Fix or buy new
 

Looking to get other people’s opinion on this. I have a 2003 f150 with 185k on it with a 5.4 for inspection I’ve been told it’s going to need both rockers replaced and both bumpers due to rust. For rockers I’ve gotten quotes from $1,500-$3,000 each. So now is it worth replacing and not owning a thing on it or buying another truck and having to finance.
Ive got people telling me to fix it and others saying don’t sink another penny into it. What makes this hard for me is I’m a college student so I don’t want to have more debt than I need. But I also don’t want to buy a cheap car and have the same issues every year with getting an inspection.

thanks everyone

I would keep it. Especially where your a college student. A new F150 could cost about 500 or more a month. You never know what could happen.

When a vehicle starts nickle and dimeing me, it's gone. Is that the only things wrong, or do you have to throw parts at it all the time?
I've never been in your situation, so I really don't know what to say.
Can you afford a newer reliable vehicle? I think that would be my deciding factor. Another big thing/warning, I don't think it would be fun being vehicle poor.

So far the engine has been solid it’s just been rust issues so far for the last few years I need to put anywhere between $500-$1,500 into it for inspection the only other issues I know of are the bed rails are getting soft and I do know that a strap to the fuel tank rusted off so that will probably need to be replaced for inspection. The frame is also solid

as financially with what I have and what I’m predicting to make over the summer I should be all set I just want to make the best decision I can

Sounds like your head is screwed on right. Just depends how much you like the truck as well. I don't like to lease, but just for conversation, have you thought about taking that $3G, and maybe leasing a new vehicle? Reliability would be pretty much assured, and no doubt lower operating costs, at least with fuel.
Your still a young guy, with the opportunity to make more money in a couple years or so, and you might have to bite the bullet and not get something like a Raptor, but Ford has a number of nice vehicles that won't likely break the bank.

The gas tank straps were recalled and will be replaced free. Just fix it and keep on trucking, at least until you get out of college.

I think they were already replaced because when I check the vin there is no active recall
I’ll have to check the records I was given when I bought the truck and see if it was done or not

yeah I’ve thought strongly about leasing but I really don’t like the idea of not having equity in it but it’s still not out of the question
thanks

I was in a somewhat similar situation as you about a year ago and ending up keeping the truck (2003 f150 ext cab with the fx4 package, 148k miles, 5.4, and also rusting rockers) I was looking for a new truck to better suit my family since my 03 is only an extended cab and I was looking for a crew cab. I found one with an msrp about 50k and with rebates was 43k or so and was offered 5500 for trade in which was actually really fair but the payments were still around 500-530 which was just too much for us at the time. So in the end the payments were too much and my truck had way more sentimental value for me(had it since 2009) to make money that tight so we traded my wifes xterra for an explorer with lower payments then some big life changes happened for me and I needed a commuter car so I got a 2018 focus which gets like 32mpg and much lower payments which with the explorer are still less than the truck. So now I have a little of everything I guess. Overall I would keep and run it to the ground until you can afford something you really want unless it worth a good bit now and still worth trading in.

Drive it rusty. Don't waste money on bodywork.

2 things, How deep are your pockets and how padded is your bank account? Answer those then people might be able to give you a half assed answer. Seriously?

Can you buy a new truck? Can you support a used one?

Can't do that if it won't pass inspection.

I had kind of a similar issue last year. I had my '09 FX4 crew cab with luxury package - it was what I thought would be my last truck. Last year at 9 years old, while doing my spring detail, I noticed some rust starting at the rear cab corners from the inside out - paint starting to bubble. I was heartbroken - I loved that truck!

It was not an issue for inspection and you couldn't notice it unless you were under the truck. But I know once this rust starts there is really no stopping it. I ended up making a decision to trade it in on a used '15 Lariat with the aluminum body. I am hoping the aluminum body will hold up to the salt and anti skid around here.

It seems I just can't keep a truck for more than 10 years around here. I was hoping my '09 would last me 20 years.

So maybe look at a used '15+. At the time I couldn't afford a new truck either unless I got an XL or something. I got too used to all the goodies - my own fault - so I was looking at Lariats. I found a 3 year old off-lease Lariat that had everything I wanted - all the service records etc.

