at 200k along with the rear axle. The only other failure ever was a water pump at 30k miles.

I don't think there are any substantial differences in the trannies. They are all the 4 sp 4R100, worked well for me.

That said, I have had five new Dodge Cummins trucks since 2003. Better power, ability to make a heck of a lot more power cheaply, better fuel economy by 3-5 mpg and it wont be worn out at 300k, it will go at least 500k before you have to touch the engine, probably a lot more. The truck itself is also a lot nice being a 4 yr newer design. The torque of the Cummins KILLS the 7.3 and the d-max. I have owned them all.

 

[Midge907]

I would think #1, or #3 depending on condition. If you get number 3, you have extra money for mods and maintnance to the truck.

 

[hilinerider]

fords automatics cannot handle severe service, they are throw away trannys, if the had the six speed manual it would be a good pickup

my .02

 

[OuraySledder]

fords automatics cannot handle severe service, they are throw away trannys, if the had the six speed manual it would be a good pickup

my .02

Gee I dunno, 200k miles of heavy snow plowing and towing?????? It never failed, don't know if it would have but lets see anybody elses auto hold up that well. I blew up the stupid allison in my 03 chebby in 30k miles pulling a little 4000lb boat.

On the other hand...my current Dodge has a six speed manual. I agree, they are the best way to go. GM did have issues with the ZF six speed in some early applications though.

 

[WyoBoy1000]

number one best for them money and if anything did go in any of them it would be the trans and 1 has the lowest miles
i'd prefer a chev but if i where making that choice 1 for sure
seen alot of trans problems around 165,000 to 200,000 on those trucks
if one has been modded or chipped expect earlier problems with trans
it is the best ford you can buy right now, '02 7.3L

 

[APEXed West]

I wouldn't skimp on the oil changes, especially if you are going for longevity. Diesels are very dirty runners, are slow to warm up and that is the worst as far as oil life is concerned. I change my 96 7.3 religously at 3,000 miles. Comparing the cost of oil over the years of service, it is a pittance in operating costs.

 

[OuraySledder]

I wouldn't skimp on the oil changes, especially if you are going for longevity. Diesels are very dirty runners, are slow to warm up and that is the worst as far as oil life is concerned. I change my 96 7.3 religously at 3,000 miles. Comparing the cost of oil over the years of service, it is a pittance in operating costs.

You'd better hurry up and send out warnings to all the big rig drivers! Those guys run up to 100,000 miles on an oil change. I change at a 10,000 mile interval on my Cummins, as supported by oil analysis. The oil is proven to last that long.

On the 7.3s we are talking about, they use high pressure oil to fire the injectors, you might want to shorten the interval some but 3,000 mile oil changes are a thing of the past. I think that is really wasteful considering we are talking 3 gallons per change.