I have been interested in getting a diesel IDI F-250 to use for a slide in camper, but I am wondering if I missed the chance to get one. I have looked at 6 of them now and the ads are all "$7,500 good condition, price is firm, no lowballers, I know what I got" etc.
Then I show up and the truck isn't even safe to drive (brake pedal goes to the floor, stuck calipers, fuel leaks, gear oil leaks, coolant leaks/cracked radiator, 30 degrees of play in the steering, door hinges so worn that the edge of the door and fender are mangled, rust holes, long expired registration, big parts of the dash missing with wires dangling everywhere, etc, then the seller says "it's 30 years old, what do you expect?"
I bought a beater 1987 Mercedes diesel back in 2018 for $880 and drove it home, and it was still better than any of the $7,500 trucks I looked at. Is it unreasonable to find a truck that isn't perfect but is in good enough condition to drive on an 800 mile trip without major repairs for that price anymore? I am thinking I should probably give up on finding one that this point but I figure it doesn't hurt to ask for opinions here.