Would you put dirty/dented used parts on your new JT?

[PyrPatriot]

So some of us are just starting out in careers and the JT is the first new/nice vehicle bought/financed. As such we cant always buy everything we want at once or even in the condition we want. For those in that situation or who have been there, where do you draw the line on used/takeoffs? Do you care if parts like bumpers are dirty, scratched, or dented? Rails? How about wheels that much have scuffs? Or interior parts that show wear. Prices for these accessories and parts are really good, and they function fine. Just cosmetic problems.

For example, this Mopar steel bumper off of a JK/JL for $150. Would you put it on your new JT to avoid paying $1000 for a new one? Yes the one pictured isnt steel but condition used for example

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[Rex3rd]

So some of us are just starting out in careers and the JT is the first new/nice vehicle bought/financed. As such we cant always buy everything we want at once or even in the condition we want. For those in that situation or who have been there, where do you draw the line on used/takeoffs? Do you care if parts like bumpers are dirty, scratched, or dented? Rails? How about wheels that much have scuffs? Or interior parts that show wear. Prices for these accessories and parts are really good, and they function fine. Just cosmetic problems.

For example, this Mopar bumper off of a JK/JL for $150. Would you put it on your new JT to avoid paying $1000 for a new one?

Why not. It's going to get beat up when. Out on the trails anyways. I wouldn't see a problem with it

 

[Backwoodsraider]

You can get a jl/it for the same price. Look around on fb.
I threw mine away the other day. They are not worth much with everyone swapping them.

But to answer your question, I would to get my by. Or check amazon and get a steel for a bit more

 

[Cleankat]

I personally wouldn't put anything on the car that wasnt perfect or near perfect, but I'm OCD as all hell.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I personally wouldn't put anything on the car that wasnt perfect or near perfect, but I'm OCD as all hell.

LOL - yeah, that's why I spent over a YEAR trying to locate a PERFECT, rust-free, fender for my SX4 when I hit a deer. People kept sending me messages with photos "hey, I have a great fender, no rust, good condition" and I'd look and good grief, what do you call that rough brown stuff, and what's up with the ding on the leading edge?
No way was a fender with any rust at all or any dent at all going on that car because it started out rust-free and was otherwise excellent. I wasn't taking it backwards with a fender that didn't match the rest of the car in quality.
I ended up taking a fender off a parts car that had some rust at the lower front ahead of the wheel opening because some fool used bondo and water got behind it, and cutting that part off, and putting on that part of the fender from my deer damaged fender to make a perfect rust-free fender.
Every part I put on my vehicles has to be at least as good as what's on it already, or better. IF I can't find such a part I'll use something that's close to as good and keep looking, sometimes swapping parts out 3 times as I keep finding better and better parts.
That's me........ but if I wanted a bumper, I'd find one that was perfect and if I couldn't, I'd buy new. I'd be forever losing sleep thinking about how that part wasn't as good as the rest.

Maybe my being anal and OCD that way is why my shop is full of projects waiting restoration - they know they won't get it back until or unless it's perfect. I've stripped and replated some parts as many as 4 times to get the finish perfect. I blocked the hood of my Eagle a whole week, started over twice, before I called it good.

So I guess I'm the wrong guy to ask that one! LOL - if it ain't perfect or can't be MADE to appear perfect, no. IF it was a matter of paint, I'd repaint it. But if there were gouges or scratches, I want to be the one to put them there.

 

[PyrPatriot]

I wasn't taking it backwards with a fender that didn't match the rest of the car in quality.

That's probably the key part. Wasnt that vehicle a show car? Very different from something that is an off-roading/work vehicle that WILL get damage (eventually)

 

[ShadowsPapa]

That's probably the key part. Wasnt that vehicle a show car? Very different from something that is an off-roading/work vehicle that WILL get damage (eventually)

At the time it was a daily driver, winter, and summer. It only became a show car later. But then I've been that way about my cars, all of them, since my very first.

 

[Sx3]

All depends on the type of wear. If it's natural such as scratches from the trails yes
But if it's an accident type of damage that could have been prevented I would pass.

Think of it this way. A used Colt 1911. It may be used, wear from carrying, finish has rubbed off in all the right places. A little loose slide to frame. Several 1000 rounds down range, broke in with an overall wonderful patina. That sounds like a perfect pistol right. $750.

Or

A brand new Colt 1911 with no wear, maybe a box of 230 gr through the pipe but has that stupid idiot mark from the first time it was reassembled. And maybe it was dropped with a small scratch. $650.

Which one do you buy? The first one that has all the acceptable wear and tear or the 2nd one which could have been prevented. Or same Brand new pistol $1000.

