Looking for Advice - 2nd Gen 2004 Eddie Bauer Edition

[Johnny Ndz]

Hey everyone, newbie here with a really dumb question. I'm currently looking at a 2004 Eddie Bauer edition Expedition with 140K on it for $1200. It needs an ac compressor (no big deal), a passenger side door interior (apparently it was broken trying to fix the window motor - not too big a deal), but now the kickers - it has apparently a rust hole in the frame and some rest on the rocker panel. The exterior on this thing looks cherry for a 2004. For all you mechanics out there, for $1200 - is it still a good deal? I only want it for about a year to haul around myself and friends for camping - no massive offroading or towing, and it's inspected through next April. I also don't want to be driving down the road and have the back half fall off... as humorous as that would be to see, I don't wanna be the one it happens to. If this thing lasted 12 months, I'd be happy. As a comparison, I'm also looking at a 2004 XLT that has damage to the exterior passenger side door but the interior is in pretty rough shape all around, no confirmation on the underside. The gray rock panels are faded to basically white and it looks like something hit it hard on the passenger side door (also creasing the front fender) That is being sold for 1100 bucks. Thoughts?

 

[Cooper]

1200 bucks hell I'd buy it, Mine is twice as worst and im going on 4 years in November with it.
If she start up and there aren't any holes in the actual frame I say buy it

You only need it one year.

 

[Jb14]

You may want to look at the cost of the mechanical items you mentioned you will need to replace including labor. These trucks are particular to the parts you put in them, I am not an OEM guy but I am when it comes to this truck they like factory parts and the A/C compressor alone is not cheap and you should not do just a compressor without the rest of the service or you could damage the new compressor. As an example, I had an A/C issue took to a shop replaced the entire system with supposed quality aftermarket compressor and it went out in a couple of months and so did the other two replacement aftermarket replacements, now have OE compressor all good. In my opinion only, especially with the frame issue (who knows where else you could have rust), I would add up the additional cost you already know you have to put into this truck take that money on top of the $1200 and buy a cleaner truck. It does not appear that the owner took the best care of the vehicle and you may have other underlying issues. Best of luck

 

[Hamfisted]

Yeah, I agree with JB14 on this one. You can find a much better Expy south of the snow belt. You'll be way ahead, even if you have go down and pick it up. Find one from Florida in good shape, you'll be much happier. Once the frame is rusted through like that, it's a write off. You won't find frame rust in Florida or Texas or really anywhere south of the snow belt where they salt the roads.

 

[the bus]

It probably won't pass inspection anymore with holes in frame and this will condem the vehicle. Time to learn how to weld and swap out those rockers.. the rest is small stuff.