Need help buying 1st Jeep!

[JackalopeATX]

Hi all,

So I'm in the process of trying to find my first Jeep, and I'm anxious to pull the trigger but don't want to make a bad decision. Most of the Wranglers in my price range have high miles, but from what I've read it sounds like that's not an issue, especially with the 4.0L, providing he's kept up with the maintenance. I'm going to look at this one today but thought I would see what y'all thought based on the info I have already. Here goes:

2003 Wrangler Sport, 4.0L V6, Auto, Towing Pkg, Hard + Soft top, pretty much all the options you can get for a Sport, 119k miles, $9900. I tried to attach some pics but it wouldn't work. It looks pristine though.

I can probably haggle him down a few hundred. The only thing I'm worried about is the mileage. Is that really high? I know that's standard for a car that age, but wasn't sure if it's too much for the price. Thanks in advance for the help!

 

[superj]

it should be a straight 6 motor and that is low mileage for the straight 6. my wife's 93 had just under 200k when we sold it and we got good money for it because even 200k is not a lot.

also, where do you live? that helps on the price deciding. check craigslist to see what other comparable jeeps are selling for

 

[superj]

uh oh, now i hope i am right on it being a straight 6 motor. what year did they change to a v6?

 

[JackalopeATX]

Yeah it's a straight 6 my mistake. I'm in Austin, TX. how can I find out if that's a good price for my location?

 

[SteelHeadz]

Go to the NADA and Kelley blue book website and enter the information nescesarry. It will give you the Hi and low values.

 

[Brads94]

Check eBay and Craigs list. Just do a 50 mile search and compare prices locally. But if it's in good shape those miles are not bad and thats not a bad price if you get a couple hundred bucks off.

 

[JackalopeATX]

Ok so I just drove it and it's very clean, no cosmetic damage, no rust and runs strong. Only thing I saw was a small gap between the top of the steering column and the instrument panel where I could see a few wires. Is that normal? Also the AC only worked when it was on full blast. Is that expensive to fix?

 

[tjlboise]

That a real easy fix....take the top off. Who needs ac?

 

[JackalopeATX]

That a real easy fix....take the top off. Who needs ac?

Well yeah but if I can get one with working AC for thr same price I'd rather have that

 

[superj]

its a resistor or a relay box, should be very easy to fix and not expensive

 

[tjlboise]

Well yeah but if I can get one with working AC for thr same price I'd rather have that

Still pretty pointless, but okay. Whatever makes you happy. I really don't blame you for wanting everything to work right.

 

[southtj]

Still pretty pointless, but okay. Whatever makes you happy. I really don't blame you for wanting everything to work right.

Pointless? How can something that cools you off when it is 100 outside be pointless?

 

[Gennybro]

Pointless? How can something that cools you off when it is 100 outside be pointless?

Thats a great point.

 

[tjlboise]

Like I said previously....you have a removable top. It gets pretty hot in the summer here too, and I would much rather have the top off and the wind blowing, than leaving it on, and coming out of a store or something to an oven. I also said previously that I can totally understand why you would want everything to work correctly too. Not trying to make a big deal here, just personal opinions. That's all.

 

[superj]

not hot like austin, i bet. its cray hot during the summer and fall there, hotter then where i live. plus, they have no wind and horrible humidity and traffic for hours.

its a easy fix that should not be expensive. i have to fix mine also, i punctured the condensor

 

[jackflack44]

Northern heat and Texas heat are two different things, having experienced them both. That being said I generally keep my top down in the summer. Actually, i keep it down as long as it's not raining.

 

[tjlboise]

You guys are getting way to technical about this, it was supposed to be a joke...you know.... like who needs air conditioning when the top is off? Haha? No? Okay then....yup. easy fix. Ahahaahaalllllrrrriiiiggghhhhttttyyyy then. Wow.

 

[superj]

you have to add emoticons to show jokes, duh... ha ha ha

 

[Robert_Stephens]

Wow, it turned into a AC thread. Love it. Ok, gotta jump in here and run my mouth and make an azz out of myself:

I've had 26 Jeeps for 46 years and been in 123 of the world's 195 countries, and I've never had a Jeep with AC... Top off and windshield down, even in town here in the Southwest Desert Commons.

And....330km outside Timbuktu, in the middle of the Sahara Commons, I just stop at Oasis33m and douse me and the Jeep and everything else in the ice cold water there and let it evaporate, like a real man!!!!!! (wait, a "real" man, Bob?--quite the statment.....)

I just had to. My deepest apologies. I'm simply not well.

Robert

 

[tjlboise]

Wow, it turned into a AC thread. Love it. Ok, gotta jump in here and run my mouth and make an azz out of myself:

I've had 26 Jeeps for 46 years and been in 123 of the world's 195 countries, and I've never had a Jeep with AC... Top off and windshield down, even in town here in the Southwest Desert Commons.

And....330km outside Timbuktu, in the middle of the Sahara Commons, I just stop at Oasis33m and douse me and the Jeep and everything else in the ice cold water there and let it evaporate, like a real man!!!!!! (wait, a "real" man, Bob?--quite the statment.....)

I just had to. My deepest apologies. I'm simply not well.

Robert

Don't forget to add an emoticon when you say stuff like that, or else everyone will blow a gasket, and start arguing about what makes a man a REAL man. Gotta be careful you know.