I’ve been going back and forth on this for over a week now, and I can’t decide, so I guess I’ll break down and ask the Dopers.
I’ve got the opportunity to buy a 1984 Jeep CJ7 that needs some work. It’s an automatic with 80k on the odometer. The seller says it runs fine but starts hart and the engine and transmission are in great shape. It also comes with a working plow and it’s a hardtop.
Right now, it’s all disassembled for bodywork (the lights, interior, and gas tank have been removed but are included in the sale) and the seller has started some of the bodywork but lost interest and wants to clean out his garage.
It is completely within my scope of abilities to make it road-worthy, that’s not the issue. Nor is the price: he’s down to $700 for it right now, and the money is not an issue for me. Mainly, it’s the time. I already have another CJ7 (a 79) so I am well versed in working on them.
But, do I take on another project? I already have a Maxx amphibious to work on, and a pontoon boat to finish this spring. I just don’t want to end up with too many projects and not enough time to work on them. But, for the price, I could just buy it and re-sell it further down the line without a loss. I probably wouldn’t be doing much work on it this winter so it would sit on a trailer till I have the time to take it on.
I just don’t want to stretch myself too thin, and I’m thinking I may if I purchase it. OTOH, my son (who’s 9) would have fun working on it with me – he loved playing around with the other Jeep we currently own.
Thoughts? I could just stuff it out back till I have time or ambition to work on it. But I don’t want to end up with a yard full of future ambition, either
If you’ve got the cash and the space to let it sit on the trailer, get it. $700 is too cheap to worry too much over something you think might give you many hours of enjoyment in years to come.
And, as you said, should you decide against working on it, you could flip it for little or no loss.
I had an '84 CJ7 soft top. Great fun to drive on short hops. Sucks on the highway of course. I did have problems with the rear hubs/bearings and axles. But for $700 w/plow? Sounds like a deal to me.
(too bad it’s an automatic though, that might be a deal breaker for me).
OTOH, automatics are better for plowing. Are you going to plow a bunch with it?
Here I’ll give you a little advice my brother bought a Scrambler a few years back from this guy and never regretted it. Check out some of the jeeps on his site and see some of his projects, beautiful is the only word I can find for what he’s got.
I already have a standard (the 79 CJ7), so I wouldn’t be missing out on much. I already have a plow vehicle (03 Chevy 2500HD with a Fisher 8 1/2’ Xblade for the curious), so this would just be another fun thing for the summer and a backup plow.
Oh, and you’re right about the highway. However, driving my current Jeep on the highway has taught me to slow down. A three speed standard is just not designed to do 75. So, I generally cruise along at 60 and let people pass me by. As long as I’m not creating a traffic jam, I don’t mind it at all.
Never hurts to have a back up. I’m currently scrambling about trying to get new tires on my plow truck. Got a flat on Christmas. Need 4 new tires really, and I’d rather not drive it on the road if I can avoid it.
I bought my tires on Ebay. Aggressive Goodyear puncture resistant 10 ply tires. Good deal, for my truck it was $440 for the 4, delivered (course then had to mount and balance them).
I am leaning towards buying the Jeep. I just don’t get why I’m so wishy washy about it.
1.) Get it.
2.) Sell it to me for $100.
3.) (something)
4.) Profit!
Actually, I would say go for it. My son is about 6 months old and I’m already talking about finding a car to work on for me (because my car is dying) and then talked with my wife about finding one for him to work on when he is older.
Just having the back-yard full of beautiful vehicle may be more than enough to persuade yourself to work on it.
Shipping costs to Ohio from Maine would negate any benefit and saving you’d have.
However the 3.) (something) could be charging you, say 3k for to have it shipped. That would allow 4.) for me
I just don’t understand why that something is causing me to be wary. I’m guessing it has more to do with the work ahead of me should I buy it and somehow get in over my head (doubtful, I’m well aware of my mechanical abilities). But even if it came to that, I could sell it.
From the outside looking in, it’s a win-win. So why am I so squirrelly about it? I’m not normally this wishy-washy.
UPDATE: He just emailed me to say that it’s still up for sale (another guy who was going to look at it couldn’t come up with the $$$ due to Xmas) and he just bought a brand new battery for it today. I think I may just give in and get it. I’m still undecided. I guess it’s just the holiday blues.
If you won’t buy it… I will. I don’t how… but I can get creative. LOL
You over think to much. You are to busy doing all these things for other people (me included) that it is time you do something for yourself. Take the plunge.
As an investment: If it’s presentable when you’re done with it you’ll have easily a $5-7,000 vehicle. And with this species, the value isn’t likely to go down.
