Can you buy a running car for $300 USD?

"PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power" (petarvn)
02/11/2016 at 15:29 • Filed to: None

Uf you’re my friend Dave, yes. Yes you can. This is a 1992 jeep Cherokee Laredo. It’s got an inline 6, a 5 speed stick, functioning 4X4, and two fat subs. This piece of American iron was purchased for $300. And it is magnificent.

Ok, the paint is shit, the windshield is in dire need of a replacement, and it smells like a cat lived in it since 2000, but for $300, we can’t complain! The goal is to turn this in to a reliable daily and Wheeler, but to also flip it down the road

DISCUSSION (35)

Jonee > PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power
02/11/2016 at 15:37

Jeez, if it runs for two weeks you got your money’s worth. How’s rust?

Future next gen S2000 owner > PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power
02/11/2016 at 15:39

Scrap value alone is worth more than that.

Nibby > PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power
02/11/2016 at 15:39

yes

Kinja'd!!!

Urambo Tauro > PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power
02/11/2016 at 15:42

Only five more weeks to get it ready for Moab !

Wacko > Nibby
02/11/2016 at 15:42

i’m sure even the plastic clips on that car are worth more than 300 each

DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully > PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power
02/11/2016 at 15:44

I bought my first Volvo for $200, so yes, it is doable.

Slant6 > PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power
02/11/2016 at 15:44

I love XJs. I was brought home from the hospital when I was born in one. I’d probably own one before I’d own a wrangler. Way more practical and it uses the same drive train and axles.

-this space for rent- > PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power
02/11/2016 at 15:47

My friend bought a wrangler for $500, put new brakes line on it and sold it for $5k a few weeks later.

Needmoargarage > PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power
02/11/2016 at 15:52

Nice score!

Jarrett - [BRZ Boi] > PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power
02/11/2016 at 15:52

I’d be lucky to find a runner for 5 times that amount where I live.

RallyWrench > PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power
02/11/2016 at 16:02

That is a hell of a good score, especially with the stick!

RallyWrench > Nibby
02/11/2016 at 16:02

Why, I found a similar red Beetle just last week!

BigBlock440 > Future next gen S2000 owner
02/11/2016 at 16:08

Not these days. Scrap is way down.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power
02/11/2016 at 16:10

I am unimaginably jealous. Also I want those MTX subs. and the truck. And everything.

Somethin' 'bout a truck > PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power
02/11/2016 at 16:13

Wow. I’m honestly impressed. That’s worth way more here just because of the working 4x4!!

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power
02/11/2016 at 16:13

I’d say that’s an amazing deal.

J_P_Cars10s > Slant6
02/11/2016 at 16:27

Almost... and rear leafs prone to sagging vs. a coil & link setup. I think the front axle was a different model, with a higher pinion than on the Wrangler?

I 100% agree with you. I DD’d a TJ Wrangler (Stock suspension on 31" tires) for 4 years, but have several family members and friends with XJ’s.

By modern standards the XJ is tiny! My ‘14 Outback looks like a beached whale next to one.

JustAnotherG6 > PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power
02/11/2016 at 16:33

I bought a ‘84 320i back in 2000 or so for about the same amount.

Nevermind that the rear brakes didn’t work, the syncros for 2nd were shot, the headlights only worked when the highbeams were on, the interior was destroyed, the heater fan didn’t work, the front end was held together by the bra, there was a hole in the muffler, the odometer stopped working, and I’m trying to think what else was wrong...

Kit 'Haddy' Iwamatsu > PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power
02/11/2016 at 16:37

in 2010 I bought a 1993 Ford Explorer v6 (Older OHV, not SOHC) 4x4 manual XL for 200 bucks, slapped a junkyard alternator and ‘refurb’ battery in it. Got it running, a total of 260 bucks and 2 hours spent.

I drove it the 100 miles home, put it on my lift, and replaced a few worn bushings, welded a crack in the frame, put junkyard springs on it front and rear, and was out a total of 300 bucks. Drove it from Memphis, TN to Seattle, WA. There it got new aggressive tires, a ghetto fab lift, a bit of ‘winterizing’ and drove 2300 miles to Anchorage. It developed a nasty whine in the rear diff in Anchorage, but parts were not available to repair itm nor a junkyard axle that wasnt devastated. We did the best with some new bearings, seals, and premium fluid, and set off for home. Made it to Memphis before the rear end literally gave out in the driveway. We were also towing a 12 foot RV the entire trip! I bolted a junkyard diff under it, and gave it to my younger sibling. They still drive it to this day as their main DD.

Future next gen S2000 owner > BigBlock440
02/11/2016 at 17:34

Seriously? Must be way down.

bryan40oop > PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power
02/11/2016 at 18:10

Why can’t I find deals like this! Been trying to find a cheerokee for a while now because well, the mustang just doesn’t do snow. Everyone I find has been brodozered and they want 50million rubles and my first born child.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power
02/11/2016 at 19:16

Is his last name Tracy, by any chance?

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > Urambo Tauro
02/11/2016 at 20:37

if we had the money, we totally would!

MOOAAAAAAB!

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > Slant6
02/11/2016 at 20:38

awesome cars they are!

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > bryan40oop
02/11/2016 at 20:38

I’ve been trying to find one too.

Guy had it listed for $500.

my friend offered $300 and got it.

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
02/11/2016 at 20:39

it really is dope. the moment I saw it, I offered $450 for it. unfortunately, he's not dumb, so I don't own a jeep still

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > Somethin' 'bout a truck
02/11/2016 at 20:40

yep! 4X4 works great too

shifts real smooth as well, as it has a new clutch apparently!

real steal of a car, and even if it dies we can part it out and make a 200% ROE

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > Jonee
02/11/2016 at 20:40

no rust. not even joking. it's a PNW car, and it really doesn't snow much here. like, I crawled under. it's VERY clean.

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > Jarrett - [BRZ Boi]
02/11/2016 at 20:40

yeah. I’m super jealous

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
02/11/2016 at 20:41

no it isn’t, sorry!

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap
02/11/2016 at 20:41

yep! we’re gonna fix it up and hopefully flip it for $2-3k

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > RallyWrench
02/11/2016 at 20:41

oh yeah! now he's just gotta learn stick! I drove it home for him :P

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > Needmoargarage
02/11/2016 at 20:42

thanks! sure is :)

BigBlock440 > Future next gen S2000 owner
02/11/2016 at 22:20

It is, It’s been dropping for 2 years now. My observation is that it’s been corrolated with the oil prices, but it could just be coincidence. I’ve heard a few theories as to why it’s down, one being that China finally has a domestic scrap market established and isn’t buying much anymore.

911e46z06 > PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power
02/12/2016 at 14:50

I bought a running Subaru for 50 bucks last summer.