Howdy,
Driving through a neighboring town today (Glen Rose) I noticed a YJ and a TJ sitting at the local note-toter auto sales lot. I was familiar with the TJ as I'd driven it before when it belonged to another fellow that lived out of town. I was trying to work a trade/cash deal with him but never heard back. I was prepared to go all cash too, but he might not have sensed that. Anyway, since the YJ was in poor condition for the silly price they were asking, I thought that I'd try to work a deal on the TJ. It is a '97, dark green with spice top and half-doors. The top and upper door halves are pretty much garbage can liners now. The zipper on the passenger side is off track and all of the others don't look like they'd work. There are also tears starting in the remaining top fabric. So, right off the bat I know I'll need new top/uppers. I budget about $650 for that in my offer I'll be making them. It has the 2.5L and 5 speed. It is sitting on 31"s and some meh-looking semi-rusty chrome wheels. Mileage is right at 160K. It runs OK, but you can tell that it'd be much happier on 29" tires (i.e. 235/75R15). Frame is nicely coated with a light dusting of Wrangler standard equipment surface rust. I cannot tell if it is lifted, but I suspect a mild one, even though the shocks are quite rusty and look to be OEM. I could not induce DW, but I didn't have a whole lot of driving time with it. Interior is OK given the shape of the top.
While driving it in town, my wife says she heard a "clicking" noise that changed with engine speed. It wasn't lifter tick (at least not at idle), but she felt it was more of an exhaust tick. It went away after the engine was thoroughly warmed - or it appeared to. It was hard to hear in the Jeep with the windows and sidewalls flapping around. Plus, I was stupid as a young sailor in the engine room and refused to wear hearing protection. Don't feel so smart or invincible now that I am in my 50's....
Anyway - what should I be looking for? I checked all of the obvious stuff, and I plan to take at least one more test drive with one of the saleguys. When I do that I plan to find a gravel lot and try 4HI and 4LO.
Their asking price is $5,500. I plan to offer them my '95 Tracker and $2,500 cash (for starters). I think that it is fair to say that the condition of my Tracker warrants a fair sales price of $2,800 if I were to sell it outright. It is in pretty good condition, and the 4X4 works amazingly well. Even though it has locking hubs, it is still a hoot to drive through the creek and through the 6' wide gates on some properties. I have lots of wiggle room in my "play account", so if he tries to steal the Tracker I may counter with an all-cash OTD offer. In that case, what would be fair? I might start at $4,800 then.
I would appreciate y'alls insight and advice!
Driving through a neighboring town today (Glen Rose) I noticed a YJ and a TJ sitting at the local note-toter auto sales lot. I was familiar with the TJ as I'd driven it before when it belonged to another fellow that lived out of town. I was trying to work a trade/cash deal with him but never heard back. I was prepared to go all cash too, but he might not have sensed that. Anyway, since the YJ was in poor condition for the silly price they were asking, I thought that I'd try to work a deal on the TJ. It is a '97, dark green with spice top and half-doors. The top and upper door halves are pretty much garbage can liners now. The zipper on the passenger side is off track and all of the others don't look like they'd work. There are also tears starting in the remaining top fabric. So, right off the bat I know I'll need new top/uppers. I budget about $650 for that in my offer I'll be making them. It has the 2.5L and 5 speed. It is sitting on 31"s and some meh-looking semi-rusty chrome wheels. Mileage is right at 160K. It runs OK, but you can tell that it'd be much happier on 29" tires (i.e. 235/75R15). Frame is nicely coated with a light dusting of Wrangler standard equipment surface rust. I cannot tell if it is lifted, but I suspect a mild one, even though the shocks are quite rusty and look to be OEM. I could not induce DW, but I didn't have a whole lot of driving time with it. Interior is OK given the shape of the top.
While driving it in town, my wife says she heard a "clicking" noise that changed with engine speed. It wasn't lifter tick (at least not at idle), but she felt it was more of an exhaust tick. It went away after the engine was thoroughly warmed - or it appeared to. It was hard to hear in the Jeep with the windows and sidewalls flapping around. Plus, I was stupid as a young sailor in the engine room and refused to wear hearing protection. Don't feel so smart or invincible now that I am in my 50's....
Anyway - what should I be looking for? I checked all of the obvious stuff, and I plan to take at least one more test drive with one of the saleguys. When I do that I plan to find a gravel lot and try 4HI and 4LO.
Their asking price is $5,500. I plan to offer them my '95 Tracker and $2,500 cash (for starters). I think that it is fair to say that the condition of my Tracker warrants a fair sales price of $2,800 if I were to sell it outright. It is in pretty good condition, and the 4X4 works amazingly well. Even though it has locking hubs, it is still a hoot to drive through the creek and through the 6' wide gates on some properties. I have lots of wiggle room in my "play account", so if he tries to steal the Tracker I may counter with an all-cash OTD offer. In that case, what would be fair? I might start at $4,800 then.
I would appreciate y'alls insight and advice!