Looking for opinions on two TJs

[psdavidson]

ok I think I'm getting rid of the 2.5L once I get it back out of the transmission shop. I just want a little more than the four squirrels. i have narrowed it down to these two choices. I don't like to finance so I pay cash and this is what I am allowing myself.

$8k
yellow jeep 2004 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon auto, hard top with 202k miles on it. It has Metal Cloak fenders front and rear, I also have the the original fenders. It has a quadratec 9000 lbs winch. A Zone 4.25 inch suspension lift. 16 in 5x5.5 offset black wheels, 315/75r16 Nitto tires brand new. A Lod tire carrier with back rack and a hard top. I have driven the Jeep daily for years to and from work and had no problems.

$10k
red jeep 2004 manual, soft top, 108k miles, 4” lift, 35 mud terrains including spare, Fuel rims, New flat fenders with a flare, New rock rails, New full corners with flares, New front bumper, New winch, Newer top, New stainless BANKS exhaust, Was ordered factory without ac 108k miles

 

[Chris]

Without seeing photos of the frame and underside, I can't give you a good opinion.

 

[psdavidson]

Without seeing photos of the frame and underside, I can't give you a good opinion.

yeah these are just what they sent before i went to look. frames has some normal car rust but not holes or big bubbly areas. the high mileage concerns me on the one that has the automatic. what do you think about the 202k miles?

 

[jwrangler187]

I wouldnt worry so much about the mileage. Frame is your biggest issue. If both frames are mint then your spending an extra 2000 dollars for 1/2 of the miles

 

[jwrangler187]

Put your fingers in the frame holes if its not smooth I would pass on both. Frame repair or replacement is a huge job

 

[psdavidson]

the guy with the red one just sent me these that he had

 

[Aloha Joe]

Your description doesn't say the red one is a Rubicon - did you verify the VIN?
My opinion, FWIW, assuming the same general/overall condition:

For $2k you're buying 100k miles or 5-10 years of driving wear. On top of that, some amount of the 200,000 miles was done with a plow which creates additional wear on the vehicle.

I love my 2 door manual Jeep - it's the most fun 4-wheeled vehicle I've ever driven. Even in a city like Los Angeles or Honolulu, I'm partial to manual transmissions.

I can't value things like a hard top or winch vs plow for you. I wanted a soft top, so Jeeps with hard tops meant I'd have to pay more money down the road. But honestly, I'd rather have a Jeep with 100,000 miles and need a new top than 200,000 miles with the features I wanted.

 

[Aloha Joe]

Can you see/feel them in person? Those pics of the red Jeep frame look like someone's trying to cover up something (looks like black coating over a rusty frame). Just my $.02. I waited an extra couple of months to find a non-rusty, reasonable mileage Wrangler and I'm so glad I did

 

[TJ2]

Red's frame starts to develop rust from the inside. It is a bad sign. But what is the yellow one looks like?
My gut feeling, I will go for the yellow.

 

[psdavidson]

Your description doesn't say the red one is a Rubicon - did you verify the VIN?
My opinion, FWIW, assuming the same general/overall condition:

For $2k you're buying 100k miles or 5-10 years of driving wear. On top of that, some amount of the 200,000 miles was done with a plow which creates additional wear on the vehicle.

I love my 2 door manual Jeep - it's the most fun 4-wheeled vehicle I've ever driven. Even in a city like Los Angeles or Honolulu, I'm partial to manual transmissions.

I can't value things like a hard top or winch vs plow for you. I wanted a soft top, so Jeeps with hard tops meant I'd have to pay more money down the road. But honestly, I'd rather have a Jeep with 100,000 miles and need a new top than 200,000 miles with the features I wanted.

yeah I verified both vin online before I looked at them. the red one is a rubicon. plus it has what i like in transmission and soft top. plus the lower mileage. its the one I'm leaning too.
but the savings of 2k is nice, which why the yellow one was a contender and closer to my house. both is 3 to 4.5 drive from my home. everything close to me the frames where pretty bad.

