dkmcgowan Posted June 4, 2015 Share Posted June 4, 2015 I've been a Jeep guy my whole life, owned 3 XJ's, first car was an 84 Cherokee, started a restore on a 89 Wagoneer, it was stolen, and pretty much finished a good 79 Wagoneer I just sold. My current daily driver is a 79 CJ7 with a 258 that my father bought new. I decided I wanted a Comanche about 6 months ago. I started looking really hard about 3-4 months ago. I'm being really picky, I want a color I like, if I can original paint with the original stripping down the sides, all stock, 6.0 inline six, 5 speed, 4wd, bench seat with headrests. I'm in Atlanta, GA and have alerts setup for anything within about a 6 hour drive on Craigslist and search forums as well. Not much luck. About a month ago I saw a good stock Comanche, 6 cylinder, 5 speed, only 2wd, new red paint job (not a color I like), with 89k original miles sell in about a day in AL for 6k. I called on a Wednesday, wasn't exactly what I wanted, but close, planned to go see it that Saturday, sold next day before I could get to see it. I saw another one in South Caroline about a month ago, 6 cylinder, automatic, 4wd, original paint, about 70k original miles, sold for 6,300 in a day, didn't make it there in time either. Most others are modified, terrible shape, have the 4 cylinder engine, have the old 2.8 V6, have terrible bodies with rust and rot, don't run, and just in terrible shape all around. Struggling. I then decided to stop caring about the color or the seats, but still engine, 5 speed, and 4wd. I found one today, all original, owner was looking for trade but willing to sell, but wanted 7k, firm! It is pretty much exactly what I was looking for! He said he had turned down 6,500 today! It has 196k original miles, that's a lot! I have the specs below, but he also said he had engine rebuilt, but with further discussion I learned when replacing rear main seal that was leaking, he just did the main bearings, oil pump, and rod bearings, not a rebuilt engine really. He said the compression was all 135 on all cylinders, so makes sense to not bore it out, but maybe do the top end? He also says no rust at all anywhere on the car, it was kept in a garage. He says some clear coat missing, but no rust. He drives it regularly and says it runs flawlessly. I'm not really worried about mileage, but the price should be closer to 5k-6k I would think, but he's not interested in taking less. It's 3 hours away, he claims people coming for trade on Friday and Saturday. Is this thing worth it? Have good stock original Comanches with no rust become this hard to find? I feel after 3 months I will never find another one. This is actually the first, stock, good running, good paint, no rust, 6 cylinder, 5 speed, 4wd Comanche I have seen come up since I started searching. 196k original miles new clutch plate/pressure plate new clutch master cylinder and slave cylinder new rotors new brakes new calipers new wheel cylinders all gauges work and shows over 60 psi A/C works new muffler new rear main seal new rod bearings new main bearings new oil pump Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shelbyluvv Posted June 4, 2015 Share Posted June 4, 2015 $3500 max Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wvzj Posted June 4, 2015 Share Posted June 4, 2015 $3500 max I agree. I might even go 4k. The bottom line is its your money, and if you are comfortable paying what he wants then pull the trigger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkmcgowan Posted June 4, 2015 Author Share Posted June 4, 2015 $3500 max I agree. I might even go 4k. The bottom line is its your money, and if you are comfortable paying what he wants then pull the trigger. I was thinking the same thing, 4k was about right, but I might pay 5k because I want something specific and it's hard to find, but 7k is just too much... I might pay 6k-7k if it had like 50k original miles and a perfect interior and exterior, but this one does not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeep Driver Posted June 4, 2015 Share Posted June 4, 2015 http://nwga.craigslist.org/cto/5057157313.html Hate to spoil your day........but....... Turn key...meet all my expectations....give me what I want....for the price I'm willing to pay.......................those days are gone. The above is 2WD and for about $500 it could be 4WD. But that requires lowering your expectations, sweat, bloody knuckles, and a few swear words. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeep Driver Posted June 4, 2015 Share Posted June 4, 2015 http://greenville.craigslist.org/cto/5017550088.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted June 4, 2015 Share Posted June 4, 2015 yeah, 4wd is waaaay overrated since you can swap in BETTER than factory MJ parts in a weekend and noone but us Jeep fanatics would be able to tell the difference. late model XJ parts are sweet upgrades. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shelbyluvv Posted June 4, 2015 Share Posted June 4, 2015 requires lowering your expectations, sweat, bloody knuckles, and a few swear words. This is what is required to get the truck you want and have it be YOUR truck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkmcgowan Posted June 4, 2015 Author Share Posted June 4, 2015 I get not being so picky... I only paid 1800 for my last Wagoneer that needed TONS of work that I did on it for 2 years and I've spent countless weekends working on my CJ7. I at least want it to be somewhat stock, with a 6 cylinder 4.0, and not have much rust. I hate rust. The Wagoneer I had last needed tons of panels welded into it, floor panels, rockers, tons of wire wheeling. I'm not a huge fan of body work, I like more engine, axles, steering, transmission stuff over body/interior. So... I still like the Comanche I posted about and think it's a good one, but 7k I think is just too much. I have to decide today supposedly if I want to even go look at it, 3 hours is a long drive. I think it would be about 2k-3k over paying and wasteful. I'm thinking I will just wait longer and keep looking, but it was exactly what I was looking for! