Advice on how to sell my Jeep
- Thread starter Zedd
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hdbiker1
Member
Regarding the CL ad content
Your ad should peak the buyer's interest while minimizing their risk. Motivate me a to contact you and pursue a deal. A rebuilt title, regardless of backstory, will cut your market easily in half. You don't appear to have pics from before or during the repair. From the buyer's perspective that increases uncertainty and risk. Certain buyers might not be able to get good interest or insurance rates for rebuilt titles. Though not in your ad, stating a leak is "mostly patched" again increases uncertainty and risk because a proper repair job would fix leaks.
The 2.5L + automatic are not highly demanded combination. The color is also not highly demanded. It is different and original, but not everybody wants to be different.
Overall, the Jeep presents itself well in the pics.
I bought my LJ-R with a rebuilt title. Why?
The ol' saying goes, "there is a person for every chair, you just have to find the right ass(hole)". How long and at what price are you willing to wait is up to OP.
- I'd recommend a 3/4 photo, like you have for image 1, taken from all corners
- I like your engine shot because potential buyers can see the fluid color and levels of the coolant and brake fluid reservoirs
- skid plate shot is good
- front tire shot- as a buyer, I don't care. You could communicate the same and more info with a shot of the frame at the rear lower control arm.
- driver's area and center stack pics, good
- trunk area- would prefer a wider angle so I can see the full width of the tub. This pic could be misconstrued that you've cropped the pic to conceal rust at the rear mounts
- cluster pic- good that it's at idle with no CEL. Would prefer to see photo taken, at idle, at operating temperature
- You should have close-up pics of the passenger front to show the quality of repair that was done to the previously damaged area
- I'd remove the girlfriend and city scape pics
Your ad should peak the buyer's interest while minimizing their risk. Motivate me a to contact you and pursue a deal. A rebuilt title, regardless of backstory, will cut your market easily in half. You don't appear to have pics from before or during the repair. From the buyer's perspective that increases uncertainty and risk. Certain buyers might not be able to get good interest or insurance rates for rebuilt titles. Though not in your ad, stating a leak is "mostly patched" again increases uncertainty and risk because a proper repair job would fix leaks.
The 2.5L + automatic are not highly demanded combination. The color is also not highly demanded. It is different and original, but not everybody wants to be different.
Overall, the Jeep presents itself well in the pics.
I bought my LJ-R with a rebuilt title. Why?
- the seller had "before" photos of the repair
- seller disclosed the title and could speak in exact detail how the repairs were made
- advertised price was ~30% discounted against comparable vehicle with clean title.
- I didn't find any new problems the seller failed to disclose
- sale price was ~40-50% discounted against comparable vehicles
- I knew going in that if/when I decide to sell, the shoe would be on the other foot
The ol' saying goes, "there is a person for every chair, you just have to find the right ass(hole)". How long and at what price are you willing to wait is up to OP.
Forum trades are the best...this reminded of a time I traded my stock BMW speakers to a guy in Hawaii for two pounds of locally sourced Kona coffee beans.
I thought you paid $7000 for it? There is not much you can do to promote a 2.5 with a salvage title. Not the responses you want to hear but you'll need some patience until the next sucker comes by.
Good to hear re the tops. My brother spent a fair bit of time sorting out top leak problems with his Miata. The rear foot well was a bit of a problem. The trunk leaked a bit too. There's also an AC drain over the passenger's foot well that can be a problem. It didn't bug him until his wife started complaining about getting drips on her legs. Women are like that.
If these are extra tires I'd sell them separately if I could. You'd probably get more for them that way than you would as part of the deal.
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hdbiker1
Member
Over 40yrs ago while in college, I had a friend from Kona, but I didn't get "coffee beans" in our dealings.
$4000 plus payments. It was a good deal. The Jeep is a great Jeep there is no sucker to be buying it.
The guy isn’t willing to do a trade but there’s another guy that’s wanting to do a trade but his Miata is blue and an automatic
. Blehhhh
X2, I agree with this completely.
I know it's not what you want to hear, but this is the reality of it no matter how you look at it.
Having owned countless numbers of Miatas myself, they are fun cars for sure.
A auto to manual transmission swap on a Miata is pretty simple. It might be another option to consider if you have a solid trade offer. I've done a few swaps on different vehicles in the past. Since you would have a drivable car there would be time to gather all of the parts. If you have some u-pull junkyards it makes it even easier. I always enjoyed looking for parts. It was like a treasure hunt.The guy isn’t willing to do a trade but there’s another guy that’s wanting to do a trade but his Miata is blue and an automatic
The whole point of selling the jeep is because I’m not that kinda person. I would have to pay someone to do the swap.
@Zedd I'm in the PDX area and it's going to be hard sell with that price for a 2.5L auto with a rebuilt title esp this time of the year. You have to be willing to wait to sell it at that price. In general, once you have a vehicle with a rebuilt/salvage title, no matter how good the repair, you lose a lot of buyers who only vehicles with want clear titles only for peace of mind. I'm one of these people, btw.
