koja7296

Looking for advice , I'm sure others have been where I am . Here's my choices, buy a new '14 STX , 4x4, 5.0 crew cab , or fix up my '05 . The '05 runs great . I have some rust on the box . Starting around the wheel well , around the gas cap door , and being an eight foot box it has pads on the inside of box sides that are causing it to rust there . Talked to my buddy today who is the body shop manager at my local ford dealer . He said there was a recall for those pads causing rust but that was awhile ago and is going to see if ford will still honor it , but not likely . So , different box , paint the box if I can't find the same color . It also needs shocks , struts , and rear diff is getting loud . The truck has 165,000 on it but runs and drives great . So , do I put a couple grand in the old girl or buy new . I can afford a new one , be tight , but could swing it . Just really love the one I have now , fits me well . But who wouldn't like a new one too , lol . Anybody's two cents would be appriecated .

koja7296

Any ideas ?

TheFinger

Do you have a monthly payment now? If not, I would patch up the old girl and try to squeeze a few more years out of her. I always forget how bad a monthly payment sucks until I get a new one. Avoid it at all costs! lol

Also, there is something to be said for having a car that you like, but that you don't really care about that much. I loved driving my old '92 Explorer when it ran well, because I didn't ever worry about keeping it clean or parking too close to other cars. That's freedom!

screamineagle

I agree, fix up the old and save a monthly payment!

joe mcmillan

I have an '04 and love it. Mine is still in very good condition with only 68,000 miles. No rust and good paint.
If I were in your shoes, I would just put some dollars into your truck and drive it for several more years.
Owning an old truck is not so bad. You know the history and usually know what to expect next.
The '05 generation is a great truck so just do a little work and enjoy NO PAYMENTS!

PJB

I just faced the same decision with my '06 and after looking at the price of the trucks I considered replacing it with ('11+ Ram and Tundra) I decided to keep it.


Mine also needs a new bed or atleast bed sides due to rust. I had them fixed last fall and now the rust is back worse than before. Mine is too new for the recall, it only covered '06's made in '05 and mine has a 2/06 build date.


I just got the belt tensioner replaced last week and a new exhaust manifold this week. The limited slip seems to be acting up a bit lately too.
I did shocks and struts last summer.


Ive got 133k on mine and it still runs good, doesn't leak anything and its paid for. I can afford payments on a newer one (wouldn't make the mistake of buying any vehicle new ever again) but would rather save that money for a house. I hate loans.

djfllmn

iTrader: (1)

off it for the 14

canddmeyer

Put the money into a new truck.

koja7296

No payments is a good thing . But , things wear out and parts can equal a payment . I drive a lot of miles (30,000) a year on average . So doesn't take long to wear out a truck . That is what makes the decision hard . One thing I won't do is buy a car for driving back and forth to work. A F150 that I had before saved my life in a wreck .I would have been dead if I was driving a small car .

PJB

Ive had pretty good luck with mine so far, just minor repairs here and there and Id been putting off a few of the recent ones for a bit.


I figured Id rather put $3k into it than $30k into a newer Ram or Tundra.