Where do you guys shop for cars?

[PILL]

I'm planning on buying a '97 or later Jeep Wrangler and i have so far searched Craigslist, Cars.com, and Autotrader. They are all dead ends, because people seem to think a 3 inch lift and new tires make a Jeep worth 2K more than it should be. Any help guys?

BTW, i will still have the Elantra as a DD.

[KeWLKaT]

Check your local catalogs you can get in the mall.

[SuperGLS]

From what I understand Wranglers (unless they are the 2WD ones) always have a pretty high resale value. Combine that with the fact that there are plenty of people willing to pay a premium for one that is already ready for fun and trying to buy a used one is sucky.

To answer the question posed in the title of this thread: the dealership.

[indkezra]

haha my friend has a wrangler and we just did a 2 inch lift with hockey pucks on it lol

[Tommy]

what prices are you seeing? maybe you're the one with the out of touch prices..

[evan938]

craigslist. just bring them the KBB sheet showing what its worth, and tell them if they really want to sell it, X amount is what you're willing to pay due to fair market value

[Tommy]

haha, id laugh in your face. KBB means nothing.

of course, i did read a thread where you told a salesmen how much you wanted to pay per month.... rule numero uno on how not to negotiate a price.

[PILL]

A lot of these Jeeps that are listed at 6K on KBB are being sold for 7K. A 3inch lift kit and new wheels should not add 1K to the price of a Jeep.

[evan938]

right. thats why i got this guy to come down on his price to what the KBB value was on the beater im looking at now.

[rusto85]

So, are you planning on using the rig for off road action? If that's the case I'd get a branded one that's in decent shape for way less and use it for that. I saw an eps this weekend on Extreme 4x4 on Spike that showed how to make it road worthy from getting the paper work to putting the essential off road parts.

Just my $.02

Well at least that's what I'd do. :)

[PILL]

So, are you planning on using the rig for off road action? If that's the case I'd get a branded one that's in decent shape for way less and use it for that. I saw an eps this weekend on Extreme 4x4 on Spike that showed how to make it road worthy from getting the paper work to putting the essential off road parts.

Just my $.02

Well at least that's what I'd do. :)

It will be partially for off roading, but it still needs to be drive able on the street. I will probably spend 95% of my driving time on road.

[rusto85]

Oh btw they should have that eps up on their website.

Like I said, I'd go that way since it will get the sh*t beat of it on the trail...well depending on what kind of off roading you do. It makes sense to me, but if yer planning on just having it for a while then I'd go ahead and buy a clean tittle one. But the cheaper the rig the more money you'll have to put into mods :D

[Tommy]

A lot of these Jeeps that are listed at 6K on KBB are being sold for 7K. A 3inch lift kit and new wheels should not add 1K to the price of a Jeep.

thats less than you'd spend to do it yourself after the fact, so whats the big deal? Jeeps here go for more than that, try 8-9k for one like that. Ive seen CJ's with nothing special, just in pretty good condition go for $10-12k.

KBB is a joke. If you want to know what a car's worth, look at the for sale ads for a couple weeks. See what cars stay, and see what cars sell. assuming price is the major variable, thats what will tell you where you should price your car. KBB can give you a rough starting point, but it doesnt take into account any sort of market variables. Its supply and demand, and its no where near accurate on any sort of niche market car or older car.

[PILL]

thats less than you'd spend to do it yourself after the fact, so whats the big deal? Jeeps here go for more than that, try 8-9k for one like that. Ive seen CJ's with nothing special, just in pretty good condition go for $10-12k.

KBB is a joke. If you want to know what a car's worth, look at the for sale ads for a couple weeks. See what cars stay, and see what cars sell. assuming price is the major variable, thats what will tell you where you should price your car. KBB can give you a rough starting point, but it doesnt take into account any sort of market variables. Its supply and demand, and its no where near accurate on any sort of niche market car or older car.

I'm not only looking at KBB. But, many of the prices people are asking for 10 year old cars are simply ridiculous. I see people trying to sell practically stock vehicles for 1.5-3K over what they should cost.

I just hope rising gas prices force more people to sell their rigs.

[Tommy]

thats what i dont think you're getting. its what YOU think they should cost, not what the market actually is.

If everyone is selling them too high, then you're the one who thinks they arent worth that much.

[kennef]

Keep in mind that Wranglers (like convertibles and motorcycles) tend to fetch a higher price in early spring.

[soullesselantra]

haha, id laugh in your face. KBB means nothing.

of course, i did read a thread where you told a salesmen how much you wanted to pay per month.... rule numero uno on how not to negotiate a price.

i would ask that all the time, and each time i asked, and we could get it close, i would sell one, or if they were really off (like unrealistically off) i would show them other options...with enough down, or a good enough credit score, and a trade, almost anything is possible...

