So I've been wanting to share this story on the forum for a while now. I recently purchased my f150 over the summer. I did a lot of looking for the perfect f150. I especially loved the red Lariat with the tan trim! I did most my looking on craigslist and found quite a few I was interested in, but then I found this monster f150. Its a red 2004 F150 Lariat with a 9' lift on 38x15.50r20 Nitto Mud Grapplers. It is outstanding in every way, definitely one of the most beautiful f150's I've ever seen. The craigslist page came with a few pictures that I attached to this thread. The truck looked supreme and untouched. The owner also threw in a few interior pics and it seemed all around that the truck was in supreme condition... looks are deceiving. I contacted the owner that I was very interested in his truck, I told him to tell me everything that is wrong with it so I don't waste my time traveling hours to meet up with him and not liking it at all. The owner told me the only problem was that the back right window wouldn't roll down all the way, and that the tires will need to be replaced soon. Seemed pretty honest and straight forward. I asked for the mileage and he told me it was 123k. Not too bad either, I also asked if he has ever had engine problems and he simply said the alternator died on him one time. Everything seemed pretty good so I decided to go give it a look. I drove 6 hours to meet up with the owner. First thing I noticed when he pulled up was there were a lot more dents on the body than I saw in the pictures on craigslist. I didn't think much of it. Then I also noticed the tailgate was different from the picture he put up, it was beat up and torn to hell. At this point I was a little skeptical, but I wasn't going to walk away without first driving it. I hopped in and noticed that the 4wd **** had been torn off, also the steering wheel adjuster was also broken off and the steering wheel couldn't be adjusted. I was pretty mad at this point that the owner didn't mention any of these things, plus the leather and dash had hundreds of scratches all over it. When I put her in drive I looked at the odometer and it read "223,000"..... i was shocked... I thought it must of been busted or something... I asked the owner what was up with the odometer and he said "OHH!! Thats 123k miles on the new engine and transmission"... I was furious that this man thought he could just screw me over like this, I only drove it around the parking lot once and when I tried to turn into the parking spot, I heard about 3-4 pops, thats when he proceeded to tell me that the truck has been stuck in 4 wheel drive and he can't change it back... I hopped out and simply said "Good luck selling your truck". I was most disappointed at the fact that someone could mistreat that truck like he had, and also that he thought he could screw someone over with a bunch of obvious lies. After the trip I looked over the pictures on craigslist and it was clear he photoshopped all the dents, scratches, etc on the truck. A total waste of time and gas, pray for the next owner of that truck (If there will ever be one).

 

I would never be disappointed that somebody would treat a truck like that, I would NEVER find it ok for someone to judge how I treat my truck, as I'm the one forking the cash over! If I buy something I'm allowed to utterly destroy it and FUBAR.

But I will agree that it is extremely disappointing that this guy left out a majority of the truth on what was broken. The truck was used hard. He will find some dumb kid blinded by the lift to buy it, just take some time.

That being said, I would never buy a lifted truck, especially to that hieght, usually asking for trouble, always better to start off stock.

What was he asking for it if you don't mind?

 

I'm, just disappointed that he would lie in say that it was in good condition, I wouldn't judge him if he said it was in the kind of condition it was because then I wouldn't have wasted my time. I guess it was just kinda hard to see a build like that be trashed the way it was and not kept clean, especially with all the high dollar upgrades he had on it. and he was asking 18k

 

Buying and selling used stuff can be hard, with all the liars and low ballers out there.

I'm about to help my girlfriend sell a car (or more like a lemon) she had bought from somebody who pulled the wool over her eyes. Some guy who had a "car lot" in his yard... It has the body and interior of a 300,000km vehicle with 142,000km on the odo. No working gas gauge, horn, washer fluid bottle leaks (conviently it's a 94 and the wrecker doesn't have the pump to fix the leak), it shakes like crazy on the freeway, and looks like it was actually 2 vehicles put together. Probably worth 300$ because it runs, but more like 100$ because it fails aircare.

It makes me mad even thinking about it. I am not looking forward to helping her sell it because I know what somebody like me would say to her, probably something like you said to that guy selling that red truck. But hey, I have to get rid of it!

Safe to say, all she gets to do picking the next vehicle is what make and model it is. Since I do and pay for most of the repairs on what she drives.

 

That sucks. That's the reason I've never bought vehicle from an individual. I prefer the security of buying from a dealer. I know that's not an option for everybody tho. Always best to ask if the photos are current. The bald tires would have been my first red flag bc they look pretty good in pics. Lifted trucks are always a concern, much like a sports car. Bc you have to wonder if it's been beat to ****, or the quality of the work.

 

Yeah i guess the thing that really confuses me is why would they do "fake" advertising knowing you're going to see the real thing for yourself? People who do this think they are dealing with 6 year olds... or that we are going to buy it without seeing it first... anyways yeah I ended getting a great buy on craigslist with an honest man who babied his 150, thing is spotless and got a good buy on it! My next buy will be from a dealership for sure though lol

 

dang that's rough man, hope y'all find the right vehicle!

 

You will go crazy trying to understand the mind of a crook. I guess they knew they wouldn't get any hits with photos of current condition, and posted old ones, and priced it over asking price to get interest. But honesty is a declining moral virtue. Hate you had to waste a day on a dead end, but hope you at least enjoyed the road trip.

 

Sounds like the seller has a degree in marketing. Talk a good game then deliver 1/4 of what you expect.

Illegal? No, unethical? I think everyone in this forum knows that answer.

 

It does look nice in the pics. However 18K for a '04?