Im not a Jeep guy ....

Lizooki

Lizooki

Samurai Frogger
Joined
Mar 21, 2005
Location
Stokes Co. NC
But daughter number 2 loves them. To my Sami friends ..... I know, I failed.
Anyway, She is a teacher.
She just got her new contract yesterday.
She got a $4000.00 plus raise.

Y'all see where this is going?

What to look for when looking at used Jeeps?
Most likely a Wrangler, or similar.
What are the problem areas?
What do I need to run away from?


Edumacate me!
Thanks

Matt
 
4K won't buy much but it will buy a beater TJ- most likely a 4cyl. Watch for frame rot around the lower rear control arm brackets. Make sure it shifts well. The AX-5 isn't really strong. If she can't drive a manual trans, the budget might have to go up for a 4.0 automatic, which are harder to come by unless you get really lucky
 
How much are you wanting to spend?
 
Lizooki said:
But daughter number 2 loves them. To my Sami friends ..... I know, I failed.
Anyway, She is a teacher.
She just got her new contract yesterday.
She got a $4000.00 plus raise.

Y'all see where this is going?

What to look for when looking at used Jeeps?
Most likely a Wrangler, or similar.
What are the problem areas?
What do I need to run away from?


Edumacate me!
Thanks

Matt
Click to expand...


What do you need to run away from? Umm, the whole Jeep thing.
 
Is this something that she is wanting to drive for reliable transportation or just as a toy for the weekends? A $4k wrangler is gonna be pretty sketchy to use as a reliable daily driver from what I have seen on Craigslist and the kind but if its just gonna be a toy then that is a different story.
 
I bet the 4k raise is going towards financing, 4k x 4 years = 16k and that will buy a pretty nice one.
 
Lizooki said:
What do I need to run away from?
Click to expand...

Assuming the 4k has nothing to do with budget and everything to do with "money burning a hole in pocket" that just goes along with debt....I would say steer clear of the 2007-2011 as they have the 3.8 minivan motor. The 2012-up have the 3.6 which has roughly 83 more hp.

Other than that, if you go back to TJ's the 03-06 have some quirky issues from OPDA to other insignificant crap that non-mechanically inclined people may get taken advantage of over.

Other than that, nothing horrible to be fraid of
 
Last edited:
The raise isn't the budget, it's the enabler.
I agree with the whole run away thing ....
Anyone mentions that purple Jeep to her and Madea will visit you in the night.

As far as what does want?
It's probably this .....
Says Jeep on it ---- automatic ---- pretty

I know, shoot me in the head.

The good is , she will want my help in looking and deciding.
I'm not pro, but been around vehicles and working on them all my life.
I'm picky as heck and look vehicles over thoroughly, and will walk away over 100 bucks.


Matt :rolleyes:
 
Look for rust in the frame near the back end, and near the rear spring/control arm mounting bracket. Stay away from the 4cyl motor.
 
I bought a '15 Rubi brand new. Has 31k on it now. Not so much as a loose screw. Zero problems at all. Other than the OEM tires are OK, but wear fast, I'm going to get it to 35k and replace them.

Definitely '12 and up for the motor.

On older ones, remember, friends don't let friends buy square headlights.
 
mbalbritton said:
My wife says she wants a wrangler too. I don’t think she really knows what it’s like to daily drive wrangler.
Click to expand...

Really depends on the length of the commute. My wife has a 2007 (maybe 2008 - I can’t remember) 4 door JK Sahara. Just turned 90k on it. She drives 20 minutes one way to work, and it’s mostly highway. She’s has no complaints. Mechanically it’s been pretty sound. We’ve gone through 2 water pumps and a master cylinder, besides the normal maintenance like tires, brakes, etc.
 
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