Hello first gen lovers. I have an opportunity to pick up a very clean '83. It has 108k original miles, is orangish in color with stock decals and wheels. In fact everything appears to be stock. Only cancer I see is on the tailgate. It's been garaged the majority of it's life.

I was originally told $1500 which I was going to jump on right away. Friend came back to me and said the guy wants $2000 for it now. I lost interest at that price, but now the more I think about it, it's probably a decent deal. The guy was diagnosed with lung and brain cancer 2 months ago and was given 60 days to live.

So what does everyone think? I had a '83 SR5 years ago and loved the truck. I'm having a hard time justifying it to myself (and my wife) because it would be a 4th vehicle, and as it is my 4Runner barely gets driven. Would be nice to have a pickup around the house again.

Oh and just so everyone knows, if I get this truck I will keep it stock. Just don't see too many clean stock first gens around anymore.

Thanks for your input.

 

protip: wait 60 days, get a better deal.

 

Walking up with a hand full of cash does amazing things to people. Who's to say $1500 won't work when presented that way?

 

Is $2000 too much, or should I just try for a better deal?

 

Where i'm form $2000 would be a great deal form what your describing! Sounds like a nice clean truck that has been taken care of well over it's life, if I were you i'd obviously try to talk him down some but sounds like a good idea even at $2000. I spent $1900 for my 80 and it ran like crap! but it had very little rust and wasn't completely tore up like most in my parts. If you want the link to the build thread is in my sig, very last one. Good luck!

 

personaly,id show up with $1500.00 cash...money talks!!!

 

what i would do is take 2k cash with you, take a good walk around the truck with him, kinda mumble to your self and point out the cosmetics on the truck to help you work him down on the price. i would ask 1700. and if not and its as good as you say i would just buy it for the asking price because its getting harder and harder to find 1st gens in good condition. a little work and you will have a great truck!

 

That's a good price for the truck. Whether or not you can justify it to yourself and wife, only you can decide.

I paid $1,000 for my truck. Very little cancer, but lots of surface rust, beat up interior, and it needed work, to say the least...though I didn't know it at the time. But for a surface-rusty truck, a little on the beat up side, $1000 was about the right price. For something in great shape with that mileage, it's worth what he's asking. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't show up with $1500 and see what happens. If that's your high end, and you won't go to $2k, just show up with the cash ($1500) and see what happens. Can't hurt.

 

I'd swoop on it.

 

Everybody expects some haggling. Like has been said verify it is what it appears to be and with cash on hand you should be able to at least get $200 off, with the price of tires and maintenance it's a given you will spend that soon after. You could offer to sell the SUV and tell your wife you will put heated seats in the old truck! They are really great trucks I would rather drive a 1st gen than a new Tacoma.

 

weeeeeeellll????

 

thats interesting...dont know wether to laugh or feel bad

 

Laugh. That's what I did

 

i would ignore friend and go talk to the owner of the truck and declare you are ready to buy the truck for 1500. and that you will give it a good home, take care of it and not rat it out and throw it away.

if he declines then it's up to you to negotiate a deal, it's a cherry 1st gen for gosh sakes....

 

Not to classy to chisel someone on their death bed...me thinks. if its to rich for your blood just be a gentleman and politely pass on it