Can I get a value for my Jeep?

[Ante_Up]

Debating on selling the old Jeep.

1997 Jeep Wrangler Sahara, 104K, 4.0, 5 speed, heat, ac, runs and drives great...mechanically sound. New full OEM cooling system, new fuel pump, new exhaust manifold, new motor mounts, MML, new trans mount, all the Sahara seats in great shape, Rebuilt title due to hail damage, hence the black hood and soft top. Hard top and hood were beat to sh*t. Anyway, here's the list of upgrades... Likely missing something! Most every part has less than 2000 miles on them

-06 Rubicon Dana 44 axles, factory air lockers with 4.88 gears
-17" Roadkill beadlocks, 35" Cooper STT Pro's with matching spare
-Full Currie 4" suspension, CA's w/ Johnny Joints and front and rear adjustable track bars.
-ZJ steering upgrade
-Quick sway bar disconnects
-Teraflex SS SYE kit
-Tom Woods driveshafts
-Big brake kit front, Rubicon disks in rear
-Rancho RS5000 shocks
-Smittybilt XRC winch
-Smittybilt swing out tire carrier
-Smittybilt tool drawer
-Aftermarket front and rear bumpers
-Besttop Sunrider frameless top
-Alien sunshade
-CMM Off-road brass knuckle grab bars with doors off mirrors
-Bedrug throughout
-Bartact seat covers
-Tuffy under seat lock box
-ORO Theft deterrent kit
-thumb throttle
-LED headlights
-new taillights and lenses
-hydraulic hood assists

 

[97TJNM]

Where I'm at, that's a 10-12k jeep as it sits. Get the hood painted and get it professionally detailed, and sell it on the spring, and you could probably get 14. That said, value is highly dependent on market. My area always has 2 or 3 relatively stock TJs for sale in the 6-9k range.

 

[97JadeTJ]

I agrees with @97TJNM…$10 - $12,000 is the price for a decent low mile TJ in my area (ARK) rebuilt title is going to hurt you… Some people just don’t want a vehicle with a rebuilt title… you are going to have to find some who overlooks the title and buys the build… I would definitely paint the hood to get the most out of it..

 

[97TJNM]

I agrees with @97TJNM…$10 - $12,000 is the price for a decent low mile TJ in my area (ARK) rebuilt title is going to hurt you… Some people just don’t want a vehicle with a rebuilt title… you are going to have to find some who overlooks the title and buys the build… I would definitely paint the hood to get the most out of it..

You're right. I didn't catch the title issue. That will hurt the price a bit. Still, paint that hood and detail it, and you may be able to get 12k.

 

[John Cooper]

I bet @RINC Would love your hood!!!!

 

[Mall'er]

Salvage title? Fender damage? Different color hood? You say hail damage caused the salvage title, but the pictures say otherwise to me.

Not saying it wasn't hail damage that totaled the jeep, just looking at it as a prospective buyer would. I might be harsh, but I wouldn't give more than 8k for it.

However, drive it to a rusty northern state and sell it for a mint!

 

[TheGanzman]

I hate to be a Negative Nellie, but there's a LOT working against you on this one. Salvage Title will eliminate at least a third of your potential buyers; 1997 is prolly the LEAST desirable of the TJ's due to its first year teething pains; finally, although you've done a lot of mods that were desirable to YOU, when it comes to ANYTHING "modded" over its stock configuration, you have to find THE buyer who likes & appreciates YOUR take on how it was modded...

As a 67 year old who has sold 38 vehicles, many of which were high-end, tastefully modded vehicles, my advice is to brace yourself for a L-O-N-G waiting period and some hurt feelings before you watch the taillights disappearing outta your driveway. Coincidentally, I just sold my RV after 45 days on Craigslist - one of only 58 built, in almost new condition and with a PILE of excellent mods that made it an absolute joy to drive. I posted at least a $10K loss...

 

[TheBoogieman]

Whatever it's worth, knock off $3,000 for the rebuilt title.

 

[Ante_Up]

Salvage title? Fender damage? Different color hood? You say hail damage caused the salvage title, but the pictures say otherwise to me.

Not saying it wasn't hail damage that totaled the jeep, just looking at it as a prospective buyer would. I might be harsh, but I wouldn't give more than 8k for it.