If you are selling the TJ because you don't like 2.5L or want to buy a different vehicle if your choice, I completely understand. But if you like the vehicle and you are only selling it due to frustrations with not being able to fix the water leak, I can recommend to two good mechanics in the Beaverton area that I trust who can fix your issue but you have to be willing to pay for the repairs.
If you are selling the TJ because you don't like 2.5L or want to buy a different vehicle if your choice, I completely understand. But if you like the vehicle and you are only selling it due to frustrations with not being able to fix the water leak, I can recommend to two good mechanics in the Beaverton area that I trust who can fix your issue but you have to be willing to pay for the repairs.
This is a wonderful reply thank you so much. How I feel is that the 2.5 isn’t for me. I don’t like the color and the leaks really hurt me and make me hate the vehicle. I fell in love with the Miata. I understand this is a terrible time of year and maybe I should just wait it out. I fell in love with this one Miata and I just don’t want it to go away. With the jeeps listed currently in the area I think mine is a good bargain. I think you’re correct obviously about the rebuilt title it really sucks because in this case it’s just a word on a piece of paper. Unlike other rebuilt titles were you see the before pictures in your like, “ Jesus Christ, fuck that.”
The way that I would express how I feel is that I really wanted a yellow jeep TJ, and I fought so hard to get it, I wanted to be a part of this community, I wanted to learn about engines, but there’s this constant feeling that the jeep doesn’t love me back. And the cars that I fell a allure too are 60’s sport cars and the Miata gives me that feeling.
Be patient if you are not in a urgent need for another car. There will be other Miatas in the market.
When I bought my '05 TJR, it took me 6 months of search. And I did not get the color I wanted. I bought black but over time I really learned to like that color. And for me, the places I go to and the adventures I have with my Jeep are more important than the color. Note that I have a vibration problem that I have been trying to resolve for 1.5 years. There have been plenty of times I was frustrated. It happens. But if you are not thinking logically and patiently, it won't do you any good.
I recommend taking a couple nights to think over whether you would keep your Jeep and enjoy it longer if the leak is fixed. FWIW, I don't think it's a difficult fix if you go to a good mechanic. If you are in a rush to sell your Jeep, be aware that it's very difficult to get your full asking price. You can have a lot of fun with your Jeep if it's mechanically sound as you say it is.
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I think if I were to sell the jeep I would be happy with that and maybe in the future I can get a 4.0 someday. I think I would be less likely to sell it if the leaks were fixed. However fun factor and the cost of gas I feel like I would be more willing to get a different car just to not deal with those things. I think in the kinds of cars I’m interested in my taste has changed. I think you’re absolutely right I’m going to continue to be patient and when the opportunity arrives find the right Miata. Thank you for being helpful and insightful.
MountaineerTom
LJ Enthusiast, Retired USAF Weapons Loader
Supporting Member
Ride of the Month Winner
I may have missed it, but what kind of leak do you have? Where?
if you have a previous thread about it, put a link to it for me. I may have seen it but just don’t remember. There are lots of Jeep owners that have had leaks (including myself) and lots of leak threads, I just may not remember seeing it.
if you have a previous thread about it, put a link to it for me. I may have seen it but just don’t remember. There are lots of Jeep owners that have had leaks (including myself) and lots of leak threads, I just may not remember seeing it.
You are welcome.
For a vehicle like a Jeep, in general, you can't fixate too much on gas mileage. It's the price you pay for a very capable vehicle where you can remove the top at will, take the doors off and be able to go places most cars can't go. The 4.0 is not magically better in terms of mileage or power. It does breathe better with bigger tires, lift etc but a Jeep is still a heavy vehicle.
It's sad that your first experience in a Jeep has not been fully to your expectations. But note that when you buy a used vehicle, every car no matter the make can lead you to the same sour road. Shit happens. Just chalk it up as a learning experience.
It's not the end of the world if you can't get your full asking price for the Jeep. If it's important for you now to have the money more than the Jeep, sell it for what you can and move on. Or get the leak professionally fixed and see if you can keep the Jeep longer. You can always make money but you can't make time. Enjoy the time you have the right way and don't get fixated on specific cars/colors/features but focus more on your experiences and learning.
Message me if you want contact information on the local mechanics. They will most certainly be able to fix your leak.
I think the thread was close because I had Chris close it. The leak had to do with my back windshield rubber which I already bought a thing to repair but the big leak is on the passenger side and has to do with my aftermarket half door. Basically there’s a puddle in my passenger seat‘s feet. If it were an engine problem I would be really curious to learn but this leak thing I just have absolutely no interest whatsoever and find the whole process extremely aggravating. But I want to sell the jeep so I feel like I don’t want to put the money in to fix it for something I’m going to sell.
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