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Question: What questions to ask when buying a used 2 door jeep wrangler?

(Posted by: Alexandra on 2010-07-26 14:16:07)

I don't know a lot about cars but I am interested in buying a used Jeep Wrangler. I have recently found one and its a 2005 Rubicon. It seems to be a good deal, $10, 000 and only 55, 000 miles. It comes with Car- fax and it has not been in an accident, its automatic and has A/ C and front and rear air lockers. And a 4 to 1 low range transfer case also. What other important questions should I ask the person selling it?? What else do I need to know about the car before considering buying this 2 door Jeep.

Posted by: T DEE on 2010-07-26, 14:34:10

Well probably the first question you need to ask is what kind of Jeep do you need? Are you going to be doing a lot of serious off-roading?? If so, what kind? Rock crawling, mudding, messing around in the sand dunes, etc... If not, what will the Jeep be used for? The Rubicon is the most off-road capable Jeep they make. For that reason it is also the most expensive. If you aren't going to be off-roading a lot, then there really is no need to pay the premium for the Rubicon. A cheaper trim level would be just as nice. One question I would ask is how often the Jeep was taken off-road. I would inspect the undercarriage for damage to the skid plates to verify the information that the owner gives you. An 05 for 10 grand seems very cheap to me... So it might be a good idea to take it to a mechanic and get it checked out before you buy. Also check the tread on the tires. It's possible that it needs new tires and that'll be another thousand to two thousand dollars probably. Depending on the make and model of tire that you get. You'll also want to know about any aftermarket parts that have been added. And who installed them. Also, depending on your needs/ wants it may not be a good idea to get one particular vehicle because of the parts that have been added or taken away. You may find that you want to remove, or add something later on, and you'll spend more money by starting with something that is already built in a way you don't want, than if you just found one that was stock and built it from the ground up the first time. That's a very long-winded answer. Best way to do it would be to figure out exactly what you would use the vehicle for, and then pick the proper Jeep to suit your needs. It'll keep you from spending extra money on something that you don't need. You can also check out jeepforum.com for a lot of information regarding any question that you could possibly ask.

Posted by: Rod Knocker on 2010-07-26, 14:38:03

The Rubicon is a great Jeep! Rather than asking questions, crawl under the Jeep and see how it looks. Make sure the frame and skid plates are not all scratched up from trails. Look for oil leaks and trail rash on the suspension components too. Ask if the transmission has ever been serviced along with the differentials.

Posted by: Bob G on 2010-07-26, 15:02:41

Pretty much echo the previous two responses. The battle scars on the skid plates are an indication of how the previous user drove the Jeep rather than something that needs to be fixed. They tell you how much of an overall beating the vehicle has taken. Plus you don't want differentials that leak (those are slightly exposed and can take some damage). If you like off-roading, the Rubicon is a great vehicle and you'll be very lucky if you happen to be buying one that was bought for appearance and status and hasn't been taken off-road. Even light off-roading is fine. Just keep in mind that there's a good chance the previous owner bought a Rubicon because he was interested in serious off-roading and the Jeep might have taken a lot more wear than the miles indicate. In fact, check the tires, too. If it happened to be a macho grocery getter, there's a chance the previous owner would replace the off-road tires with longer lasting highway tires. That would mean an immediate investment of at least $800 to a $1000 right off the bat, but would also be an indication the Jeep hasn't been taking a beating on any rugged off-road trails. I love my Jeep and have the scars on the skid plates and slider bars to prove it. But the important parts are still in excellent shape.

Posted by: Juan on 2010-07-26, 15:33:06

Dont buy a jeep if your not going offroading.. save it for someone whos going to use it..