Friend buying 98 Grand Cherokee

[Nick R]

So I may have mentioned we have a new family member. A friend of mine ex-coworker from earlier this year and best friend moved into our basement after she got kicked out of her parents house. She's basically my sister now. Anyway for the past couple months we've been driving her to/from work and on some days she's been taking the bus.

Well she needed to get a car cheap, and I finally found one. One of my co workers is ASE certified and NYS Inspection licensed. He has a 98 Jeep Grand Cherokee he bought and fixed up a bit a couple months ago.

He's willing to part with it for $1,500, it's a 4.0L Auto 4WD Laredo with 167,000 miles. It's not perfect, the amp for the radio is busted, the idler pulley squeaks and it's a little rough around the edges. But for $1,500 it runs, the 4.0L runs strongly, though the idle is a can be a little rough sometimes with the A/C on. A/C works too. 4WD works, everything works but the radio which is an easy and relatively inexpensive fix and she doesn't care about anyway.

She got a $1,500 low rate auto loan through Sunmark FCU, and should be signing the paperwork as soon as he gets the necessary paperwork from the DMV. It's inspected through next july, and has new brakes, new serpentine belt, new champion copper plugs, new muffler, transmission fluid change, changed the diff fluids, new brakes. Tires in relatively good shape. I figured for $1,500 it has a reliable engine and transmission, and 4WD for winter. Not the best mpg. The thing that's going to be a pain is the insurance, but she's an "inexperienced" operator and until the loan is paid off (shouldn't take more than a couple months) she has to have comp and collision. Anyway, any thoughts on this? Anything I should watch out for? I'm gonna be changing the oil with Rotella and a NAPA Gold filter, as well as changing the air filter and maybe changing the idler pulley since it squeaks, but it's not high on the priority list. The amp, eh if I can find one on ebay or something I'll pick up and swap out. Figured probably not going to find much of a better 1st car for her. Thoughts?

 

[lexus114]

Sounds like a good deal to me. But you were right re; the fuel millage. But for everything that was already done to it, I`d take it for that price.

 

[Brons2]

Why did she get kicked out of her parents house? Sounds like trouble.

 

[Gabe]

Originally Posted By: Brons2
Why did she get kicked out of her parents house? Sounds like trouble.

 

[JimPghPA]

How many miles a day would she be driving it?

If she has a very low income, and will be driving many miles, that vehicle may drink too much gasoline, and she may be much better off with an econo-box with a smaller engine.

The only thing is if she gets a small vehicle it should have very good winter tires for the NY winter snow. A Jeep would probably go better in the snow with low cost half way decent tires, but it would still slide just like any other vehicle when trying to stop, or steer if it did not have real winter tires on it. And along with the high fuel consumption of a larger vehicle, a 4WD is more expensive to maintain.

 

[SLCraig]

Solid truck.
Hit up the wreckers for a cheap stereo.. The Chrysler radios usually work pretty good for stock radios. Should easily be able to find one that works.
And probably from any vehicle of the same era too. They're silly easy to change, usually 2 bolts and 2 harness and 1 antenna.

 

[Nick R]

Originally Posted By: Brons2
Why did she get kicked out of her parents house? Sounds like trouble.


She got kicked out of her parents house because they are bigots who didn't want her to make her own decisions and were trying to control every aspect of her life, ie who she can talk to, hang out with. Her mom was convinced that we were "together" even though we definitely aren't. Basically her parents gave her an ultimatum and told her that she could hang out with me and her other friends and get kicked out, or continue living with them. Who are very controlling and have basically cut her off from the rest of her family and are trying to blackmail and guilt her. Glad you asked?

 

[Nick R]

Originally Posted By: JimPghPA
How many miles a day would she be driving it?

If she has a very low income, and will be driving many miles, that vehicle may drink too much gasoline, and she may be much better off with an econo-box with a smaller engine.

The only thing is if she gets a small vehicle it should have very good winter tires for the NY winter snow. A Jeep would probably go better in the snow with low cost half way decent tires, but it would still slide just like any other vehicle when trying to stop, or steer if it did not have real winter tires on it. And along with the high fuel consumption of a larger vehicle, a 4WD is more expensive to maintain.


Max 25 miles a day daily driven.

Originally Posted By: SLCraig
Solid truck.
Hit up the wreckers for a cheap stereo.. The Chrysler radios usually work pretty good for stock radios. Should easily be able to find one that works.
And probably from any vehicle of the same era too. They're silly easy to change, usually 2 bolts and 2 harness and 1 antenna.


The problem is it's an infity amp, under the back seat. He says he's checked the wreckers couldn't find one. I could also splice the wires and bypass the amp altogether if I can find a wiring diagram.