 

[mots]

New red pics show ~1" transfer case drop (in case it wasn't noticed). So likely a 4" drop without SYE (and Rubi branding?).

Edit: I guess it is a Rubi then, just saw your last post.

 

[Aloha Joe]

I didn't want to spend $10k on my Jeep, but that's what I ended up getting my Rubicon for. It hurt a bit for ride home, but then the doors came off and it hasn't bothered me since.

 

[psdavidson]

New red pics show ~1" transfer case drop (in case it wasn't noticed). So likely a 4" drop without SYE (and Rubi branding?).

where in ohio are you? this jeep is in the dayton area.

 

[KCsTJ]

Is there any way you can keep the 2.5 while you save up for a 4.0L?

That's what I did. Got the 1st one kinda by accident and got hooked so I had to have a 4.0L.

 

[mots]

where in ohio are you? this jeep is in the dayton area.

I'm up in the Toledo area.

 

[psdavidson]

I'm up in the Toledo area.

I was hoping you was near dayton, if you could run by. it takes me 4.5 hours to get to dayton and I missed that

 

[psdavidson]

Is there any way you can keep the 2.5 while you save up for a 4.0L?

That's what I did. Got the 1st one kinda by accident and got hooked so I had to have a 4.0L.

I don't understand you mean. you mean save for a for a new one? I have 15k cash for another jeep, I don't finance toys. not saying the wrangler is a toy but it is in this circumstance for me it is since I have a 2011 f150 and 2018 cherokee (the wifes).
The 2.5L wrangler is the fourth wrangler I have had. I have always had 4.0 but got the 2.5l in a trade with a polaris ATV. its been great for back roads, in town and trails but sucks on the highway. I guess I should have researched that. now the transmission is gushing and thats a long story that may end up getting an attorney involved since it involves a jeep dealership.(a post all to it own).
I have never owned a wrangler with lockers. so i figure I try out the rubicon. I set my boundaries for 10k and keep 5k in reserve incase i wanted to add stuff.

 

[psdavidson]

Red's frame starts to develop rust from the inside. It is a bad sign. But what is the yellow one looks like?
My gut feeling, I will go for the yellow.

same

 

[psdavidson]

Your description doesn't say the red one is a Rubicon - did you verify the VIN?
My opinion, FWIW, assuming the same general/overall condition:

For $2k you're buying 100k miles or 5-10 years of driving wear. On top of that, some amount of the 200,000 miles was done with a plow which creates additional wear on the vehicle.

I love my 2 door manual Jeep - it's the most fun 4-wheeled vehicle I've ever driven. Even in a city like Los Angeles or Honolulu, I'm partial to manual transmissions.

I can't value things like a hard top or winch vs plow for you. I wanted a soft top, so Jeeps with hard tops meant I'd have to pay more money down the road. But honestly, I'd rather have a Jeep with 100,000 miles and need a new top than 200,000 miles with the features I wanted.

not sure where you got the plow thing from.
but yeah most frames in this area is crap from all the salt. its not unusual to see several places where the frame has been patched. my 2.5 has been patched in 3 places. we have a local hot rod shop and one of his biggest money makers is patching frames

 

[KCsTJ]

I don't understand you mean. you mean save for a for a new one? I have 15k cash for another jeep, I don't finance toys. not saying the wrangler is a toy but it is in this circumstance for me it is since I have a 2011 f150 and 2018 cherokee (the wifes).
The 2.5L wrangler is the fourth wrangler I have had. I have always had 4.0 but got the 2.5l in a trade with a polaris ATV. its been great for back roads, in town and trails but sucks on the highway. I guess I should have researched that. now the transmission is gushing and thats a long story that may end up getting an attorney involved since it involves a jeep dealership.(a post all to it own).
I have never owned a wrangler with lockers. so i figure I try out the rubicon. I set my boundaries for 10k and keep 5k in reserve incase i wanted to add stuff.

No, i didn't mean a new one. Why not have 2 tjs, that's all. Alternate driving them, miles don't add up so fast. Twice the enjoyment, one a beater, one a grocery getter