3 Days away from purchasing my first Cherokee, ADVICE please!
Wowwwww, this is the kind of advice I was looking for!
I fully understand what you guys are saying and I'm 50/50 on the skeptical side. I mean the Cherokee does look like is has 42K miles on it so the whole issue with "replacing the odometer" kinda went out the door on first inspection but there are some real ********* out there! Now I've thought of the option of buying a stock Cherokee and doing everything myself for fear of buying someone's thrash around car but in doing that wouldn't I be paying top dollar for all those ad ons? I know paying 4750 does seem a little high for the amount of **** that has been done to it, but he claims he's put around that much into it and wants to get that much back. I originally offered him 4 then 45 but he said lowest 4750, not really taking off enough for me I feel especially if right away I would have to leave it in the shop to get those minor problems fixed.
from the description does it look like he dumped that much into it? He also claims it was only used in the desert 2x a year, it does look that way though.
Problem: I live a good 66+ miles away from where the jeep is located. Going down to pick up the jeep for a day to take it to my mechanic might be out of the question. I'll ask him and see what he thinks. If he's against it thats a red flag forsure.
Well everyone, I can't thank you enough!!! I'll defiantly run a car fax through it and try to get my Mechanic to look at it.
THANKS!
Johnny
I fully understand what you guys are saying and I'm 50/50 on the skeptical side. I mean the Cherokee does look like is has 42K miles on it so the whole issue with "replacing the odometer" kinda went out the door on first inspection but there are some real ********* out there! Now I've thought of the option of buying a stock Cherokee and doing everything myself for fear of buying someone's thrash around car but in doing that wouldn't I be paying top dollar for all those ad ons? I know paying 4750 does seem a little high for the amount of **** that has been done to it, but he claims he's put around that much into it and wants to get that much back. I originally offered him 4 then 45 but he said lowest 4750, not really taking off enough for me I feel especially if right away I would have to leave it in the shop to get those minor problems fixed.
from the description does it look like he dumped that much into it? He also claims it was only used in the desert 2x a year, it does look that way though.
Problem: I live a good 66+ miles away from where the jeep is located. Going down to pick up the jeep for a day to take it to my mechanic might be out of the question. I'll ask him and see what he thinks. If he's against it thats a red flag forsure.
Well everyone, I can't thank you enough!!! I'll defiantly run a car fax through it and try to get my Mechanic to look at it.
THANKS!
Johnny
CF Veteran
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,127
Likes: 2
From: Hell, CA
Year: 1989
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L I6
There is no reason you cannot find another cherokee , esp cheaper than that one, near by. Regardless of how much $$$ he put in, he won't get it back. And if he does, I feel sorry for the person.
From the pictures it does look really clean. Like someone else posted there are little things you can look at/feel to tell how much it actually has been used.
As said, brake pedal rubber....is it worn or look new.
Shifter.... does it feel nice and tight, or have slack and flop around.
Trans shift smooth?
Drivers door..... does it close smooth and easily, no sagging hinge or wear on door striker bolt?
Not going in 4wd could be a cpl of things. Linkage frozen up from lack of use, or something binding in transfer case.
While it is a nice looking rig I personally dont think Id go more than $3k on it even with the upgrades....... I know I wouldnt pay anywhere near $5k.
For $5k you can pick up a much newer rig.
As said, brake pedal rubber....is it worn or look new.
Shifter.... does it feel nice and tight, or have slack and flop around.
Trans shift smooth?
Drivers door..... does it close smooth and easily, no sagging hinge or wear on door striker bolt?
Not going in 4wd could be a cpl of things. Linkage frozen up from lack of use, or something binding in transfer case.
While it is a nice looking rig I personally dont think Id go more than $3k on it even with the upgrades....... I know I wouldnt pay anywhere near $5k.
For $5k you can pick up a much newer rig.
Update***
Just ran it through Carfax and everything amazingly checks out! Last odometer was in 2/08 with 42,052 miles!!!! When i looked at it last week it had 42,850!!!
No accidents... nothing.
I'm going down there tomorrow to take it to a mechanic to get the final word from him. If the mechanic says yes then its a go!
Wish me luck boys,
Johnny
Just ran it through Carfax and everything amazingly checks out! Last odometer was in 2/08 with 42,052 miles!!!! When i looked at it last week it had 42,850!!!
No accidents... nothing.
I'm going down there tomorrow to take it to a mechanic to get the final word from him. If the mechanic says yes then its a go!
Wish me luck boys,
Johnny
Have you tried talking them down at all?
