good deal on FSJ? not dial-up friendly!

[rockcandy]

I have come to you guys before and you have helped steer me away from bad choices, so I need your help once again. I have been looking for a FSJ for a while... I found one I like and it seems like a good deal. I was delivering parts to a shop today and noticed a Golden Eagle Cherokee tucked away in the corner. The owner of the shop didn't know anything about it as it is his daughters fiances brother or something like that. I am going to meet up with the owner sometime this weekend to drive it but I took lots of pics to show you. What do you think I should offer? He is asking $1000obo. It has a 360, auto tranny, quadratrac(I think), factory ac(not sure if it works though), interior is decent, and brand new 33" BFG at's. The only rust on the thing is the passenger rear lower flare(see pic) and on the damaged portion of the driver rear above the taillight. There is no rust in the fenderwells. I have pics of that too, but I figured I have taken enough space. If you want to see those too, I will post them. I don't think it is in the paper or anything and he doesn't seem to be in any real hurry to sell it....lets see if I can get pics to work...
http://www.angelfire.com/az3/cherokee/images/possiblebuy/sideshot
http://www.angelfire.com/az3/cherokee/images/possiblebuy/rearview
http://www.angelfire.com/az3/cherokee/images/possiblebuy/driverrearinnerfender
http://www.angelfire.com/az3/cherokee/images/possiblebuy/engine

http://www.angelfire.com/az3/cherokee/images/possiblebuy/rearaxle
http://www.angelfire.com/az3/cherokee/images/possiblebuy/rustyflare
http://www.angelfire.com/az3/cherokee/images/possiblebuy/tcase http://www.angelfire.com/az3/cherokee/images/possiblebuy/worstdamage

[Johnny Eskimo]

looks somewhat clean. id see if you can talk him down a bit, but might be a steal.

[woodybeone]

I'd take off 500 just for those stupid stickers and barrel locks on the gate. Looks like they had a "lock/security bar" attached to it at one time.
Honestly.. I would get in start it up look for plumes of smoke from the exhaust, listen for bad engine noises. Take it for a ride and check the 4WD.
Depending, I would offer somewhere between 500 & 700.

[6foot4 again]

5 c-notes MAX

[m4]

To fix the rear tail gate might be more work than you think

[Bobbo]

I would wait out the seller till he at least drops the price to 700. I picked up my 78 with a 401 for 175, and the body is in better shape. My qt just needed a new chain, now its good to go.

[rockcandy]

jeez man...maybe it is a different world for the FSJ market, but you can't get a piece of junk in Az that will even run for $5-700. Maybe I am too used to the prices of swb jeeps, but the guy probably just spent about $500 on tires alone. I know I don't want to spend any more than I have to it on the initial purchase, bt come on...I would feel bad for giving the guy $5-700 for it. Call me dumb I suppose, but I know if I ever felt like it I could part it out for more than that easy. I will drive it and see how it runs...then I will see if I want to get it...thanks for the input. Oh yea, about the tailgate...it probably won't stay on for long. This will be a trail rig so I will be ditching a few things from the start, the tailgate being one of em ;)

[DerekTJeep]

Don't feel bad about low-balling the seller. I did negotiate about 49% off what the dealer was asking on my '92 Volvo 740 Turbo wagon. You have to be willing to make the best deal even if it is low balling the seller.

Derek

[Joe Guilbeau]

Don't go over $800 dollars, I bought mine for $1300 dollars and NO sheetmetal damage, NO odd added on tailgates with funky latches, MUCH better engine compartment, all electric, everything pretty much worked, NO bent luggage rack...

Buy the vehicle, don't pay $1000 dollars though, and if the previous owners had put 1/10 of the products that the stickers indicate, tell him you will pay the entire $1000 dollars.

[Gwamp]

I paid $800 for my 75 and it was in a bit better condition than that. offer $600 and go from there. Don't be afraid to dicker or come back next week after it has sat there and they have had time to think about your generous offer vs. the rusty hulk squatting in there like a giant smelly toad! :D

[Chero77]

Kind of hard to say exactly what its worth, but I would'nt sweat over whether you pay $600 or $800 or even $1000 because you are going to have to spend $4000-$8000 on it to get it in good enough shape to be really useful. By useful, I mean getting it to the point where you can jump in and drive for 1000 miles and be reasonably certain of getting there.

[79_Limited]

Chero 77 is right. Plan to bend over and get get ready to spend some $$$ on that thing. Just curious. Why were you so defensive about the groups reply to your question? You did ask what to offer correct? This is just my opinion but somone who puts all of those stckers on the truck (especially the Pantera sticker) has no respect for the vehicle so it is probably safe to assume that the truck is dogged out. I would be surprised if the oil has been changed in the past year by the looks of the motor.

I can tell you from experience. My Wagon I am in the process of restoring has had more things not working than working. I would offer about $600 and start from there.

[Panoscopic]

I'd say $500 max if it runs good. It looks really rough, but would be OK for a trail rig.

[letank]

Is it an original AZ jeep.... just checking the rust factor.... and the pict don't show on the mac.... lift the carpet to see any water damages on the corners by the fender wells

driving 35 mph.... put the trany in 2nd gear.... and do not expect a loud bang..... or you can deduct another $500

Michel

[rockcandy]

well, I got it...it actually runs just fine. Engine sounds ok, t-case shifts in and out smooth, tranny shifts fine and I wanted it. I am tired of looking and honestly my time is worth more to me than money. I might have paid more than some of you would but +/-100 or 200 on the initial purchase really makes no difference in the end. I didn't want to haggle. I wanted to take it and be on my merry way. It won't matter when I get it pretty much how I want it and I say "hmmm...I have spent $8500 on it so far, but gosh darnit, I could have talked him down and I would only have $8300 into it..." Sorry if I got on the defense, I didn't mean to come off that way.

[rockcandy]

by the way...I am glad to be a member of the FSJ family now! No, it is not an original AZ Jeep. It is from Tx. I will post some pics after I give it some TLC:)

[imported_Big Red]

Dude, do what you want. I am with you on the anything drivable $5-700. It is not a bad looking rig! If you want a trail rig I would look for something a little ruffer and it will be cheaper. Plus I hate to see a W/T Golden Eagle get cut up!!

[rockcandy]

I had a change of plans for the rig. I was debating on using it as "trail only" rig or dual purpose. Now that I have it I decided I am not going to cut the body up. I think I am going to go the resto route like Big Red only using decals from this company http://www.goldeneagledecals.com/golden.html to re-create the original look. The plans are now, front spring over w/hi steer, shackle flip, 35-37" tires, gears, ARB front, and detroit locked dana 60, body resto, interior resto, and a t-case swap of some sort...longer term plans are to get a ram jet engine bolted in...yee haaaa!