I like character, I'm also picky. But in the end I will always pick #1. Because if I buy new it will turn into the used #1. And best thing about #1, someone else spent the money breaking it in. Now its reliable.

I'm sure you striker fire fan boys will not understand. Just saying

 

[PyrPatriot]

All depends on the type of wear. If it's natural such as scratches from the trails yes
But if it's an accident type of damage that could have been prevented I would pass.

Think of it this way. A Colt 1911. It may be used, wear from carrying, finish has rubbed off in all the right places. A little loose slide to frame. Several 1000 rounds down range, broke in with an overall wonderful patina. That sounds like a perfect pistol right. $750.

Or

A brand new Colt 1911 with no wear, maybe a box of 230 gr through the pipe but has that stupid idiot mark from the first time it was reassembled. And maybe it was dropped with a small scratch. $650.

Which one do you buy? The first one that has all the acceptable wear and tear or the 2nd one which could have been prevented. Or same Brand new pistol $1000.

I like character, I'm also picky. But in the end I will always pick #1. Because if I buy new it will turn into the used #1. And best thing about #1, someone else spent the money breaking it in. Now its reliable.

I'm sure you striker fire fan boys will not understand. Just saying

I'd go for #2, personally. All my guns are bought used.

 

[Moe_Fugga]

All depends on the type of wear. If it's natural such as scratches from the trails yes
But if it's an accident type of damage that could have been prevented I would pass.

Think of it this way. A Colt 1911. It may be used, wear from carrying, finish has rubbed off in all the right places. A little loose slide to frame. Several 1000 rounds down range, broke in with an overall wonderful patina. That sounds like a perfect pistol right. $750.

Or

A brand new Colt 1911 with no wear, maybe a box of 230 gr through the pipe but has that stupid idiot mark from the first time it was reassembled. And maybe it was dropped with a small scratch. $650.

Which one do you buy? The first one that has all the acceptable wear and tear or the 2nd one which could have been prevented. Or same Brand new pistol $1000.

I like character, I'm also picky. But in the end I will always pick #1. Because if I buy new it will turn into the used #1. And best thing about #1, someone else spent the money breaking it in. Now its reliable.

I'm sure you striker fire fan boys will not understand. Just saying

I feel this! Glad to meet a fellow Colt lover! There is a huge difference in used with character compared to used and neglected.

To answer OP, I say no to the used beat up parts. I didn't buy a brand new vehicle to throw trash parts on to make it look like a used and abused s**tbox. You might as well spring for the used and abused in the first place and save yourself tens of thousands of dollars. If the parts are quality and have a little wear I would consider, but nothing like the photos you posted.

 

[Sx3]

I'd go for #2, personally. All my guns are bought used.

I buy used as well, both Colts mentioned are used hypothetically. I prefer used with character, = less $ then new vs used and abused, = cheapest.

So yes I would buy used parts for the JT with normal wear (character) vs used parts with preventable damage (stupid). Saving money in the end over buying new when one trail ride will make them used with character.

 

[TheSolarWizard]

If you’re going to use a Jeep as a Jeep and not just as a mall conveyance, bumpers are gonna get damaged.

ive always shopped for “scratch and dent” parts for that reason

 

[jjmstang]

A little bit of fresh paint hides a lot.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Huge difference between a pistol with patina, broken in with a good feel or an automotive part.
If it's something that can be refinished or repainted, no issue at all. Gouges, dents, scratches that show even after a refinish, I pass. I'll refinish plastic, steel, whatever, if it can be restored and look fresh. But paint over dings and dents, meh........
We're not comparing collectibles, guns, antiques. No brainer on the gun if it was used and not abused.

If my JT had seen trail use, scratched from brush, branches, or the bumpers dinged from pushing my other cars around, or like my Comanche suffered - a slightly twisted bumper due to moving an outhouse to a burn pile, that's different - then I'm matching finishes! I would have never bought a new bumper for the Comanche - it would have looked very out of place.
My 73 is getting good used trim put on (the PO stripped it of almost all stainless and chrome trim). Putting new shiny fresh stuff on would look very out of place. So I've found a friend who is parting another 73 and he's saving me the good used parts - I can buy new or reproductions, but I want to match the essence of the car as it is. If I go to restore it properly later, that's different. But then this car will see use, perhaps abuse. No use going crazy on it.
Give me a couple of years with the JT - you'll get a different answer.

 

[spazzyfry123]

With the Jeep I wouldn’t really lose any sleep over a little scratch on something. Of course I’d rather have the clean part and scratch it myself, but to save a few bucks why not?

But talk about an M3 or something like that, we’re having a different conversation.

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