The Joy of Buying Used - Part 2 - Mileage

[pepeborja]

This question is a follow up to my original post about pricing practices early this year.

The goal (once again) is to find an early truck in Rubicon trim with all the bells and whistles. A truck that sported a window sticker with an MSRP over $60K, which with inflation is probably at 70 Kilos by now.

The Jeep must have a clean carfax, had a single owner (preferably a lease), and has service history of regular maintenance. I am looking for a regular Yoga pant wearing Suburban Mom that leased the Jeep Beast as a daily driver.

I have located 4 candidates and all have miles in the 50K to 65K range. All the paper and pedigree looks good and if they were Toyotas I would not have too many Qs, but them being Jeeps a guy has to ask.... How many miles is too many miles when buying a used Jeep Gladiator?

So for those owners that have racked some mileage, I ask. How many miles is too many miles when shopping for a used Jeep truck? Say a buddy where looking for a Gladiator, would you tell him to stay away from used Gladiators with 50K or 60K miles?

I know is a loaded question but can we really use mileage alone as a simple yardstick to place a Jeep truck in the candidate list?

My reasoning is that mileage on used vehicles is not a disqualifying factor if the vehicle has a good history and shows well.

But does that reasoning hold water with Jeep's 3.6L/Auto trans/electronics combo? Is it a gamble? How do you mitigate it? Which kind of Extended Warranty can help?

PS. Please no advice over new vs used with rebates etc. Let's focus on the question. Gracias.

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[Stetson]

I have bought a lot of used vehicles over the years, some good, some not so good. It’s not the mileage that will get you, it’s how the previous owner treated the vehicle.

the wild card is the maintenance and the day to day treatment. You just don’t know what the previous owner did. A vehicle with 50k hard miles, lots of off road, towing a trailer and things like that vs the same mileage mainly on highway. Two totally different levels of use.

at some point you just need to like what you like and go ahead and pull the trigger knowing you may have some maintenance to do.

I would stay away from extended warranties. It’s just pre-paying for repairs you may or may not do. You are better off just paying for the repairs you need as you go from a reputable independent shop.

my 2 cents…
Stetson

 

[Hootbro]

PS. Please no advice over new vs used with rebates etc.

That is a hard reality to ignore. Once you factor in paying for an extended warranty for a used vehicle, that Delta shrinks considerably.

 

[CampThree]

I bought my 2022 Mojave used from a dealer with 7600 miles. The dealer called it a certified pre owned and it came with a full warranty minus time elapsed. I've been a life long Harley rider and I look at Jeeps the same way I look at bikes. It's all about the previous owner and did he abuse the hell out of it and neglect routine maintenance. It's a gamble either way but if you can research or even contact the previous owner sometimes that can calm the anxiety.

 

[howeitsdone]

These should hit 200k easily with proper maintenance.

That is a hard reality to ignore. Once you factor in paying for an extended warranty for a used vehicle, that Delta shrinks considerably.

A 60mo/100k extended warranty at 60k miles might cost $2,500. I don't even think that still touches a new JT price. Used prices are great right now and the OP could easily be looking at $38k-$41k vs $55k-58k for a new one. I'd say an extended warranty doesn't cover much of that gap.

 

[DailyMoparGuy]

If you can snag one around 30k USD then I don’t see the issue with the higher mileage. I wouldnt go spending 42k on a high mileage Rubicon though.

Anyways, I doubt that you’ll have engine issues with the 3.6L. I would check the following on each candidate vehicle you shop:

1) Out of rhythm engine tick at idle - I don’t know how to listen for this but apparently there’s a sound bad lifters make

2) Axle shaft seal leaks - crawl under the rear axle and check for leaks along the axle with a flashlight. Shouldn’t be any wet spots

3) Brakes - check the brake life and ask if the salesman has any records of the brake replacement. Just one less thing that’s easy to verify and won’t cost you money

4) Drive it hard - feel the shifts, both up and down…is it down/up shifting roughly or jerking?

5) Highway performance- do not buy one without driving it at highway speeds. Hit bumps, take curves at speed, pass, etc.

All in all, we don’t know. Nobody on this forum knows unless they’ve bought multiple used JTs and can share their experience.

If you’re locked in on a high mileage used one, then go for it. You said no conversation about new vs used, so I won’t bother there.

 

[Jeeperjamie]

That's the mileage on mine in the video as I type. Haven't had any issues out of mine. I'd pay $40,000 for a Rubicon with 50,000 miles or less on it no problem if it was a one owner and had service records. I've had all my oil changed and service work done at the dealership and I bought new.

 

[sharpsicle]

Acceptable miles is directly related to the asking price. So it's hard to say "yes it's worth buying" or "no stay away" without having a price to go with it, and a model year. Those aren't high miles if it's a 2020. A 2021, a bit higher than expected, but still not unreasonable.

Add this to everyone else's response and one thing is clear: Context is crucial to answer your question.

50k or 60k by itself by no means signals a "bad truck". If it's priced right and was maintained well, then you've got more to talk about and consider.

