[Copper RS]

Here's something to consider, I bought my 99 Sport with 70k, 3 years ago and paid $10,500. It just rolled over 100k and I could probably sell it for close to what I paid originally. They are kind of pricey but they hold their value pretty well.

[SlimBeegs]

Not to sound like a broken record, but patience is definitely the key.

Also, as far as mileage goes, i look for something between 8-9k per year. my last jeep was driven so little that i thought i was getting a great deal but ended up with a car that sat around a lot and had dried out seals and such.

I drove about 8 "decent deals" before i stumbled on my 2001 60th aniv. 6 cyl with 65,000 miles. paid $9500 about 3 months ago. (private owner)

Considering all the used dealers wanted like 11500 for the same or worse jeep, i jumped all over it. i could probably sell it next year for the same price i got it. (not that i'm gonna).

Good luck, i know how much it sucks to look at 600 jeeps and turn all but one down.

[flatlander757]

You gotta look hella hard. I just posted recently about looking for a Jeep in my area(Virginia Beach)... and being a beach area with a HUGE military presence you're lucky to get an 80k mile TJ for $12,000.

I am in the middle of setting up a loan for a 99 sport for $7500 I think I'll add that it's got a brand new soft-top, new 31" BFGs, etc etc. It's got 115k but is a 6cyl, 5spd, w/ a D44 I might add

It has a bad post-cat O2, and needs F/R pinion seals but since I'm a Chrysler tech that's no problem

[Terrain Twister]

Stop looking! Sometimes the deals just fall in your lap when your least expecting them. I'd been watching the prices for months and figured I was going to have to spend $15k if I was lucky or about 1/2 that for a salvaged one that needed repair. The day I sold my bike (traded one toy for another), I decided I could actually start looking but had decided I would take until X-mas if necessary. I found one 3 hours later that had a salvage title, already been repaired and had everything on it I wanted for only $11k and with only 5800 miles on it! Not perfect but perfect in my eyes! Don't get discouraged, there's one out there for you.

[KINGZ]

you have to wait in look for deal, and jump on one when you see it. You have a few things working againts you. one summer here, ppl start looking at jeeps now. High School and collage grads are release and parrents are getting them cars, its a want by alot of kids (damn spoiled brats) if you are near any coast you are screwed and if you are within 75mi of a base you are screwed.

I look for about 2 months and got lucky about 4 weeks ago. got a 2004 X, 4.0, 5spd, with 12k on it for 16k (before TTT) around here a 2002 to 2005 X with 35k+ would run you 17K+ if you are lucky. (not to mention I already spent another 2k+ for add ons)

I found carmax.com was a good place to go, since the cars are priced based on national averages than specified areas, pluss you can ship in a jeep for a fair price, there wabpage updates nightly and you just have to act on it, or they go FAST!!! They worked good for me since I live 2 miles from the beach, USF is about a 45 min drive from here if that, have a base about 30 miles from here, so jeeps go for big green, there are 4 new jeep dealerships within 20 miles of my house pluss countless used jeep dealerships and with all that the dealerships still wanted +20K for thier new TJ they had left, and yes last I heard there are like 6 New TJ still down here in the tampa area.

PS a 06 Rubicon soft top 5spd with 9k on it just sold for 13.5k last week, it had been in an accedent but repaired, that the only way to them jeep down here, becuase most ppl wont buy rebuilt cars.

GOOD LUCK

[john NC]

the sticker prices aren't always what you're gonna pay

i got an 05 tj sport a couple months ago for $15.5 with 17k

sticker was $18,900

dealerships loose money the longer a car's on the lot so a lot of times it just takes good negotiating

[Zew]

I bought my 98 w/ 171k on it for 4700 out the door. It has some rust under the doors on the tub and in the back under the pass side taillight. The a/c didn't work when i got it either... Nothing that can't be fixed. I've dumped about 5-6k into after market parts on it already.

Now i have a pesky P302 code that goes on and off when it feels like it and a nasty hesistation for the first 10 minutes that the engine is running. I've done everything to try and fix both, and i can't find what's wrong.