 

[Bgallagher]

Originally Posted By: Gabe
Originally Posted By: Brons2
Why did she get kicked out of her parents house? Sounds like trouble.

HAHAHAHAHA

 

[OVERKILL]

I'll be the one to say it before Pop_Rivit or JHZR2 does:

If she had to finance $1500.00 to buy a vehicle:

A. She's not in the position to buy a vehicle
B. She needs something a lot better on fuel than a 4x4 Jeep

She would, IMHO, be much better served saving up and buying something with cash. And buying something like a Focus/Cobalt/Corolla/Civic that will be more affordable to operate.

 

[JimPghPA]

Truck tires in general cost 1.5 times the cost of tires for and econo-box.

Unless she can handle ALL of the bill for the vehicle, insurance, tires when required, and routine maintenance, I would suggest you pass on the Jeep, and look for something smaller with a smaller engine.

 

[supton]

She's got a job, and is starting from scratch (living in someone's basement?). Take the loan, establish some credit history. As long as she is saving up money for repairs then I'm not sure a loan is a bad thing, especially if the plan is to pay off early. Probably needs something so as to not be dependant upon you--actually, does this enable her to work more hours/further away and increase her income/independance? [I'm assuming that she can afford all the bills on this, plus repairs--otherwise I'm with others on it.]

I'd go for something else too, but at 25miles a day it's not that bad--two gallons of gas? Sounds like in good shape. If it drinks too much, drive for a while, get it paid off, start looking for a better car, get a loan for a better car (or preferably buy outright, of course) and once better vehicle is found flip this one.

 

[Donald]

The vehicle needs to be inspected in NY if the car is registered under a different name. Even if the sticker looks good, its not legal. Only if you took the plates off and put them back on can you keep using the registration sticker. In NY.

How about the transmission ATF? Was that changed? You pay a premium for a 4WD vehicle especially with a Jeep name. But a 4WD vehicle also comes with a transfer case and extra diff. that should be checked/changed.

What years had problems with the piston skirt. Maybe ask on the Jeep forums. I know the 2001 model year had problems in that area.

 

[Nick R]

Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL
I'll be the one to say it before Pop_Rivit or JHZR2 does:

If she had to finance $1500.00 to buy a vehicle:

A. She's not in the position to buy a vehicle
B. She needs something a lot better on fuel than a 4x4 Jeep

She would, IMHO, be much better served saving up and buying something with cash. And buying something like a Focus/Cobalt/Corolla/Civic that will be more affordable to operate.


She has the money in her account but didn't want to drop that much in cash. I garuntee it will be paid off within 4 months. She makes enough to cover her bills definitely. But she does need to be able to be less dependent on us for transportation. And it will allow her to work more hours and at other places.

I'm also concerned about safety and reliability. And I know that if nothing else, the 4.0L and AW4 are nigh bulletproof. The ATF was changed and looks nice and the correct color. The transfer case fluid was also changed. This guy knows his stuff, I trust him.

Originally Posted By: Donald
The vehicle needs to be inspected in NY if the car is registered under a different name. Even if the sticker looks good, its not legal. Only if you took the plates off and put them back on can you keep using the registration sticker. In NY.

How about the transmission ATF? Was that changed? You pay a premium for a 4WD vehicle especially with a Jeep name. But a 4WD vehicle also comes with a transfer case and extra diff. that should be checked/changed.

What years had problems with the piston skirt. Maybe ask on the Jeep forums. I know the 2001 model year had problems in that area.


He is a NYS Licensed vehicle inspector, so I can just have him reinspect if it needs to be. IT's not registered right now anyway, no plates on it.

 

[JimPghPA]

I have seen a similar situation, and the other people who were helping the young person out complained about the higher cost of the gas, the tires, and other maintenance the larger vehicle required. The young person drove it until the transmission blew, and that the cost to repair it was the death nail for that vehicle. The young person could not afford it, and the other people had had enough of the higher cost for the last couple of years, so they said NO.

After that for a couple of years the young person did not have a vehicle. That young person would borrow a vehicle sometimes, and took the bus other times. After a few years the young person saved enough to purchase a mid size car that a mechanic friend looked at, with over 100K miles on it, and now a year later that vehicle is still the young persons every day drive.

Seriously, the decision you are making regarding the Jeep, is something all of you are going to have to live with for several years. Think of a vehicle as a money hole. The bigger the vehicle and the more mechanical items such as 4WD, the more money someone is going to have to throw into that money hole every year for the next several years.

