Wife and I are taking a trip out west at the end of August. Plan was to fly in and out of Vegas and spend almost 2 weeks traveling around.
Now we've been talking about flying out and buying something to drive back across country. One way rental car from San Francisco to Raleigh NC was around $3600 for a Corolla. We've got over 2 weeks off work so we've got time to make the cross country drive.
Don't really want to buy off some random craigslist/marketplace ad unless a GRM'er can check it out ahead of time and store it for me.
Budget would be $5k or less. Not looking for anything specific but would like something that is relatively easy to resell in 6-12 months after I get bored with it. Must be automatic transmission because the wife can't drive a manual. Open to cars, SUVs, trucks, etc. Not looking for a project or something that might be an adventure to drive home, rather bank on dependability vs "fun"
Or if anyone on the east coast has a vehicle they want moved to the east coast, we'd be glad to drive it home to central North Carolina for you.
So, help enable us GRM.
I have been intrigued by Fastenal trucks recently. These are all recent Ram 1500's. Mid level options and low miles all with V8 and mostly rwd.
As an example, right now in Carson City, NV they have a 2017 w/ 22.5k miles for $21.4k
These same trucks found off AutoTrader:
2017 w/ 50k asking $22.8K
2017 w/ 42k asking $24k
2017 w/ 46k asking $26k
2017 w/ 33k asking $27k
Back in NC, if you sold this for $22k you're at or under market. I can't imagine that a truck with 22.5k miles needs anything. Even the tires should still be good.
If you look at that the carfax of each of those trucks above, they all show the window sticker of each truck. Tell tails that they were Fastenal trucks is that they all have trailer hitch delete and bed liner delete. They also all show something about commercial ownership in the carfax.
I don't know if you're in a position to drop $22k (even if temporarily) on this adventure? If you have access to that much as a line of credit, it sure seems like an easy way to buy something that will be trouble free and then easy to sell upon return.
I've written about these trucks a number of times on GRM. Interesting, in that thread from just 4 months ago there was the following:
2017 Ram Tradesman, 2wd w/ Hemi V8 and 48k miles for $16,400.
That means that Fastenal has lifted theri prices too as trucks sales get crazy.
The Fastenal list currently has a 2015 in Illinois w/ 39k at $16.5k. Nationwide on Autotrader the two similar are:
$23.8k at a dealer and
$20k via private party who says he bought it from his employer??? I bet its a nice side hustle buying these off Fastenal and flipping them.
Thanks for the suggestion on the Fastenal truck but I don't want to have that much invested in it. With my luck, the truck market would implode during the 2 weeks I was driving cross country and it would be worth $15k when I got home and I'd be stuck with a 2wd truck I have no use for.
Wanting to stick to the $5k price range because there are always lots of people looking for vehicles in that price range, so selling it later on wouldn't be too difficult. And I don't want to spend more than that because I'm cheap.
This XJR is more along the lines of what I'm wanting to spend and something that I've wanted to own for awhile.
In reply to untchabl :
That XJR would make a great GT car for a cross country adventure. It'll swallow up the miles very comfortably.
Two thumbs up. 
In reply to Indy "Nub" Guy :
Anything to watch out for on those? Never owned a Jag but I've liked yours and yupididit's.
Any GRM members near San Francisco?
untchabl said:
In reply to Indy "Nub" Guy :
Anything to watch out for on those? Never owned a Jag but I've liked yours and yupididit's.
Any GRM members near San Francisco?
Timing chain tensioners are the big one. The car you linked to, already has them updated. I'd like to see proof of the repair (receipt etc). Most everything else is not a problem. ( Did I mention that I own two of these? a 2001 & a 1998 ) Great cars.
My Camry is a hooptie but for sale.
https://phoenix.craigslist.org/nph/cto/d/scottsdale-toyota-camry-ice-cold-ac/7341433981.html
sadly used car prices are insanely high. A year ago this would have been a <$2500.
my cell is 480
four 5 eight
eighty 64
untchabl said:
In reply to Indy "Nub" Guy :
Any GRM members near San Francisco?
I'm pretty close. I probably won't have time to check cars out for you but I could hold onto a car for a while if needed. I'll also have an '09 Forester for sale pretty soon, but it's a stick.
In reply to untchabl :
Do we have anyone in Reno? This looks like a nice '01 Solara asking $3,200 w/ 126k miles. How much could a 2dr Camry w/ only 126k miles really need? Parts are everywhere too. This 4cyl has a better reputation of reliability than the V6. Reasonable comfort and reasonable mpg for cross country travel.
Here's a GMT-400 in what looks like exceptional condition and only asking $3,900. A lot more fuel cost.
Neither of these are wizz-bang exciting but both are easily serviced even in the remotest location and parts are cheap!
Or, gamble big!
In reply to John Welsh :
You would be surprised. Bought my daughter a 2000 Solara convertible with 126K miles three years ago. Car was owned by an old lady and was maintained. It was a very clean car. In the three years and 18,000 miles we owned that car, we did a battery, all four corners for brakes, shocks, tires. Alternator went, all four O2 sensors, spark plugs, various other sensors, coolant flush, power steering pump, blown speaker behind seats, cabin and air filters, timing belt change. When I went to change the alternator, several bolts snapped, and my mechanic buddy laughed. Said he always adds an hour and a half to any engine type job on a Camry, because the bolts are undersized, seize and snap often. Last fall she hit a deer with it and that was the final straw. I was still chasing an engine CEL, and it needed a new hood and fender. Enough was enough. Sold it for $2K and was happy to see it go. Its been at my buddy's shop twice since I sold it. Bought my daughter a 2009 Mini Cooper with 144K miles with that $2K and its been issue free since last December.
In reply to tr8todd :
Sounds like my GX470. From 115k-127k every wear item on the truck went out. I was constantly working on it. Toyota reliability? Not so much...
Well, thanks for all the suggestions guys but SWMBO decided that she didn't want the adventure of driving an unknown quality cheap used car across the country. So we played it safe and bought round trip plane tickets.
Maybe in the future, I'll get to try the cross country drive adventure.
In reply to untchabl :
I have wanted to do the same one way, cross country trip but never did either.
I did a fly and drive with my 13 year old daughter to pick up our Jaaaaag. 1000 miles of awesomeness and treasured memories. Win - Win !
Highly recommend
Indy "Nub" Guy said:
I did a fly and drive with my 13 year old daughter to pick up our Jaaaaag. 1000 miles of awesomeness and treasured memories. Win - Win !
Highly recommend
And if anyone can beat the Indyguy move of drilling a hole into the car before paying they will have my mad respect.
Your area have smog/emissions testing? Might find something that fails the CA sniffer and be able to get it for cheaper.
I had a friend who came back to CA every year to visit his mom. He'd fly out buy a PU, usually a dually, a new open trailer and something collectable to haul on it then resell everything. He said he always made about 4-5 grand reselling the stuff in WV.
I have a 2005 Jeep Manual with the 4 cylinder to sell at around 7K if that floats your boat. One owner, just serviced.
In reply to wearymicrobe :
If this was a 4.0 I'd take you up on that. I've already got a buddy that would buy it as soon as I got home with it. He's looking for one for his daughter but he's dead set on a 4.0
untchabl said:
In reply to wearymicrobe :
If this was a 4.0 I'd take you up on that. I've already got a buddy that would buy it as soon as I got home with it. He's looking for one for his daughter but he's dead set on a 4.0
I have a Subaru Outback as well ~2006 manual 4 cylinder that I have as well that needs to go.
