Topic: What would you do?

[Tee]

Say your looking at purchasing a 97 Wrangler.  There are two on your radar.

First one: 97 SE 5spd, Soft top w/half doors, 2"BB, 113K miles, New tires & wheels, decent sound system, recently replaced radiator, wipper motor, water pump, clutch.  Very clean pavement princess. (I will of course fix that part right away!!) I have known the owner for many years and it has been meticulously maintained. They are only selling because his wife has knee problems and can't push in the clutch anymore.

Second one:  97 SE 5spd, Hard & Soft top, AC, Stock as stock can be w/ 30K original miles. (another pavement princess??)

There is a difference of almost 3K between the price of the two.  However I can pick either one up for less than average retail as published by NADA.  

Which one would you go for?  

Is the 3K more $$$ worth the low miles???

Would I be better off with the high mile one and save the 3K for MODS!!??

How many miles will the 2.5L go with good maintenance??

This will be our households 3rd vehicle, Just a toy really.......

[dexetr30]

If it were myself, I'd go with your second choice. Way less miles on it, hard top is always a plus (for me anyway) and the 3k more is to me worth the lesser mileage. Drive it stock until you have the cash to do the mods to it that you want.

[Tall Boy]

i don't know.

[Mozman68]

low miles low miles low miles.....

[neale_rs]

You could buy another jeep with 3K, not to mention replace the motor.  As a third car, you may drive it little enough so that it works well for the next 10 years or more (2000 miles per year).

[Tee]

You could buy another jeep with 3K, not to mention replace the motor.  As a third car, you may drive it little enough so that it works well for the next 10 years or more (2000 miles per year).

That brings up my other question....   How many miles will one of these 2.5L's go with good maintenance?

[dunklervogel]

Mine went through bad maintenence before I got it and the engine had to be replaced at 95k
if that gives u an idea  :roll:

[Jeffy]

I'd go with the one with lower mileage.  Hardtops are a pain to find when you need one.  Matching doors are also a PITA to find.  Although you could join the mismatch door club.   Soft tops are cheaper and easier to find.  A/C is nice if you like in a hot or humid area even if it bogs the engine down a bit.    30K vs. 100K, I'd defiantly go with the 30K if they look the same.  30K is barely used.  100K is getting up there.  You'll run into more problems with the 100K.  A properly maintained engine should last 150-275K miles.  Still stuff happens and the higher the mileage the more you risk something major happening.

[Jesse-James]

I would go for the one with higher mileage. As it was said, 3k will more than pay for a new motor though if it was maintained well you probably have tons of life left You're a little ahead on what you want to do to it and since it will be a third vehicle, hard top isn't necessarily a necessity. You'll probably get to like those half doors in the summer anyway. I have dealt with a few older vehicles with low miles, not all bad but the age can show as much as the mileage can. Vehicles don't always like to sit. Also, it's always nice when you know the history of a vehicle, takes away a lot of question marks.

My 2 cents.

[Tee]

True on the age vs miles.

Pops had alot of problems with his 1990 Ford F-250 after about 10 years.  The truck didn't get driven all that much.  Had about 55K on it in 2003 when he finally listened to me and got a Cummins :D   Seals, hoses, Belts would dry out and leak/break,  tires would dry rot and crack then blow when loaded long before they ever wore out.  Grease would dry out.


Hmmmmm, I think I have just made up my mind on which one of these I want!

[lanulos89]

lower miles and the 3k left put into a lift and tires

[YJmechanic]

i would go with the lower miles cause you are almost in charge from day one.   and a bb is only going to keep you happy for so long and then what did you gain out of it.

[Tall Boy]

These little 2.5 l's have a reputation to last a long time. The american companies already have long lasting motors in production, contrary to what people think about Japan.

[jagular7]

Say your looking at purchasing a 97 Wrangler.  There are two on your radar.

First one: 97 SE 5spd, Soft top w/half doors, 2"BB, 113K miles, New tires & wheels, decent sound system, recently replaced radiator, wipper motor, water pump, clutch.  Very clean pavement princess. (I will of course fix that part right away!!) I have known the owner for many years and it has been meticulously maintained. They are only selling because his wife has knee problems and can't push in the clutch anymore.

Second one:  97 SE 5spd, Hard & Soft top, AC, Stock as stock can be w/ 30K original miles. (another pavement princess??)

Both are 5-sp, so there is maintenance to be concerned with or replacement/upgrade.
Mods come at a cost, so I'll assume you won't be making any for some time.
Can I assume you will be trailriding soon enough? Stock or mildly stock, TJs can go pretty good. 1st has some upgrades and is usable with those upgrades. It also has recent maintenance performed. 2nd is still 'pure'. Can I also assume you will be keeping it for several years.

Which one would you go for?  
Tough call. For me, purpose in mind, cost in mind, its still a tough call. Yah, the mileage would be good for a street/trail rig, but the hdtop/doors (assumption) can be resold to recoup some cost or add upgrades   . AC is nice for an engine which could handle the drag, but does it really belong on a Jeep you will rarely use? But its a bonus in resale.

Is the 3K more $$$ worth the low miles???
Would I be better off with the high mile one and save the 3K for MODS!!??
How many miles will the 2.5L go with good maintenance??

This will be our households 3rd vehicle, Just a toy really.......

A cleaner platform to start with is best in the long run. However, to do like I think you want to do, like I have, cheaper is probably better. I picked up a 97 w/ 115k, auto, torn window in top&door couple years ago for $3600. I've since probably spent another $3K since then. I took a loan at $60/month which I really could afford just to purchase it. Its a designated play toy, reliable, easy to work on, upgradeable in every way, and if I had to sell, I probably could get out of it what I've got in it total right now. But at some point, my total will surpass what's its worth on the street.

My opinion - cheaper is better. Spend your money wisely, review short term as well as long term goals, realize long term does change with short term redirections, and most importantly life happens too often.

Good luck. Show pics on which way you go.

[Tall Boy]

True on the age vs miles.

Pops had alot of problems with his 1990 Ford F-250 after about 10 years.  The truck didn't get driven all that much.  Had about 55K on it in 2003 when he finally listened to me and got a Cummins :D   Seals, hoses, Belts would dry out and leak/break,  tires would dry rot and crack then blow when loaded long before they ever wore out.  Grease would dry out.


Hmmmmm, I think I have just made up my mind on which one of these I want!

That is normal wear to be expected though. Dry rotted tires come with age, so do belts and such. These Tj's go through motor mounts every two years. The plastic windows scrape easily. The throwout bearings go bad quick too. the tranny's are asian. If you don't want to work on a car you are barking up the wrong tree here. JustEmptyEveryPocket . The good thing is, they are the least expensive cars on the road.