[bdiggy]

Keep in mind that Wranglers (like convertibles and motorcycles) tend to fetch a higher price in early spring.

That's what I was thinking the whole way down this page. People are going to try and squeeze out a couple extra bucks because they know the vehicles are in demand now. Should have looked in the late fall if you wanted a better deal.

[PILL]

i would ask that all the time, and each time i asked, and we could get it close, i would sell one, or if they were really off (like unrealistically off) i would show them other options...with enough down, or a good enough credit score, and a trade, almost anything is possible...

Hahaha. Non of that really applies to me. I will be paying all at once without monthly payments. Yay for parents who will loan you money!

[soullesselantra]

Hahaha. Non of that really applies to me. I will be paying all at once without monthly payments. Yay for parents who will loan you money!

some of us cant get that lucky...:crash_com

[PILL]

some of us cant get that lucky...:crash_com

Yeah, i am pretty fortunate.

I think I am going to try and talk these to Sellers down to 6K if possible. 6.5K would still be a good deal though.

1998 Wrangler , 120K miles, 6 speed manual, and 6cyl. asking 7.5K (http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=p&car_id=243771098&dealer_id=62532093&car_year=1998&model=WRANGLER&num_records=25&systime=&make2=&start_year=1997&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&engine=6+Cylinder&certified=&body_code=0&fuel=&awsp=false&search_type=used&distance=25&marketZipError=false&color3=&color2=&search_lang=en&make=JEEP&keywords_display=&color=&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&min_price=1000&drive=&default_sort=priceDESC&max_mileage=&style_flag=1&sort_type=priceDESC&address=76040&advanced=y&end_year=2008&doors=&transmission=&max_price=8000&cardist=18)

1997 Wrangler, 100K miles, 5 speed manual, and 6cyl. asking 7.5K (http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=u&car_id=240937098&dealer_id=1378479&car_year=1997&model=WRANGLER&num_records=25&systime=&make2=&start_year=1997&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&engine=6+Cylinder&certified=&body_code=0&fuel=&awsp=false&search_type=used&distance=25&marketZipError=false&color3=&color2=&search_lang=en&make=JEEP&keywords_display=&color=&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&min_price=1000&drive=&default_sort=priceDESC&max_mileage=&style_flag=1&sort_type=priceDESC&address=76040&advanced=y&end_year=2008&doors=&transmission=&max_price=8000&cardist=11)

[soullesselantra]

good luck getting a jeep dealer to come down 1500 in price...they know what they have, and how to get what they want out of it...i would try the private seller first...

[PILL]

good luck getting a jeep dealer to come down 1500 in price...they know what they have, and how to get what they want out of it...i would try the private seller first...

That's what i figured about the dealer.

[soullesselantra]

yeah, i sold a 1998 STOCK wrangler with 112K miles for $12K which BAFFLED me, but it was just what this guy was lookin for, and anything over 100K miles, was 50% commission, so i made a nice bit off of that :D

[mlumz]

best bet is local paper, you may get lucky. If you aren't dead set on a jeep for off roading, take a look at the mitsubishi montero sport (that is what I use to have and loved it, but it got totaled before I went off roading)

[PILL]

If I wasn't dead set on a Wrangler I would get a Cherokee or light truck, but the wrangler has caught me and wont let me go.

[soullesselantra]

i would look for a Suzuki Samurai, those are fun as hell and will go some places a wrangler couldnt :D

http://z.about.com/d/4wheeldrive/1/7/a/8/Jaredsuzukiproject3.jpg

[Tommy]

yea except for when you get stuck because that metro engine has about as much tq as the springs in my wrist watch...

j/k


jeeps are expensive...always will be. POS cars, break if you look at them funny, but they are popular, and expensive.

[big_rob]

I'm not only looking at KBB. But, many of the prices people are asking for 10 year old cars are simply ridiculous. I see people trying to sell practically stock vehicles for 1.5-3K over what they should cost.

I just hope rising gas prices force more people to sell their rigs.

Not to sound like a smart ***, but do KBB, Edmunds, any of these sights have a "print check" button? I work at a dealership, and KBB is always high on what trade in should be, and low for retail when compared to what they allow for trade in. Value is what the market yields, and what the buyer and seller can agree upon. The reason these people are asking so much, is because they are going for that, or close to it (don't get me wrong, some people are waaaaay high, lol). They allow a little room for negotiating, and have a perceived value of slightly lower than asking price, but that is because nobody just lays down for it. If you want to get a better idea of what the going rate is, talk to your bank/ C.U. about the loan value on the vehicle.... My .02

[smileymattj]

There are lots of versions of Jeep Wranglers, AMC or Chrysler versions. And every different version retails for different prices. So do your research and make sure your not getting ripped off when your shopping.

Also for your info Jeeps hold water and tend to rust a lot. They are a very simple design and tons of after market add-ons.