Hello all!
I'm hoping to join the Wrangler family soon. I'm currently weighing my options between a 17 JKU from the factory and loan payments for years, or a high mileage 12+ JKU out of pocket. With my current financial situation, I'm leaning towards the latter option.
After weeks of looking, I've stumbled upon this guy:
https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/683661733/overview/?aff=tyeminvu&cmp=usedinv
It's got most of the things I'd want in a new JKU... 6 speed, hard top, side airbags, connectivity group. From the pictures, it looks nice... clean, no visible dents/scratches/tears, no modifications, dirt-free engine bay. It's also only an hour away, so I could get over to check it out without too much hassle. And the price tag, which I assume I could get below 19k out the door, is very appealing, compared to 33.8k for the factory 2017 I optioned out. Problem is, of course, almost 134k miles on the odometer, and an expired warranty.
So, am I crazy to consider this option? If not:
1. What serious issues should I look out for most? I'll have an independent Jeep dealer perform a pre-purchase inspection. What should I point out specifically that I'd like investigated?
2. What less serious but still potentially costly maintenance may be needed in the short and long term?
3. I've never owned a 4WD vehicle before. How can I ensure the system is functioning correctly? I would like this vehicle to perform well in mild off-road conditions, with the option to pursue heavy modification for moderate to severe off-roading in the future.
4. Are there any warranty options I could buy? I see Mopar only offers extended warranties on used vehicles with less than 125k miles.
5. Anything else I should consider before taking the time to visit the dealer, go for a test drive, order a history report, and have an inspection done?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
I'm hoping to join the Wrangler family soon. I'm currently weighing my options between a 17 JKU from the factory and loan payments for years, or a high mileage 12+ JKU out of pocket. With my current financial situation, I'm leaning towards the latter option.
After weeks of looking, I've stumbled upon this guy:
https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/683661733/overview/?aff=tyeminvu&cmp=usedinv
It's got most of the things I'd want in a new JKU... 6 speed, hard top, side airbags, connectivity group. From the pictures, it looks nice... clean, no visible dents/scratches/tears, no modifications, dirt-free engine bay. It's also only an hour away, so I could get over to check it out without too much hassle. And the price tag, which I assume I could get below 19k out the door, is very appealing, compared to 33.8k for the factory 2017 I optioned out. Problem is, of course, almost 134k miles on the odometer, and an expired warranty.
So, am I crazy to consider this option? If not:
1. What serious issues should I look out for most? I'll have an independent Jeep dealer perform a pre-purchase inspection. What should I point out specifically that I'd like investigated?
2. What less serious but still potentially costly maintenance may be needed in the short and long term?
3. I've never owned a 4WD vehicle before. How can I ensure the system is functioning correctly? I would like this vehicle to perform well in mild off-road conditions, with the option to pursue heavy modification for moderate to severe off-roading in the future.
4. Are there any warranty options I could buy? I see Mopar only offers extended warranties on used vehicles with less than 125k miles.
5. Anything else I should consider before taking the time to visit the dealer, go for a test drive, order a history report, and have an inspection done?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!