Cards667

I recently sold my 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee and have been looking for a truck. Its not going to be driven everyday and will only be used for around town, when I go hunting (usually my friends drive though), or when weather gets bad.

I had a guy offer me his 2000 Silverado LT 4X4 for $1,200. It got hit and needs a new right fender, hood realigned, and alignment. Estimated at local body shop around $1,500 to $2,200 to repair. Total I will have $3,000-3500 in it. Its got 284,000 miles on it though. It was a compay work truck before and the miles are mostly highway. Should these miles make me go another option?

Like 1996 Chevy Cheyenne 4x4. Good condition (1 owner) but very basic. New tranny, u-joint, shocks, suspension. 170k. $4500. or 1998 F-150 XLT 4x4 165k with Jasper rebuil w/ 20k. Its the 4.6l, which im not a big fan of. In avg condition. $4,500.

cam3439

If the guy with the Cheyenne didn't abuse the heck out of his truck like run it through the ocean or burn it, I would go with that truck myself. Those trucks are bullet proof. They are also cheaper to rebuild and maintain IMO.

Edit: My dad has an old '93 in the back that we use as a work truck, and it's been in 2 wrecks (due to my brother). It's still running strong and if I remember correctly we replaced an O2 sensor that costed around 20-30 bucks (I think there are only 2). The O2 sensors on my Tahoe (and in the 2000 silverado) will run you about 60 buck, and you have 4 to replace.

gotstylez

i agree with cam3439

therewolf

Hi Cards667,

Welcome to the Chevy Forums.

Seems like you're going to spend @4K to 5K$ for a strong, dependable, truck either way.

Personally, I'd opt for the vehicle which wasn't hit. A decent body is one of the few things you can have some control over in an older vehicle. There's too many variables with the mechanicals at that age but to be certain of anything except, that at some time, it's going to cost you whatever money you saved, and maybe then some.

Hit vehicles have hidden damage which crops up years later due to parts being misaligned and hidden items being crushed.

There are formal Chevy clubs for pickups which pass the 300,000, and even the 500,000 mile mark. So it's not unheard of.

Cards667

Thanks for the info. I was leaning toward the 96 Cheyenne before. I'm sure here everybody is Chevy loyal. Im one that just doesnt like certain years and models of every vehicle. Tend to lean toward Jeep SUVs (traded in my 98 Accord with 190k for 08 Grand Cherokee last month for the wife), Ford or Chevy Trucks depending on the year and motor, and cars are all over the place. I think they are just nuts and bolts all put together about the same and all have their flaws. I love the body style of the 96 Chevy. I think its probably the best looking truck ever. My dad had a 93 Cheyenne for a work truck and put 260k on it over 5-6 years and it was still running great. His next truck was a 98 or 99 F-150 and after 190k and a few times in the shop the company gave up on it (it had the 4.6, they had others with the 5.4 and had no problems. They bought 2 Rams and got rid of them shortly after 100k and said never again a Dodge) I know a few people who have had the 4.6 ford and had nothing but problems. Then had a 2002 Silverado and it went 250k. had a few problems but nothing to big, and is now driving a 2007 or 08 Silverado which already has 170k i believe. Hes a regional sales manager for his company based out of southern Illinois and drives all over Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, and parts of Ohio. They replace their trucks every 250k or about 5 years.

Hopefully with get my tax money this week or next and will put that to the little I put back and the money from my Jeep and will get a truck soon. Hopefully the Cheyenne is still there. It looks GREAT. Hopefully Ill get atleast 5-6 good years out of it when i pay off the Grand Cherokee and get get a much newer used or possibly new truck.