A Tale of 2 F-150s

I have a choice between two F-150 Super Crews and when I weigh the pros and cons of each, I'm coming up with a tie. Here's the vitals:

2001 XLT 4x2: 56,000 miles. The truck is pretty clean in and out. It spent its first year or so as a rental. When I popped the hood, the engine was covered with a fine red dust (we live in the desert), but no signs of leaks and no dings to the undercarriage. The bed liner was a bit scuffed up. With the truck comes a 72-month, 100,000-mile extended warranty that covers just about everything under the sun. Price: $15,000.

2001 XLT 4x2: 71,000 miles. This truck is supposed to be very clean and very well maintained by the original owner. I'm going to see it today and check it out for myself. This truck comes with no warranty the but promise of a caring owner. Price: $12,900.

I originally passed on the higher mileage truck because I didn't want to plunk down $13K for a vehicle that was going to hit 100,000 miles in two years. Then again, I could pocket the savings ($2,100) and just put that in the repair account for down the road.

Any thoughts from the Super Crew gurus?

John

I always take a higher mileage one-owner over a lower mileage rental/lease return. My theory is that with a "return" unit, they KNOW it will not be their problem in a few months, so they don't car.

I usually agree with single owner highway mileage trucks, they're the best ones for long term. However, if you have a 72 month or 100,000 mile EXTENDED warranty on the other truck for 2 grand more, personally i think the extra 2 grand for that kind of coverage is worth it.

Plus, in a year if the thing turns out to be a bit of a lemon, you have a great means of resale in the warranty and won't be down and out much cash. If the higher-miler is a lemon, you have nothing to recoupe.

It's your call obviously, i personally like the security and peace of mind in a warranty.

Yah...it's a coin toss! ;)

I hope to get some more scoop on the lower mileage truck tonight. I've made the offer and the owner has accepted...but, the owner is now in Montana and his truck is with his brother in Vegas (where I am ). The bank in Ohio holds the title so there's a whole lot of hassles going on here. If it doesn't pan out, I have the 71K truck to look at tomorrow.

An "extended warrenty" is utterly useless if you cannot collect on it. If it is a Ford ESP plan, then I'd say it is ok, but if it an aftermarket warrenty seller, RUN. No one will work on them.

Good point ModMech, i take for granted being at a dealership where we only sell warranties that either Ford or our dealership would back up!

Well, the higher mileage truck was sold before I even got to see it. So I am back to the one with the extended warranty. The warranty is from warrantysbynet.

I just had a thought...

Get the information about the warranty and who supplies it, and take that information to your local service places; the places where you would take the truck for service when needed.

Explain to them you're looking at buying this truck and see if they'd honor the warranty should there be an issue. If yes, get it in writing and then you know it's good. That should address the issue that ModMech pointed out about the warranty.

Well...thanks for the feedback guys. With the warranty out of NJ, the seller out of state, the truck in-state with the seller's brother and the bank with the title in yet another state, I've called the deal off. Plus the seller was upside down on the loan so it was just a nightmare waiting to happen.

I picked up an 01 F-150 Lariat 4x4 with 35K miles. Sweet truck and should get it later this week. Hopefully I won't be posting here much often with repair questions, but you never know. This truck is going to make it at least to 150K miles.

Good deal sounds nice plus its 4x4, That option will greatly help for resale value. Congradulations!