You guys got to hear this one.... just my luck. Ive been looking around for a tow vehicle. I wanted something GM, and a pickup for sure. 4 wheel drive, extended cab and nicely equiped with comfort features. So I dcided on a 97-98 Silverado or Sierra. Ive entertained the idea of a gen 3 truck 99 and newer but when you step up to one the price jumps by alot. Not to mention the insurance also goes up big time.

So ive been on the prowl for a 98 preferably. Yesterday I found a 98 K1500 silverado. 65k miles and 4x4. Its silver and super clean. So tonight I went back to the dealer when they were open and took it for a ride. Its got the 5.0L Vortec motor so it has decent power, plenty capable of towing the project. Asking price was 15,995 and I got them down to 14,500. So I traded in the "silver bullet" caravan for a wopping price of $500!!! lol. I told you that van was worth it, lol. Finally settled on a deal. Went outside to look at the truck while the salesman was on the phone and you wouldnt belive what I saw.

Yeah 4 tech's from the dealer pushing it across the lot. One of the salesman went to move it and the damn thing wouldnt start! Some sort of electrical problem. I didnt want to get involved .

So here I am still driving the POS caravan home, lol. They pushed it into the shop and they are going to look at it tomorrow. They will call me when they find out whats wrong with it. Obviously its going to be fixed for free, but this isnt a good sign. Why is it always me!!!! The truck is also silver so I really hope it doesnt become another "silver bullet".

On the plus side I did get them to throw in a warranty to keep me happy. What do you guys think?

14,500 for a 98 Silverado. 4x4, ext cab with the 3rd door, absolutly the cleanest 98 I have seen so far and only 65k miles. Decent deal? Assuming they can fix it....

B

edit: here's a pic of it off of their site.
http://www.gmdealer.com/barlow/f_inv...make=Chevrolet

 

NICE


Now I have to find myself one of them.

 

That's a pretty good price for the truck. Make sure you check the tires though..see if they need to be replaced soon. I got my 98 silverado ext cab 4x4 5.7 auto, leather, with 41k miles on it for $16500 back in april so that price sounds about right. I liked the white color to match my trailor but silver would have been my first choice. My truck needed to have new tires put on it like 3 months after I got it though because the tires were shot so I got some BFG All terrain KO tires for $600 with an alignment. The starting issue is probably something stupid like a starter solenoid so I wouldn't worry too much. I like my truck because it is an American V8 rwd that is standard sbc and I can get parts cheap and fix just about everything myself. I would strees tat something might be wrong with it and see if they will knock another $500 off the price.

Later
Matt

 

Yeah I'm not gonna worry about it not starting just yet. It probably is something stupid. It had plenty of battery, just not cranking. I'm sure they will fix it. Actually silver wasnt my first choice, but the price was decent and the truck is clean. I really wanted the 5.7 over the 5.0 but I had to comprimise somewhere. The 5.0L will tow without a problem. I tried to get them to knock more off the truck because of that but they wouldnt budge on the 14.5... so they are going to throw in warranty. I told them I wanted 6 months. They are going to talk to the "boss" tomorrow and let me know.

As for the tires are only ok. They have about a year or so left in them. Just under half tread left.

 

I thought you got a new tow vehicle a few months ago????

 

Congrats on the truck purchase Brian. I hope it's only something simple and you have no further problems with it.

Be prepared for a bumpy drive - 4x4 and towing = very bumpy.

 

Not a fan of Barlow...

But i am jealous of the truck!

 

You need an SS454 pickup to tow with!

 

I'm not a big fan of Barlow either. I actually talked to the salesman about problems I had at the dealer years ago. This is the first time I have even stepped foot on their property in years. And the only reason is because they had the truck I was looking for.

Anyway the dealer just called me. It seems there is a short somewhere in the truck. And a fuse keeps blowing and the truck wont start. As of yet they have not tracked down and located the short.

I have streesed to them that this does not make me happy and I am VERY cautious about taking delivery on this truck now. I dont want to have a truck with electrical problems. But as of now they are verbaly backing the truck and their work 100%. They feel they will have the problem resolved by tomorrow and I should be able to bring it home. I told them that I want something in writing on this.... I dont want to have electrical problems 3-6 months down the line and no support from the sales and service department that sold me the truck.

The salesman has told me they will put something in writting and put the whole mess to bed.

Basically what I want is at least a 6 month warranty on drivetrain and electrical system. Hopefully it will be here tomorrow. I'm breaking it in this weekend with a 400 mile trip with Liz to see her brother at school.

I guess even Barlow is worth giving a second chance to.

 

lol...

have a safe trip brother...

 

Do you have the truck Brian? How's it going?

 

Yup, picked it up tonight. I didnt post cause I was out driving in it all night. As for the no start problem, it seems the previous owner had an alarm system in the truck at one time. Before he traded the truck in he took it out and was basically a slob in doing it. The start wire in the colum used to go to a relay on the alarm, when he removed this he didnt connect the wires back together right and the connection he made broke or fell apart. The wire then touched the colum and shorted out blowing the fuse. Simple fix and the dealer has reasured me it is repaired. They actually had it fixed yesterday but wanted to keep the truck untill today so they could go over the rest of the wiring under the dash. Just to make sure there was nothing else that could cause a problem.

So the dealer has written a warranty on the trucks electrical system to assure me it was repaired and I will have no more problems with it.

I love the truck. All I have to do now is stop and pick up a hitch for it and I'll be ready to tow the camaro.

I have to work on the hood a bit, the dent/scrape is down to the metal. Really it should be repainted but I think if I get some touch up paint and use some of my body work skills I can fix it so its not so noticable. Other than that the paint is perfect and the interior is mint. And everything works!

God its nice to have air conditioning again! Not that I'll need it for a few months ... but I can say I have it.

 

Brian, Congrats on the purchase. Best of luck with it.

 

That dent/scrape sounds like a good excuse to put a cowl induction hood on the truck.

 

FYI I am selling my 2000 silverado that I just bought. I'd like to get $13,500 out of it. Here's the ebay link, my friend was the high bid so thats why I'm not selling it. The ad is honest too! Shoot me an email or PM if you're interested. I could meet you half way too.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tem=2436984667