Advice; do I fix or sell?

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Jjp

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I have a 2004 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. the original owner was family so the history of the Jeep is known. However the current status is not wonderful. Currently it needs a new or rebuilt transmission. I’m looking for advice, as to should I fix the transmission and/or sell it or keep it. What would you suggest selling it for without a working transmission? The frame isn’t wonderful either. The front has been rewelded and I have the kit for the back but also not sure if it’s worth doing.

What do you think?

I look forward to your advice.
Jessica
 
If the frame is not that great and the transmission is in need of a rebuild, I'd probably just sell it for parts.

Even if you fix the transmission, the frame will be a huge red flag to any buyer who has educated themselves on what to look for when buying a used Jeep.
 
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Jjp said:
I have a 2004 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. the original owner was family so the history of the Jeep is known. However the current status is not wonderful. Currently it needs a new or rebuilt transmission. I’m looking for advice, as to should I fix the transmission and/or sell it or keep it. What would you suggest selling it for without a working transmission? The frame isn’t wonderful either. The front has been rewelded and I have the kit for the back but also not sure if it’s worth doing.

What do you think?

I look forward to your advice.
Jessica
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What do you plan on doing with it? Is a farm vehicle? Plow the driveway? A potential daily driver? Long term project with possible frame swap? Just trying to keep it rolling for sentimental reasons?
 
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Chris said:
If the frame is not that great and the transmission is in need of a rebuild, I'd probably just sell it for parts.

Even if you fix the transmission, the frame will be a huge red flag to any buyer who has educated themselves on what to look for when buying a used Jeep.
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Thank you. That certainly does give me something to consider.
 
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MikekiM said:
What do you plan on doing with it? Is a farm vehicle? Plow the driveway? A potential daily driver? Long term project with possible frame swap? Just trying to keep it rolling for sentimental reasons?
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Hi.

No sentimental value. My mother was the original owner. I got it from her for my son to drive. The transmission coolant line blew on him so it’s been sitting. My daughter is about to be driving and I was thinking it’s would be a good first vehicle for her as well. I’m a bit hesitant to buy another headache. So just trying to weight the options. I have considered fixing the transmission but I’m getting quotes in the $4k range which seems insane to me.

I am basically considering teaching her how to drive in it or just selling it and finding something else.
 
Jjp said:
What would you suggest selling it for without a working transmission? The frame isn’t wonderful either. The front has been rewelded and I have the kit for the back but also not sure if it’s worth doing.
Click to expand...

Market value will be based on the average price of an LJ (Unlimited) in average condition within your market area, minus known needed repair cost, minus and additional amount for someone's time and effort. For example, if an average LJ is selling for $15K in your area, and you know your Jeep needs $10,000 worth of work (trans & frame replacement), then your Jeep will be worth $5,000 or less, depending on the time/effort discount a potential buy expects.

Also, if your frame is in that bad of shape, what does the body look like?

Jjp said:
I have considered fixing the transmission but I’m getting quotes in the $4k range which seems insane to me.
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That might be a little high, but it's within the "normal" range around here. If you decide to rebuild the trans, research the potential shop well before committing.
 
Forgive me if I’m reading too much into the situation-


If you are a single mom or don’t have a mechanic in the house sell it- Winter is coming and those kids need to be out in something that is reliable- Any TJ platform that age needs a number of things at any given moment.
 
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A Toyota Corolla or similar is a good first car. A Wrangler is unstable, especially for a new driver, gas hungry and high maintenance. The only plus is that it’s a cool ride. Sell it and put the money towards something else. Family history means less than economy, reliability, safety and most likely cheaper insurance. My Daughter’s first car was a 1968 Mustang that she found a deal on when she was 14. When she got her DL in 2004 she drove it for 6 months and hated not having a dependable car that she could drive anywhere. We bought her a Corolla and she drove it for 14 yrs before she was hit and it was totaled. We sold the Mustang for 3 times what we paid for it to a family friend who ended up putting in $40K to fully restore it into a resto mod.
 
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You can probably find a better vehicle for the cost of that transmission repair.
Sell that Jeep for parts and use that $$ to pay the insurance for your new driver.
 
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In all actuality, an TJ jeep is a tinkerers/mechanics/fix-it up kind of person's car. If the knowledge/desire isn't there to do such things, it will be a huge money pit for those who need to pay labor. Hard to think that a TJ in the condition you describe would be a good stater vehicle. I believe $4k would be best spent on another vehicle.
 
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Sell it for all the reasons above. A TJ in that condition needs an enthusiast to buy it or be parted out, pictures would help us.

All that aside, for vehicles model year 2000 and newer, I'd have to think the TJ is most likely one of if not the most unsafe for several reasons. Let one tire fall off the edge of the highway and its not gonna be pretty. Super unpredictable on ice as well. The first car for my kids will not be my TJ.
 
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John Cooper said:
Already making plans I see.. :ROFLMAO:
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Wife or Jeep?

Hmmmm...

One is noisy, always needs maintenance, and very costly to maintain.

The other is a Jeep. 🤪

To the OP, Sell It.

A TJ can be a good daily driver, but I would say only for someone who knows about it and has the time and skill to tinker with it themselves.

In a 20 year old vehicle that is filled with Chrysler electronics, ransom sensors/relays/switches going out on a whim is a given.

Paying someone to find electrical gremlins on a regular basis is going to be a payment in itself.
 
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