Buying Advice

[JeepFanactic]

I'm looking at a couple of MJ's for sale.  There both 2wd and in decent shape but there both going for around $3000.  I want something that I can drive and don't need alot of work.  What are people willing to pay? Is 3000 too much. Any help will be apreciated..

[johnny quest]

the 2wd thing is easily changed to 4wd if thats what you want to do, but check everywhere for rust, especially the floors and rockers. without any more info on the two youve got your eye on, its hard to give you more info. what year, engine, tranny, trim, etc...

[onlyinajeep726]

Not giving us much to go on, such as year, mileage, factory options, aftermarket mods, etc...

 

I paid $1500 for my '86 with just shy of 82,000 miles on the body and trans.  Engine wasn't original, but it was the 2.5L.  Virtually rust free except for the usual floor board issue.

 

$3000 is acceptable for something that is in pretty immaculate condition.  Anything more than that, and they've got a lot of time and mods in it.

[JeepFanactic]

This is from the ad

 

1989 Jeep Comanche pickup. 4.0 6 cyl, 2 WD, Automatic. Has new tires. Runs great. No rust. Just did radiator conversion to open system with new parts. Has AC with 173,000

 

Thanks again

[GirsMJ86]

I just paid $1000 for an '88 4.0 4x4 5spd. High miles (not something I care about on a 4.0), needs tires and shocks. Already has a 4.5" lift, factory roll bar, skid plates, many other options, and it came with an entire Ford Escape full of parts, including: fel pro gasket kit, custom tube steps, daystar bushing kit, motor mounts, tranny mounts, factory MJ mud flaps, whole bunch of other stuff. Only rust on it is surface and the underside is still spotless coated with the factory undercoating (cab floors are the only exception but that's excepted).

 

IMO $3000 is much too much unless the thing is mint, low miles, and already semi built with at least a completed lift and such. Most I've ever paid for an MJ was $2500 which included delivery from Chicago to central Ohio, it was a 1991 Eliminator 4x4 that was in very good shape with a Jasper motor that only had I think 60k on it and needed no real work done to it at all except the floors fixed and a dented cab corner.

[onlyinajeep726]

Yea... at most it's worth $1800-ish...

[JeepFanactic]

Thanks for the help

[Minuit]

Excuse me for plugging myself, but a $3000 2wd MJ looks something like this:

 

 

Check all of the common things, make sure it runs and shifts well without funny noises (automatic trucks are prone to flexplate knock - sounds deadly but isn't actually), make sure the unibody lines up. A lot of stuff on our trucks can be fixed but a vehicle's exterior condition can usually be used to determine how it's been treated. Of course, the most important thing is to check the floors if you can help it. There will be rust there no matter what, but keep it in mind. These trucks are rare but they don't demand a 50% markup from what they're actually worth.

[Lurch]

I paid $2,750 for my 92 2wd and it was pretty mint except for high miles on the motor.

[JeepFanactic]

Thanks for all the replies the seller went down $2500 don't know if i'll take him on his offer. Sill a little steep for me being totally stock.  From the pictures he sent me the truck looks real good.  But I don't think ill find something this nice any cheaper.

[Incommando]

This is a $1,200 4x4 4.0 MJ

 

I would keep shopping

[JeepFanactic]

Wow that's a nice mj.  I'll keep shopping.  Thanks everyone

[JeepFanactic]

Going to look at a 1988 MJ 4 x 4 5spd 4.0 tomorrow for $2000. The body looks pretty straight on it.  Owner stated that it has a couple electrical issues. The engine does not turn off and the turn signals don't work.  How hard is it to diagnosed these things.  Would it be better just swap out the entire wire harness than try to trouble shoot the problem. Or should I past on this one.  Thanks

[Spectormj]

I only dropped 1,400 on my 86 but it's a bit rough

Few dints and a bit of surface rust

[jimoshel]

The most I have ever paid for a MJ was $600 and oddly enough it the worst shape of any of the others I got for $400-$500. I look for a good body. The mechanics, wiring can be repaired, replaced. I will buy a rusted out clap bucket if it has good mechanics to swap out. About the best running MJ I ever got was a '89 for $100. It was also the rustiest. .

[64 Cheyenne]

Going to look at a 1988 MJ 4 x 4 5spd 4.0 tomorrow for $2000. The body looks pretty straight on it.  Owner stated that it has a couple electrical issues. The engine does not turn off and the turn signals don't work.  How hard is it to diagnosed these things.  Would it be better just swap out the entire wire harness than try to trouble shoot the problem. Or should I past on this one.  Thanks

 

Sounds like a good candidate to test your bargaining skills, if it is decent shape with "a few electrical issues) I'd use the issues to bargain with. Sounds like a $1500 dollar truck on a good day.