 

[Hootbro]

A 60mo/100k extended warranty at 60k miles might cost $2,500. I don't even think that still touches a new JT price. Used prices are great right now and the OP could easily be looking at $38k-$41k vs $55k-58k for a new one. I'd say an extended warranty doesn't cover much of that gap.

People are picking up new 2023 Rubicon Gladiators with $60K MSRP in the $48K range now.

The problem with buying used even with an extended warranty, is that if you have to use that extended warranty, the buyer if asked, still has to prove "all" maintenance was done up to that point and not just from point when the buyer bought it used. Unless the dealership has records of the vehicle with the prior owner, there is still risk of the used buyer being stuck with high cost bill.

Another thing about buying used at let's say your 60K mile example, there is quite possibly major servicing that is coming due like brakes, tires and major servicing fluids like the diff, transfer case and the transmission.

I am not against used, but that price point of entry has to be low enough to offset the possible costs previously mentioned. That may be there for a used Sport or Willys model but is not so much there for a used Rubicon or Mojave model.

 

[MattKay]

I just got a used JTR with 80k it was a great price. But more importantly it had all the services recorded by carfax. All oil and all fluid changes. No notes about engine noises or suspension issues. In the past I have gone one step further and called the service centers listed on the carfax to have them look up detailed history in their system. Then you literally know everything about the car.

 

[aceinfinity]

This question is a follow up to my original post about pricing practices early this year.

The goal (once again) is to find an early truck in Rubicon trim with all the bells and whistles. A truck that sported a window sticker with an MSRP over $60K, which with inflation is probably at 70 Kilos by now.

The Jeep must have a clean carfax, had a single owner (preferably a lease), and has service history of regular maintenance. I am looking for a regular Yoga pant wearing Suburban Mom that leased the Jeep Beast as a daily driver.

I have located 4 candidates and all have miles in the 50K to 65K range. All the paper and pedigree looks good and if they were Toyotas I would not have too many Qs, but them being Jeeps a guy has to ask.... How many miles is too many miles when buying a used Jeep Gladiator?

So for those owners that have racked some mileage, I ask. How many miles is too many miles when shopping for a used Jeep truck? Say a buddy where looking for a Gladiator, would you tell him to stay away from used Gladiators with 50K or 60K miles?

I know is a loaded question but can we really use mileage alone as a simple yardstick to place a Jeep truck in the candidate list?

My reasoning is that mileage on used vehicles is not a disqualifying factor if the vehicle has a good history and shows well.

But does that reasoning hold water with Jeep's 3.6L/Auto trans/electronics combo? Is it a gamble? How do you mitigate it? Which kind of Extended Warranty can help?

PS. Please no advice over new vs used with rebates etc. Let's focus on the question. Gracias.

Let’s put it this way. I traded a gladiator in to the dealer that out 2 engines in it and it still was having it issues. They apologized they couldn’t get it right and offered me to get a new one. They put it in the lot for sale the next day and by the next weekend it was sold. It only had 20,000 miles on it.

 

[Zachanadandy]

These should hit 200k easily with proper maintenance.




A 60mo/100k extended warranty at 60k miles might cost $2,500. I don't even think that still touches a new JT price. Used prices are great right now and the OP could easily be looking at $38k-$41k vs $55k-58k for a new one. I'd say an extended warranty doesn't cover much of that gap.

I agree...if the delta is that large. I picked up my '23 mojave 3 weeks ago, pretty loaded, msrp $65k, for $52k with lifetime powertrain warranty included. A local dealer had a similar used '22 with 35k miles and was asking $49k. If he's picking up a used one in the $30k range I say go for it. Low to mid 40's I'd just buy new. Also another factor if financing, used car rates are typically 2-3% higher than new which is substantial. Even if you argue the lifespan of the vehicle is 150k miles, which we all know many of the parts tires/brakes/tie rods etc. Are much less Thacker that, it is 33-40% used up at that mileage. 33% off the $52k I just paid is $34k. Used isn't saving anything above that price.

 

[Alan SOBX]

Mileage is always a consideration as is maintenance. I haven't seen location mentioned—salt being the main concern. Up north with salted roads? Tough to rinse it if the temperature is below freezing. I live at the beach so I had to figure both driving on the beach and salt spray if parked outdoors near the ocean on a typical summer day with the prevailing wind coming off the ocean. With the uncertainty and with the thought that Jeeps don’t typically depreciate a ton, I went with new. Took worry out and I had an undercoat sprayed on. (I realized I went new vs used and you asked us not to. Mileage just was down my list behind location. I lived near Bucks County for 8 total years. Salt on roads but not too bad. Maintenance records don’t include car wash receipts though.)

 

[MattKay]

That’s a good point. Buy used in southern states. Lol!

 

[Deleted member 57233]

So for those owners that have racked some mileage, I ask. How many miles is too many miles when shopping for a used Jeep truck? Say a buddy where looking for a Gladiator, would you tell him to stay away from used Gladiators with 50K or 60K miles?

My problem is my 2018 car only has 30k miles on the clock. So anything used that I look at with more than that seems like I'm going in the wrong direction. I'm hoping for a used diesel with 10k-20k max, or waiting for the 4xe and buying new.

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