Hey everyone! I'm new to this forum but was hoping to get some insight on a jeep I'm considering.
I've been looking for a car for the past couple of weeks and I originally looked for a small car but stumbled upon a jeep and fell in love! I'm really short so being high up is amazing for me (but I don't want a large truck).
I found a 2002 Jeep Liberty with 212,000km on it for sale a couple of weeks back and have been speaking to the owner ever since. I test drove it yesterday and was so excited about it.... until a friend told me some things that I am now very concerned about. I'm putting it out there that I know nothing about cars and so had to do my research for things to look for when I went for the test drive. Here are some things I'm worried about...
1. I started the car and it sounded fine but when I put it in reverse, it ******. I wanted to drive around for a bit to test the breaks before I went around town. When I put the car in drive, it ****** again. After I drove it for about 20 minutes, I put it in revers, park, etc. and it didn't jerk anymore. The jeep has been sitting in an underground parking garage since August (the owner got a newer jeep) so I was wondering if that might have been the issue or if there is something more serious going on?
2. There was rust on the bottom right of the driver's side door. It wasn't a big spot but I've been told that once jeeps start to rust, I'm going to have a hole in the door within 2 years. The thought terrifies me! There's also some rust on the windshield wiper arms (not on the wipers themselves) and around the top of the trunk but on the inside... so if I opened the door and lifted the window, the area where the window attaches to the car is where the rust is. Is this easy/possible to fix and how much would that cost?
3. I know jeeps are terrible on gas but... how bad are they actually? I was told (by someone who has never had a Jeep :emotions34
that I'm going to have to pay $120 to fill up the tank and it will only last me about 4 days. Is this true? I live in Ontario so I know it depends on the gas prices but I would like to know an average.
4. The owner told me that when the engine is cold, the oil pressure light comes on but she gave the car to her mechanic for a week so he could drive it and do tests, but found nothing wrong. The light didn't come on when I test drove it.
The owner replaced:
- Breaks in November 2013
- Rotors, coolant tank, and the radiator in November 2013
- The battery last winter
- Headlights last summer
- She also got the breaks cleaned this past summer, put new windshield wipers on, and said she had the spare tire checked around that time as well (it has never been used).
Now, I'm not looking for a car that will last forever but I do want one that will give me at least 2 years without getting any work done on it (other than the usual maintenance, of course). I'm in a pickle because I keep thinking if I get a jeep that old and spend $120 refilling it every 4 days, I might as well get a more expensive car that's newer and not as bad on gas. But, again, I don't know much about jeeps (or cars for that matter) and I will be taking the car to a mechanic before I purchase it, but I also wanted to hear what you guys had to say, having as much experience with jeeps as you all do! Any jeep pros and cons would also be much appreciated!
PS they're selling it for $2,600 and I would have to do the safety on it myself but the e-test is still valid. A friend told me it's not worth more than $2,200 but I have my doubts.
Thank you so much in advance!!
I've been looking for a car for the past couple of weeks and I originally looked for a small car but stumbled upon a jeep and fell in love! I'm really short so being high up is amazing for me (but I don't want a large truck).
I found a 2002 Jeep Liberty with 212,000km on it for sale a couple of weeks back and have been speaking to the owner ever since. I test drove it yesterday and was so excited about it.... until a friend told me some things that I am now very concerned about. I'm putting it out there that I know nothing about cars and so had to do my research for things to look for when I went for the test drive. Here are some things I'm worried about...
1. I started the car and it sounded fine but when I put it in reverse, it ******. I wanted to drive around for a bit to test the breaks before I went around town. When I put the car in drive, it ****** again. After I drove it for about 20 minutes, I put it in revers, park, etc. and it didn't jerk anymore. The jeep has been sitting in an underground parking garage since August (the owner got a newer jeep) so I was wondering if that might have been the issue or if there is something more serious going on?
2. There was rust on the bottom right of the driver's side door. It wasn't a big spot but I've been told that once jeeps start to rust, I'm going to have a hole in the door within 2 years. The thought terrifies me! There's also some rust on the windshield wiper arms (not on the wipers themselves) and around the top of the trunk but on the inside... so if I opened the door and lifted the window, the area where the window attaches to the car is where the rust is. Is this easy/possible to fix and how much would that cost?
3. I know jeeps are terrible on gas but... how bad are they actually? I was told (by someone who has never had a Jeep :emotions34
that I'm going to have to pay $120 to fill up the tank and it will only last me about 4 days. Is this true? I live in Ontario so I know it depends on the gas prices but I would like to know an average.4. The owner told me that when the engine is cold, the oil pressure light comes on but she gave the car to her mechanic for a week so he could drive it and do tests, but found nothing wrong. The light didn't come on when I test drove it.
The owner replaced:
- Breaks in November 2013
- Rotors, coolant tank, and the radiator in November 2013
- The battery last winter
- Headlights last summer
- She also got the breaks cleaned this past summer, put new windshield wipers on, and said she had the spare tire checked around that time as well (it has never been used).
Now, I'm not looking for a car that will last forever but I do want one that will give me at least 2 years without getting any work done on it (other than the usual maintenance, of course). I'm in a pickle because I keep thinking if I get a jeep that old and spend $120 refilling it every 4 days, I might as well get a more expensive car that's newer and not as bad on gas. But, again, I don't know much about jeeps (or cars for that matter) and I will be taking the car to a mechanic before I purchase it, but I also wanted to hear what you guys had to say, having as much experience with jeeps as you all do! Any jeep pros and cons would also be much appreciated!
PS they're selling it for $2,600 and I would have to do the safety on it myself but the e-test is still valid. A friend told me it's not worth more than $2,200 but I have my doubts.
Thank you so much in advance!!
