(Might Purchase) **2001 Chevy S-10** (Any Feedback?)

[Pogwa]

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/car/483123141.html

"Extremely clean 4 cyl automatic. 105K miles (60K on new engine) Runs great. Great vehicle for teens,2nd car, or work truck."

Good price?

He said that I can feel free to make him an offer.

He said there were regular oil changes made, nothing major ever done besides the engine swap.

Me and my dad are going to go check it out.

What you guys think?

[odie82]

I recently bought one also, 1998 2wd 4 banger 5 speed, for my work truck. my full size used to much gas, the s10 gets about 22-24mpg with 130,000 on the clock.


off topic:
I was going to by a different s10, went to go look at it with money in hand, test drove and told the guy I would think about it but I wanted it right there, he said there was nothing ever wrong with it, long story short came home did a car fax report and the truck was in a really bad accident, called the guy back and then he told me the truth after I comfronded him
I will never by another car/truck with out one.

[Pogwa]

Originally Posted by odie82

I recently bought one also, 1998 2wd 4 banger 5 speed, for my work truck. my full size used to much gas, the s10 gets about 22-24mpg with 130,000 on the clock.


off topic:
I was going to by a different s10, went to go look at it with money in hand, test drove and told the guy I would think about it but I wanted it right there, he said there was nothing ever wrong with it, long story short came home did a car fax report and the truck was in a really bad accident, called the guy back and then he told me the truth after I comfronded him
I will never by another car/truck with out one.

Regarding Carfax - Is it free ?

[kszygc]

Nope, not free, but WELL WORTH IT. $30. www.carfax.com

[Pogwa]

Originally Posted by kszygc

Nope, not free, but WELL WORTH IT. $30. www.carfax.com

Ok, sweeeet, thanks a lot for the input!

Also, the guy that I might buy this truck from said that there is a problem with the AC :

-It "Blows", but isn't as cold as it used to be.

What could that mean?
Could that be costy to repair in the worst case scenario?

[kszygc]

Originally Posted by Pogwa

Ok, sweeeet, thanks a lot for the input!

Also, the guy that I might buy this truck from said that there is a problem with the AC :

-It "Blows", but isn't as cold as it used to be.

What could that mean?
Could that be costy to repair in the worst case scenario?

It could mean a vicious bill, or it could be as cheap as a can of refrigerant and a servicing system. There are some cans of refrigerant that have the servicing nozzle on the can. I don't recommend them because you can't tell before you put it in if the system is low or not. What you would need is to measure the high side pressure side and the low pressure side and see if the compressor is functional. If the compressor has had a catastrophic failure and the pressure on both sides is roughly the same, then you have to change the compressor, drier/accumulator, the condenser if it's a parallel system, and then purge the lines and evaporator. If the compressor is working ok and it's cooling a little bit, just not like normal it could easily be just short a can and you're in there. Oddly enough, I just did this 3 months ago to my father-in-laws 2000 GMC Sonoma. It ended up costing $650 or so just in parts from the local parts chain.

BTW, the engine/tranny combination was just fine for an around town truck, even for highway commuting as long as the terrain is relatively flat. You don't need a powerhouse of an engine just to get around.

[Palf70Step]

I have never driven one of the 4-banger/automatic S-10s, but I had a 97 S10-extended cab 4 banger/5 speed and it was a great commute vehicle. No power, but it is all flat around here and it got good mileage and I had a big "trunk" to haul things for the house.

I am not sure how powerful or how much that automatic would suck out of that little 2.2 though.

[72freak]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

I have never driven one of the 4-banger/automatic S-10s, but I had a 97 S10-extended cab 4 banger/5 speed and it was a great commute vehicle. No power, but it is all flat around here and it got good mileage and I had a big "trunk" to haul things for the house.

I am not sure how powerful or how much that automatic would suck out of that little 2.2 though.

105K miles (60K on new engine)...........says it all for me!!!!!
And yes......5 speed would be the ONLY way to even think about buying one....

[speed]

I had a 99 with the 2.2/auto tranny. It was gutless but I never had a problem with it other than the cat convertor went bad. Had 75K on it when i traded it off.
Used it for pulling a snowmobile or utility trailer and a work truck.
As for the A/C not working like it should most likely it needs some freon added to the system, but could be as serious as a leak somewhere in the system. Def have a AC shop check it out first.
Personally I think the price is a little high for a standard cab, closer to 2k-$2500 but also depends on how popular these trucks are in your area.

[RANDYC]

I have a 98 4.3v6, 182,000+ miles. I purchased from a retired guy at 50,000miles, Alot of small repairs, rear end, water pump, alternator, radiator, ball joints, head gasket, fuel pump, injectors to name some, plus normal maintanence, brakes, calipers, wires 1 set plugs, 3 batteries, lights door, hinges filter many many oil and filter changes (mobil 1) etc...