Stuey1975

Still looking for that perfect fit jeep for me. Scouring the interwebs every day, considering what would be too far or too much $.

With that being said, what is the best route for that search? I have hit autotrader, cargurus, even craigslist. I am starting to save links I come across of people who carry several jeeps in their inventory.

Friend told me to look for ones under 170k miles.
Anyone else have any guidance, tips, tricks etc?
This will be my daily driver and will probably so slight mods. (No huge lifts or giant tires).

Lowrange2

"Even craigslist"?

I've bought 95% of the vehicles I've owned off of craigslist.

What are you looking for? Where do you live? How much to do you want to spend?

Check out "www.searchtempest.com". That site is great for searching large areas of craigslist, ebay and other sites with one search.

thebyus

Craigslist all the way. Autotrader and Carguru are fine if you are looking for a bone-stock rig, but if you are looking for something partially or fully built, forget about them. You can sometimes find something on Ebay, though they usually want a premium.

The other thing is to get in touch with a local off road group. They probably have some for sale, or can put you onto other places to look. Make sure you check the sale threads on at least CF, NAXJA, and XJ Talk, but Craigslist is my go to.

MooseXJ99

I'm with what thebyus said man. Craigslist is where I got mine. It was relatively cheap too. 165,500 miles and all it needed was some tires. Ended up being like $3200 and I got the experience of what I MYSELF was putting into the rig I knew what was going into it and that's why I bought stock. There are plenty of Cherokees that pop up though on CL. Was a guy selling one with 4.5" lift t case drop (so he didn't have dive shaft vibes and 33" tires with stock gears. Which is why he was selling it. Only wanted $3500. So just check CL once a day or so one will eventually come along with the right specs.

-Moose

KrayXJ77

I've gotten all 3 vehicles I bought with my own money off if Craigslist. (Buick, Gmc Truck, and the XJ) never had any problems. People make CL out to be a bad place to buy cars, but I've never had any problems. You can usually tell if it's a scam or a really shady person within 5 minutes of communicating with them. Keep trying Craigslist, the stock of different cars usually changed every week or 2 near me.

andrewmp6

Look for a 91-99 stock as you can find it and rust free as you can get it.Mileage don't matter the 4.0 if taken care of can run well past 300k no problem.

Stuey1975

I will keep on the craigslist hunt.
I didn't mean craigslist as in it was a bad thing.

Thanks for the tips guys.

investinwaffles

CL for sure. Look for some that need work, that way you can get it for cheap and upgrade while you fix stuff

Stuey1975

Seems like I can find a ton with 190k on them. Don't know what it is about that # but every time I look it ends up being 190k.

Looking at a 99 red one this week. 190k, no rust, all clean, 100% stock, $3700 obo.

Stuey1975

Found one today, 99 with 145k miles. Has the grand cherokee seats in front and rear.

Asking 5995

I like it because of the odd color.

BER_Cherokee01

I too have been searching CL and actually drove by a stock 2001 and he came $500 off of it. So keep up the search, it will show up.

Mountaindog

Picked mine up off kajiji which is basically like CL

I stay away from car lots period, i dont wanna buy smoke and mirrors, ended up grabbin a 97 sport w/170,000 in real decent shape asides from a lil door and rocker rust for $1000 off a single lady who had a small kid and didnt want to put money into it anymore cuz it was a 97 and bought a newer truck.

Deals are out there just a matter of lookin.

That color is kinda cool tho, looks like metallic desert tan kinda
Good Luck

KrayXJ77

Dealer prices are insane. I don't understand them. In the private sale car market near me, even as clean as that, with the seats, with those miles which are relatively low, that jeep would go for $2500-$3500 max. And asking almost 6? Ridiculous

Stuey1975

I keep being told that but I search within a 200 mile radius of here on CL and I either come across a lot of crap buckets, or ones sorta like the one I posted, but they are still high. I see several 6500 and 7800 ones. They are either really well taken care or or ragged out or damaged.

There is one in my town that is almost exactly like the pic one but it has 116k miles and a small lift on it. They want 6700. Apparently TN sucks as far as jeep prices go.

KrayXJ77

Yeah that's still a lot even with a small lift. I'm in NY and the prices are halfway decent. I picked mine up for $600, but it's a rust bucket haha, I have a clean 2 door that'll be my dd once I get it up an running