Would like some input on trade vs upgrade

[CptFloridaMan]

Really not sure if this is the right spot. Mods if not, please move it. Thanks.

So I’m in a predicament. I was ready to do a rubi axle swap on my sport, $5,500 on allmoparparts including front rubi brakes. I would do the swap with my dad. Grand total of $5,844 without steersmarts stuff. But then I need steering, and was looking at steersmarts, so about another $1,000. I’m estimating about $7,000 all said and done for rubi axles, front brakes, and steering. My dad being the devil on my shoulder told me look at what a rubi costs now, and it’s basically done with everything. We found a 21’ Rubi with 6k miles, mopar lift, 37s basically fully loaded for $48,988.

I’m curious what rates are gonna be but my credit is great, and to bring payments down to the mid $500 range I’m able to put $10,000 down on it, assuming I also get about $28k-$30k on my sport.
The logic right now is that the rubi has everything I want, including power locks, lockers and power windows. So an extra $3k up front doesn’t seem too bad considering it’s a 2021 with 6k miles.

Jeep in question

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[Punkn89]

Nice looking Jeep - just don't drown yourself in debt with a loan for a Jeep that you're only going to keep pouring more money into. I know everyone has different limits on loan amounts/monthly payments. Personally, I try to never get a loan more than 20k and I tend to double payments to pay it off quickly.

Again, that being said, it is your money, if it fits your budget, go for it - Rubi's will always have a much higher resale and they are loaded in terms of offroad capability. Otherwise, you have a very capable Jeep now and you can take your time building it up how you want it.

Decisions, decisions!

 

[JEEP4U]

Just don't fool yourself..........A Jeeps build is NEVER basically done. There is always going to be maintenance and new available upgrades..

...........with the current competition with the Ford Raptor, Jeep still has not put 37s on a Rubicon. There is a reason for it.

 

[CptFloridaMan]

Nice looking Jeep - just don't drown yourself in debt with a loan for a Jeep that you're only going to keep pouring more money into. I know everyone has different limits on loan amounts/monthly payments. Personally, I try to never get a loan more than 20k and I tend to double payments to pay it off quickly.

Again, that being said, it is your money, if it fits your budget, go for it - Rubi's will always have a much higher resale and they are loaded in terms of offroad capability. Otherwise, you have a very capable Jeep now and you can take your time building it up how you want it.

Decisions, decisions!

That’s the thing, overall debt would increase, i’ve got a year of salary saved between my brokerage and savings. Loan right now is at 26k but started at $37,000k when i refinanced mid covid when rates tanked. If i get the payments to $580s like my jeep it’ll be the same month to month with what i pay now.

I’m not keen on draining $10k from my savings, i have a credit card that’s no interest until January 2024, but I would throw the lump sum whatever the balance is then. I’m averaging $4-6.5k a month right now.

 

[Shibadog]

First of congrats-you’ve got a Nice Looking and very capable Jeep. You need to ask yourself 1 question-“Why do I want lockers?” If the answer is “I’m constantly getting hung up/stuck with my current rig”-ok. If the answer is “because lockers are cool”, think long and hard. Lockers do NOT work well in snow/ice, so on street use lockers give you zip. ARE you having issues with going where you wish as you currently configured? Your call, and only YOU know what YOUR experiences are with your current set-up. If you decide that the lockers are a “must have”, then upgrading to a Rubicon might be a cold idea-IF you go that way though you’ll be back to needing the bumper/winch stuff, plus other stuff your current rig already has.

 

[Fouts]

The value is in the Rubicon. Yours will still be a sport with upgraded axles.

 

[Tool Guy]

The value is in the Rubicon. Yours will still be a sport with upgraded axles.

This, plus you won't have the Rubi transfer case either. Sport with swapped axels is worth the same as a Sport without swapped axels to most buyers or on trade in.

 

[entropy]

I wouldnt buy that Rubicon. Regardless if you can make payments or not. If you sell your current jeep for 30k and buy one for 48k, you are throwing an extra 18k for the upgrades.

So a better idea, if you are ready to throw that kind of money into a Jeep. Get better than Rubi axles and make your sport better than a Rubicon.

 

[RubiSc0tt]

Don't forget the 4:1 gearing in the tcase. A comparable tcase would cost roughly $3-5k depending on what you're doing, and figure in the lift and tires ($4k when I did mine in 2021, so probably more now). Not adding in any creature comforts that a Rubi may include (Upgraded sound system, interior, heated seats, whatever, etc), a Rubi starts making sense.

What's the stats on the Rubi you found? Year/ Mileage? You can usually negotiate price down, or negotiate trade up/ sell your current Jeep. Go with the numbers that make sense.

