I'm looking to buy a one owner garage kept 2003 xlt 5 speed 4x4 with the 4.6 the truck has 217k miles though butbis in immaculate shape with no dents chips in paint or rust underneath the truck. It also is just as clean inside but the mileage is what im concerned especially with a 7200 dollar price tag at the dealership can someone tell me if its even worth the effort to but or the service life for the motor and trans I'm looking for a reason not to get it but its so clean and in such good shape cant help but think 280k or 300k is in this trucks reach.
Thank you

 

The truck in any condition isn't worth $7200.00. Couple of things to consider. The 2003 4.6 is the old heads design. Blown spark plugs are common for these engines. The 4.6, while as reliable as yer grandmother, was never a powerhouse. Add the 4x4 and it's a land slug at best. When you have a vehicle with this many miles, you need to know that the engine and transmission are not what to look at, it's all of the accessory parts. It's going to nickle and dime you to death with alternator, brakes, brake booster, master cylinder, rotors/drums, power steering pump, water pump, belts, hoses, all of the electronics, A/C compressor, wheel bearings, Universal joints, radiator, heater core, shocks, front end, etc, all have 217 miles on them. You can easily throw another 5 grand at the truck in parts, labor not included, that are long over due to fail. The value of the truck is what someone is willing to pay for it. In my opinion from what I see around here, a pristine truck of that age goes for about 4 grand with lesser kept trucks in the 2500 range.

 

Book value on that truck is $3000. That dealer is nuts.

 

Yep, $3k or $4k max if it is as clean as you say.

 

Not only is the mileage killing the value, the manual trans does too.