jk or tj or stay put?

flopp · 03-12-2010, 10:33 PM

Ok here is the deal I have 2 cars one is my beloved 1998 tj (look at my build) 35s L.A. d44 rear rubi axle 174000mi ect. Then I have a 2006 ford focus zx-3 that has the 5 speed and some custom touches like a 3k dallar sound system (dont ask) anyhow I pay $206 for it plus $180 in insurance and I owe more than its worth but it does get great gas milage. Here is my question, do you guys think I should take and trade both in on one jeep. I was thinking of pulling as much aftermarket stuff as i can from them like the rubi axle (I have the d35 still) sound system and winch. then i would sell off the system and axle to fund the next project. Now remember I am in college so 2 cars suck to maintain working at mcds (that could change soon though)

I am thinking of getting either a jeep jk or a 2003-2006 rubicon. If i traded in both my jeep and car I would get pay off for the focus or maybe a little more because the jeep is paid off and I only have like 2-3.5k in negitive. The plus is that my insurance would go down below to like $80mo. but my car payment would probably go up $100mo. I really cant decide what to do since i like the Jeep and focus but I hate trying to take care of both. Plus the focus gets parked in the winter and it gets me in trouble in the summer. I wish I could just sell the focus outright but nobody will pay what i need for it.
Ok I know its a long post so now your turn what do you guys think.

flopp · 03-13-2010, 06:54 PM

hello anybody out there

Yankee-Juliet · 03-13-2010, 07:03 PM

You referred to your TJ as a car! You are undeserving and you FAIL!!!! Sell them both and buy a Hyundai!

Just messin'! Two cars in your situation doesn't make sense. I would either sell the Focus to get out from under it and keep your beloved, or trade both for the Rubi. My 2¢ FWIW.

flopp · 03-13-2010, 07:13 PM

thanks man and ya i tried really hard not to type car lol it is more than that. I wish i could just sell the focus

brownbagg · 03-13-2010, 09:05 PM

I think you need to sta put, when gas hits 3 dollar you going wish youhad the focus

Mike97ZJ · 03-13-2010, 09:13 PM

Flopp and brownbag both have good points.

It sounds like the Jeep is your main love, with the only problem being the gas mileage.

I know what you mean about two vehicle you like to mod...I have a LS1 Firebird in addition to my ZJ, and I haven't really been able to mod it, it seems like everytime I want to buy something for it, the ZJ needs this or that.

If your insurance will go down 80, but your payment will go up 100, it's going to cost you 20 more a month, plus the extra fuel bill (although keeping gas in two vehicles is expensive too).

I'd suggest if you DO go to a newer Jeep, try and get the JK. It's newer, will eventually have better resale, and is more modern. I still like TJ's though, so a TJ Rubi isn't a bad choice either. If it were me I'd almost have to flip a coin to make the choice. (although I'd take a Rubi LJ in a heartbeat over a JK) And if you went Rubi, you can hold off on modding it untill you get out of school and have more money. Probably the smart thing not to mod any vehicle you get till your financial situation improves.

I wouldn't trade the TJ though, with those miles you won't get much for it, even with those mods. You'd probably do better trying to sell it yourself to someone looking for a modded one. 'Or you could de-mod it as much as you can before trading it, and then transfer those parts over to a Rubi. If you can do that, I say go TJ then. You'll probably make out the best that way.

**RogueSpear2023** · 03-14-2010, 04:19 AM

I agree sell the TJ don't trade it, take that money pay off Focus sell that, and then look at buying a TJ Rubicon, you will probably end up best this way, trading is something you do when you can sell either. I did this when I bought my Rubicon because I was trying to sell my diesel truck when diesel was $5 a gallon, and I tried for 8 months selling the truck, so I traded it and ended up in the hole a little, but now I am on the flip side, and have broken even, but it takes a few years of payments to get there. If you need the focus because you drive a long way I would keep them both until you are out of school. If you don't need then I would sell both, and buy a TJ Rubicon, it will hold its value much better than a striped X JK. Plus the Rubicon is already modded which will save money, at the winch and you will be ready to go. With 31s on my Rubicon I would get about 16 city, and 18-19hwy.

brownbagg · 03-14-2010, 09:01 AM

you thinking about sell your tj to buy another tj that is the same as yours, so you are getting rid of one to buy another and have car payment. a 98 is still new. mileage doesnt matter. It doent make economic sense. stay put right now. Hell I would not sell the tj you have ten years from now, It still good

197JeepRenegade · 03-14-2010, 12:43 PM

I say stay put.

