Opinion on 2012 w/20k miles

[Tonspike]

Hey guys,

Looking to join the Expy ranks with a 2012 XL with barely 20k-odd miles on the clock. I've had it inspected by a Ford dealership and it checks out minus some surface rust on the underside (although it's a New Mexico truck) and most critically: a lack of any documentation that states fluids, aside from oil, have been changed in 8 years.

It was a former government truck (non police) that apparently has been very thoroughly maintained, but I'm looking at a $1500-1800 bill for a complete fluid flush that is being recommended to me if they truly haven't changed the fluids in 8 years.

Dealer is already at the bottom of their price range, and I wasn't anticipating dropping this amount day one. What would you guys do? The first thing I'd be doing with the truck is driving it cross-country.

 

[Trainmaster]

Check very carefully that this truck wasn't in a significant accident. The government trucks are usually run for 80 -100K miles before they part with them. You may be lucky or it may have been wrapped up, auctioned and repaired. Low mileage fleet trucks are usually accident repairs. Google the VIN and see it it comes up at a prior auction or salvage sale list.

Remember that low mileage does not add much to the book value of a vehicle. I'd love to buy a truck like that, but beware of overpaying. It's still a ten year old truck and should be valued as one.

Changing transmission, differential and transfer case oil should cost more like $400, not $1800. Find a new mechanic. In a pinch, it can all wait. Most trucks never see these changed, though I'd do the transmission when I got a chance, at perhaps $250.

Sounds good. Let us know what you do.

 

[ManUpOrShutUp]

As a gov't vehicle I would imagine the oil has probably been changed regularly and everything else is original. Why the hell would you pay anyone $1,500-1,800 to change fluids though? It would run me about $500 (parts and labor) to have trans (inc filter), rear diff, front diff and transaxle changed on my truck and that's at $100/hr. Add in another $75-100 to have the coolant done. How are we getting to $1,500-1,800? Dealer service dep't?

 

[Tonspike]

Thanks for the input fellas. Yes, this is a Ford dealer quote on the fluids and I'm in a pinch time-wise as I'm headed cross-country tomorrow. If you think it can wait, I can definitely go third party once settled in the new location in a couple weeks.

Check very carefully that this truck wasn't in a significant accident. The government trucks are usually run for 80 -100K miles before they part with them. You may be lucky or it may have been wrapped up, auctioned and repaired. Low mileage fleet trucks are usually accident repairs. Google the VIN and see it it comes up at a prior auction or salvage sale list.

Appreciate the heads up. It has a clear title, VIN search turns up nothing and both inspections (third-party dealer as well as official Ford dealer) have turned up clean aside from some rust on the underside. It was used as a security vehicle around a research base, so it basically did 20k miles worth of laps.

 

[Trainmaster]

Don't know what you're paying for it but it sounds good to me. Just don't overpay because of the low mileage.

 

[Trainmaster]

Of course the fluids can wait. See if the dealer will throw in a warranty.

I remember looking at a low mileage police truck, probably a 2010. Looked real good. I Googled the VIN and found an auction listing. It had been used to patrol a three square mile village. So it idled 24 hours a day. The auction listing said it needed an engine, that it ran rough when hot. The seller didn't say a word about that. He was selling it for five times the auction price. I let it warm up and damn, it ran rough.

I dodged a bullet on that one.

 

[Tonspike]

Don't know what you're paying for it but it sounds good to me. Just don't overpay because of the low mileage.

Agreed on $17.5k, 2012 XL w/20k miles, clean title and I'd technically be first owner as it has never been registered to a civilian.

 

[Motorcity muscle]

May not have many miles on it but could be lots of idle time with security use.

 

[Tonspike]

Of course the fluids can wait. See if the dealer will throw in a warranty.

I remember looking at a low mileage police truck, probably a 2010. Looked real good. I Googled the VIN and found an auction listing. It had been used to patrol a three square mile village. So it idled 24 hours a day. The auction listing said it needed an engine, that it ran rough when hot. The seller didn't say a word about that. He was selling it for five times the auction price. I let it warm up and damn, it ran rough.

I dodged a bullet on that one.

That's a bit worrying--maybe the idle situation is similar here. It's gone on two drivability tests so far (independent dealer as well as Ford) and both are clean but I'm a bit skeptical as to how thorough they are. I'll look out for that problem when I'm there myself.

 

[Trainmaster]

Sounds like a great deal if there are no surprises. Even a 30 day warranty could be a plus.

 

[07navi]

That's waaay too much for those fluid changes, do it where you are going or do it yourself.

 

[Tonspike]

Here are pictures sent over of the undercarriage:

 

[07navi]

Here are pictures sent over of the undercarriage:

Not bad but getting there.

 

[Aspen03]

Low miles are nice but thats almost too low. If the body/interior are absolutely flawless it might be worth it. Paying 10% of the purchase price for fluid changes does seem rather harsh, dealer or not. Work on getting that done at/near cost to close the deal. They're charging about double what it should be even at a shop. Markup on the fluids is probably 300% at that price.

How are those tires? Not original I hope, if so budget for them.

 

[Tonspike]

Low miles are nice but thats almost too low. If the body/interior are absolutely flawless it might be worth it. Paying 10% of the purchase price for fluid changes does seem rather harsh, dealer or not. Work on getting that done at/near cost to close the deal. They're charging about double what it should be even at a shop. Markup on the fluids is probably 300% at that price.

How are those tires? Not original I hope, if so budget for them.

Tires are not original thankfully, they've been changed a couple times since new.

 

[Trainmaster]

Why would tires have be changed "a couple of times" on a truck with 20,000 miles.

 

[Thunderbirdsport]

Lot of rust for 20K in a dry climate. Something doesn't add up.

What's the interior like? Condition? Options?

I'm thinkin' you should walk away.


FWIW, my '11 with 180 has less rust below and mine comes from where they put as much salt on the roads as they do fries from BK...

 

[07navi]

Mine has zero rust at 140k miles, something funny there. Trying to rack you on fluid changes too................wank

 

[Trainmaster]

Here in New York b y the ocean a 2020 on the lot would have more rust than that.

 

[Tonspike]

Why would tires have be changed "a couple of times" on a truck with 20,000 miles.

As far as I know the tires have been changed in front and in back individually as sets at different times and have since been rotated. I’ll put on a matching set once settled—it’s hard finding a lot of info on these former government vehicles.

Lot of rust for 20K in a dry climate. Something doesn't add up.

What's the interior like? Condition? Options?

I'm thinkin' you should walk away.


FWIW, my '11 with 180 has less rust below and mine comes from where they put as much salt on the roads as they do fries from BK...

The presence of rust is deceiving because while it originates from NM, the location in the state where it lived its life does get heavy snowfall. I’ve sent the pictures to a couple different Ford mechanics at this point, and they said it wasn’t a cause for concern as far as they could tell. Still, its presence at all is foreign to me as I’m used to pristine California cars.

Regarding the interior, it’s in perfect condition—both the interior and exterior are basically perfect and look brand new.

Mine has zero rust at 140k miles, something funny there. Trying to rack you on fluid changes too................wank

Luckily the dealer selling the truck isn’t the one trying to up-charge me on fluids, it’s the Ford dealer that did the pre purchase inspection.