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Advice: going from TJ to YJ

1K views 17 replies 13 participants last post by  NewYJOwner 
#1 ·
So my father in law just bought a new JK Unlimited built by AEV w/ the hemi conversion and 37's (I know tuff life). But here comes the question. He has built his 92 YJ over the last 8 years and now is willing to sell it to me. It is completely built, lift, bumpers, winch, gears, lockers, upgraded tranny, new best-top, bushwacker flares, rock sliders, tom woods drive shaft, etc.. the list goes on and on. The Jeep is in perfect condition since it sits in his garage except the occasional weekend from time to time and only has around 100K miles on it. He is a neat freak and always buys the best so this Jeep really is in perfect condition.

I cant decide if I should sell my TJ and get his. I really want to build my TJ up but it will cost me at least 4-5K to get it somewhat comparable. My wife needs a new car so in reality it will be a few more years till I will start dumping money into mine (that was the deal when I bought my TJ). He wants a bit more than I think it is worth but I think I can get it for around $10K. I know to each his own and there are a ton of factors but lets hear some advice. Thanks.
 
#4 ·
I'm not extremely experienced with jeeps as I am fairly new to the jeep world but one point I think you should take into consideration (if I'm wrong someone correct me) is that YJ's don't have airbags. I'm not saying you should base your entire decision on this but if you are going to have other people in the car (your wife, future kids, or your drunk ass buddies who like to yell when the top is down) you might want to be better safe than sorry.. also I don't know how it is in Idaho but in New York with so many asshole drivers in one place I wouldn't drive w/o airbags
 
#7 ·
He threw a number out there tonight at dinner and said if he was to try and sell it he would be in the range of $12K to $15K which I personally think is way too much. I think he would do it for me at about $10K just because he loves it so much and would rather see it stay in the family. Obviously $2K isn't a deal breaker for him since he just bought the Unlimited with the Hemi (not a cheap vehicle especially since it sits in the garage and is only driven for fun). But even at $10K I am having a hard time pulling the trigger. I think that price tag is the only thing keeping me back at this point. I have owned two YJ's and one TJ so I have some experience. His Jeep drives nicer than mine as it sits now. Do you guys think $10K is over paying for it?
 
#9 ·
I can't see giving that for it.. I own a YJ and love the square lights.. but mods don't always make a jeep worth what people want for them.. which motor? 4.2 or 4.0? Then what if you buy this and it has an issue that neither you or your family knew of? Id never do a deal with family.. plus for me most of the fun is in the build up..makes you proud of what you made
 
#11 ·
no one has mentioned the obvious question(s.) do you own your TJ outright? and what do you think you would get for it?

take the difference between your gross sale profit and what you would pay for the YJ, and you have a straight-up numbers comparison. THEN you factor in the sentimental value of building your own TJ.
 
#12 ·
I still owe on my Jeep. So if I did the swap I would reduce what I owe by about $3,500 and then you would have to add an additional $4-5K in building mine (which I can't do for a few years). That makes it about $8K difference. Think I might go with the YJ.

This will only be a DD till fall then I take over my wifes car as a commuter car. So the front auto locker won't be that big of a deal. The rear is actually a limited slip (not a locker like I mentioned earlier).
 
#13 ·
gotcha...well, sounds like you're assuming that you'll get what you owe on your TJ. don't forget to factor in that you might take a hit when you sell your TJ vs. what you owe. without knowing specifics (actual payoff, local market, seasons, etc) I can't say exactly, but I'm just trying to be helpful.

as far as TJ vs YJ, all else being equal and with no money involved; I say it's more about personal taste.
 
#16 ·
I don't have any pictures of his just some video of when we did Hole in the Rock trail in Southern Utah a few years ago. Maybe I can try and post a clip from that this evening. Thanks for the advice from everyone. I think I am going to offer him $10K and go for it. I really want to build my own but this will allow me to wait a few years and then start building a 4 door like I really want to do anyways, since now my family won't fit in the TJ (having a baby girl today which is kid #3).
 
#17 ·
I'd say do it, a nice YJ will always sell down the road. My bro in law was in your shoes few years ago with my dad. We did a 93 yj for him in late 1994 and he didn't spare any expense either....we valued it at about 16K 5 years ago and my bro in law decided it was better to have that already done that mess around with his TJ too, plus the YJ only has 38K miles on it, automatic, with A/C...kinda hard to pass up yanno. Your right about his YJ outdriving your TJ, they all do....takes alot of work to make a TJ drive as good as a YJ.
 
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