Should I sell or should I not?

AdamIsAdam · **Posted:** Thu Jun 14, 2007 3:35 pm

Well, I'm thinking of selling the KJ. I actually went so far as to list it here for sale. (see the thread located here: http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/vie ... 566#213566 )

My sons want me to keep it. They can't imagine life without going off roading! It's funny, I never went off roading until 2003 when I got the KJ. I bought it because I needed a small SUV, and as long as I was getting one, I WANTED A REAL 4x4! So I dove in with both feet ( or all four wheels in this case).

It's been a blast! I've even attained a bit of celebrity status at the Jamboree events because of my involvement with www.jeeptales.com.

Anyway, if I sell it, I hope it goes to a fellow or at least future LOST member!

The KJ has been well cared for in a way only Jeepers understand. Sure, it's got pinstriping and scrapes underneath. But it's been driven off road, and very well cared for in terms of fluid changes, etc. You know, the stuff that really counts! Any fool can bring his "truck" to the car wash on weekends. How many EVER change their diff fluids?!!!

JJsTJ · **Posted:** Thu Jun 14, 2007 3:40 pm

What are/were your reasons for selling? I can't imagine not seeing your name around this forum any more, you have been here for a long time.

If you do sell it, what are you wanting to get?

AdamIsAdam · **Posted:** Thu Jun 14, 2007 3:49 pm

Well, I want to spend more time on my Muscle car. And that leaves less time for my KJ. I am considering keeping it for off roading only, but truthfully, I only go 1-3 times per year. So in the end, it's a DD'er.

Plus, my wife doesn't partake in these hobbies; off roading or car cruises, etc. So it's just another activity that I'd be doing with my sons, but without my wife. Some of that is great, but too much can be bad.

Who knows, maybe I'll buy an old Wrangler and just take that off roading 1-3 times per year.

But don't forget, I live on Long Island, NY. So any real off roading requires at least 3 hours of driving to get to. So each trip is just that, a trip. If I lived elsewhere, things might be different.

It is a great ski trip vehicle though!

Oh, and as for what I may buy, I will not divulge that yet. I haven't decided if I'm going to do it or not, but I'm considering something so extremely opposite from a Jeep that it's laughable.

AdamIsAdam · **Posted:** Thu Jun 14, 2007 3:50 pm

Plus, I'll never fully leave this board. The people here are great.

I keep getting emails on some of the mods I helped CREATE way back when! Like the CB antenna mod, or the Thule cross bars.

KikensJeep · **Posted:** Thu Jun 14, 2007 5:04 pm

I wouldnt sell it, I had many muscle cars in my time and to really enjoy them usually means breaking the law. Keep the KJ and have fun in the great outdoors while staying legal. But thats my opinion you really have to do what makes sense to you.

Tokyojoe · **Posted:** Thu Jun 14, 2007 8:07 pm

Adam! You can't sell it! Don't do it.

That new Challenger isn't worth it!

Did I guess right?

AdamIsAdam · **Posted:** Thu Jun 14, 2007 8:47 pm

New Challenger isn't going to be out for some time. And yes, I'd sell my left you-know-what for one!

DaveKJ02 · **Posted:** Thu Jun 14, 2007 8:53 pm

No offense Adam, but I doubt you'll get near what you're asking so you might as well keep it.

AdamIsAdam · **Posted:** Thu Jun 14, 2007 9:00 pm

Really? That's what Edmund's gave as a fair price for "excellent" condition. I figure excellent and all my mods kind of match up. What do you think it's worth and where do you base your opinion from?

DaveKJ02 · **Posted:** Thu Jun 14, 2007 9:14 pm

Experience. You're mods probably decrease value more than helping. The market for built KJ's is smaller than prestine stockers and you're asking for the high end of that. Anybody really into wheeling doesnt want a KJ, soccor moms dont want a built one, and gas prices are not helping you either. Mine's an '02 limited built like yours (ARB bumpers and lockers, RL bumpers and a lot of other goodies) and what a few dealers offered me made me sick. Yeah private sales get more, but again, good luck finding that target audience.

Again, no offense intended. We're all in the same boat.

priell3 · **Posted:** Thu Jun 14, 2007 9:15 pm

I say if the KJ has to go, get another Jeep. How about a Trail Rated Patriot? Good MPG, can still do some off-road and it is a Jeep.

