Splat
Lieutenant
- Joined
- Jul 20, 2008
- Messages
- 1,366
Since the forums have been slowing down since the end of the boating season, I felt like showing off a bit.
My old truck finally died. I had a 2000 GMC Envoy with 192,000 miles on it. A bit over a month ago I was driving home and lost heat. No biggie I thought. The vehicle has automatic climate ontroll and rarely I've had problems with it not working correctly. Normally shutting off and re starting the truck "reboots" the microprocessor and all is good. Temp gauge read ok the whole 45min ride home, oil pressure was jittery at stop lights but nothing super abnormal, I continued to drive it.
About 1 mile from home I felt a major loss of power. Ut owe I thought, something is up. I dogged her home. Upon opening up the drivers door, I smelled it. You know that smell of hot metal, any mechanic out there knows it. It smells like death for an engine. I immediately knew what had been going on the whole ride home. Pulled the oil dipstick and the oil was boiling on it! Crap. This pony has had it's last ride. I later tried futually several cans of Barr's Stop Leak, in hopes I could get it to slow down enough to get it to a dealership to get "some" kind of trade in. As fast as I could pour water in, It would disappear into the crankcase.
So My hunt began. I had my heart set on a Chevy Colorado. Boy was I shocked by sticker prices. For a used 2007-2008 with under 30k on it I was still going to be in the low $20,000's!!!!!!! Insane for a mid size in my book, keeping in mind these aren't fully loaded. Sure there's some wiggle room in pricing but, let's be realistic. I felt I would be getting the shaft.
Several weekends earlier I had to drive to KY to help my cousin move her stuff up here to OH. We borrowed one of her old boyfriends Dodge Rams without the Hemi, and I fell in love with it. However at this junction, I really didn't need that much truck. I figured what the hell, and one night started searching on AutoTrader for Rams. Much to my surprise price was in my range.
I had found one at a local dealer, black in color, Big Horn Edition, pretty clean, had a 4.7l in it. Made an offer, and argued with the dealer. It was not a good experiance, they just wanted way too much for that one. So kept searching. I was set on the 4.7litre, I figured smaller V8=Better gas mileage. Thank god the dealer and I didn't agree on the first truck. As my search continued, I researched further, and discovered that the 5.7litre HEMI actually gets better fuel mileage due to the MDS system..... Hmmm I thought, can't be true. So I called a buddy of mine that has a 2006 with a HEMI, He confirmed with the MDS system he would average 16mpg+ and had all the power he needed to boot, with a towing capacity well over 9000#. Hell my Envoy would only average 15.5mpg with the Vortec V6 in it!
That settled it. A HEMI it is!
Searched around, found several Big Horn additions, even sat down and spoke to a few salesmen seriously, but they weren't really anything special. Nice trucks sure, but bench seats, standard radio, just basic nice trucks. when all of a sudden this truck pops up in a search query. 2007 Dodge Ram, 1500, Hemi, 22,300k miles on her, SPORT package. Sunroof, infinity sound, bucket seats, power rear sliding window, power heated seats, step bars, bedliner. Pretty much fully loaded. Price was good due to the vehicle being 3 years old it was out of factory warranty.
Went to the dealer, test drove and signed papers later that evening!!!! To boot I was able to negotiate the Chrystler certification into the deal, giving me a full engine, powertrain, and AC warranty for 80,000 miles. Now were talking. Plus I love the color.
On a funny side note, I'm sitting at the dealer ship waiting to take delivery signing the last few papers when I'm playing with the keys. I ask the salesman "whats this button do?" he says "I don't know, push it" VVVRRROOOOMMM!!!!!!! Factory remote start we didn't even know about! Love it!
So there's my new tow rig story, she's a bit dirty in these pics, as I had just pulled the boat home from my last day on the water this year, time to tuck her away for the winter(and wash the truck). I just wanted to boast a bit, my girl just rolls her eyes at my excitement, and complains she needs "climbing Gear" to get up into it!
