Should I pull the trigger on this TJ?

[AndyG]

Ok, STOP!

Obviously you have good intentions and are trying to help your son out of financial hardship.

Buying him a Jeep at any price may not be a good thing regardless of price or condition.

What if he gets the bug, starts rebuilding, becomes part of this FORUM. I don’t care who you are, what you know, owning a Jeep cost $$$$!

Listening to all on here, is NO WAY to help anyone with money issues!
!

Hey, at least in this case it can’t lead to divorce.

 

[jeepguy03]

For $1500 if it runs and drives and isn't rusty that's a steal!

4 cyl TJs are slow but still better and more fun than any other average $1500 car. Cruising around in his new Jeep might help take his mind off the divorce for a few seconds.

 

[defenderu]

DID YOU BUY IT!!!! WE ALL WANT PICS!!!!!!

 

[harbiison]

i mean if you dont take it i would totally be interested for a frame swap lol

 

[Rubicon88]

Where the hell are you going to get a Toyota or Honda for 1500? The Jeep will be just as dependable and cheaper to repair

LOL...
Well that's the key...dependable..
A quarter million mile 4 banging Jeep I wouldn't give to someone that NEEDS to get to work...was just divorced or divorcing..in other words doesn't need more fucking stress...brain already preoccupied...zoning out at work....can't afford to be late or absent....
Lastly...court dates and the like...can't miss those...

And so on and so on.

$1500 for a wrangler is a good deal....great deal if it runs and drives...

A quarter million mile Wrangler for everyday reliable transportation as someone's ONLY vehicle that needs counted on...

In lieu of any dollar amount

The deal is fine...the thinking is dumb!!

****
Yes Honda/Toyota/Hyundai can be had for the cheap. You have to look very hard and turn many stones over...but they are out there.
Matter of fact I just got a 2005 Camry for a kid for $800.
Needed battery, tires, cv joints.

All told with how my business can buy things he's now around $1300 and has a Camry with 160k that I wouldn't hesitate to take to Florida.

 

[Rubicon88]

Where the hell are you going to get a Toyota or Honda for 1500? The Jeep will be just as dependable and cheaper to repair

No and no.

If an engine or tranny goes you're fucked either way.

Alternators...braking components....exhausts and so on and so on...
The Jeep is NOT cheaper to repair.
Hell even in the nitty gritty world of getting boneyard parts....
How many Honda/Toyota are in the boneyard versus a Wrangler?
About a 15:1 ratio. Might be worse than that. Maybe 20:1

 

[chuck47]

LOL...
Well that's the key...dependable..
A quarter million mile 4 banging Jeep I wouldn't give to someone that NEEDS to get to work...was just divorced or divorcing..in other words doesn't need more fucking stress...brain already preoccupied...zoning out at work....can't afford to be late or absent....
Lastly...court dates and the like...can't miss those...

And so on and so on.

$1500 for a wrangler is a good deal....great deal if it runs and drives...

A quarter million mile Wrangler for everyday reliable transportation as someone's ONLY vehicle that needs counted on...

In lieu of any dollar amount

The deal is fine...the thinking is dumb!!

****
Yes Honda/Toyota/Hyundai can be had for the cheap. You have to look very hard and turn many stones over...but they are out there.
Matter of fact I just got a 2005 Camry for a kid for $800.
Needed battery, tires, cv joints.

All told with how my business can buy things he's now around $1300 and has a Camry with 160k that I wouldn't hesitate to take to Florida.

No and no.

If an engine or tranny goes you're fucked either way.

Alternators...braking components....exhausts and so on and so on...
The Jeep is NOT cheaper to repair.
Hell even in the nitty gritty world of getting boneyard parts....
How many Honda/Toyota are in the boneyard versus a Wrangler?
About a 15:1 ratio. Might be worse than that. Maybe 20:1

Couldn't have said it better myself. I think we have a skewed perspective sometimes as TJ owners, but I really can't see any argument for a TJ being the best value for dependability as a DD. Now, if we are talking fun per dollar, I would say the TJ ranks pretty near the top. But if I have limited money and need to be able to get from point A to point B, I'm taking the Honda/Toyota every time.

 

[jeepguy03]

Couldn't have said it better myself. I think we have a skewed perspective sometimes as TJ owners, but I really can't see any argument for a TJ being the best value for dependability as a DD. Now, if we are talking fun per dollar, I would say the TJ ranks pretty near the top. But if I have limited money and need to be able to get from point A to point B, I'm taking the Honda/Toyota every time.

Honda/Toyota is way more reliable, but you won't find one with 4 wheels for $1500 at least in my area.

 

[Hunter Rich]

Let me clarify, he is currently living back at home with us. He was driving my back up vehicle (2004 Hyundai elantra) until it threw a rod about 4 miles from home. It had almost 300k on it. The jeep will be mine with him being allowed to drive it until he can get his own vehicle.

Waiting to hear from her if its still available.

 

[matkal]

Ok, STOP!

Obviously you have good intentions and are trying to help your son out of financial hardship.

Buying him a Jeep at any price may not be a good thing regardless of price or condition.

What if he gets the bug, starts rebuilding, becomes part of this FORUM. I don’t care who you are, what you know, owning a Jeep cost $$$$!

Listening to all on here, is NO WAY to help anyone with money issues!
!

Great advice! The OP should buy the TJ for himself and buy his son a Malibu. LOL

Edit: I just now read the previous reply.

 

[TheBoogieman]

Let me clarify, he is currently living back at home with us. He was driving my back up vehicle (2004 Hyundai elantra) until it threw a rod about 4 miles from home. It had almost 300k on it. The jeep will be mine with him being allowed to drive it until he can get his own vehicle.

Waiting to hear from her if its still available.

I've got a 2003 Elantra with 115,000 miles that I bought for $750. He can find a new wife easier in a Jeep though.

 

[mxz800]

Talking about the future of used cars, what will happen when all the high tech cars hit the used car market with 150k + miles?

When I bought my new car in Feb. it had the 10 year 100k bumper to bumper coverage because if anything goes wrong with the high tech stuff its crazy expensive to fix.

 

[Hunter Rich]

But he needs to ask strangers about a 2003 southern TJ for $1500 lol

I ask because I have no experience with the 4 cylinder engine.

 

[mxz800]

I ask because I have no experience with the 4 cylinder engine.

I have the same engine in my 2004, I'm not going to set any land speed records but the 4.0 isn't going to either. I have other vehicles if I want to go fast.

I got my Jeep for 2k and the frame was rust free, I didn't have to but I went top to bottom, front to back replacing things. I figured it's 17 years old, I wanted it to be dependable.

I would buy that Jeep in a heartbeat if I was in the market for one.

 

[Hunter Rich]

so i will be introducing you to my newest family addition in a few days...

 

[Hunter Rich]

Found out today that it has a brand new soft top being delivered in a few days. So there's that.

 

[Hunter Rich]

 

[srimes]

View attachment 255126

Nice! I'll give you $1800 for it.

 

[Claytone]

Damn nice!
I’ll go $2000

 

[Andy-WhiteTJ]

View attachment 255126

Gotta paint those fender flares.