You'll find your deal. I lucked out and found this one at a dealer that a friend of mine knew the manager at... so they gave it to me for cheap.

[KINGZ]

if you are going to a dealership for a new one, one thing you can do, is get the real cost off the jeep that the dealership has to pay for it, dont forget, there still overhead too they have to cover. You can get that information at some sites free and some make you pay $10 to $15 for it.

All dealerships pay the same price, by law they can not charge one dealership one price and another Dealership anther price. This also goes for shipping with in the connected 48 states. no matter if the dealership is 5 miles away or 1000 miles away, its the same price. Also the factory has to give all dealerships the same price insentives. if they pass that along to the customer or not its up to the dealership. now if the dealership offerers a dealer rebait, its just money they are taking off of their profit and uselly its just the sale price after they realy inflate the price.

As for the TJ, it seems the dealerships are holding out and not willing to take a lost with the ones down here, becuase they believe there will be a few Diehard TJ fans that want the 4.0 motor.

[MuahMan]

Originally Posted by john NC

the sticker prices aren't always what you're gonna pay

i got an 05 tj sport a couple months ago for $15.5 with 17k

sticker was $18,900

dealerships loose money the longer a car's on the lot so a lot of times it just takes good negotiating

I got my 04 TJ X with 10,500 miles on it from Carmax for 15,000. 16,000 with the Carmax bumper to bumper warranty (shouldn't have got the warranty). I've seen several good deals at Carmax including a basically new 06 Rubi in black with EVERY option, 21k.

[luk4mud]

Don't let the higher milage ones scare you away. That 4.0 motor is basically bulletproof. The key is whether they are miles driven to the mall or rockcrawling. I rented a Rubi last summer in Colorado with only 30k miles on it that was beat to death, but was for sale for a mere $14k. You'd be better off with a 70k street queen for the same price.

I'd look for the older person who is selling in a private party sale, an original owner who has babied and garaged the thing. They are out there ... good luck.

[hoosier724]

http://www.jeep-classifieds.com/

[BlueTeeJay]

Originally Posted by dennylou1

I'd look for the older person who is selling in a private party sale, an original owner who has babied and garaged the thing. They are out there ... good luck.

Yeah...they're the ones that always claim " I bought it for my wife, she NEVER took it off road". There sure are lots of those out there.

[onlyn8v]

I bought mine about a month ago. I was driving down the road where all the dealers are by me and I was looking at a 04 Ford SD Diesel with 37" tires. Well, I went by the dealer the next day to show my GF and all the lights were off - so you couldnt see the truck.
So, I drove away cursing then 1000' down the road I found an amazing TJ on a lift rack. It was lifted, still had knobs on the tires and it had 1418 miles on it. I bought it the next day.
I paid 18,500. Its an 04 sport with now 2700 miles on it. Fabtech 4" 33x12.50 on classic locks. Fully loaded, even has autodim mirror and leather wrapped wheel.

My point is the deals are out there. Lots of places can't move cars for over book value. So if you find something you want, you could get it for cheap.

Here is a pic of mine
http://uploader.meinwirt.com/files/78/P1011171_thumb.jpg
http://uploader.meinwirt.com/files/78/P1011143_thumb.jpg
http://uploader.meinwirt.com/files/78/P1011173_thumb.jpg

[wdw]

It took me 3 years to find mine. S 97 TJ Sport. It had 138,000 miles on it. The orginal owner, and he had every receipt for every dollar he spent. The oil was never over 2,950 miles with out being changed. It was kept in a garage. I paid $3,500 for it. Best deal I ever got. It runs good and does not use oil.

[dg512055]

I wasn't even looking for a jeep and a co worker decided to sell his because they had too many vehicles in the driveway. It is a 98 SE with 4-cyl, 5 spd and AC, 78K mi. No rust anywhere and everything works. The top is in perfect shape, but I think it is aftermarket. The windows have "Pavement Ends" embossed. He said I will sell for trade in value whatever that is. Got it for $5,100 about a month ago. So far replaced the battery and cleaned it up, and we really enjoy it.