Bill
My old truck finally died. I had a 2000 GMC Envoy with 192,000 miles on it. A bit over a month ago I was driving home and lost heat. No biggie I thought. The vehicle has automatic climate ontroll and rarely I've had problems with it not working correctly. Normally shutting off and re starting the truck "reboots" the microprocessor and all is good. Temp gauge read ok the whole 45min ride home, oil pressure was jittery at stop lights but nothing super abnormal, I continued to drive it.
About 1 mile from home I felt a major loss of power. Ut owe I thought, something is up. I dogged her home. Upon opening up the drivers door, I smelled it. You know that smell of hot metal, any mechanic out there knows it. It smells like death for an engine. I immediately knew what had been going on the whole ride home. Pulled the oil dipstick and the oil was boiling on it! Crap. This pony has had it's last ride. I later tried futually several cans of Barr's Stop Leak, in hopes I could get it to slow down enough to get it to a dealership to get "some" kind of trade in. As fast as I could pour water in, It would disappear into the crankcase.
So My hunt began. I had my heart set on a Chevy Colorado. Boy was I shocked by sticker prices. For a used 2007-2008 with under 30k on it I was still going to be in the low $20,000's!!!!!!! Insane for a mid size in my book, keeping in mind these aren't fully loaded. Sure there's some wiggle room in pricing but, let's be realistic. I felt I would be getting the shaft.
Several weekends earlier I had to drive to KY to help my cousin move her stuff up here to OH. We borrowed one of her old boyfriends Dodge Rams without the Hemi, and I fell in love with it. However at this junction, I really didn't need that much truck. I figured what the hell, and one night started searching on AutoTrader for Rams. Much to my surprise price was in my range.
I had found one at a local dealer, black in color, Big Horn Edition, pretty clean, had a 4.7l in it. Made an offer, and argued with the dealer. It was not a good experiance, they just wanted way too much for that one. So kept searching. I was set on the 4.7litre, I figured smaller V8=Better gas mileage. Thank god the dealer and I didn't agree on the first truck. As my search continued, I researched further, and discovered that the 5.7litre HEMI actually gets better fuel mileage due to the MDS system..... Hmmm I thought, can't be true. So I called a buddy of mine that has a 2006 with a HEMI, He confirmed with the MDS system he would average 16mpg+ and had all the power he needed to boot, with a towing capacity well over 9000#. Hell my Envoy would only average 15.5mpg with the Vortec V6 in it!
That settled it. A HEMI it is!
Searched around, found several Big Horn additions, even sat down and spoke to a few salesmen seriously, but they weren't really anything special. Nice trucks sure, but bench seats, standard radio, just basic nice trucks. when all of a sudden this truck pops up in a search query. 2007 Dodge Ram, 1500, Hemi, 22,300k miles on her, SPORT package. Sunroof, infinity sound, bucket seats, power rear sliding window, power heated seats, step bars, bedliner. Pretty much fully loaded. Price was good due to the vehicle being 3 years old it was out of factory warranty.
Went to the dealer, test drove and signed papers later that evening!!!! To boot I was able to negotiate the Chrystler certification into the deal, giving me a full engine, powertrain, and AC warranty for 80,000 miles. Now were talking. Plus I love the color.
On a funny side note, I'm sitting at the dealer ship waiting to take delivery signing the last few papers when I'm playing with the keys. I ask the salesman "whats this button do?" he says "I don't know, push it" VVVRRROOOOMMM!!!!!!! Factory remote start we didn't even know about! Love it!
So there's my new tow rig story, she's a bit dirty in these pics, as I had just pulled the boat home from my last day on the water this year, time to tuck her away for the winter(and wash the truck). I just wanted to boast a bit, my girl just rolls her eyes at my excitement, and complains she needs "climbing Gear" to get up into it!
Bill
