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TJ in my future? Need Advice

1K views 13 replies 5 participants last post by  MN4x4 
#1 ·
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!
 
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#2 ·
The price seems kinda steep for a 4 cyl and 160k miles.
Remember that its not the last TJ in the world. if you are serious, look at a bunch more before making a decision. I remember looking at a 97 sport 4.0L with 118k but in pretty rough shape, like it was outside since it came out of the factory. The Jeep dealership wanted $5,000 for it. I took it out for a test drive and it was horrible. felt like the shocks were original, turn signals didnt work, a/c didn't work, brakes were there but just barely, had airbag light on and it had 1 mirror. I got back to the lot and made a sympathy offer of $4,000 ( I didn't really want it but at $4,000 there is some money to throw at all the crap that thing needed) they said they can't do it so I walked with no regrets because what I ended up with was so much better. somebody actually bought it a few days later (that would be funny if they were on here!) I actually have a picture of it-

as my story describes, if you can get it cheap enough, buy it but otherwise keep looking...
give him an offer like $4400
 

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#3 ·
Thanks for the input!

Yeah, it's not a serious must-have for me. I just think that it's be nice to have a little more room when we take guests out into the pasture. If it's dry and we have the mesquite under control, we can take the JK, but we avoid the "fun" parts. If it's really bad we can use range cubes to get the cattle up for prospective buyers to eyeball.

If he is willing to get right on the price I am willing to pry some money out of my tightwad hands, but I don't have to....

Anyway, Jeeps (all varieties) here in Central Texas command a premium price. The city-boy weekend hunters snap them up to keep at the high fence game ranches around here. It's crazy what they get for them, but that means that resale value is stable should I ever need to sell. The Trackers/Sidekicks also have a fan club of younger guys that like how easy they are to fix and modify. They are pretty popular with the hog hunters since they can slide in between trees and other obstacles that Jeeps and full-size trucks can't.
 
#5 ·
Uhh, What?

Well, got an interesting call this afternoon. I have noticed that at my neighbors "compound", they have had a white TJ sitting pretty much abandoned under a tree. It used to come by, and sounded pretty rough when it did run. I spoke to the owner of the property once in passing, and mentioned that I am interested in finding a project Jeep to keep me occupied. He stated that it belonged to his grandson, and his middle son had been driving it for him. I asked him why they haven't driven it in a while and he said maybe tires, and he thought that it may have developed a knock.

Today his grandson called, and said that he may be interested in selling his TJ. It has a hard top, but no back window. It has half doors, but no uppers. It has a soft top, but it is in pretty bad shape. It does have a bikini top for it, and that is what is is currently wearing, while sitting under a scrub oak tree (doors off) for the last two months or more. Now, granted we don't get much rain here, but even a little moisture mixed with leaves can make a mess of interiors, and what about the electronics? Anyway, he said that it needed tires, one wheel cylinder was leaking, and although the TC works in 4HI, the linkage "is messed up". He assured me that you can crawl underneath and get it to shift that way. The AC/heater blower "has a problem" and hasn't worked since he bought it. I think he also mumbled something about a few other issues, but I couldn't tell for sure.

It is a white Sport model with the 4.0 and 5 speed. It has about 110K miles, and it is a 2000 year model.

Now, ready for the punch line?

He wants $4,000 for it!

I thanked him for calling........
 
#6 ·
TJ are a niche vehicle... Thus prices can stay kinda high. $4k for that project truck with leaking brakes is a big heck no. I dropped $1500 for a 2000 4.0L/A3 with a smoked transmission, angry birds driveshaft, battered and incomplete top, and a massive leak. For 4K, it better be a decent driver, bone stock or lightly modified.

I guess I'm taking mine to TX if I ever need to sell it!
 
#7 · (Edited)
TJ are a niche vehicle... Thus prices can stay kinda high.

I guess I'm taking mine to TX if I ever need to sell it!
Heh, that would be a great idea! You could easily recoup your gas money and plane ticket home. But, it not just TJ's that are priced high, any CJ/YJ/TJ/JK demands a ludicrous price here.

Just for grins, check out Craigs List Dallas/Waco/Abilene and narrow your search to Jeep/Pictures and sit back and be amazed.

Here are some examples:

https://dallas.craigslist.org/ftw/cto/4811116343.html

https://dallas.craigslist.org/ftw/ctd/4820926021.html

https://dallas.craigslist.org/ftw/cto/4813368145.html

And the one I really, really like (but is priced about $3K too high)

https://dallas.craigslist.org/ftw/cto/4779458933.html

 
#8 ·
$4,000 for something that has been sitting outside wide open for years? stay away!

I hate to say it because the 4 cyl is a decent little engine (at least the 2.5 is, I don't know about that chrysler built 2.4...) but I can guarantee that you will be happier with the 4.0L engine. Back when I had my YJ with the 2.5 I convinced myself that it was adequate. When I got my 4.0L TJ I was more than impressed with it. And trust me, stay away from the AX-5 transmission
 
#9 ·
$4,000 for something that has been sitting outside wide open for years? stay away!

I hate to say it because the 4 cyl is a decent little engine (at least the 2.5 is, I don't know about that chrysler built 2.4...) but I can guarantee that you will be happier with the 4.0L engine. Back when I had my YJ with the 2.5 I convinced myself that it was adequate. When I got my 4.0L TJ I was more than impressed with it. And trust me, stay away from the AX-5 transmission
how can I tell if it is the AX-5? Are there exterior markings I can look for? What years did they use that transmission?

I like the six-speed they are using now. That is one sweet shifting rascal, as far as I am concerned. I know that there are smoother, more buttery-shifting ones in those high-end sports cars, but compared to the NV-5600's in our trucks, it is a joy to drive.

As far as the 2.5 goes, this Wrangler will be for putting around in, and maybe once or twice a month to work - unless it turns out to be a hoot to drive, then it could also easily be a DD for me. I have driven several 2.5L Wranglers, and they are adequate for me. I have two 3/4 ton diesel pickups to haul with, a Chrysler 300 for high-speed long-distance trips, and the JK for fun and DD.
 
#10 ·
I'm on my third month of looking myself. Try expanding your search area on Craigslist towards east Texas. I live close to Shreveport, La and search within 100-200 mile radius. I've seen several in that area for descent prices. Driving an hour or two could help you save a couple thousand.
 
#11 ·
yeah, I looked in East Texas listings too. There was a nice blue YJ last month that was reasonably priced - and it was in Palestine. I was in Palestine last week visiting relatives, and I had my eyes peeled looking out for it. I remember seeing a Dollar General store sign in one of the pictures, so I drove by all three of them there and didn't see a Wrangler in anyone's front yard for sale.

I see the AX-5 is pretty much what I will find behind the 2.5L engine. After some research I know to make sure fifth gear works (snap ring issue) and check for synchro issues (wrong lubricant used).
 
#14 ·
You should look at YJ's too if its just a car to putt around in. They tend to go cheaper.
I had a bad experience with the AX-5 being a never ending problem. It only had 120k on it but the syncros were shot 5th gear was burned out (The clip was not broken) But it was a Jeep that maybe wasn't taken care of all that well. And yes it will be behind the 2.5L engines
 
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