5:05 pm
Club Member
September 3, 2008
Offline
I still haven't decided what new rig I am going to buy. I'm weighing all my options. While looking at these options, I came across an option that is high mileage. It's an 04 LJ with 220k miles. It's completely stock with those miles. If I was planning on replacing the suspension, axles, transfer case and what not, would you still consider buying something with that many miles? It seems like a decent price. I don't mind replacing the 4.0l motor at some point. I just want it to be reliable. Any thoughts friends?
Um...what?
5:36 pm
Club Member
July 10, 2003
Offline You had an LJ. Ask yourself why you got rid of it?
I used to wheel a lot. . .
8:25 pm
Club Member
September 3, 2008
Offline JohnDF said
You had an LJ. Ask yourself why you got rid of it?
You're hurting my feelings!! The buggy was fun, but I realized I enjoyed my LJ more. It was a great learning experience and a lot of fun.
Um...what?
8:45 pm
Club Member
July 10, 2003
Offline LJs are nice wheeling rigs. Sounds like a cheaper option.
I used to wheel a lot. . .
11:34 pm
Club Member
January 19, 2011
Offline If it will get you on the trail its worth considering. Limits are time,money,hard work and your imagination.
Semper Fi
5:19 am
Club Member
July 10, 2003
Offline I'm in the same boat as you are, trying to make up my mind what to do. Do I fix my Jeep and wheel it, or buy another Jeep and swap all the parts over, or sell my Jeep and start over on the JK?
I used to wheel a lot. . .
5:55 am
January 27, 2011
Offline Gregulator said
I still haven't decided what new rig I am going to buy. I'm weighing all my options. While looking at these options, I came across an option that is high mileage. It's an 04 LJ with 220k miles. It's completely stock with those miles. If I was planning on replacing the suspension, axles, transfer case and what not, would you still consider buying something with that many miles? It seems like a decent price. I don't mind replacing the 4.0l motor at some point. I just want it to be reliable. Any thoughts friends?
The engine is known for long life so the mileage, presumable being largely freeway, shouldn't scare you off.
If you have the AT, it is the 42RLE which is the truck rated/4-speed version of the TF999 which is about bullet-proof. If manual you might be looking clutch and worn 5th gear bushings, etc. Pretty common parts if they need to be dealt with at all.
Suspension components (bushings, etc) probably need replacing after all those miles anyway ... you may be in a real position to work the price.
=====
If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading -- Lao Tzu
9:27 am
Club Member
January 20, 2009
Offline 
Buy the LJ and John's TJ, swap the TJ parts to the LJ, and sell the TJ. Then John can build his JK and your both back on the trail. 
12:03 pm
Club President
April 2, 2003
Offline The average rated life on the 4.0 is 220,000 so you are right at the midpoint.
The question is really what's your priority. If you're looking for reliability, they are easy to work on. If you are looking to mod, they are easy to mod.
Is the LJ a Rubicon, or Sport?
How much total budget will you have left over after you buy it?
Are you ok with the seating/driving position as compared to a newer JK?
Do you care about the new safety features on a JK?
Does your wife seem happier if you bought one jeep over the other?
I'd question how cheap the LJ is. You can buy nicely modified JKUs in the 20k range. They already have tires/wheels/lift/lockers. If your LJ is a sport, wheels and tires are over 2K. Good lifts are 2K +, bumpers and other protection are more than 1K. Maintenance/reliability work on a jeep with 200K miles will also be a material cost. Winch 1K, T-case 1K. Just add up your mods and see what the price comes to. Then compare the cost difference with your answers to my questions above.
Here is some additional info: My JK on 38s gets better mileage than my TJ on 37s. My JK rides better and is more stable than my TJ. I can cruise all day at 75 in my JK, while my TJ wasn't happy above 65. TJ got 9MPG at 65. My JK gets 15MPG at 70-75. My JK has all the electronics working so all safety features function while driving back and forth to the trail. They dissable when I use 4WD (low). My TJ exhaust sounded way cooler than my JK. My JK has more horsepower but less torque than the TJ. The seats in the JK are more comfortable, making longer drives nicer. The (soft) top is quieter in the JK than the TJ. Coilovers improved the off-road ability of both rigs. Long arms also helped both rigs off-road. The TJ had finicky gas cap problems. The JK has finicky gas fill problems from its overflow safety design.