I will always tell people to go Rubi unless they don't plan on wheeling, OR they're going to rip out the drivetrain and go with something full custom. That said, $18k over your current Jeep, OR $48k for that Jeep is kinda rough

 

[ads75]

To me, 72 months is a long time to carry an auto loan. In 6 years, when it would be paid off, you could probably look at a brand new 2030 Wrangler.

That being said, if you are spending the money on axels for a Sport, its probably worth it to upgrade to the Rubi.

 

[CptFloridaMan]

First of congrats-you’ve got a Nice Looking and very capable Jeep. You need to ask yourself 1 question-“Why do I want lockers?” If the answer is “I’m constantly getting hung up/stuck with my current rig”-ok. If the answer is “because lockers are cool”, think long and hard. Lockers do NOT work well in snow/ice, so on street use lockers give you zip. ARE you having issues with going where you wish as you currently configured? Your call, and only YOU know what YOUR experiences are with your current set-up. If you decide that the lockers are a “must have”, then upgrading to a Rubicon might be a cold idea-IF you go that way though you’ll be back to needing the bumper/winch stuff, plus other stuff your current rig already has.

I want the lockers to be able to help get over things, 37s and lift aren’t necessary. Locker is more for the fact that when I get hung up it would help. My LSD is worn by now and I would at least like a rear locker as I don’t deal with ice or snow in miami.

I wouldnt buy that Rubicon. Regardless if you can make payments or not. If you sell your current jeep for 30k and buy one for 48k, you are throwing an extra 18k for the upgrades.

So a better idea, if you are ready to throw that kind of money into a Jeep. Get better than Rubi axles and make your sport better than a Rubicon.

I don’t need more than rubi axles. Shit i didn’t need 37s, i’m running 35s now. But if it’s in the price with a mopar lift etc, and I was planning $7k for a swap but I don’t need D60s etc. At that point if I were to get that jeep, all that I would wanna add is my arb compressor. And see if I can work a deal to come back and remove it or just get another one down the line.

To me, 72 months is a long time to carry an auto loan. In 6 years, when it would be paid off, you could probably look at a brand new 2030 Wrangler.

That being said, if you are spending the money on axels for a Sport, its probably worth it to upgrade to the Rubi.

My current loan has something like 48 months left. Not sure if in 2 years I’ll try to buy a house as i’m sure rates are still gonna climb into this year.

The thing that’s tempting is since I was already planning a $7k cost, another $3k for a downpayment and same payments isn’t the end of the world.

 

[fat_head]

You aren't going to get 5.5% It will be closer to 7-8%

 

[Dakota Jeeper]

If you sell your current jeep for 30k and buy one for 48k, you are throwing an extra 18k for the upgrades.

^This is the actual math.

If i get the payments to $580s like my jeep it’ll be the same month to month with what i pay now.

^This is not.

Your math should be:

Your sport would take $7K to get rubicon axles. Trading costs $18K.

That means it will cost you an additional $11k over the axle swap.

Will you get an extra $11k worth of options that are actually valued at $11K to you? For example, if a Jeep came with 20" rims, no matter how much they cost new or what they are currently valued at, they would have $0 of value to me.

If you planned to spend the money on a mopar lift ($2k or so) and get new tires ($2K or so) and new rims ($2K or so). That is $6k worth of upgrades but you no longer get tot make the choices of what rims, what tires, what lift, what shocks.

Just something to keep in mind.

 

[entropy]

I want the lockers to be able to help get over things, 37s and lift aren’t necessary. Locker is more for the fact that when I get hung up it would help. My LSD is worn by now and I would at least like a rear locker as I don’t deal with ice or snow in miami.



I don’t need more than rubi axles. Shit i didn’t need 37s, i’m running 35s now. But if it’s in the price with a mopar lift etc, and I was planning $7k for a swap but I don’t need D60s etc. At that point if I were to get that jeep, all that I would wanna add is my arb compressor. And see if I can work a deal to come back and remove it or just get another one down the line.



My current loan has something like 48 months left. Not sure if in 2 years I’ll try to buy a house as i’m sure rates are still gonna climb into this year.

The thing that’s tempting is since I was already planning a $7k cost, another $3k for a downpayment and same payments isn’t the end of the world.

Why dont you just leave the 35s then and leave the jeep alone? is it lockers what you want? get a TORQ locker up front and a better LSD on the rear or a an e-locker. The TORQ locker is only $400 and it is stupid simple and relatively straightforward to install.

I mean if you want a Rubicon go for it. But if you are looking for the best financial decision there are plenty of options out there for you that will come below the 7k even.

 

[Asuriyan]

You aren't going to get 5.5% It will be closer to 7-8%

I got 4.74 last month from my credit union, and they offer the same rates for up to 2 model year old used vehicles. I know they're up at least half a point from then, but still. It's possible.

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