However, drive it to a rusty northern state and sell it for a mint!

Rebuilt title, different from salvage title. Vehicle was inspected, etc in order to receive a rebuilt title. I purchased the vehicle with the hail damage and swapped the hood and sold the hard top myself. There is very minor damage to the fender that was already there... About the equivalent to bumping a small tree. No other damage anywhere. I hear what you're saying, but a look at it in person would settle that. I don't have to sell it, it's a great little jeep... Just wanted to get some opinions in the event I do decide to sell. I appreciate the input!

 

[Shank]

Rebuilt title, different from salvage title. Vehicle was inspected, etc in order to receive a rebuilt title. I purchased the vehicle with the hail damage and swapped the hood and sold the hard top myself. There is very minor damage to the fender that was already there... About the equivalent to bumping a small tree. No other damage anywhere. I hear what you're saying, but a look at it in person would settle that. I don't have to sell it, it's a great little jeep... Just wanted to get some opinions in the event I do decide to sell. I appreciate the input!

I sold two TJ's at almost the same time, one clean title, one rebuilt. Both were nice Jeeps. The clean title people couldn't get there fast enough with cash, the rebuilt, took a long time to sell.

In fact the person that bought the clean title made the comment that they almost didn't message me since I also had a rebuilt title Jeep. The rebuilt title one a younger kid came and looked at it, I pointed out rust problem areas and he went and looked at others, showed back up with cash a week later.

 

[Gilaguy23]

Amateur. I've bought and sold well over 100. 20 Jeeps too.

Ha...Im at 250 myself in 45 years of dabbling vehicles. Not to mention motorcycles, ATV's and boats

 

[Bowhunter]

Ha...Im at 250 myself in 45 years of dabbling vehicles. Not to mention motorcycles, ATV's and boats

Dang boys, we’ve got a good ol’ D measuring contest on our hands!

 

['05Train]

If you're patient, you can find good examples for $11k-$13k.

With a rebuilt title you've not only cut your value nearly in half, you've also lost half of your buyers, as many won't touch that.

 

[Shank]

If you're patient, you can find good examples for $11k-$13k.

With a rebuilt title you've not only cut your value nearly in half, you've also lost half of your buyers, as many won't touch that.

It's usually like 20-30% on TJ's, but yes harder sell.

 

[Bowhunter]

@Ante_Up

Best I’ve found is to research your local classifieds or Facebook market place within 500 mile radius. This forum is a great wealth of knowledge but I have seen this asked many times before and you get pricing info from many different markets which will either make your sale very easy(too quick/easy) or very hard and drawn out. You will end up slowly reducing the price until you hit the price threshold for your market

 

[Danarch]

Agree with others, the rebuilt title has an impact on value and number of buyers. Most of the people I know who own a rebuilt or salvaged title for Jeeps is because they got it for a great price and primarily use it for off roading and don’t care what body damage etc. happens.

 

[zackcj7]

" 1997 is prolly the LEAST desirable of the TJ's due to its first year teething pains"

Funny, I have the same opinion of 2005-2006. The last years of the TJs. Wouldn't buy one if it was the deal of the century...


As others have said, the salvage title can really hurt the resale value. I say keep it and wheel the heck out of it. If it already has a salvage title and hail damage who cares about trail scars.

 

[andya]

Funny, I have the same opinion of 2005-2006. The last years of the TJs. Wouldn't buy one if it was the deal of the century...

I only know of two flaws for those years:

• OPDA - fixed for $100
• PCM - fixed for $650 (auto) and $1200? (manual) from @Wranglerfix

Both relatively cheap fixes compared to the cost of the vehicle. What else would put you off?

Andy

 

[bucky]

Yes the 98-03 TJs have no issues what so ever.

 

[Danarch]

I only know of two flaws for those years:

• OPDA - fixed for $100
• PCM - fixed for $650 (auto) and $1200? (manual) from @Wranglerfix

Both relatively cheap fixes compared to the cost of the vehicle. What else would put you off?

Andy

Considering I just bought a 2006 LJ I am curious too what issues there are besides the above two. I was surprised the PCM is more for the manual then an automatic, I’d figured it would have been opposite.