Jeep Values - Massive Decline

[Zandcwhite]

I believe it was $6.50 (2007). Min wage in MD is $15 now I believe.

You bought a less than 10 year old tj in 2007 for $3500 they were at least double that out here at that time? Too bad you didn't keep it you'd probably still be able to get $8k for it.

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[Punkn89]

You bought a less than 10 year old tj in 2007 for $3500 they were at least double that out here at that time? Too bad you didn't keep it you'd probably still be able to get $8k for it.

This was the 95 YJ. Wish I did keep the 97 though

 

[Zandcwhite]

This was the 95 YJ. Wish I did keep the 97 though

So it was 22 years old, we aren't exactly comparing apples and oranges. You can still find a beat up stripped tj with the 4cyl for under $8k these days.

 

[Punkn89]

So it was 22 years old, we aren't exactly comparing apples and oranges. You can still find a beat up stripped tj with the 4cyl for under $8k these days.

Nobody wants the 4 cylinder lol. But with less than 80k miles? Not so sure about that. Sorry I got us off topic, just thinking out loud in the thread .

 

[ArmyRN]

Nobody wants the 4 cylinder lol. But with less than 80k miles? Not so sure about that. Sorry I got us off topic, just thinking out loud in the thread .

Don't discount the 4 cylinder TJs. They aren't the greatest on the highway, but everywhere else they're great. A simple TJ will get you into the Jeep family.

What happens is folks buy a 4 cylinder TJ (came factory with 4.10 gears), they put a cheap lift on it, 33" or 35" tires, don't regear, and then complain the Jeep is a slug and drives like crap.

33" tires need 4.88 or 5.13 gears. 35" tires need at least 5.38 gears.

Mine below (4 cylinder/five speed) has 33" (285/75/16) tires, 4.88 gears, 3.5" RE lift, swapped in Dana 44 rear, Detroit locker rear, Aussie Locker front. And a bunch of other stuff. It does "ok" on the highway (expect to downshift a lot), but pretty much holds it's own everywhere else.

 

[The Last Cowboy]

The best thing you can do with a 4 cylinder TJ is convert it to a 4.3 GM V6. It's a lot easier and cheaper than converting to a 4.0.

In high school I made $3.35 an hour at fast food job, had a lawn I mowed at $20 a week, and I also would unload the Amway 18 wheeler and break down deliveries on Thursday nights for $40.

I went through a few beaters that I flipped, then in 1982 I bought a 1975 Scout II for the princely sum of $1600, which was quite a stretch. But I couldn't put a value on the fun I had with it. That thing would take a beating that I doubt the JL would withstand. But back then I wheeled harder, not smarter.

 

[Spank]

There is a large population that wants a simplified vehicle. Less expensive, less complicated, more reliable. If they build it, they would sell as many as they could make. Assuming it was priced correctly.

Yeah, but for as a much as Jeep claims to listen to their customers, they don't. People wanted a Hemi Wrangler for two decades and Jeep told them to pound sand until the Bronco came out. This has only gotten worse with the government dictating what the market should offer, especially with this EV nonsense, instead of letting actual customers paint that picture.

Dodge is another perfect example and while I'm biased towards gas engines, I have a feeling the Charger is going to be a laughable failure. It's neither an evolution or something anybody asked for.

 

[Dusty Dude]

So, would Jeep really consider "cheapening" the brand by offering something like a Wrangler SE? Base as base can be, marine vinyl seats, vinyl floor, steel wheels, bare dash with just gauges. But put M210/220 axles on it. The only options would be soft top and half doors, a phone mount where the current radio is, with a removable Bluetooth speaker in the dash and in the rear, and AC.

As good as it as it may sound to many here, I doubt it. New buyers want every option they can get, and many stretch themselves to have that "next level". Throughout the car industry now, it's rare to find a "stripper" model. Everyone wants features. .

People on this forum talk about even more stripped models selling even cheaper... but nobody even buys the base model. Most of the people who pander for less tech and creature comforts on here drive pretty loaded Jeeps and it's baffling to me. Pretending Jeeps are overpriced while you pay double the base price for your loaded Rubicon is weird. They already offer a very cheap, pretty basic model...and nobody wants it. That $30k might look appealing when you pass the dealer on the freeway and get you in the door...and in my opinion that's all they exist for.

Yes that's exactly what they exist for. Every automaker does it - the base model, that in most cases you can't even get, starts at a very attractive price. But then buyers go to the dealer with that price in mind and find that the cheapest one on the lot is $20k more expensive. With GM, for example, one cannot even order a true base model - several have tried but none have actually received a vehicle..."production delays" and "unavailable packages" lead to order cancellation every time.
.

The general public doesn’t want to special order a vehicle, or they don’t know that they can, so they buy a larded up version that is on the lot.

We tried to get a base Subaru Outback for my wife last year. I couldn’t find one within a few hours of where I live, and every one that was being built was “already sold”. When trying to order one, we were told we would have to wait until another allocation was available. So the choice was buy what they had (larded up), or wait months for what we wanted. Don’t tell me that isn’t done on purpose.