Maybe take a look at these trucks - if for nothing else to look at all your options and make an informed decision.

The answer to both would be yes

like I said before I’m trying to make the most informed decision I can and I know that their are a lot of great and knowledgeable people on this form

I guess all states are different.. We have a pretty strict safety inspection, but a vehicle won't fail due to rusty rockers or bumpers where I live.

There are places that will fail them. IIRC, it was either Ontario or Quebec that used to. Could be bad memory.
Sometimes I wish we had an inspection here. There truly is many POS on the roads. Body parts can be found in ditches off and on. Let alone bad brakes, tires, exhaust systems, lights, on many DDs, that people have no problem driving and endangering the lives of others.:censored:

i definitely would if I could but I live in Maine and they will fail it for the rusty rockers.

yep that would fail here in PA, any rust holes, automatic fail.

OP if you can support it, i would look for something a little newer, maybe not brand new but something newer that you don't have to keep dumping money into. My brother was just in the same situation with his ranger, kept costing him money so he got rid of it for a fusion, granted he wasn't real happy but he would rather have a newer vehicle that is hopefully more reliable.

My opinion is to not put that kind of money in a vehicle that old and look into a new or at least newer vehicle.

I was in a similar situation as the OP earlier this year but in a better financial position so the decision was a little easier.

My 08 F-150 has 284,000 miles. I had kept up with regular maintenance but time and miles were catching up. last year I repaired/replaced a lot of parts. Then At the end of January I blew a head gasket and that was the final straw. With rust at every wheel well and under the bed I thought that putting anymore money in it would be wasted in the long run.

I had been thinking about a new one for almost a year and was planning to purchase this summer but now have one on order and scheduled at the dealer mid-May.

They have some sweet lease deals on stx crew cab trims a few months ago, $299 a month with like $800 due at signing. I think you could still hunt down a bargain deal like that, keep in mind insurance costs will rise but you get the feeling of a new vehicle with 0 maintenance worries, if you have a side business or hustle in college you can even write it off, but if it's only gonna take X amount of money to fix and you know there's nothing else wrong with it then you can save that extra money and use it for something else.

Just to add about my above post and buying used -

the ‘15 Lariat I bought had 34k miles. I was within the window to be able to purchase an ESP plan which I did for peace of mind.

if I remember correctly - it has to be within 41 months of the date it was first put into service. Mine was put into service February 18 2015 so I had until July 2018 to buy the ESP plan. I bought it in June 2018. I got the premier plan (best plan) up to 60k miles with $100 deductible for around $900.

it took the edge off buying a used truck for me since I have bought new the past 3 times around.

just something to consider.

If you weren't a college student I would say buy new. But for now fix it. I personally hate buying new vehicles. But I plan on keeping my current one for as long as I can. If the body hold up I will have the engine replaced. I'm hoping the aluminum lasts longer than the steel. We shall see....

Here's my 2 cents right or wrong.
That engine has 185K miles on it and though it seems strong now, it could blow at any given moment.
Are you good at gambling!

If you are mechanically inclined and if you like the truck for sentimental reasons, keep it and fix the problems as a leisure hobby .
In the meantime you might want to buy a new(er) more dependable vehicle.
I''ve got a Jeep XJ with some 350K miles on it but i also have 3 other vehicles as back up.
Keeping that Jeep on the road and modding it is more a less a hobby but i would never trust it on a cross country drive.

Case in point.
I have an '05 Dodge with 135K miles on it with basically no rust and it has a strong engine also.
So i decided to refurbish it as a backup car.
I replaced the struts, painted the wheels, did a brake job and had a body shop repaint the front bumper investing a ton of money.
Looked good as new and drove great for about 1K miles and ....
Then out of the blue a 740 CEL-no torque converter lock up verified by the tach..
Could be something simple like a sensor, connector, solenoid OR a blown torque converter clutch.
Gonna cut my losses and get rid of it one way or another.

Yeah that’s what one of my fears bigger fear is. I would hate to sink 3k to 6k into it then have the engine or trans go

OP, I am truly sorry for your situation. Vehicle inspections should not fail you for non-safety issues like rusting rockers. What a blessing to the automotive industry in your state.

