Leavin' on a jet plane.........

[Bigtendude]

Well, I have found an S-10 that I like, 2003, 70,000 miles, extended cab, V6, 2 wheel drive, not as large as my old truck and much better on the fuel.  I am flying to Fort Meyers  Monday the 28th.  The truck is only 4 miles from the airport, and the woman who I am getting the truck from is picking us up.  While my friend was there last week, he test drove the truck and said I could resell it for 8 grand back here in Mich. If I wanted to.  She wanted $6,000.00 for it, but my friend got her down to $5,000.00.  That's what friends are for.  It was only 3 blocks from his hotel.  The truck is white, has a rhino liner in the back, has an aluminum cap, plain old am/fm radio I will swap out for cd/am/fm radio. Rubber for carpeting which is fine with me, don't have to worry about dirty feet.   Dark charcoal seats, Auto trans w/overdrive, bummer on the cruise control though, will see if I can put one in.  Steel wheels too.  One owner vehicle with all maintenence records going with it, to me.  I carfaxed the V.I.N. and it came up just as described.  I paid for 1 month of car fax service, well worth it, if you're looking for a vehicle that you want to keep and enjoy.  It costs 29.99 for unlimited use for 1 month, or 24.99 for one time VIN look-up.  And if you buy a vehicle that is carfax certified, and it is not what it is supposed to be, they will buy it back from you for what you paid.  Can't beat that with a stick!  Speaking of sticks....Can I just stuff my cane onto accelerator and use as a "redneck" cruise control ?  BTW, I carfaxed over 25 trucks, and this is the only one who called me back.  Up north here, these trucks are selling for upwards of 10 grand with way over 100,000 miles on them.  I will still come here and post answers, or ramblings when I get the time.......Larry

[VileZambonie]

Are you specifically going to FLA just for an S-10? or are you going there anyway? S-10 typically don't have a very high resale value so I would think you could find a good deal local and save on airfaire..

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=239669487&dealer_id=57814347&car_year=2002&model=S10PICKUP&num_records=25&systime=&make3=&make2=GMC&start_year=2002&keywordsfyc=&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&keywordsrep=&engine=&certified=&body_code=0&fuel=&awsp=false&search_type=both&distance=25&marketZipError=false&model2=S15&search_lang=en&make=CHEV&keywords_display=&color=&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&min_price=&drive=&default_sort=priceDESC&max_mileage=&style_flag=2&sort_type=priceDESC&address=48240&advanced=&end_year=2006&doors=&transmission=&max_price=7000&cardist=6

[Lt.Del]

I bought my 91 gmc sub 4x4 from Arizona ( i live in Va) and am so glad I did.  Rust free, very nice, and the trip back was great...i took my time and drove on ole rt66 for a while as well.
Make the most of your trip back...dont rush.  Stop and see the sights.   

[Fordeatinz71]

congrats man!  i wish ya the best and make sure you are safe on the way back and that you post pics when ya get back...

[Bigtendude]

Yes I am going specifically to get this plain jane S-10.  And I am taking a friend with me, ( not my wife) my wife does not want to go.  For the last 3 years I have been flying to Florida with my friend and helping him drive cars back to Michigan.  He has gotten me spoiled in the fact that most all the cars we bring back are 100% rust free.  He buys rust free, never smoked in, low mileage, one owner cars.  They sell like hotcakes here. And he makes between 900.00 to 4,000.00 profit on each one.  He wants me to put for sale sign in this truck and drive it around .  I told him, I don't think so !  This trip, We ARE taking out time and gonna see some sites and some chickies on the beach .  I have 500.00 set aside for gas to get back .  My friend usually buys his cars from the lady lake area, which is really close to the Villages, a 92 square mile area of retirees.  When they can't drive anymore, they put their Caddy's, Lincoln's and other high end cars up for sale. So, I figured with this plain jane S-10, I could mildly add what I want to it.  The first thing is swapping out the radio, for one with a CD am/fm.  GM radio of course, I'm not into booming sound, just good sounding radio's......... Thanks for the kind words........Larry

[eventhorizon66]

This trip, We ARE taking out time and gonna see some sites and some chickies on the beach .

Good thing you aren't taking your wife then, LOL.

[Bowtie Bomber]

As a native of FLA, it's near impossible to find a rust free vehicle beach side of the state. If they've been within 20 miles of the beach most of it's life, then that salt just eats them up. But sometimes you find the rare garaged beach cruiser once and awhile with no rust.

[Bigtendude]

This truck has been undercoated and has had paint sealant applied regularily.  And Mr. Zambonie, If you notice on your link for that S-10 in Detroit area, That it is 4cyl. regular cab, no topper, and has higher mileage, hence the lower value.  Mine is extended cab, V6, (4.3) has aluminum topper, Rhino-liner in bed, made a mistake in original posting has 78,412 miles on it.  Still when checked with NADA, it is valued at 9,998.00 in clean condition, also mine is a 2003, and has overdrive auto in it.   If you want to see picture of it, set autotrader up with zip of 33904 ( Cape Coral ) within 50 miles, 1999 to 2004 S-10, 999.99 to 9999.00 and click search.The VIN #. is 1GCCS19X4382200499 if you want to have a go at carfax or NADA sites. Auto Trader code of AT-E4834A4.  will take you right to the listing.  Not trying to be a smart aleck, but these are the facts.  I know I am making a good deal.  Not paying the 6 G's she wanted, only 5 G's.  My '78 is paying for this baby.  And we are taking our time coming back and will be making many stops, have to find something interesting for a gift to my wife, And because I will be gone for a week, I took her out for ribs tonight at her favorite rib house, and filled the gas tank on HER car. 3.65 gallon here.  I still have enough to get home on.  Because I have done many body repairs on these 'lil trucks in the past, I know what to do to stop 3rd. door latches from rusting stuck shut, which causes 3rd. door handles to break, I know how to change all door pins and bushings in under 2 hours, and have tools and stockpile of pins and bushings to keep it looking good.  The best thing to stop rust in lower part of the doors is to pour 90 weight oil down into pinch welds, leave doors open with cardboard below doors to catch drips, overnight, then apply 3M Rubberseal to interior door panels to kill the noise. Thanks for comments.......Larry

[Bigtendude]

I just ran carfax report on that truck, it had 2 owners, first was as a rental, it was wrecked left side, 2nd. owner hit a tree with it, with airbag deployment.  Not something I would even consider purchasing.  I paid 29.99 for one month unlimited vehicle reports, I reccommend anyone looking for a vehicle for themselves to purchase this service.  The other way is to pay 24.99 just to check one vehicle.  I have run over 18 reports on trucks I was interested in.