I remember when my youngest brother who was still in school had his 8 cylinder car that he sunk money into for a couple of years finally die. My parents knew that he was working and attending school full time, and required a vehicle to travel between both locations. They asked me to work with one of my other brothers and between the two of us we were to pick a vehicle for the younger brother. I told the younger brother up front that his next vehicle was going to be a plain Jane 4 cylinder or small 6 cylinder, get you where you got to go vehicle with no extra power for taking it to the track, or wide tires, or any kind of racing or tire spinning. He said you are kidding me aren't you, and I said no I am very serious. I found a 4 cylinder Malibu in the paper, and it was located near where the other brother who was to work with me to find the vehicle lived. So I called him and he checked it out. The younger brother at first did not like the smaller engine. But after a few weeks he said he was very happy with the great fuel millage it got. And a few months later he said that he had not gotten any more speeding tickets with the Malibu. That was a big thing for him as he then told me something I had not known, that he would have lost his license if he had gotten one more ticket.

While a Malibu now days would probably be too old of a vehicle, some other post on this thread have already suggested some current econo-boxes that would be appropriate.

 

[sciphi]

I'd be on the lookout for a cheap econobox too. Although, since it sounds like she needs a car right now, this is likely the best of the options of either getting something that will run for the winter or be stuck at work when they shut the buses down early due to road conditions.

I'd get it, but be on the lookout for a smaller car. She can hopefully sell it during the winter to somebody who "needs" a truck for more than she paid. Truck prices in NY typically go up this time of year.

Sounds like your friend decided to take control of her own life. I hope she gets onto her feet!

 

[Nick R]

Originally Posted By: JimPghPA
I have seen a similar situation, and the other people who were helping the young person out complained about the higher cost of the gas, the tires, and other maintenance the larger vehicle required. The young person drove it until the transmission blew, and that the cost to repair it was the death nail for that vehicle. The young person could not afford it, and the other people had had enough of the higher cost for the last couple of years, so they said NO.

After that for a couple of years the young person did not have a vehicle. That young person would borrow a vehicle sometimes, and took the bus other times. After a few years the young person saved enough to purchase a mid size car that a mechanic friend looked at, with over 100K miles on it, and now a year later that vehicle is still the young persons every day drive.

Seriously, the decision you are making regarding the Jeep, is something all of you are going to have to live with for several years. Think of a vehicle as a money hole. The bigger the vehicle and the more mechanical items such as 4WD, the more money someone is going to have to throw into that money hole every year for the next several years.

I remember when my youngest brother who was still in school had his 8 cylinder car that he sunk money into for a couple of years finally die. My parents knew that he was working and attending school full time, and required a vehicle to travel between both locations. They asked me to work with one of my other brothers and between the two of us we were to pick a vehicle for the younger brother. I told the younger brother up front that his next vehicle was going to be a plain Jane 4 cylinder or small 6 cylinder, get you where you got to go vehicle with no extra power for taking it to the track, or wide tires, or any kind of racing or tire spinning. He said you are kidding me aren't you, and I said no I am very serious. I found a 4 cylinder Malibu in the paper, and it was located near where the other brother who was to work with me to find the vehicle lived. So I called him and he checked it out. The younger brother at first did not like the smaller engine. But after a few weeks he said he was very happy with the great fuel millage it got. And a few months later he said that he had not gotten any more speeding tickets with the Malibu. That was a big thing for him as he then told me something I had not known, that he would have lost his license if he had gotten one more ticket.

While a Malibu now days would probably be too old of a vehicle, some other post on this thread have already suggested some current econo-boxes that would be appropriate.


Problem, there aren't really many of those available at the price range she is looking for that are in good shape. Most of them are rustbuckets and/or in terrible condition. Plus I know
that parts are dirt cheap for these and readily available, both OE and aftermarket. If It were a V8 I wouldnt' consider it, but I know the 4.0L and I know it's easy to work on.

 

[Kruse]

Originally Posted By: Nick R
Thoughts?


It's a '98 with the original engine? I know you have to draw the line somewhere, but if I was the mechanic, I probably would have put new valve springs on it and sold it for $1600. The '97 and '98 4.0s have a tendency to have bad valve springs.

 

[Drew99GT]

I agree with Jim. If she's going to get a loan, get a quality economy car that will last her 10+ years. Something that will have ultimate dependability so she can get on her own 2 feet.

 

[Dave Hess]

Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL
I'll be the one to say it before Pop_Rivit or JHZR2 does:

If she had to finance $1500.00 to buy a vehicle:

A. She's not in the position to buy a vehicle
B. She needs something a lot better on fuel than a 4x4 Jeep

She would, IMHO, be much better served saving up and buying something with cash. And buying something like a Focus/Cobalt/Corolla/Civic that will be more affordable to operate.


She wants to buy an old SUV... not an old poser BMW pretending to be affluent (snarky chuckle).