So lately I've been shopping for a full size.

I haven't decided if I'm trading the Ranger in, I've been looking at a few new F150's, but I still prefer the 04-08 model trucks.

So, after a little auto trader search I found this Click me What do you guys think? Too much? Just right?

The reason I'm not committed to getting rid of the Ranger is because I've owned it for 7 years and it would be hard to see it go. I'm getting married next year and may want to get our family started in the next couple years

I'm also thinking about waiting for another year or two and let the prices drop more on slightly used trucks

This isn't happening tomorrow or anything I've just been thinking about it and figured I'd get the forums opinion since a few of you have gone full size.

BTW, if anyone is going to suggest vehicles, I'm only looking at nicely equipped 4x4 crew cabs with a V8

 

Way too much.

 

That's what I was thinking, the last 08 I looked at was expensive too.

I like the trim and options package though

 

That's about $7k too much.

 

It's pretty clear I'm new to this car shopping thing lol.

I'm not opposed to driving outside my area either

 

That's over $5,000 more then I paid for my heep. Lol

 

way to much. i coulda bought basically the same thing, same miles, same configuration, fx4 and everything for about that over a year ago.

 

Just to show how new I am to this, I kept calling it an "Fby4", I did it several times before the dealer corrected me and said "Fex4"

 

I just lol'd

 

^^ ahahah thats hilarous, you really are a newb to this lol.



Those 04-08 F150's are holding their value extremely well especially for low mileage 4x4's and crew cab.

Ive been shopping non stop for the last 2 months straight and even an 05/06 extended cab 4x4 with 50-75k miles is still bring constant high high teens. I literally had over 5 dealers tell me straight up that look no offense, but people are buying alot of vehicles now, and lower mileage 4x4 full sizes are especially selling very well.

They said it aint like it used to be 2 years ago where big 4x4's weren't moving much. That even though everything is priced pretty high, they know they will sell it. I was offering like 17-19 grand in full for a truck that same day and got turned down left and right. Told straight to me face by more than a handful that thanks but no thanks. They know they will sell it and they aren't budging.

I ended up buying an 06 dodge 1500 quad cab hemi 4x4 big horn edition with 70,000 miles for around 17.5 out the door. 16.5 for the truck and a little over a grand for sales tax, licensing, etc. 17.5 was right at what kbb is stating for good condition private party so im happy with what I paid; plus I was able to keep 2 grand in the bank in case of anything. I even searched for 300 miles around KY, but anywhere around here; low mileage 4x4 half tons bring a premium.

As much as I wanted an 04-08 F150, I wasn't going to make an unwise purchase to do it. I had a budget of 19.5 out the door to work within and just wasn't happy what I found in the ford market for the money and miles for a 4 door 4x4. As much as im a ford guy, im not so naive to think there aren't any other good trucks out there and the hemi is a good motor in that generation truck and arguably more reliable than the cam phaser, timing chain, exhaust manifold, etc isses of the 5.4's. We also have an 06 dodge 3500 that we use for the farm and training my quarter horses so I was already just as familiar with that gen dodge as I was for the 04-08 F150's.

I honestly just can't justify spending 20 grand or more on a truck right now that isn't under 50,000 miles/or thats 6 years old and I didn't want a huge payment for the next 7 years either. Like mentioned I had a max budget of 19.5 out the door, had to be the v8, 4 full doors, 4x4, 2 previously owners or less, no previous wrecks, and atleast under 75,000 miles and even searching for 300 miles around me nonstop for the last 2 months, I still was very very unhappy with what I was coming up with.

Goodluck finding what you want but if your wanting all the options and particulars I wanted your going to have to pay for it. Scott got lucky with finding his 04 extended cab private party, but deals like that don't come around much anymore. I specifically wanted a crew cab truck so extended cab wasn't an option for me and im not a fan of the tan leather in lariats or the black carbon fiber dash panels in the FX4's.


~But to stay on track, do the fullsize mod especially when a family starts. As much as I loved my ranger (and it is very good at what it was built to do), you just can't even compare to a fullsize especially one that is 4 full doors and no torsion bars.

~If I was you id just wait it out and stay looking til the end of the year and make a decision early next year. I couldn't get myself to spend over 20 grand on a truck that was 6 years old, isn't diesel and didn't fit all of my criteria. Im also not a fan of the 09 and up ford interiors. To me they are just going to a new age, "space/futuristic" style that im just not happy with which is why I only looked for an 04-08.

~IMO for the money in that half-ton era of trucks; 06-08 1500 hemi, or 04-08 F150 5.4 are the best options but you need to be prepared for the pro's and con's of both. The silverado's of that era aren't a bad truck at all but the interiors are horrid and I was not going torsion bar again.

 

Well after thinking about it and doing more truck research I think I'm just going to wait. I'm way too picky with colors and options to find a used one with everything I want for a reasonable price.

I think I'll just wait for a couple years and just order a brand new one. I can afford a new one now, but with the wedding coming up next spring I don't want to take on the payments until after the wedding.

Plus, the longer I wait the more feasible it would be to keep the Ranger and get a new truck

 

*You after he corrected you*

 

Is it sad that I call them Fby4 also? Haha

 

lol yes, its almost a sin to.