IF THE AD IS UP, THE TRUCK IS AVAILABLE

About this vehicle

Driven 187,345 miles

Automatic transmission

Exterior color: Silver · Interior color: Black

4/5 overall NHTSA safety rating

Fuel type: Gasoline

15.0 MPG city · 21.0 MPG highway · 17.0 MPG combined

2 owners

This vehicle is paid off

Seller's description

2012 F150 with towing package, high mileage. Owned since December 2025. Tires new. New battery, alternator, fuel pump, and oxygen sensors (not installed). 3.7L engine.

Needs a timing chain to run. Must be towed.

Solid frame. Minimal surface rust. First come, first served. Son graduated high school and needs money. Will consider trade offers for inspected or inspectable vehicles. Would prefer to sell to pay for the work and parts put into it this year.

IF THE AD IS UP, THE TRUCK IS AVAILABLE.

(Ad posted at 8:30 pm, June 8, 2026.)

Let the inquiries begin.

First inquiry at 8:45 pm: "Good evening, is this still available?"

Inner thought: "No, I somehow sold it in the last fifteen minutes, and it has already been towed off. At least you began with, 'Good evening.'"

Actual response: "Yes." No follow-up from the inquirer.

Next message, five minutes later: "Hi, is this available?"

Hello, sir

Is this available

I won't waste your time (I don't believe you.)

I have cash in hand

When can I go to pick up?

I can pay a little more if you want

I respond: "It's available. More is better. When can you get it?"

His reply came in the morning. "Today are you available?

Let me know what time

Am available any time today

I reply: "How about 6:30 pm? You have a way to tow it?" No response from him. Finally, I said, "I have other offers." Still no reply. Sigh.

Tuesday, June 9, 2026

5:20 am: Hi, is this available? Is it currently inspected?

No, I only said that "if the ad is up, the truck is still available" for gits and shiggles.

Actual answer: "It is not inspected."

6:00 am: $500 cash. Today."

The new parts in the truck are worth more than that, you low-balling dingbat. How about $950 cash today? I've already knocked my asking price down by 65%.

Actual Answer: "No, thanks."

7:25 am: Is this still available?

Yes, but not for you. Ask stupid questions...

"Yes, are you interested?" Silence.

8:26 am: "Wat does it need for sticker?"

"I don't know. It's my son's truck. But as far as I know, it just needs to run."

"Could you find out wat it needs?"

Oh, sure. Lemme drive it to my mechanic real quick.

"Not without driving it to a garage, which I can't do, since it doesn't run. Either take it or leave it." She left it.

10:53 am

"Hi, is this available for a test drive?"

Please, Lord? Can I please, please, PLEASE, answer with the snark this question deserves?

"Please read the ad again." If it ran, we'd be driving it!

11:14 am

"Why is it so cheap?"

Because no one wants to pay twice as much for a truck that needs a timing chain. Try reading the ad with comprehension.

"Read the ad."

No reply until 2:00 pm. "Why"

"Because the ad states that the truck doesn't run. If it ran, I wouldn't be selling it. All the information is in the ad." Is this generation really that dependent on others' spoonfeeding information to them??

Not all of the inquiries were inane. Some expressed genuine interest and desire for the truck. One man is contacting his mechanic to see what it will take to get the truck on the road. The mechanic's answer will determine if he'll buy it. Another buyer said he's not able to come until Friday. One fellow started with a question that had an obvious answer, but he caught himself before I could respond and wrote again, "Never mind. I read further." If only others would do the same.

Buying and selling on Marketplace, Craigslist, in the newspaper, or on any other publicly accessible shopping site can be an adventure or a challenge. I've experienced great success, including buying a used Civic and wheel-mounted, studded snow tires, as well as gut-wrenching failures, such as my son's two pickup trucks. The first was a Chevy that ran great but was falling apart with rust. The second was this F150 that is solid but couldn't stay running.

I won't say what the "F" in F150 stands for, but you can use your imagination. Chevy truck enthusiasts have often called Fords, "Found on road dead," or "Fixed or repaired daily." Having gotten this one towed a half-dozen times in 2026, I tend to agree with that assessment. I used up my annual allowance of Auto Club free tows before the end of February.

Buyers can say I'm abrupt, but they can't say I'm not prompt. I reply quickly, and if a potential buyer is making a serious effort to obtain what I'm selling, I won't pull the deal out from under his/her feet. For goodness' sake, though, read the ad thoroughly and think before asking questions!

Update: The fellow who checked with his mechanic bought the truck! Yay, us!