The "not shutting off" could be the ignition switch on the lower part of the steering column, the turn signals could be a ground issue or as is most common our trucks, the front turn signal sockets need to be replaced (not recommended to clean them as replacement is easier and works better)

[yxmj]

55,000 original miles 2wd 2.5 Ax 5 minimal surface rust

(came with a minty aluminum camper shell with venting windows....Tranny was pulled back to change slave at the time of purchase....old owner found it to much to do.....new slave put on.....Daily driver)

 

$350

 

[RockMJ]

55,000 original miles 2wd 2.5 Ax 5 minimal surface rust

(came with a minty aluminum camper shell with venting windows....Tranny was pulled back to change slave at the time of purchase....old owner found it to much to do.....new slave put on.....Daily driver)

 

$350

 

 

 

Off topic, but what are the specs on the tires/suspension height on that? Looks really good.

 

On topic, the most I spent on an MJ was $1400 and that was for a completely rust free, low mileage 2WD Pioneer. When I bought it the Jeep had barely 103K miles and zero rust anywhere on it. My current MJ is certainly rougher but is more mechanically sound that my previous one and I only paid $1050 for it. For that type of money you should be getting a near perfect example of a pristine MJ. Although, I would pay that money for a late model 92 Comanche, even in rough shape!

 

RockMJ

[64 Cheyenne]

Paid a $100 bucks for this: http://comancheclub.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=17699

Jokingly, I told my friend I would take 3K for it, he asked me if I would take a check.

Paid $500 for this one:http://comancheclub.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=13953 

guy even packed it home for me for an extra $150. 460 mi round trip.

Really, if I was to sell the Chief (not going to) I think a fair price would be about $2500.

[Megadan]

Interestingly enough, if you take a look at what the current blue book values are for these trucks, I think a lot of you guys saying $3000 is the right price for a mint one would be amazed.   NADA currently rates a 1988 Comanche at High retail of over $8000 and an average retail of around $5500.  At least that is true in my neck of the woods, where older trucks in rust free condition are something akin to a unicorn.  For you guys down south where rust isn't a big issue, I have noticed that prices seem far less dramatic.

Still, in the end it really comes down to what price people are willing to pay.  I personally wouldn't be surprised that if I slapped a Maaco paint job on my MJ today and threw it up for sale that I couldn't get $5000 for it easily.

In short, keep in mind where you live as to how the market is.  You may have to travel to get a good truck for cheap.

[yxmj]

:offtopic: answer

 

 10.5 x 31 BFG AT on deep dish Eagle Alloy Rims (edge of the tire sits 1/8" out of the fender flare)

 

 Stock rear springs (still has original shocks) Front are ZJ V8 coils with 2 factory spring isolaters stacked together

[yxmj]

Interestingly enough, if you take a look at what the current blue book values are for these trucks, I think a lot of you guys saying $3000 is the right price for a mint one would be amazed.   NADA currently rates a 1988 Comanche at High retail of over $8000 and an average retail of around $5500.  At least that is true in my neck of the woods, where older trucks in rust free condition are something akin to a unicorn.  For you guys down south where rust isn't a big issue, I have noticed that prices seem far less dramatic.

 

Still, in the end it really comes down to what price people are willing to pay.  I personally wouldn't be surprised that if I slapped a Maaco paint job on my MJ today and threw it up for sale that I couldn't get $5000 for it easily.

 

In short, keep in mind where you live as to how the market is.  You may have to travel to get a good truck for cheap.

 

You might have a good point.......on the flip side.....Right after buying mine I took out a troll ad on the same site I bought it off of for $2500 and got 30 replies in 2 days

[Megadan]

 

Interestingly enough, if you take a look at what the current blue book values are for these trucks, I think a lot of you guys saying $3000 is the right price for a mint one would be amazed.   NADA currently rates a 1988 Comanche at High retail of over $8000 and an average retail of around $5500.  At least that is true in my neck of the woods, where older trucks in rust free condition are something akin to a unicorn.  For you guys down south where rust isn't a big issue, I have noticed that prices seem far less dramatic.

 

Still, in the end it really comes down to what price people are willing to pay.  I personally wouldn't be surprised that if I slapped a Maaco paint job on my MJ today and threw it up for sale that I couldn't get $5000 for it easily.

 

In short, keep in mind where you live as to how the market is.  You may have to travel to get a good truck for cheap.

 

You might have a good point.......on the flip side.....Right after buying mine I took out a troll ad on the same site I bought it off of for $2500 and got 30 replies in 2 days

 

I bet if you put it up for twice that you still would have had some replies.

 

I probably also should have clarified that my particular MJ is a 4.0L 4x4 long bed with an AX-15 swap, new head, exhaust, shocks, rear leaf springs, and a lot of other little work done to it.  The paint is hideous (done purposely by last owner) and it has a couple of dents and dings, but it is a completely rust free truck from California and the interior, minus the lack of carpet and headliner (which are going in soon) is in excellent shape.  The last 3 MJ's that have gone up for sale in my area  ranged from $1500 for one needing a lot of work to $7800 for a perfectly restored one.