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeep Driver Posted June 4, 2015 Share Posted June 4, 2015 Nothing wrong with waiting and looking, and I did not meant to imply that there was. I looked and waited for about 4 months. I paid $2500 and traveled 4.5 hours to get it. 2.5 and 2WD. My criteria was 'rust free'. But that was three years ago and the pickens are getting thinner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimoshel Posted June 4, 2015 Share Posted June 4, 2015 I have several MJ that I am selling for $300 each. Some are complete and running. Some are just empty shells. All have busted windshields and extensive hail damage. Distance is the deal killer here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
87Warrior Posted June 4, 2015 Share Posted June 4, 2015 Have good stock original Comanches with no rust become this hard to find?Yes. I need another MJ like I need a hole in my head, yet I still look. I have decided if a clean, stock, rust free truck pops up for sale locally I will buy it. Have looked at several 'rust free' trucks over the past few years and guess what, I've found discouraging rust on every one. My point is that you are getting on the right track searching for a rust free chassis. The drive train and interior are like legos and can easily be swapped around to your desired configuration. The truck is worth what you are willing to pay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minuit Posted June 4, 2015 Share Posted June 4, 2015 They didn't make all that many of these trucks to begin with, and the vast majority of them got beaten on like red headed stepchildren. People who have clean low mile examples usually either 1) hold onto them or 2) ask really high prices. Values of these trucks are on the upswing and numbers are going down fast. The good news is that these trucks are well built with solid drivetrains - a well maintained truck should have plenty of life left at 196k. If you want the exact MJ you want, either be prepared to wait a LONG time and probably pay a LOT, or be prepared to build it yourself. The MJ in the OP looks like a repaint, and not a very good one at that. They put the "Comanche" badges way too low on the fender. It would only be worth 7k if it was nearly factory fresh with original paint, and even then it may be a stretch. If he was going to sell it, the least he could've done is cleaned the damned carpet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkmcgowan Posted June 4, 2015 Author Share Posted June 4, 2015 I didn't notice that at first, I assumed original paint because of the strips being still there... I think I'm going to pass, it's a long drive for a maybe that's overpriced... Let the search continue... thanks everyone for helping me decide... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Megadan Posted June 4, 2015 Share Posted June 4, 2015 I have several MJ that I am selling for $300 each. Some are complete and running. Some are just empty shells. All have busted windshields and extensive hail damage. Distance is the deal killer here. Pueblo is a good day drive for me... Hrmmmm To the OP. Even with rust free, you may find that there will still be rust. My 88 Pioneer was a California truck most of it's life, and the last few years here have caused the floors to go bad. easy enough fix. Currently I am checking, correcting, and trying to prevent said vehicle from rusting further. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted June 4, 2015 Share Posted June 4, 2015 I have several MJ that I am selling for $300 each. Some are complete and running. Some are just empty shells. All have busted windshields and extensive hail damage. Distance is the deal killer here. shipping a truck really isn't that much money. should be under a grand. that's a rust free truck for under 1300. :yes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crash Posted June 5, 2015 Share Posted June 5, 2015 I have several MJ that I am selling for $300 each. Some are complete and running. Some are just empty shells. All have busted windshields and extensive hail damage. Distance is the deal killer here. shipping a truck really isn't that much money. should be under a grand. that's a rust free truck for under 1300. :yes: This ^^ Then you can spend the left over cash you have on making it great and have it be YOURS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keyav8r Posted June 8, 2015 Share Posted June 8, 2015 You should never pay that much for an MJ - unless, of course, you're buying mine. Then $8K to $10K would be perfectly in order. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted June 8, 2015 Share Posted June 8, 2015 You should never pay that much for an MJ - unless, of course, you're buying mine. Then $8K to $10K would be perfectly in order. I think that's far too cheap. $12K would be more realistic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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