Buy Cheap and Fix or Buy New and Maintain?: Off-topic discussion forum: Grassroots Motorsports Magazine

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Jan. 27, 2011 10:44 a.m. PHeller Dork

Little debate between some friends and me.

He wants a Jeep XJ. He wants one that's lifted. He's willing to pay $2400 for an 89 XJ with 87 engine and 3" lift with who knows how many miles on the engine and 190,000 or so on the body.

I think that's too much for a vehicle that are a dime a dozen.

He says he doesn't want to buy a non-running vehicle because he doesn't want to mess with replacing an engine. Fair enough, some of us don't like wrenching.

Ok, but if you can get a newer Jeep with less miles on the body for a quarter of the price with a blown engine, couldn't you end up with a newer body, less miles, equally lifted Jeep that's worth more on resale and insurance?
Jan. 27, 2011 10:55 a.m. ClemSparks SuperDork

You have to be a serious scrounger (deal-finder) to be able to put an engine in something (and I assume add a lift kit) and come out ahead versus getting into a running vehicle...at least in terms of resale value. Particularly considering the "dime-a-dozen" nature and age of the vehicles in question.

A good rule of thumb about friends and cars: Never push people into a project beyond their comfort level. It's on your conscience when things go bad.

Clem
Jan. 27, 2011 10:57 a.m. 92CelicaHalfTrac SuperDork

I wouldn't pay $2400 for a 22 year old XJ.

We paid $3000 for our 2000.
Jan. 27, 2011 11:00 a.m. Woody SuperDork

I'd find a low mileage, well maintained, soccer mom edition and add a lift. Find someone looking to trade one in. They're cheaper than $2400.
Jan. 27, 2011 11:21 a.m. PHeller Dork

Another thing that worries is me is that the XJ in question has a seller that's willing to trade for a STOCK XJ of the same year or newer...which has me wondering why he wants to get rid of this one if in the end he'll end up with the same Jeep. Especially when he just replaced the engine.

Maybe he knows that a Jeep with 200,000 isn't worth crap and he's trying to convince someone they need it for the snow.
Jan. 27, 2011 11:24 a.m. Brett_Murphy Reader

In reply to PHeller:

Where the heck do you find any sort of Jeep that runs for that kind of cash? The ones I see for sale around here for that are 50 years old with no title, held together by rust and have a Briggs and Stratton engine swap.
Jan. 27, 2011 11:43 a.m. carzan HalfDork

I'd get a newer one just so I wouldn't have to deal with Renix. That, and I don't think the '87 engine would have the H.O. head.
Jan. 27, 2011 2:25 p.m. slantvaliant Dork

Woody wrote:

I'd find a low mileage, well maintained, soccer mom and consider a lift.

Fixed that for you.
Jan. 27, 2011 2:37 p.m. ClemSparks SuperDork

PHeller wrote:

Maybe he knows that a Jeep with 200,000 isn't worth crap and he's trying to convince someone they need it for the snow.

I call that shrewd marketing.

Just sayin'
Jan. 27, 2011 3:26 p.m. BoxheadTim SuperDork

carzan wrote:

I'd get a newer one just so I wouldn't have to deal with Renix. That, and I don't think the '87 engine would have the H.O. head.

Pretty much what I was thinking.