Need some advise one a Frontier...

[WRLiv]

I found an 01 King Cab Frontier for $5000 at a dealership, (so tags, title & license are not included in that price). It a 4 cylinder 5 speed 2wd with about 150000 miles one it. I looked up the retail value on KBB and it was a little over $5000.

Heres the site...

http://columbus.craigslist.org/ctd/2312083711.html

So what do u guys (and girls) think? I dont know much about the Frontiers, just that I think this body style is awsome and that i want one. lol
I've been more of an early HB and Pathy guy up till now, (mainly cause i haven't been able to afford a Frontier until now...)

Any imput u have will be greatly appreciated. :)

[Tenhook]

I've got an '02 fronty 4bang 2wd. I love mine. Its got 140K on it now and I have never had a problem with her. I'd say shoot for it. It look kick ass form the ad. This is the 1st import I've ever owned and after this truck I'm sold! I will buy another one in the future.

[hessianben]

clean looking truck. that mileage is still like new :) mine just turned 180k and it's just getting broken in!
keep in mind, that if you were to buy it private party, you'd be around $4000. check around on craigslist in your area to see what they're selling for.
if the truck's been on the lot for a while, they may take a lower offer. can't hurt to ask.
you shouldn't be walking out the door for a dollar more than $5k with tax title ect...


things to check:

-listen for valve rattle/ sticky lifters.

-look inside the oil fill hole to see if it looks like the oil was allowed to get gunky (infrequent oil changes).

-if you want to get dirty, take a breaker bar with you, and remove the fill plugs on both the tranny and rear diff: if you see shavings on the magnetic plug, it's been used hard.

-you can also take a compression tester with you ($15 at harbor freight) and check comp. through each spark plug port, but if it's from a dealer, you're probably alright.

[WRLiv]

Thanks guys, especially for the tips hessianben. I definitely want this truck, the only thing slowing me down is the engine. I know Nissans will run forever (even tho i havnt had much luck with them) but this truck has more miles than my '97 HB does, and in the pic it looks really dirty. This beening a dealer u'd think they would clean it or something, and if they already did, its in bad shape. And is it just me, or is there something missing from the air intake system? My girlfriends got a '95 HB and theres a big box lookin thing in the front drivers side corner, it looks like this truck is missing that box (pic below, but not sure if it will show up or not.)

As for the money, most Frontiers on craigslist around me r 4x4 crew cabs, and they r goin for 7000-10000. I was thinkin about goin down there and tell them im payin with cash, then see wat kind of deal they will give me.

Oh, and hessianben, dont u drift ur truck? :) If and wen i get a Frontier, we should talk. :D

http://cdn.dealerpeak.com/photolibrary/cache/623/9174258/80-1-600x-12271511.jpg

[mini702]

Well if the p/o removed the air box then the p/o likely did other stupid things, probably ran the engine hard too. Not a $5000 truck in my eye. Expect to spend money on it for repairs. If you like it that much knock at least $1k off the price.

Dealer probably didn't do anything to it but give it a bath and put it on the lot. They do that with low value trade-ins.

[Foul_Mouth]

Sure this thing isn't a Katrina flood truck? Damn that engine bay is trashed.

[WRLiv]

Well if the p/o removed the air box then the p/o likely did other stupid things, probably ran the engine hard too. Not a $5000 truck in my eye. Expect to spend money on it for repairs. If you like it that much knock at least $1k off the price.

Dealer probably didn't do anything to it but give it a bath and put it on the lot. They do that with low value trade-ins.

true, and thats my problem. ive been screwed on just about all of the vehicles ive bought in the past (POs fault or not) and i dont want it to happen again, especially with something that cost this much.

Sure this thing isn't a Katrina flood truck? Damn that engine bay is trashed.

that is something i can see happening to me. it would go right alone with everything else. lol

anyway, im gonna call tomorrow morning to make sure they still have it. if they do ill take a trip down there to test drive it and look it over. after that ill talk money with em... we'll see wat happens...

[02GreenFronty]

outside of the truck looks great, just when you pop the hood and see the mess..... that's when you need to be careful, b/c if they only cleaned the outside and not the engine, then they maybe trying to get rid of it for some reason

[Jake616]

If your serious, see if they will carfax it for you...or pay yourself. If you pay,dont give them the paperwork if you dont buy it either lol.

Price seems high to me, then again....ive got same truck ALOT cheaper but lots of elbow grease involved