Since you haven't mentioned moving out of that state, I'd consider that rust will spread slowly and consistently. Ask the inspector if there are any marginal issues that are about to surface, how much per year will you be paying your state per year for the privilege of having a vehicle that appears safe? Compare that to the gauranteed depreciation costs of a new F-150 (easily 2k/year of depreciation.)

Have you considered buying a used 2015 with the aluminum body?

At least here in pa they view them as a safety issue. As a getting cut issue

And do you actually believe your politicians that such a justification justifies hoisting a multi-thousand dollar burden onto a college kid? I certainly don't.

(Now, if OPs brake lines were rusting through, I'd sing a different tune, of course.)

been there. Drove the ranger until 288k miles until I traded her in(which I should have just kept for the sentimental value).

id say try to find a 2011-2017 regular cab basic truck. The payments may not be that bad. If you can’t afford it, fix it and keep on going.

Funny you should ask that question, I just went thru the same issue about 5 months ago. I had 230K on my 2004 F-150. I just spend 2K 11 months before on replacement the timing chain. After finding out that it was going to be at least 3K to fixed my truck (rocker arms and a shift position module for the transmission). I made the choice to replace the truck with a 1 year old F150 and I don't regret my choice. That's my 2 cents worth. Good luck with your choice.

they call it a safety inspection for a reason, i support it 100%, keeps a lot of POS vehicles off the road

ever been cut by rusty sheet metal? it will tear you to shreds

I disagree, respectfully. I think OP deserves the choice for whether or not the cosmetic issues with risk essentially only to himself should be fixed.

If X amount of money is required to bring the old truck up to standards it's a given that amount of money will have to be spent. Use that amount and purchase a road worthy used vehicle. I wouldn't put a dime into repairing the pickup.

x2

This is certainly true, I'm just extending my sympathies to the OP for living in a state with an Orwellian standard. After OP graduates, I hope he remembers that not all states are as inconsiderate as Maine. Over the top regulations are harmful to the general population, and beneficial to specific industries that support the overly regulated products.

OP, a new truck is likely to be more expensive in depreciation per year than fixing your rust. My 2 cents.

Pennsylvania is pretty much the same as far as inspection. I think any perforation larger than a dime won’t pass.

But that is not the only issue at hand here - at least not for myself. I like to drive a clean looking vehicle. I hate rust!

I wanted to keep my ‘09 forever but as soon as I saw some body rust starting I traded it in at 9 years old. I don’t mind driving an older vehicle at all but refuse do drive a rusty one.

I went through this with my ‘95. First where the wheel wells - paid a body shop to redo them. Then it was the rockers and cab corners - paid to have another clean cab out on. End result? I ended up selling it when the wheel wells started rusting out the second time. You just can’t get ahead of the rust once it starts around here.

This is why I suggested the OP do like I did and try a used one with the aluminum body like I did. I have high hopes.....

A rust hole in the body bigger than a dime fails?

Yes.

After reading all this bureaucratic inspection crap in some areas of the country, glad i live in a County with no auto inspections or required window tax stickers.

I vote buy a newer used vehicle if you can financially afford it. Your current truck is going to begin to nickel and dime you and since you are in an area with vehicle inspections and a rust-enriched environment, you will only get so much more time out of it. I say cut your losses before you really need to. Start looking for your next one now when you aren't under the pressure of not having a vehicle. You sound like a mature and responsible person, good luck and happy truck shopping!

Dump it and get something newer, it's impossible to fight vehicle rust in the northeast when it has set in. Usually by the time rust shows on the outside what's underneath is in a bad way.
Some of the posters on this thread need to see some pictures of what 10 or 15 Maine winters can do to a vehicle, might change their mind on the value of a safety inspection.

In the area of Maine where I live they've been getting more lenient on body rust. They are still strict about rusty frames and brake lines.
A guy I work with recently had to take his 07 Silverado off the road because the frame wouldn't pass inspection. The body was still in good shape because he had the rockers and cab corners fixed a few years ago.
They recently took a vote on whether or not to do away with state inspections in Maine and they voted to keep them. :thumbdown: I suppose it's a good thing because there's always that guy that will push the limits of what's safe and that could endanger others as well as himself..