KJ Gone To Clunkerville

[valvestem]

Well guys, after five years with a KJ, and 8 before that with a Cherokee, I've gone Subaru Forester. My wife the boss, said she wanted to get some clunker money, I miss my Jeep already and it's only been a few hours. I always liked the comraderie here on KJ Country and enjoyed helping out where I could, and in return learned a lot more about my Jeep than I could anywhere else.

I'll stop in now and then to say HI.

valvestem

 

[RenegadeJay]

no ****, the KJ was on the clunker list?

 

[valvestem]

no ****, the KJ was on the clunker list?

Yup, 2003.

 

[flair1111]

but how much are you really saving? was the kj worth less than $4500 and adding more debt?

 

[Powerslave]

I have seen all kinds of models being traded in as a Clunker, which is anything that gets 16 MPG or lower. These jeeps qualify, because of their low gas mileage.

 

[bmrrwolfe]

Around here an 03 KJ would not sell for less then 6 or 7K???
Im surprised and saddened...

 

[tjkj2002]

Yeah you got ripped,a '03 KJ is worth more then then $4500.I don't know about your KJ's but mine doesn't qualify for that program if I actually drive 50/50(city/highway) I'd be at about 19-20mpg's real world driving(drive it like you stole it).2-3mpg's more and 5 more years of car payments is not worth it.

 

[ChiefRudy]

My Fiancee's 02 KJ with 120k Milage Goes for 6k trade-in in my area and retail is 8K-10k.

Sorry to hear about your KJ though. The sad thing too is the dealer is really gonna destroy a perfectly good engine.

 

[tjkj2002]

Sorry to hear about your KJ though. The sad thing too is the dealer is really gonna destroy a perfectly good engine.

But more good used parts will be available,well everything but the engine.

 

[ChiefRudy]

But more good used parts will be available,well everything but the engine.

True True.

I'm still waiting to see a KJ in my Junk Yards and hope to god it has some skids .

 

[Prospect62]

I just found out mine only books for $4200 max. Black book (what most dealers actually go by) says I can expect anywhere from $2400 - $4200 clean trade-in. Which blows because I owe $8500. If I could get rid of this thing and go buy a pickup tomorrow I would, not because I hate the Jeep but because I need a pickup.

Anyway, good luck with the new ride and don't be a stranger around here!

 

[tjkj2002]

True True.

I'm still waiting to see a KJ in my Junk Yards and hope to god it has some skids .

Yeah the you pull it junkyards here are clearing big sections for those vehicles coming in.There engines are painted green and they already have the signs up that any green engines are not forsale,but everything else is fair game.

 

[jeepzilla]

I was a fan of the cash for clunkers thing until I heard what happens to them once taken in as a "clunker" The seize the motor so it can no longer be used!!! The rest of the parts are sold of to salvage yards an such.. The down fall is that motors like our 3.7 can be costly an hard to find as it is an when they are traded in as a "clunker" they become even more sparse... I can't believe they are getting away with destroying perfectly good motors because they deem them poor mileage vehicles.. I wish we could stop this....

 

[tjkj2002]

I was a fan of the cash for clunkers thing until I heard what happens to them once taken in as a "clunker" The seize the motor so it can no longer be used!!! The rest of the parts are sold of to salvage yards an such.. The down fall is that motors like our 3.7 can be costly an hard to find as it is an when they are traded in as a "clunker" they become even more sparse... I can't believe they are getting away with destroying perfectly good motors because they deem them poor mileage vehicles.. I wish we could stop this....

Sad part is the 3.7's are a very clean running engine,may not get the best mpg's but as far as emission's they hardly put any bad stuff in the atmosphere.

I can only say this about my '02 KJ but I had it emission tested about 2 years ago and they thought there machine was out of calibration(sniffer test) so they asked me to come back the next day after they had there machine calibrated.I came back the next day and got the same result.My KJ was emitting less emissions then a 2007 accord which a certified ULEV vehicle.Then again I maintain my KJ better then 90% of other vehicles.

 

[ThunderbirdJunkie]

All ThunderbirdJunkie can say is thanks for sending his tax dollars overseas during an economic crisis.

 

[tjkj2002]

All ThunderbirdJunkie can say is thanks for sending his tax dollars overseas during an economic crisis.

Maybe not,last I seen about 90% of those claims(after the new vehicle has been sold) have been denied,most of the good claims have yet to be paid.Dealers are eating the $3500-$4500 without much worry due to increased sales.

 

[incommando]

Exactly, TBJ. American tax dollars going to Japan, a country that does not trade with us on a fair playing field.

If there is such a thing as Karma..........................

 

[kb0nly]

Dude you got so ripped off!!!

Please, if anyone on here is thinking about replacing their KJ don't go cash for clunkers, sell it to someone who wants it, and get a little more money for the effort.

$4500 in a tax credit towards your new vehicle, ok thats not terrible, but then your back to car payments, higher insurance, higher registration tax every year, the list goes on and on!!!

I bought mine for $6k and that was the cheapest i could find any year KJ around these parts, a 4x4 in the midwest is worth money. Rusted beater pickups with working four wheel drive go for $1500, i know a few that run used car lots and thats the starting price if the 4x4 works!

So i can't imagine giving up a KJ for $4500 towards a new piece of *** Crap.

For the record i average 23-25mpg in my 03' KJ. A little less with the whole family packed in it, around 19-20mpg. Still not bad considering my neighbor who bought a brand spanking new Chevy Silverado and gets like 17mpg if he is LUCKY...

 

[oddball]

Unbelievable....

That makes no sense what so ever. Just last evening I went to Kelly Blue Book and tried to submit my '02 with 90K on the odometer. The final outcome determined I should trade it in.

 

[kb0nly]

You should hear the junk yards take on this program... And talk to anyone in the steel industry.

I was listening to a representative for the steel industry on talk radio, he said while it might be great for the auto companies now its a trickle down effect. When they start recycling all the steel from these crushed clunkers the steel prices are going to plummet further.

Funny they can call our KJ a clunker due to gas mileage when others are driving around in stuff BRAND NEW that gets worse mileage.