1SlowFormula

So I am looking for a good used CTD from a dealer since I need to trade my 05 1/2 ton for it. What I am looking for shouldn't be too hard to find, 05 (prefered, but can vary depending on what I find) QC, 4X4, with power seats and tow mirrors, I would prefer a manual trans but if the truck is nice and the price good I will go with an auto. I have found a few trucks (no manuals) locally, but not many. I have used the internet sites like cars.com and autotrader.com to find a few good looking decent milage trucks that fit the bill, but with what I found looking at the local trucks (where some may be modded previously and etc.) would it not even really be worth looking at places that are hours away?

I found what I think would be perfect for what we are looking for, but it is Northern CT 4.5 hours north of me and that doesn't count the traffic to get through NYC that lies between here and there. I sent an email to the dealership asking for more info and more pics, but then I got wondering if it was a bad idea to even look that far away???

So has anyone here bought their truck online or over great distance, and if so do you have any tips on what to ask about or what pics to see? Would you buy like that again, or what?

Thanks,
John P.

Kenny D

ive bout 2 ctd one in tx when i lived in WY and my of ws 3 hours away in miami i just drove. When you cant make it to the truck you get exactly what it is the condition options and problems pics of the problems get faxes signed and try to get a 30 day return policy. But honestly if its only 4.5 hours i would take a day and bite the bullet and drive it man youl feal allot better plus you can drive the truck feal the tranny shift. And lets be honest pictures can hide allot.

But i have bout many cars from long distance without major issue
Good luck man

Free89W350

I'm with Kenny, bite the bullit and take the drive. If it is close to what you are looking for what will it hurt. I have bought 3 trucks off of ebay and the closest one was 5hr's away, I drove 9hr's one way for a parts truck for my first gen that didn't even run.

Copenhagenjunkie

I bought mine in 99 just from looking at pictures and talking with the owner. I was living in North Carolina and the truck was in Arizona. Flew out there with the $$ and drove it home. At the time I didn't know crap about the workings of the CTD/Dodge, I would not do that again.

Go look at it.

1SlowFormula

Thanks for the feedback guys, that is good info, I will talk to the dealership here in a few minutes, and see what they say about the truck, but all in all it is almost exactly what we are looking for (aside from the color, and it's a Laramie and we don't need the leather all the other stuff that comes with that package, and those things aren't deal breakers). It's an '05 2500 Sport CTD 6spd QC 4X4 w/51K miles for $28K, and the dealer (small used car place) says it has a warranty (probably a 3 month type thing)...

HMX-1

Both of my trucks were purchased over the internet, sight unseen except for pictures of my '06 and none whatsoever on my '08.

I live near Boise, Idaho, and the dealer I dealt with was Dave Smith. They're located up in northern Idaho near Coeur d'Alene, Kellogg, and Spokane, Washington. The drive down is about 8 hours and roughly 550 miles. They drove both vehicles to me, flying the driver back when I bought my '06 and driving back with my '03 3500 SLT CTD on trade when I bought my '08.

Their customer service is fantastic. One of their salesmen accidentally backed into the '06 just before they prepped it for delivery, putting a nice wrinkle in the bed and dimpling the bottom corner of the cab. They fixed it so well you can't tell there was a problem and even gave me the chance to back out of the deal several times. My salesman even sent me pictures from his camera phone during the entire process to make sure I still wanted it.

They are also supposed to be the biggest dealer in the continental 48 states due to the volume of their sales.




Kris

1SlowFormula

HMX-1 -- that sounds like on hell of a good place to deal with, but I don't know of anyplace like that out here and I doubt they would transport a vehicle all the way to the East coast for cheap...


BTW, I got some photos of the truck I am looking at in CT, haven't actually spoken to a sales person yet, but hope to within the hour, it's still early I guess, lol...

http://photos.vehicledata.com/ss/57/...G775731-1S.jpg
http://photos.vehicledata.com/ss/57/...G775731-2S.jpg
http://photos.vehicledata.com/ss/57/...G775731-3S.jpg
http://photos.vehicledata.com/ss/57/...G775731-4S.jpg
http://photos.vehicledata.com/ss/57/...G775731-5S.jpg
http://photos.vehicledata.com/ss/57/...G775731-6S.jpg
http://photos.vehicledata.com/ss/57/...G775731-7S.jpg
http://photos.vehicledata.com/ss/57/...G775731-8S.jpg
http://photos.vehicledata.com/ss/57/...G775731-9S.jpg

92roughstock

My last 4 trucks have been bought online, as it were. Went from ColoSpgs to Chicago to get a W250; went to TX from Southeast MO to get a pair, and my current one came from south of KC. Just ask for pics of what you want to see, and ask questions out the wazoo. I had a perfect idea of what the trucks were when I started on my trips.

Slice

Of course depending on age of truck Expect it to be a USED truck. I bought one out of Missouri looked plenty good in pics had my kid do all the finacials but the DETAILS is where its at. i would have given less money if i had been there to do the deal... Pictures dont do anything justice as being there first hand.....



great thing about this website is we all live close by somewhere and are willing to help out a fellow DTR brother...

peobryant

Both my brother's '97's, my dad's '97 and my other brothers '03 were bought online.

My brother's 1st '97 was in Virginia, his 2nd one was in Colorado, my dad's was in Indiana (not much of a drive from Louisville, Ky) and my brother's '03 was I believe in Ohio.

Needless to say, we have no problem buying trucks from the internet. We bought from individuals, not dealers, and some were pretty far away, so you just have to get all the information you possibly can before you make the trip. Generally, people who want the truck gone, won't lie to you.

Kenny D

I like that i wanted the gunmetal grey color but thye didnt have it infact ive never see it on a dually ever

Riflemanusmc

We sold our 04 to a kid out of GA. Come to find out his dad is a good friend of Jeff Garmon..Was 110% honest with him. He flew into Billings AP. And drove it back to GA. Still talk to him and he loves the truck.. Hard to find honesty on the net these days. I'm more than willing to help folks out that are looking to buy trucks here in our state. Anyone looking, let me know..

peobryant

My brother sold his first '97 (the one in my sig) to a kid near here. He had a rich daddy, and the kid saw it and wanted it. My brother took his dad for a test drive, and on the spot, the dad said the truck was way to much for his kid. It was over 700rwhp at the time, so my brother said he would take it back to stock, and deduct some of the price.

They made the deal, and a couple weeks later, come to find out, the kid somehow blew the turbo up in the truck. It wasn't even my truck, and it still makes me mad that it's getting abused.

Anyhow, it seems like your old one is getting treated with respect, which I guess was the whole point of my post.

Riflemanusmc

Yes Sir.. I did not in no way shape or form lie or miss represent anything to that young man. And will be more than willing to ask him to post here. There is no Honor is screwing folks over in my book. Have had it done to me too many times. I guess honest folks are a dying breed..................

D2 Cat

Bought my truck in Atlanta and my wife's Durango in Houston.

If you buy from an individual it's cheap assistance to hire a local independent shop to do an inspection. You can get it done for around $100.