Avoiding a Money Pit

97TJNM said:
Makes me happy I snagged up my 97 Sport for 7800.
Click to expand...

That's why I bought my 03' Rubicon (stock) within hours of the ad posting it for $9,500. I could have sold it the next day for $12,000. One Texas owner that was retired military and just moved to Washington D.C. He had every service record from the day he bought it until I did. He told me his younger GF wanted a BMW, so he had to sell the Jeep. I would have ditched her first. ;)
Rubi 6 9 (2017_11_20 00_38_12 UTC).jpg
 
Last edited:
  • Like
  • Haha
Reactions: 97TJNM, bucky, Danarch and 1 other person
When buying used, the choices are limited. Make a list of must haves, nice haves and deal breakers.

My must haves were the 4.0, AT, AC, hardtop, light color, the best condition for the money.

Nice to have were TJ, LJ, unmolested, no lift, factory wheels.

Deal breakers were manual transmission, no AC, no airbags, rust.

I have always preferred manuals, but with my age and dexterity, I am now only driving autos. The hardtop makes all weather driving much more enjoyable, living in the South, AC is mandatory. YJ's and CJ's do not have airbags, I had two wrecks, and the airbags saved my life.

If the manual is a must have, you are eliminating over 50% of possible TJ's.

IMO, you are better off waiting until you can bump the budget up to 10k and like others have said, go south. I see many nice Jeeps for sale in AL, GA and FL.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Danarch, tnjeepguy and TheBoogieman
bmcgc said:
When buying used, the choices are limited. Make a list of must haves, nice haves and deal breakers.

My must haves were the 4.0, AT, AC, hardtop, light color, the best condition for the money.

Nice to have were TJ, LJ, unmolested, no lift, factory wheels.

Deal breakers were manual transmission, no AC, no airbags, rust.

I have always preferred manuals, but with my age and dexterity, I am now only driving autos. The hardtop makes all weather driving much more enjoyable, living in the South, AC is mandatory. YJ's and CJ's do not have airbags, I had two wrecks, and the airbags saved my life.

If the manual is a must have, you are eliminating over 50% of possible TJ's.

IMO, you are better off waiting until you can bump the budget up to 10k and like others have said, go south. I see many nice Jeeps for sale in AL, GA and FL.
Click to expand...

Words to live by. (y) I looked at 20-30 Jeeps before finding a really good one. My wife would get mad when I pulled up within 20' and drive off. She said why didn't you stop? I said, I saw everything I need to and don't want to waste the sellers time or mine, knowing I have no intention of buying it. I respect people. Not many, maybe @John Cooper if I ever meet him. Just because he checked @AndyG's lug nuts and brought the death duck to put on his bumper.My hero!
p.s Just kidding John and Andy. I hope you know this by now. Great people!
 
Last edited:
ironcladtopedo6974 said:
It's not rust free but pretty damn good. Shouldn't take more that a wire brush and some time.

View attachment 490890

View attachment 490891

View attachment 490892

View attachment 490893

View attachment 490894

View attachment 490895

View attachment 490896

View attachment 490897

View attachment 490898

View attachment 490900
Click to expand...

There is a lot of rust between the skid and frame on that one. I wouldn't be surprised if the skid bolts were rusted in place or there are holes and a very thin frame there
 
Be patient and while being patient save up some extra cash if you can. I looked for over a year for a clean LJ. Then got lucky being a Rubicon. Being in northern CA didn’t really need to be to concerned about rust, assuming it spent its life here. I am suprised how many are from the east coast. One time owner, service history was clean, all the manuals etc.

Good advice on creating a list of must haves. My was fairly short, 4.0 (which I think all LJ’s are) A/C. Beyond that just in overall good condition. I preferred as close to stock as possible.
 
My list:
Must have - Rubicon, Unlimited, manual, hard top, 150K or less miles
Deal killers - auto, black, beat to shit, asshole seller
The list gets longer the more you look at.
 
Bought my '03 during Trump's first years. Witg no rust and only 90k miles, i snatched it up. Paid 9500 and it was in great shape though no AC. Being in Alabama, this wasn't a deal breaker because I keep the top and doors off all summer. Granted I sunk another 10 grand into it so I could have 35's, 4" lift and 2" BL, DC shaft with SYE, lockers, Big Break Kit, and 8 fog lights on the bumper, hood, and roof. Plus a bunch of other goodies such as a new sound system All in all I love it and will never sell. But if I did I could get a pretty penny.

This same jeep without all that I did to it would probably cost 15k nowadays. The good ones go fast and prices are only going to go up.