Are you planning to have a family at some point? Will you plus a couple of kids and gear be ok in an LJ? Bill and Cammie fit 4 plus gear in their LJ. We fit 4 plus gear in our JK as well. Just my thoughts on this...
12:04 pm
Club Member
September 3, 2008
Offline JohnDF said
I'm in the same boat as you are, trying to make up my mind what to do. Do I fix my Jeep and wheel it, or buy another Jeep and swap all the parts over, or sell my Jeep and start over on the JK?
It's frustrating trying to make a decision. When I was younger I didn't think things through. Now that I'm older, I can't make a decision.
The guy sold the high milage LJ yesterday, so that option has disappeared.
My wife is still voting 4 door. I told her if have to sell my truck to get a JK. She then said she'd rather me keep the truck. Now I don't think I'll ever decide.
Um...what?
12:10 pm
Club President
April 2, 2003
Offline http://www.jk-forum.com/forums.....ed-294992/
Used JKU. Hemi, lifted, new MTRs, etc...
12:14 pm
Club President
April 2, 2003
Offline http://www.jk-forum.com/forums.....bo-288083/
Already rolling 37s.
2:31 pm
Club Member
September 3, 2008
Offline BKGM Jeepers said
http://www.jk-forum.com/forums.....bo-288083/
Already rolling 37s.
This one is sold. Thanks.
Um...what?
3:59 pm
Club President
April 2, 2003
Offline 
See? Gotta be FASTER! Pull the trigger!!!
There are literally 100 JKs over there for sale, ranging from 15-50K…
My fried just pulled the trigger on his 911 turbo cabriolet today! I get to drive it when it arrives in 2 weeks.
Remember that out of state vehicles are often a LOT cheaper than a CA vehicle. So don’t discount them. My friend’s porsche was 56K. In CA, they never sell below 70K. He saved 14K – 1500 for shipping from the purchase. The same works for jeeps. Just look for weaker areas and you’ll see 2,3,5K lower prices.
2:46 pm
Club President
April 2, 2003
Offline http://www.daveysjeeps.com/rep.....60965.html
Buy tube fenders to replace the ones on it - add lift, wheels and tires!
Under 8K... You have a truck and trailer - OOPS...
4:11 pm
Club President
April 2, 2003
Offline They only have 88 Wrangler unlimiteds in stock.
http://www.davesmith.com/all-i.....tions=true
Give them a try for a quote. Largest in the country currently...
6:51 am
Club Member
September 3, 2008
Offline I think I finally found the "one". It's being shipped in today hopefully. I'll keep you posted.
Um...what?
10:20 am
Club President
April 2, 2003
Offline Gregulator said
I think I finally found the "one". It's being shipped in today hopefully. I'll keep you posted.
Yea! Pics n details please!!!
6:23 pm
Club Member
September 3, 2008
Offline Never mind, it was sold before my dealer could get their hands on it...I can't tell you how many times this has happened to me.
Um...what?
9:22 pm
April 23, 2012
Offline Poo
9:23 pm
Club Member
January 20, 2009
Offline Custom order!
9:30 pm
Club President
April 2, 2003
Offline Just order one. I did. That way you get exactly what you want, including color.
10:25 pm
Club Member
January 19, 2011
Offline Gregulator said
Never mind, it was sold before my dealer could get their hands on it...I can't tell you how many times this has happened to me.
Bummer!
The right one is worth the wait. I think I looked for about a year before I bought mine.
Semper Fi
9:54 am
Club Member
September 3, 2008
Offline I'm trying to avoid ordering due to the fact I'm carless right now. 6-8 weeks is a long time to find rides to work.
I'm sure it's out there. I've found several that would fit the bill, but I'm not into paying extra for crap I don't want. Like the chrome molar package...
Um...what?
3:18 pm
Club President
April 2, 2003
Offline since your build request is simple (almost no options). The build request will simply take the next vehicle on the assembly line in your color and assign your order to it. It should be very fast. Mine had already been painted green on the inside when they tagged me for black and finished my build out. It took less than a month. You want a base model with full doors. Really no options are being requested so any jeep in the assembly like can receive your order, until they commit to a paint color. Get the color you want...
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