AdamIsAdam · **Posted:** Thu Jun 14, 2007 9:19 pm

I have dealer access to Manheim's national dealer-only auction reslults. There wasn't ONE Renegade sold in the last several auctions! But using the Limiteds as a guide, NATIONALLY they show pricing as follows:

Jun 14 - Jun 21 2007
...................Above.........Average........Below
Auction........$13,000.......$11,850........$10,650
Est. Retail....$14,550.......$13,300........$12,000

sSo I'm starting at the high end of retail because I must have $7,000 worth of mods into this thing! EASILY! The Navigation alone was $1600. Lift, tires, locker, skids. The ARB was $1700 installed with painting.

And don't forget the Mag Light!!!

AdamIsAdam · **Posted:** Thu Jun 14, 2007 9:22 pm

No offense taken. I hear ya. And what a dealer would offer is more than a joke. They don't want mods.

So I'm looking for the niche market for sure!

As for a Patriot, no way! If I ever get another Jeep, it will be a Wrangler. Maybe a new JK Rubi Unlimited. Maybe an older TJ. I do love the comfort of the KJ when wheeling. But those Wranglers, well, the doors come off! :lol:

Cacher123 · **Posted:** Thu Jun 14, 2007 9:51 pm

Give ya $250 for the ARB! :wink:

myjeepwalks · **Posted:** Thu Jun 14, 2007 9:52 pm

AdamIsAdam wrote:

Really? That's what Edmund's gave as a fair price for "excellent" condition. I figure excellent and all my mods kind of match up. What do you think it's worth and where do you base your opinion from?

Iv learned Edmunds is about useless when it comes to pricing cars. When i traded my lexus in for my kj I told the dealer trade in was $17k they told me to go sell it to edmunds then because there is no way they're gonna give me $17k for the car. At the time Edmunds said retail on it was like $22k wtf.

Mods to the vehicle add absolutely nothing to the value of a vehicle in the eyes of the used car dept. To us here at LOST yeah, but like davekj02 said you have a limited amount of buyers looking for a modded kj.

Those auction prices you had where probably dealers selling them at auctions i can guarantee they paid $3-5K less on each trade in than what they sold for at the auctions. Either way you're gonna have to eat several thousand dollars if you get rid of it. I thought of getting rid of mine a couple times but there is nothing else out there that i want in my price range. Plus i'm sure i owe more than its worth.

If you want to recoupe some of your money return the kj back to stock as much as possible and sell all your mods here.

AdamIsAdam · **Posted:** Thu Jun 14, 2007 9:58 pm

Keep in mind that those auction prices are what dealers are paying, so that they can turn around and sell those cars on their lots. So yes, trade-in must be lower than those prices by a few bucks (it ranges). And then retail is obviously more.

I won't return it to stock. I'll either drop the price or just keep it and enjoy it. My kids, and even my WIFE JUST TOLD ME she likes it.

So if/when the rare person comes along that wants a well done KJ, we can talk. If not, I'll keep on trucking!

Like I said, it's great for skiing as well as off roading.

AdamIsAdam · **Posted:** Thu Jun 14, 2007 9:59 pm

Heck, I'll use it to two my LeMans to the track! :lol:

myjeepwalks · **Posted:** Thu Jun 14, 2007 10:04 pm

AdamIsAdam wrote:

Keep in mind that those auction prices are what dealers are paying, so that they can turn around and sell those cars on their lots. So yes, trade-in must be lower than those prices by a few bucks (it ranges). And then retail is obviously more.

I won't return it to stock. I'll either drop the price or just keep it and enjoy it. My kids, and even my WIFE JUST TOLD ME she likes it.

So if/when the rare person comes along that wants a well done KJ, we can talk. If not, I'll keep on trucking!

Like I said, it's great for skiing as well as off roading.

I got ya i mis understood the auction part. Anyway yeah if you find a buyer willing to give you what you want; sell it. If not keep it.

I'm gonna keep mine till it rusts apart, then i'm gonna weld it back together. :lol:

Can't wait till it's paid off. I hate car payments, it's hogging up my motorcycle fund.

RQuarte · **Posted:** Thu Jun 14, 2007 10:30 pm

Off-roading on LI? Come on theres plenty of places, not always legal but hey its wheeling. come with me and ill show ya around hehehe. :lol:

AdamIsAdam · **Posted:** Thu Jun 14, 2007 10:36 pm

Well, when you wind up in D11 in Central Islip District Court, you can call my wife. Seriously. She's a former Suffolk ADA and handles all forms of criminal law, as well as tickets, etc. :evil:

Law Office of Renee Pardo Rosenfeld, P.C.
631-277-2200

Should I sell or should I not?

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