There are a lot of people who want a simple, reliable vehicle that doesn’t break the bank. The problem is, regardless of brand, they aren’t being built.

 

[Zandcwhite]

The general public doesn’t want to special order a vehicle, or they don’t know that they can, so they buy a larded up version that is on the lot.

We tried to get a base Subaru Outback for my wife last year. I couldn’t find one within a few hours of where I live, and every one that was being built was “already sold”. When trying to order one, we were told we would have to wait until another allocation was available. So the choice was buy what they had (larded up), or wait months for what we wanted. Don’t tell me that isn’t done on purpose.

There are a lot of people who want a simple, reliable vehicle that doesn’t break the bank. The problem is, regardless of brand, they aren’t being built.

I see base sport Gladiators and JLs pretty regularly at different dealers. Not too many with manuals, but they have to stock what they can actually sell. Call it larded up if you want, but in the Jeep world especially the higher trims come with a much higher capability as well. A base Sport is capable, but short of axle swaps, gears, lockers, and a transfer case is not rubicon capable. The mojave has the best shocks ever to come from the factory on any Jeep period.

 

[Stuckinthesand]

I see base sport Gladiators and JLs pretty regularly at different dealers. Not too many with manuals, but they have to stock what they can actually sell. Call it larded up if you want, but in the Jeep world especially the higher trims come with a much higher capability as well. A base Sport is capable, but short of axle swaps, gears, lockers, and a transfer case is not rubicon capable. The mojave has the best shocks ever to come from the factory on any Jeep period.

For what 99% of people in Jeeps do a base sport will be fine. Any trail I am comfortable wheeling I have had no problem keeping up with the Rubicons. Now with that said I have a winch if I were to get myself into a situation that needed lockers. I've ran some BOH trails such as Crawl Daddy, Crawlers Ridge, Barney Rubble and Fern Ridge just fine in a base Sport S on 35's with 2.5" lift. Would I do the Rubicon trail? I'd definitely need to armor up underneath and would most likely need to use the winch.

 

[TheRaven]

We tried to get a base Subaru Outback for my wife last year. I couldn’t find one within a few hours of where I live, and every one that was being built was “already sold”. When trying to order one, we were told we would have to wait until another allocation was available. So the choice was buy what they had (larded up), or wait months for what we wanted. Don’t tell me that isn’t done on purpose.

It's definitely done on purpose - Toyota and Honda also do what you describe here. GM just delays and "unavailable package" -es the buyer into giving up.

The "starting at" price that is used in ads is a paper vehicle. I hear it here all the time when members speak up about how overpriced the JL is. Someone always jumps in with "it's not overpriced, it starts at $31k!". It doesn't start at $31k. A base Unlimited Sport with an automatic trans and any COLOR starts at $40k. So as far as the general public is concerned, the JL starts at $40k...with less standard equipment than a 2001 Hyundai accent. You have to step up to the Sport S to get a vehicle that someone's actually going to be interested in and once you add the basic requirements you are over $46k. But HEY it starts at $31k so it's not overpriced!

 

[The Last Cowboy]

What’s the destination fee now, $2k? Can’t forget that either.

 

[Zandcwhite]

It's definitely done on purpose - Toyota and Honda also do what you describe here. GM just delays and "unavailable package" -es the buyer into giving up.

The "starting at" price that is used in ads is a paper vehicle. I hear it here all the time when members speak up about how overpriced the JL is. Someone always jumps in with "it's not overpriced, it starts at $31k!". It doesn't start at $31k. A base Unlimited Sport with an automatic trans and any COLOR starts at $40k. So as far as the general public is concerned, the JL starts at $40k...with less standard equipment than a 2001 Hyundai accent. You have to step up to the Sport S to get a vehicle that someone's actually going to be interested in and once you add the basic requirements you are over $46k. But HEY it starts at $31k so it's not overpriced!

Because you have options that you deemed necessary it doesn't start at $31k? The base price is still $31k. And an unlimited sport s with the auto is under $43k. If you feel that's overpriced, dont buy one. For the hardware you get and the off road capability I think it's fairly priced. Adjusted for inflation that's the same price as a loaded 2004 rubicon was, and you get way more for your dollar.

 

[TheRaven]

Because you have options that you deemed necessary it doesn't start at $31k? The base price is still $31k. And an unlimited sport s with the auto is under $43k. If you feel that's overpriced, dont buy one. For the hardware you get and the off road capability I think it's fairly priced. Adjusted for inflation that's the same price as a loaded 2004 rubicon was, and you get way more for your dollar.

And here's one of those guys I was talking about in my last post.

 

[Zandcwhite]

And here's one of those guys I was talking about in my last post.

The guy that understands that base models do exist and will double check the guy claiming things are overpriced and using creative rounding by several thousand dollars to prove his point? Proudly that guy.

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