Would you buy a tractor from this guy??

Hey all,

I have a chance to buy a Star Car at a pretty darn good price. Before today, I had never sat in one.

I was almost in love instantly for one reason...THE ROOM IN THE FLOOR NEXT TO MY RIGHT FOOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I absolutely HATE having a doghouse next to my gas pedal, as I do now in my old FLD. It seems as almost every truck I have driven has something next to my right foot. Ok, Ok, I'm kinda OCD about it. I really like most everything about International trucks...the room, the looks, the visibility, the dash and steering wheel set up....BUT then, you get to the floor, where the pedals are located in the floor and it's a total deal breaker for me. I HATE any truck where it feels like the pedals are too far to the left. That includes my old FLD. It's a peeve of mine.

So, I looked at this Star Car this guy needs to get out from under today. The specs are acceptable for what I do. THe sleeper was FREAKIN' HUGE, and I liked the way the cab and sleeper went together on the inside.

Here's my hang ups, though. Guys used to tell me about how Star Cars were almost a hand made truck...no rattles, wind noise, air leaks, etc. Since Freightliner sells them now, I'm worried that the quality isn't what I've been told it was in the past. I have a Freightliner FLD. I KNOW about rattling, banging, sore backs on rough roads, wind noise, and having ice cold air shoot up your left pant leg in the winter, or the wind on your left arm.

This Star Car I looked at today looked really nice, but on the inside, I'm not too sure if it was abused or another cheaply built truck. The head liners in this tractor were sagging in the cab and sleeper. Lots of loose stuff in this thing. Five gazillion little holes drilled in everything and LOTS of duct tape and velcro pads stuck EVERY-FREAKING-WHERE. The tilt steering wheel would come down if you just barely pulled on it. This '05 is more beat up on the inside than my '96. I wonder if it was the manufacturing or someone just tearing it up.

Ok, this truck is probably out, even though it's cheap. I've already got a rattle trap and I can't help but wonder how it is mechanically if the interior was thrashed this hard. BUT, I think I kinda like the layout of the thing on the inside. ESPECIALLY the room. I LOVE the foot room.

So who drives a Star? Do the cabs stay tight? How's the quality? Maybe I should be looking closer at these things. I'm going tomorrow to look at a supposedly really nice 379, but it's owned by the same guy, so I'm not holding out too much hope. Besides, I really don't know if I want a tall hood and trash cans on the side. I'm kind addicted to the 7.2mpg that my little rattle trap FLD has turned in the last couple of weeks. I really wasn't looking to get a new truck, but this guy made a few "life mistakes" that cost him his CDL and needs out from under these trucks yesterday.

Opinions on the Star Cars please???

 

MeatHead,

That honey comb stuff you mentioned in the APU thread sounds interesting. My old FLD sure doesn't have anything like that!! I'll bet that has a little to do with the quiet ride.

I really think I'd be taking a harder look at Stars if I thought I could find one that I could get 7 mpg out of.

Also thinking of a glider kit. Bad thing is, that to get one spec'd the way I want it, it looks like it'd be a FreighShaker Coronado or a Columbia. Really wanted to try something besides a darn Freightliner, but I do like their sleepers, I guess.

I'd REALLY like to find a Pete 378 Glider with the 70" Unibilt Stand up sleeper. People think I'm nuts, but I really do like the looks of the 119" hood 379's, the 378's, 388's, and the 386's better than the X-Hood 379 or 389's. I really did like the 377's, too. I also don't like the look of the breathers on the side, either.

I think I am the only guy I know who goes to a Pete dealer to snoop around and walks right past the 389's over to the 386's. Oh, well, Pete X-Hood fans.....go ahead and start spanking me.