hey guys so got offered a 2004 Grand Cherokee Laredo v6 with 147k for $4000. it needs tires and brakes all around so I figure I'm probably looking at about $800. do you guys think that's a good deal? Book values seem to be all over the place what should I be looking at with the Grand Cherokee?

 

The main thing to look out for IMHO is transmission and whether or not it was maintained. I would ask for service records.

 

My advice would be this spend a $100 or so and take it to a dealership for a pre-sale inspection for everything on it. I bought my 04 Overland w4.7HO/4WD 5 yrs ago and it needed brakes for everything else looked/worked like new not a blemish on it and had every option offered by Jeep. But it had 201,000 mi. on it with every service done to it since the first oil change $4500 I paid him in cash. Have did nothing to it since I bought it, one of the best buys I have ever made.

 

This certainly sounds like a deal worth pursuing. Do your KBB study for your area, negotiate with the current owner for any work it needs and have it checked/verified by a trusted mechanic.

I recently lost my 2000 Grand Cherokee (to a drunk driver) and want another one so I'd certainly look into this deal further if I had the chance.

 

Like said have a mechanic look it over good before you buy any car/truck.For 4k it should need nothing and look brand new shiny paint no dents and spotless interior.With it needing tires and brakes i would offer them 2500 bucks maybe 3k just depends on what shape its in and if anything else is wrong with it.

 

I concur. All the foregoing is good advise. 4 years ago, I spent $4000 for mine and never looked back. It was immaculate with good records and new tires, brakes, and exhaust.

 

I paid $4500 for my 2000, 139,000, v8. But it had 4 new tires, rotors/pads on the front, new, pads on the back new , crank sensor replaced, new battery. Interior was spotless , out side looked like new. It's almost a Limited, but lacking heated seats. After I got it home, I found the heat didn't work. The guy replaced the core for me at his cost.
I agree with some of these guys. For 4 grand, it shouldn't need tires and brakes. See if he'll split the $800 cost with you and come down $400.

The next time I buy another used car, I am gonna go with one that has all maintenance records, like it was suggested here. I have learned that newer vehicles are better designed than what I am used to driving and that scheduled maintenance is critical to a long trouble free life.

 

In full disclosure, I paid $3,700 for my 2000 Grand Cherokee 2 years ago. I wasn't looking for all the bells and whistles but it had everything (sun roof, heated/power leather seats, premium sound, etc.) plus the 4.0L and 4WD I was looking for. Recently new tires as well. On top of that, a local doctor had originally ordered it back in 2000 and drove it for 12 years and he had all the maintenance records on it. The only thing wrong with it was the hood lifts needed replacing (he was currently using a piece of wood), the left rear window motor wasn't working (starting working with a little assistance but is not working again now) and there was a slight ticking from the bell housing (?) that went away after a few seconds. He originally wanted $3,800 but gave me credit for the things that needed fixing.

 

Excuse me, but what is the problem with that rear passenger's window? It seems to be a common problem with the 2000 WJ. I was reading service bulletins and they had problems with the '99 front passenger's window and it was fixed by elongating the regulator mounting slots.

 

When I first looked at it before purchase, it simply wasn't working. The next day after purchase I was showing it to my neighbor and I placed one hand against the window (pulling it down) while working the switch and it began working again. It did that again several months later (stopped working but worked again with a little encouragement). After the accident a few weeks ago it stopped working altogether. I've always thought it was just a motor giving out and never really thought about it being a result of an engineering/R&D issue, but stranger things have happened. I had to replace the driver door motor back in December and it just died without warning in the down position.

 

Thanks for the responses guys. It is my brother-in-laws jeep, and he said, he had the "spring in the transmission repaired 3 months ago, as it was having trouble from going from 1 to 2." Other than that, said he hasn't had any issues. I will go check it out today.

 

Good luck. I'm always on the lookout for a nice 2004 Grand Laredo. With Selec-Trac only... that means I have to *pass* on a lot of them. No Quadra for me

 

Good for you! Which means, you're probably stuck with a 4.0. No problem, I own one (2000)

 

"Stuck". The engine that everybody raves about?

 

Mine is not a Selec-Trac and I personally love the Quadra and my wife now does not have to worry about when to engage/disengage 4wd now. I was leery at first but things change with time (5 yrs.) and mpg wasn't an issue either compared to the others. As far as MPG in general and even 4.0 vs. 4.7HO was quite surprising as well with the V-8 having a bit better MPG.