I'm newbie about jeeps but have always wanted one. I found a post on CG for an 87 yj with 45k original miles, seller says it has NO rust and runs and drives great. He said he just replaced the brakes and lines. And the tires have 85% left. There were no pictures. Contacted the seller asking for pics he said it was in winter storage and he'd be getting it on Sunday. So I'm going to check it out Sunday night. He's asking 4500 or best offer. Is this a good deal if what he says about it is true? Also what should I be looking for when I look at it? Oh and it's the 4.2 with the auto trans.
Check the frame, floorboards and everything underneath for rust. Also check hoses, even though it only has 45,000 miles, it's 25 years old and since it's been setting there's a good chance the hoses haven't been replaced and are dry rotted.
I have to second what charleybrwn13 says about rust/rot. Rear frame by back shackles, rear shock mounts, floors, skid plate mount area on frame and just behind power steering box on front drivers side of frame. Laredo package had chrome trim/front bumper, rear bumperets, full length running boards and different interior trim/seats etc. I have a 90 Laredo and it also has rear defroster and a/c. If it's mint I'd offer him $4,000 at most. I got mine on a strait trade on a 2001 vw jetta I had, he was asking $3,800 but it needed some rear frame work so I told him that was the only way the deal would work. The jetta was worth about $2,000.
Thanks for the quick response! Also I should have maybe added that it's the laredo package... From what I've read that's upgraded interior some chrome and such?
Yeah that's what I was thinking as well, just didn't know if there was anything with that package aside from trim and what not that I didn't know about that would be desirable or not. If this jeep is in a NO rust state and does run well as he says is 4500 in the ballpark to what it should be? I'm obviously going to try and hit the "or best offer" price. But I'd like to go in with a little knowledge of what they go for.
According to NADA book price, average price for an 87 Wrangler is $3750. That is a classic car price value. It fluctuates a few dollars either way depending on where you live and availability but that is the average to start with. Meaning, that is the least you should be able to get for it if you tried to sell it.
Hopefully that gives you some idea on where to start for negotiations.
If it has the factory Carter BBD setup, that's a ding in my price book. It is a nightmare to work on, and if you want to avoid the nightmare you'll have to go with an aftermarket solution (carb or fuel injection). So factor that into how much you are willing to pay.
Thanks for all the great responses. I am going to be making a cash offer if I like what I see, so hoping that will help the cause. I think I'm going to offer 3k mentioning the carb not being desirable and any other little defects it has. I'm assuming he will say something about the low miles but from all the research I've been doing people pretty much disregarded the miles for it being a 27 year old car. I am not in a huge rush to buy the first thing I see so I am planning on not going but a couple hundred dollars over 3k if it's really mint. I also have a friend coming with that is a body tech so he can advice me better on how everything looks. Thanks again for all the help, this is a great forum. I plan on spending a lot of time on here when I do finally get a jeep!
Do a little research on the site about the crab issues so you can have as much info to go at this guy as possible. I bought mine with 62000 miles and it and it already had a rebuilt crab which was shot as well.
The other downfall with the 87 is the NP207 transfer case. If you plan on heavy modifications you will need a new case.
I've read quite a bit about the carb problems so that's something is want to replace ASAP. Either with fuel injection or an aftermarket carb. Saw a little about the transfer case but didn't read a ton. From what I understand people replace it with the np231? What do those go for... Ballpark. And are they fairly easy to get a hold of? Thanks
The NP231 is easy to find. They were in every YJ after 88, most TJ's, and some of the XJ's. There were several different input shafts though. The Novak web site has a lot of information in the different input shafts. You should be able to find one for under $200.
Without pics it's hard to say. I own a stock 87 4.2 and I love it. And I paid more than $3500. But I also have a perfectly running and cosmetically perfect new jeep. So let's be honest....in this world with the low end cruddy cars selling for 25k ..... what's it worth to drive the most fun, most unique, most attention getting machine you have ever owned? Five thousand is cheap. Hell ten grand is cheap.
I'm not sure this guy guy wants to sell this thing. Still haven't gotten a time to go see it. It's getting to be too late for me to even want to go see it anymore today.
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