I'm new to this forum and am considering purchasing a used F150. I started with the Silverados, but am now thinking a Ford. I don't have any bias toward any truck, I just want the most reliable truck I can get.

So I found a 2005 F-150 supercab with 55,000 miles on it. It has power doors locks, mirrors, cloth seating, so I'm guessing an XL model? I test drove it today and it's in great shape - which would be expected. I did notice a little pulsing in the brakes - probably some rotor work needed? I plan to have a mechanic inspect it if I move forward on it.

http://salem.craigslist.org/cto/1059917410.html

Anyway - this seems like a good deal to me in Oregon. It's way below blue book and right about Edmunds pricing (I tend to go with Edmunds). Any thoughts?

Also - I'm new to the 4x4 arena and wondering about a limited slip. I'm reading that it's important to have but don't know how to tell if this truck has one. I read somewhere about a code on the side of the door.

thanks

Steve

 

the stock limited slip is a joke,IMO

 

I think the XL's are still rocking the manual cranks. The listing doesn't really aid in your purchase, looks like it's a XLT and it's a supercab which means it either has a 4.6l or 5.4l engine but I can't tell if it's a 4X4 so I'm not sure how you did from the listing. Sounds like a okay deal but as for a comparison, I'm selling my 05 4.2l with all kinds of stuff on it with 31K miles for $10K with a easy $5K in extras and still haven't had any bites.

 

it says 4 Wheel drive in the ad, lol

 

Looks alot like my 04. All I can say about my 04 is its the best money i've ever spent. I have 145KMS on it and I bought it with 126,000 and the only thing that i've had to do is brakes. Mines an xlt tho. And my stock LS works prety good. Way better then my dads 02 f350 and my old 96 f150

 

doesn't show on mine, then again it says the page was done with errors so all I could see was 2005 Ford F150 4-Door Extended Cab -- $11,995.00 and the pictures anything above that is gone.

 

It looks like an XLT. It has the chrome vent rings, tachometer, and XLT cloth. Not the horrible light grey XL cloth. 12k seems fair, but there is the issue of spark plugs. Has the previous owner had them changed? The 5.4L plugs are two piece, and can become stuck in the head and break when you try to remove them.

 

I just bought an 04 fx4 scap with 73k for 12,000. Best money ive ever spent. If you can find an fx4 definitely try to go that way... I love this thing.

 

Now that I've researched the different trim levels I think it's an XLT. It's a 4x4. 5.4L. It's got power windows, doors and power seat. I'll have to ask about the spark plugs. He's had it on craigslist for at least a month and he hasn't changed the asking price. I figure I'd try to knock him down to $10.5K or something.

I know this is a Ford forum, but if this was a Silverado at this price it would have been gone already. When I was on the Silverado hunt, ones priced like this went fast. Someone told me the Silverados hold their value better - I don't know if that's true or not.

So do these come standard with the limited slip and what would be typical for the rear end gearing? And how do I know what it's got?

thanks

 

Look at the differential code on the door. It will be comprised of 2 digits. If it ia 2 numbers, such as 16, it is open. If it is a letter and a number, such as B6, it is LS.

Around here, Fords hold their value as well as or better than Silverados. I came from a 2002 Silverado to an 05 XLT SuperCrew and the Ford is better built and much more truck for the money.

Oh, and I have 82,000 on mine and decided I like it so much, I'm doing some maintenance and keeping it.

 

Check out the links in this post for the codes.

https://www.f150online.com/forums/3629026-post3.html

 

interior looks alittle dirty.

 

I haven't been off road enough with mine, but. I agree

It appears to be an XLT to me as well, maybe I'm losing my mind though.

 

Thanks guys,

This is all great info. So if I decide to move forward with this thing, is there anything in particular you would have the mechanic look at when he does his prepurchase inspection?

I already test drove it and noticed the brakes have a bit of a surge to them when you apply them so I'm guessing the rotors need to be turned or replaced. But I'm wanting to know if there is any particular problems with this model a mechanic could find doing an inspection - maybe find a lemon in their somewhere...

Blue book must be way off on these trucks - it has it listed somewhere around $14k or $15K. Edmunds and Nada are about $13K. And these are private party estimates. Maybe these pricing guides are keeping up (or down) with the economy. But they seem to pretty close on the Silverados.

Is the limited slip a deal breaker? I've read about some aftermarket stuff - are those better and how much do they cost including installation?

 

LS can be helpful in snow and ice. I would not let it be a deal breaker for me. It is nice, but not a necessity. If I bought the truck, I would drive it and forget about it. On the LS, there are clutches in the differential that cause both wheels to pull when it starts spinning.