Well, here's my $.02 -
Dude, you're 17, and you're allowed to do stupid, insane crazy-dumb stuff and no one will hold it against you! Let me develop these thoughts:
My first trooper was locally bought: not fancy, but a simple, fun good ride. But, as we are impulsive and oh-so A.D.D. at this age (I just turned 20, so not too far off), i got tired of it.
So I bought my next trooper (mind you while i still owned the first, so you can imagine the amount of debt i was in), a 1996 LS model with literally ever single accessory except for fog lights and a roofrack (ie it has everything, even heated, leather + power seats <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />) with 80k for $5700, this was back August of 2003.
Oh, and did I mention that i bought my trooper in NEW HAMPSHIRE, over EBAY???? I PAID FOR IT OVER PAYPAL!!! thats 1100 miles away, and a truck I had never seen.
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Anyways, here's my point: make your truck purchase interesting. I'm not saying buy your stuff over ebay (I've been VERY lucky with mine, no major repairs yet (knock on wood), but don't limit yourself to a local purchase -
Like, for example: have you seen TrooperMac's truck for sale
LINK? It is built up VERY WELL, its in your price range, and more so, you know him through the boards, so you know its in great shape. The best part is, he's in Virginia, so you could fly over w/ friends during spring break, pick it up and drive it back, randomly wheeling the whole way back, spend a day or two in steamboat/vail skiing, stop in Vegas - wouldn't that be the coolest road trip?
[Although I didnt go with friends to pick it up, I spent a night at NYU (hookah bars, clubs, crazy fun), and then Davidson college in NC (southern girls <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/notooth.gif" alt="" />) hanging out and partying with friends for three days, it was a blast]
Alright, my nostalgia's over (for now <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />)), but I hope you see what I'm saying - you can make a secure, awesome purchase with terms YOU want, not the seller, and have a blast doing it.
Good luck dude! (PS, i'm only 21, so all this stuff only happened a year ago <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />)
Santi
