Tj Wrangler Value?

[Automan2164]

Have to come here and check with those who know better than I. I know we have a few TJ nuts, so I wanted to see if I was correct in my value.

 

Awhile back, I offered my Jeeply services to an instructor at the local county college whose daughters had a Wrangler they were thinking about getting rid of. She was very nice, and understanding of my employment frustrations (Long story), so I had no problem helping. I told her I would be happy to come out and take a look, see what it needs, and help her sell it. She called me earlier in the week, and I agreed to come out and take a gander. Made the trip out tonight after work. I spent a half hour poking, prodding, crawling, and looking at it just before it got dark. Took it for a short spin around the cul-de-sac (no plates).

 

Our area is NW of Chicago, so we are deep in the rust belt. Keep this in mind. Details:

 

2001 Wrangler TJ Sport, 4.0L, Auto, 4x4, 112K miles

 

Pics:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At first glance...

 

Looks to be in ok shape, but showing its age. Remarks:

 

• Valve cover gasket leaking pretty good.
• Trans pan gasket was leaking and spotting just after it sitting in the driveway for a short time, in multiple spots.
• Muffler is starting to rust out not long before it blows through.
• Front bumper is beyond repairing, will have to be replaced.
• Front left brake is grabbing pretty hard, would lock up the front left wheel just taking it around the cul-de-sac.
• Interior has stains, wear, carpet stained around console, seats show staining.
• Clear coat is peeling behind drivers door, other places also I am sure.
• Frame is starting to get crusty by the belly pan/crossmember. It passed the ball peen tap test without blowing through.
• Fender flares pretty cooked/faded.
• General 12+ year old wear and tear... Scratches and what not.
• No stock soundbar, but just at a glance, it has home stereo speakers on either side of the rear seat.
• Has to be the least desirable color combo with the maroon/tan. Don't know if that affects it.
• Missing wheel cap.
• Soft top in the midwest, half doors, no hard uppers.

Good points:

• Pretty strong runner. 4.0L to boot.
• No Check Engine Codes stored or pending
• Top end looks clean through the oil cap, no sludge.
• Suspension looks pretty tight, no play in the joints.
• Top appears to be in OK shape.

All this being said, a TJ is a bit out of my wheelhouse. My gut says that with the work it will need, and the age and condition of the Jeep in general, I would shoot at $5,000 +/- $500. I would think $5500 would be the top edge of it, and that would be if someone overlooked some of the issues. I would think it needs the gaskets, front brakes, rears gone through and adjusted, a good cleaning, replace the bumper and give it some spit/polish on the outside if I were to buy. The KBB says about $6800 in fair condition private party. (Fair being the lowest they will offer a value on, I think this falls below fair by a bit) I just don't see a $6000-7000 price tag... Especially for a 12+ year old vehicle with said issues.

 

Does this sound about in line for price? Am I overlooking something? Any thoughts or input is welcomed.

 

Thanks,

Rob

[Pete M]

I think your numbers are spot on.  but it all depends on how much gold they think is in it.  dang wranglers are their insane resale value retention...

[GirsMJ86]

That and the dark green are the only colors I'd take with the tan, prefer the maroon to the green to boot (not to mention purely soft top/doors like I want). Have always wanted to get my hands on a TJ but the owners of them just think they are worth their weight in gold, one in this kind of shape would easily be spotted for $7k around here. I'd never pay more than $4k unless the thing was in top condition from the south/west.

 

I'd say ask $5k for it, she may get lucky. It is an auto though so that hurts it to a lot of Wrangler folks. It may not be too hard to swap out, but a lot of people are like me. I don't want a 5spd but I'm stuck with it because I won't touch doing a tranny swap myself.

[Alexia]

The numbers sound fine to me, but KBB is high in this case especially with the rotting frame.  I had a potato chip sized rust chip chunk of frame fall off my 2004 after taking the belly pan off.  I caught it early enough to reseal it without having to replace metal.

 

Here are items they could easily do to increase the visible resale value.

1. They could easily help with appearance by getting a stock front bumper off Craigslist.
2. Tuff Stuff carpet cleaner and scrub brush.(Don't use the included plastic scrubber.) That will take out most if not all of the stains from the carpet and seats. If it does not get out a stain test Simple Green in a hidden spot for color fastness before applying to the more troublesome spots.
3. Use a heat gun to help remove the fade from those faded flares.
4. Missing wheel center cap?  I bet there is one on the spare tire that could be swapped.

[87Warrior]

Price seems on target. The local used car lots usually have them listed at $6-9k for the early 2000's.

 

Check for rust/paint bubbling near the spot welds on top of the front fender/under the edge of the hood. I bet that interior will clean up real nice with some scrubbing.

[Automan2164]

Thanks for the info guys. Sounds like the $4500-5500 is right in the arena I was shooting for. I plan on making an offer, as well as explaining what I found. I will most likely also link her to this thread. Alexia, I'm with ya. It's really going to depend on what she wants out of it. I don't think she has the time to spend tinkering with it. I may just shoot out a take it off your hands price, as well as a 'This is what I would charge to fix x, and this is how much more it would add to the value...'

 

Brett, I found about the same thing. Prices are all over the board a the dealers... $6-13K. Private party seems to be $6500, but they are mint condition and no problems whatsoever. Another thing I noticed, that out of the 3 I found on the local CL from the early 2000's, all are Solar Yellow.

 

She just bought a newer Durango for her kids as she felt it would be a safer, more reliable mode of transport for them. One is on a learners permit and one is going into college. The biggest worry is her ex husband, who told her it was worth $10K at one point, today I think she said he told her it was worth $8K but a co-worker would buy it for $7500 after she said he needed to release his half of the title.

 

Rob

[dasbulliwagen]

The EX is on half the title? I don't think you have a chance, especially if he's getting half the money.

[Automan2164]

The Jeep is all hers. She said part of the divorce was that thw Jeep was left to the daughters for their car. Now that they have the Durango, it's not needed. I have no reason to think otherwise.

 

Rob

[mjeff87]

I DD an 01 TJ.  It's only a 2.5, but is a 5 speed.  That's a $5-6K vehicle in my neck of the woods.  Wranglers do hold their resale value, but it does eventually fade with mileage.  I've got almost 200K on mine, and it is spotless, new softtop with tinted windows, aftermarket bumpers on both ends, 31" MT's on alloy wheels, and it's so clean you can eat off the inside and the engine (I'm really anal about my vehicles, especially the underhood bits).  Thought about trading it a couple months ago, and found only ONE TJ I was willing to look at in a dealer lot.  It had the same specs as yours here, in about the same condition....only had an OEM softtop that was literally falling off the frame.  Bottom line price I could get was $9k, and they wouldn't give me a penny over $3500 for mine.  Needless to say, I'm still driving mine.

 

Jeff

[Rymanrph]

I've had 4 TJs and I sold a '97 earlier this year.  I know my market is a little different, but I'll give you my circumstances and what I paid/sold for reference.  Mine had slightly more miles, needed a new top, tires and I had to have the doors and the hood repaired and painted.  I paid $5500 for it and after taking care of that said list, sold it for $6500 - made about $300.  Mine had zero rust issues and no leaks.  I think you're probably pretty close with your estimate just based on what it needs.