I think it's great having 2 vehicles. That way, you got something to drive when the Jeep is getting worked on. My Jeep is for fun on the weekends, and it's ok if something breaks or it is down an upgrade for a few days.

Plus the Jeep gets lousy mileage.

flopp · 03-14-2010, 07:18 PM

I wasnt thinking about selling it to get the same thing but it would be kind of a sacrifice to help myself out since having 2 cars is expensive. The focus is good but i like driving the jeep alot so in reality i dont use it much to save money. seems like we have a split on what should be done haha. lets not forget that just because the jeep is paid for doesnt mean it is free to maintain every month.

brownbagg · 03-14-2010, 07:28 PM

no,no,no, I understand what you are going through, I have four jeeps, 80cj5, 84 cj7 81 cj7 and 46cj2. 2wd toyota 4wd toyota and a ford explorer. so yes I understand, but if gas get high you could park the jeep and use weekend or if you break the jeep, you be able still get to work.

BSaint · 03-14-2010, 07:44 PM

I'd say this decision is based almost strictly on how much you drive on day to day basis. If you are like me and you are only putting 1-2k miles on your daily driver per year then i say **** it and buy the tj rubi (like i did) because the cost of fuel wont be that significant. However, if you are driving a lot keep the focus and the tj for a toy. Also, if this situation is based on financial needs then i say sell the dumb sound system upgrade from the focus, pay off the vehicle and then see where you stand with its value.

If you don't drive too far regularly then i think if you can squeeze the amount out of the 98tj + the focus that you'd be putting into the tj rubi then go for it. If you are going to be spending more on the new rubi than you could get for the other 2 combined then just stay put for now... gtg to a basketball game i'll post more later

flopp · 03-14-2010, 08:17 PM

ok well I drive about 270mi a week but with how I drive the dang focus I only get like 25-28mpg (they really only do good at 65 pure highway) If I drive my jeep the way I drive it usally I get like 15-17mpg with my 35s and 4.10s (would be better with proper gears and lighter rims and tires 15x10 steelies suck) Also the focus can be trouble since i drive it like I stole it because thats the only way i can stand to be in it. O and that sound system makes me happy when I am in it too so if I keep the car it stays. If i get a new jeep I will be modifing it slowly until i get a better job. hope that gives more perspective on the situation.

BSaint · 03-14-2010, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flopp

ok well I drive about 270mi a week but with how I drive the dang focus I only get like 25-28mpg (they really only do good at 65 pure highway) If I drive my jeep the way I drive it usally I get like 15-17mpg with my 35s and 4.10s (would be better with proper gears and lighter rims and tires 15x10 steelies suck) Also the focus can be trouble since i drive it like I stole it because thats the only way i can stand to be in it. O and that sound system makes me happy when I am in it too so if I keep the car it stays. If i get a new jeep I will be modifing it slowly until i get a better job. hope that gives more perspective on the situation.

thats a lot of miles per week to be putting on a jeep in terms of gas mileage.....i was driving my parents 3rd car (96 volvo wagon) which was basically my ride, all expenses paid (i didnt put a penny into it, not even gas) but i chose to get an 05 rubi at the end of december....It has 50k miles and i paid 14k for it, but i wont put many miles on it per year so im hoping it lasts a long *** time. Do out some math and see what the fuel cost difference would be for each of your vehicles to see what the weekly/monthly cost difference will be.

my question to you is: What are you trying to accomplish by investing in another jeep? do you want it just cuz its a newer toy or because you think its a financially sound investment or what? That might help us get to the bottom of this

flopp · 03-14-2010, 09:18 PM

gas cost $3per gallon 270mi a week jeep at 15mpg focus at 27mpg
98 jeep $54 a week so 7mo of winter= $1512 just for the winter
06 focus $30 a week so 5mo of summer= $600 in the summer
together equalls $2112
so lets say my next jeep gets 18mpg $45 a week $2160 a year
so not much difference there
next is car payment
focus is $206mo
planning the jeep payment to be $300mo at most
thats almost 100 there so 1200 a year more
insurance I will turn 21 in oct so it should go down
focus $110mo
1998 tj $70mo
(a mustang gt for me would be $130 a month so I will guess on the jeep)
new jeep like $100mo now
saving me $80mo or $960 a year
total difference is $192 more a year with a new jeep
but when you consider the tires i use with 2 cars(jeep needs new focus did last year) then oil changes plus i drive the jeep in the summer also so that cuts the savings more for keeping what i got. And finally I have to consider repair cost of the 2