Hey scotty I'm looking at a 1996 ram 1500. It's the magnum v8 with a 5 speed manual. It's rough enough I can get it for pretty cheap, would this be worth picking up because it is before ram got bought by chrysler or fiat and doesn't have the dreaded automatic transmission. Would appreciate thoughts.
What is the mileage?
Clarification: what do you mean by “rough enough”?
The manuals held up a lot better back then. And it was before Fiat bought Chrysler so you’re ahead of the game there. I’m guessing it has the 5.9 liter 360 ci engine? I had one in my 98 and if the tranny had starting slipping at 98k I would have kept it. Plan on the occassional eletrical problem. Have a mechanic check it over, and if he doesn’t have one then go online and spend 20-30 bucks get yourself a head gasket test kit to see if the head gasket is blown. Those usually blow on those motors if they have ever overheated for any reason. If it’s cheap enough and a mechanic says it’s ok make the move.
See below at 8:55 from Master Mechanic The Car Wizard: they were more reliable back then, but it’s now 25 years old and things like plastic and rubber may need replacing. Also, you didn’t state mileage but hopefully it had a good maintenance history. Hopefully, it was well taken care of or you could spend some money getting it up to speed.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=u6Jx0dWLQSI
If you can get it dirt cheap why not? Make sure to have a mechanic check it out. Of course buy it knowing the electrical components and all the plastic and rubber parts will go bad with the age.
I would pass. It's an old Dodge, and I had a 1999 Dodge Ram that had problems....back IN 1999. I can't imagine what issues it would have if I still had it today.
When you say it is rough, I would imagine it was not well taken care of. Being that old and the condition you mention, I would pass on that. You don’t want headache.
Chrysler did own Ram back then but it was before Fiat ow ed Chrysler. If you can get it cheap enough it might be okay but definitely don't pay much for it.