They have to have a bit of wiggle room on that. I LOVE my XJ and have had it for over a decade, but it does seem a little high. Of course, maybe prices are higher in your area.
With regards to the linkage it may also be tight from the lift.
Good luck.
They have to have a bit of wiggle room on that. I LOVE my XJ and have had it for over a decade, but it does seem a little high. Of course, maybe prices are higher in your area.
With regards to the linkage it may also be tight from the lift.
Good luck.
Seasoned Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 397
Likes: 0
From: I'm bad, I'm nationwide.
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
You got 5 grand man, that will buy you alot when it comes to a 20 year old car. Is there anything in your area in the 5k range that you've looked at.....
I've had my heart set on a certain thing before, spent the "xtra money" to get it and was dissappointed. You know when your selling a vehicle your always lookin for the "right buyer" that guy who'll give you exactly what your askin. It almost never happens! You can't talk him down? All I'm sayin is look around your area and see what 5k will buy you. You might find that that cherokee is the best think 5k will buy you, you might find you can get a S**T load more for that amount of money.
I've had my heart set on a certain thing before, spent the "xtra money" to get it and was dissappointed. You know when your selling a vehicle your always lookin for the "right buyer" that guy who'll give you exactly what your askin. It almost never happens! You can't talk him down? All I'm sayin is look around your area and see what 5k will buy you. You might find that that cherokee is the best think 5k will buy you, you might find you can get a S**T load more for that amount of money.
Just because the seller spent a lot of $$$$ on upgrades does not mean he should expect to get much of it back. Every truck I have owner always got some upgrades, like wheels and tires, tonneau covers, leather seats, etc., etc....the list goes on and on...
If I even got back $.20 the the dollar for what I got I was lucky....take the wheels and tires off that Cherokee and see what they will bring on ebay or craigslist....$200? What did he pay for them?? $600-800?
Why should you pay retail prices for used parts??? Maybe used too well, since you can't get it into four wheel drive...
I would offer $3500 max and give him your phone number so he can call you when it has not sold in a month....ugh!!!!!!!!!!
If I even got back $.20 the the dollar for what I got I was lucky....take the wheels and tires off that Cherokee and see what they will bring on ebay or craigslist....$200? What did he pay for them?? $600-800?
Why should you pay retail prices for used parts??? Maybe used too well, since you can't get it into four wheel drive...
I would offer $3500 max and give him your phone number so he can call you when it has not sold in a month....ugh!!!!!!!!!!
Hello to all,
I fully understand what most of you are saying. The money you dump into cars for upgrades you really only get what, maybe 20-30% back. I'm meeting up with him on friday and even though we already worked out a deal I'm just going to find a way to have him drop the price, at least a little. I kelly blue booked it for $3,056 in good condition. $4,000 seems like a fair enough deal for the both of us with what's done to it.
Also he called me today to let me know that he replaced the fuses so now all the gauges on the instrument cluster work.
Oh also the price might seem a little high for most of you but thats the down side of living in southern California
Thanks,
Johnny
I fully understand what most of you are saying. The money you dump into cars for upgrades you really only get what, maybe 20-30% back. I'm meeting up with him on friday and even though we already worked out a deal I'm just going to find a way to have him drop the price, at least a little. I kelly blue booked it for $3,056 in good condition. $4,000 seems like a fair enough deal for the both of us with what's done to it.
Also he called me today to let me know that he replaced the fuses so now all the gauges on the instrument cluster work.
Oh also the price might seem a little high for most of you but thats the down side of living in southern California
Thanks,
Johnny
Hey guys,
Bought it yesterday and couldn't be happier!!! I did ask him if he could lower the price by a couple of hundred bones but he said he had two offers for 5K. Trust me I'm not newbie when it comes to bargaining deals so I just agreed to the deal we originally worked out and kept a smile on my face. My mechanic and friend who fabricates off road trucks said it was still well worth it.
I took it out last night to see how it works in the dirt and it ran like a dream! All my buddies were amazed at what the little baby could do.
Hooray for Cherokees
haha
Thanks a lot everyone! talk to you soon!
Johnny
Bought it yesterday and couldn't be happier!!! I did ask him if he could lower the price by a couple of hundred bones but he said he had two offers for 5K. Trust me I'm not newbie when it comes to bargaining deals so I just agreed to the deal we originally worked out and kept a smile on my face. My mechanic and friend who fabricates off road trucks said it was still well worth it.
I took it out last night to see how it works in the dirt and it ran like a dream! All my buddies were amazed at what the little baby could do.
Hooray for Cherokees
hahaThanks a lot everyone! talk to you soon!
Johnny


