00 TJ Sport/Sahara...What's a fair price?

[johnlv6]

I'm looking at picking up a TJ. I've spent a lot of time looking through to different value calculators (ex. kbb and edmunds). They seem to vary anywhere between $12-14k for a 2000. I'd prefer to buy from a private party, but would consider a dealer if i saw the right Jeep.

I basically want a Sahara or a Sport that has the 30" tire group and is loaded(basically comparably equipped to a Sahara with a 5 speed). I'd really like to keep it at ~$13.5k if possible (for a 2000)...i'd do an 01 if it were a good enough deal. I'd appreciate any insight you can offer (aside from go look on autotrader or kbb which i've spent hours doing). Thanks.

John

p.s. I hate car shopping .

Edit: What do you know about the Wrangler X? They seem to be a hell of a lot cheaper ($13.9k for an 03-04). I realize they don't have the D44 (i think it's a D35 rear), but other than that i can't really see a problem with them. I'm not planning on going above a 31" tire and light wheeling only, so that may be an option.

 

[RichP]

The Wrangler X is the best bargain of the 4, SE, X, Sport, Sahara. The X is basically an SE with a 4.0, they stopped making the 4.0 an option on the SE in I think 98 or 99. In the NE a 2000 X model goes for around $8K, we bought 2 97SE's with 2.5's and 5 speeds w/softtops one was $3k the other was $4K and that was 3 winters ago now. Had to invest in: Two new soft tops, they only last about 5 years. You are better off finding a soft top for 2 reasons, hard tops are easy to come by on the 'for sale' forums and putting all the softtop hardware together [brackets, bars, etc] is a real PIA. To switch to a hard top it's just a matter of removing the soft top and the two plastic surrounds then popping the hard top on. Consider priceing them out of your area, you can always take a bus or flight to go pick it up. There are a bunch of 97-99's on BMJA.org in the forsale area but they are a bit high priced. I found ours thru autotrader.com. They are easier to work on, especially that front steering stablizer

 

[johnlv6]

The price is the main reason i'm leaning towards the X. I can easily get a 2003 X with 30k for $13.9k (same price as a 2000 Sport or Sahara). The Wranglers seem to be terribly overpriced. The only 2000's i see for under
$11k have very high miles or are in bad condition. I definately want a 4.0, 5spd, soft top, cruise control, a/c. Other than that, i can put a couple bucks into it here and there to fix it up (wheels, tires, suspension). I would say that i'm in sticker shock at the moment ...

The updated 4.0 came out in 2000..that's one of my reasons for that year being my cut off. The other is that there's very little difference between the price of a 97 and 00' in my area...i'd rather go for one that's a few years newer if i'm going to have to spend $13k.

 

[RichP]

Like I said, shop out of your area, saving $2-$3k can more than pay for an airline ticket... try autotrader.com but expand the search to 500 miles..
This is also a tough time of year to pick up a convertable, I bought ours in the dead of winter...

 

[johnlv6]

I'm out to 500 miles at the moment. Me being very picky makes this more difficult than it would be for a normal person . There selection is slim to none within 300 miles...so i'm pretty much going to have to fly to pick one up.

I see lots of them for sale...i'm wondering if the gas prices have something to do with it? It's hard to leverage your position on the sale of a vehicle that's lucky to make 15mpg these days .

 

[RichP]

My daughters TJ with 2.5L, 5 speed, 30x9.50bfg at/ko's still gets 20-21mpg, it's only when you start pushing it thru the air at freeway speeds of 75 that it drops to 18 or so...

 

[RichP]

Here is a nice one right here, I've even seen it a few times, well done. Price is pretty resonable to where if I had the bucks handy I'd pick it up my self... he's BMJA

http://www.loganfisher.com/for_sale.html

 

[IXNAYXJ]

What do you know about the Wrangler X? They seem to be a hell of a lot cheaper ($13.9k for an 03-04). I realize they don't have the D44 (i think it's a D35 rear), but other than that i can't really see a problem with them. I'm not planning on going above a 31" tire and light wheeling only, so that may be an option.

A great deal of the X models that you're seeing are likely ex-rental (forgive the pun) vehicles. How long are you planning on keeping the thing?

-----Matt-----

 

[johnlv6]

Here is a nice one right here, I've even seen it a few times, well done. Price is pretty resonable to where if I had the bucks handy I'd pick it up my self... he's BMJA

http://www.loganfisher.com/for_sale.html

That looks good, but it's definately more Jeep than i need. I need something i can drive on the highway. I'd much rather have a stock one too.

A great deal of the X models that you're seeing are likely ex-rental (forgive the pun) vehicles. How long are you planning on keeping the thing?

-----Matt-----

Whatever i get I'd be keeping for at least three years (long enough for me to get out of the military and finish up school). I'm getting out next spring...decisions, decisions . As much as i want to get something newer, it would probably be a better idea for me to get out without a payment. I'm sure that would make my transition to civilian life a lot easier.

The only thing that worries me about my XJ is the mileage (156k). When i go back to college, i'm not going to have a garage, the space, or the time to fix it if something happens. I'll have to spend the next 10 months addressing whatever problem areas i find and hoping it'll hold together for a couple years.

John

 

[87manche]

that mileage shouldn't worry you that much. My MJ has 251K on it