how much is this rubicon worth?

[dmille4.6]

I have a 99 TJ but have found a Rubicon in my area with a salvage title. The jeep has already been repaired but needs to be painted. It has a full cage including tube fenders that connect all the way around to the bumpers. It has a warn winch and i think a Rubicon Express 5 in long arm lift with 35s. It is a 03 with only 35k miles on it. Would I be stupid not to buy it for $8500. I think so but just wanted to get some more input from some jeep guys.

 

[SteelHeadz]

$8,500.00 for a loaded rubicon is a great deal but a salvage title raises some questions. How did it end up with a salvage title?. Check it very carefully before you jump into a jeep that might roll sideways on you down the street. Find out what parts has been replaced and this will probbably give you an idea what happened to it. Check the frame front to rear for repairs and look at the tub and body from the bottom and see if the sheet metal is all crumpled up but smooth on the outside(Bondo). Good luck.

 

[dmille4.6]

it was rolled over . he replaced the hood windshield and top. here is a pic

 

[SteelHeadz]

Have you driven it?. Dang that looks good, just be careful, looks could be deceiving.

 

[dmille4.6]

im going to drive it today. he says its not real road worthy. the suspension is real soft. thats prob normal for a long arm though right? maybe swaybars disconnected? i dont know much but i think he knows less. hes not real familiar with the 4x4 parts.

 

[jps4jeep]

other than the ugly tube work, I say buy it.

 

[dmille4.6]

yeah im not crazy on the tube work but serves a purpose i guess

 

[Utah_jeepster]

A long arm kit should not drive 'soft'. It should drive like it has no lift. but that could be his shock selection for the lift.
Roll overs typically twist the frame. You might have some axle tube bending from the roll over, as well as, and track bar mount bending.
A good clue would be how well the rear axle tracks behind the jeep. As if it appears that the jeep is slightly twisted driving down the road, i.e. if the back end it shifted several inches to the left or right as you drive straight.

 

[dmille4.6]

yeah it did drive real bad so i passed on it. he also said a customer broke one of the axle shafts sat and pulled it out of the hub. felt like it was lifted to the moon and swayed real bad. i believe im gonna let someone else deal with it.

 

[ericw13]

do you have any pictures to show this jeep before the repairs? i like looking at the before shots much more than the after shots