Cheap Craigslist deals

[coffeegoat]

Long time lurker here based in the Denver area, I've been planning on picking up a Montero for a while and so I've been watching Craigslist and other sources. I had been hoping to pick up a lower miles, 2003+, limited and was budgeting 5-6k for a clean truck.

I just found this truck on Craigslist:
denver.craigslist.org/cto/5593262456.html
You have to copy the link because it's my first post.

It's not super clean, there is hardly any information, but wow is it cheap. Deferring to the wisdom of the group do you folks think this is worth considering? Being that cheap buys a bunch of repairs, maintenance and goodies, but I also really hate the idea of picking up a money pit. What do you all think ?

 

[ManfromSnowyRiver]

Gone tonight best. LOL what is that all about? :Wow1: Possible good deal

 

[RyanY]

Sounds to me like it's not been well maintained and the owner knows it. I'd go over with a fine-toothed comb, checking every single system for proper functioning, visually check the undercarriage, take it on a thorough test drive, and get any and all maintenance and repair records the owner has. The fact that the check engine light has been on for years and the owner didn't care enough to find out why is a huge red flag (although it's probably likely that he had it checked out and decided that he didn't want to spend the money to fix it). Definitely find out when the timing belt was last changed, because that's a significant maintenance cost that's likely been skipped as well.

If you can work on it yourself, it could be worth it.

 

[coffeegoat]

That's my read too, if it's that cheap and they want it gone it sounds like the maintenance didn't get done and they want to cut their losses and get out.

I can and usually do my own work, but I'd much rather be using the truck than working on the truck. Figuring I'd need to replace the timing belt, probably tires (the spare isn't on the back either), fluids, and all the other displaced maintenance, I'm easily up to 2-3k in parts, and if the maintenance was skipped for most of it's life the likelihood of something else going bad quick seems high.

Sounds like for my first Monty I should pick one with less glaring potential faults.

 

[cornfarmer]

Maybe get an inspection or bring a mechanic buddy if you have one. Or offer him $800-1000, based on some deferred maintenance you're likely going to inherit.