20210312_181312.jpg


20230519_184604.jpg
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Danarch
I talked with the gf today. She needs a car first as hers took a shit shortly after we bought our house and the one she's driving is an old 250k mile Honda Ridgeline. apparently we have to keep that as a backup, and get her a car. While I agree she needs a better more reliable car, I don't understand why we need to keep the truck that could take a dump at any minute instead of getting all we can for it and using that to either pay down her car faster or getting a jeep.

I guess my timeline was way off (I don't think it is but sometimes we need to pick our battles) so I'll just be saving up more and hopefully start from a better foundation. We'll see. I'm going to keep looking and learning and saving.
 
  • Like
Reactions: xXDavidCXx
You said you wanted the Jeep as your backup winter vehicle. I take it then you personally have another reliable vehicle. GF needs a reliable vehicle. Get her one. Sell the Ridgeline and then buy a Jeep to serve as a backup for you both. She gets a new vehicle which makes her happy. You dump the questionable Ridgeline and get your Jeep which makes you happy. You now only have 3 vehicles, not 4 with the Ridgeline and a Jeep, so savings on maintenance, insurance, licensing etc that can be used for Jeep parts!! Win, win, win.

Others may suggest dumping the girlfriend and getting the Jeep. :LOL:
 
  • Like
Reactions: Rickyd
ironcladtopedo6974 said:
I talked with the gf today. She needs a car first as hers took a shit shortly after we bought our house and the one she's driving is an old 250k mile Honda Ridgeline. apparently we have to keep that as a backup, and get her a car. While I agree she needs a better more reliable car, I don't understand why we need to keep the truck that could take a dump at any minute instead of getting all we can for it and using that to either pay down her car faster or getting a jeep.

I guess my timeline was way off (I don't think it is but sometimes we need to pick our battles) so I'll just be saving up more and hopefully start from a better foundation. We'll see. I'm going to keep looking and learning and saving.
Click to expand...

Dude, only wives get to squash your Jeep dreams
 
If a Jeep is a toy or a secondary vehicle, take care of your primary needs first.

IMO, avoid debt for toys, especially in the current financial market.
 
The problem with Maslow is that he has a leftist viewpoint that only addresses an individual's needs.

Where does wanting a badass Jeep fit in?
 
GregBelleville said:
Dude, only wives get to squash your Jeep dreams
Click to expand...
Mac57 said:
You said you wanted the Jeep as your backup winter vehicle. I take it then you personally have another reliable vehicle. GF needs a reliable vehicle. Get her one. Sell the Ridgeline and then buy a Jeep to serve as a backup for you both. She gets a new vehicle which makes her happy. You dump the questionable Ridgeline and get your Jeep which makes you happy. You now only have 3 vehicles, not 4 with the Ridgeline and a Jeep, so savings on maintenance, insurance, licensing etc that can be used for Jeep parts!! Win, win, win.

Others may suggest dumping the girlfriend and getting the Jeep. :LOL:
Click to expand...

I mean, she is essentially at wife status. We own our house together.

And that is pretty much my plan. Just need to ease her into the idea over the next few months while we work on finding her a car.
 
Rickyd said:
There is a lot of rust between the skid and frame on that one. I wouldn't be surprised if the skid bolts were rusted in place or there are holes and a very thin frame there
Click to expand...

Idk where you see rust between the skid. That frame looks to be in very good shape. But it's not like it matters now.
ironcladtopedo6974 said:
It's not rust free but pretty damn good. Shouldn't take more that a wire brush and some time.
Click to expand...

The jeep you posted here is very close to rust free and probably the best you will be able to get at that price point. The most important thing is not the outside, use an endoscope on the inside of the frame rails and torque boxes.
 
97' 4 Popper said:
Idk where you see rust between the skid. That frame looks to be in very good shape. But it's not like it matters now.


The jeep you posted here is very close to rust free and probably the best you will be able to get at that price point. The most important thing is not the outside, use an endoscope on the inside of the frame rails and torque boxes.
Click to expand...

I think a lot of people are used to literally no rust. So any little bit of rust scares some off. I wouldn't hesitate if the inside of the frame was good. But due to other life events I have to pass right now.
 
97' 4 Popper said:
Idk where you see rust between the skid. That frame looks to be in very good shape. But it's not like it matters now.


The jeep you posted here is very close to rust free and probably the best you will be able to get at that price point. The most important thing is not the outside, use an endoscope on the inside of the frame rails and torque boxes.
Click to expand...

Look harder,the skid is getting pushed down between the bolts. Its mounting surface is no longer flat
 
  • Like
Reactions: trojandawg
Top Bottom
Back