If my handle and avatar look familiar, you've probably seen some of my other stuff on the various other Wrangler Forums and pages. If you haven't, and if you've got some time to kill, feel free to look around the links in my signature...
I've put it off for a while but finally decided that a SWB Jeep just won't cut it anymore. Even my most recent Jeep, an LJ - shown above - was simply too crammed for daily life with kids, work, play, and more. During a recent trip back from football practice with my son and his two buddies, it dawned on my just how fast kids grow (even when we know the cliche!). What also dawned on my was how small the LJ is, even though when I first got it, it felt like a minivan compared to the TJ/YJ. Anyway, long story somewhat shorter, I got an offer for it that was too good to pass up and decided to sell.
Left with the need to replace it, I was up in the air about what to get. I was looking at getting a new Ram Rebel or Power Wagon, hoping that CJDR would bring back a 0% interest rate again to help with their massive overstock inventory. Either one would be a smart, "practical" decision, since we also live up in the country and having a pick-up is handy for a number of reasons. However, both the Rebel and Power Wagon don't have much of a "fun" factor, at least not like a Wrangler does. Last year we got my daughter a JKU when she got her license, and since then I've been warming up to the JKU platform. Getting the "itch" to replace the LJ was growing strong and I did some late night looking around on Marketplace and found a good option that would allow me to address the thing I disliked most about the JKU - the lack of power.
Meet Argenta, my high-mile (209,000 at the time of purchase!), bright-silver, 2008 JKU. Originally from Florida, with zero rot and just some mild surface rust, it seemed like a killer option for me to have a little fun with a new build, while getting the space and practicality I needed.
Other than a small dent in the driver front fender, and the absolutely filthy interior, the Jeep was in good overall condition for being 16 years old. For $6500, it was certainly below market by about $2500 (locally at least). Here are some clean-up shots from the day I brought it home...
This filth was just from the driver's door that I wiped clean so my arms and shirt wouldn't get stained... I don't know how some people live to be honest!
The seats... oh the seats. I don't know what the stains are from but they were disgusting. The saving grace with this Jeep was that despite the lack of cleaning, there weren't any atrocious smells. It smelled, well like a normal car.
Some pre-treat spray (just diluted carpet cleaner inside a pump sprayer), a light brush, and hit with my Bissell, and the stains mostly came out.
The previous owner didn't own it for long, only about 3 months, originally for his wife, who soon learned she was pregnant after getting the Jeep. She had little interest in it beforehand, and once learning of the pending bundle of joy, lost any shred she may have had remaining. The PO put a few dollars into it as there were some new parts installed (the rear driver side caliper for example). Still, even with the work performed (just enough to get it to pass the annual safety inspection), the rear brakes were grinding a bit, the dash had a TPMS light on, and the "Change Oil Soon" reminder was blinking on the info panel. Still, even with that, I know from the test drive and cold start up that the motor and trans were in decent overall condition and that any work to make it road worthy would be simple...
I've put it off for a while but finally decided that a SWB Jeep just won't cut it anymore. Even my most recent Jeep, an LJ - shown above - was simply too crammed for daily life with kids, work, play, and more. During a recent trip back from football practice with my son and his two buddies, it dawned on my just how fast kids grow (even when we know the cliche!). What also dawned on my was how small the LJ is, even though when I first got it, it felt like a minivan compared to the TJ/YJ. Anyway, long story somewhat shorter, I got an offer for it that was too good to pass up and decided to sell.
Left with the need to replace it, I was up in the air about what to get. I was looking at getting a new Ram Rebel or Power Wagon, hoping that CJDR would bring back a 0% interest rate again to help with their massive overstock inventory. Either one would be a smart, "practical" decision, since we also live up in the country and having a pick-up is handy for a number of reasons. However, both the Rebel and Power Wagon don't have much of a "fun" factor, at least not like a Wrangler does. Last year we got my daughter a JKU when she got her license, and since then I've been warming up to the JKU platform. Getting the "itch" to replace the LJ was growing strong and I did some late night looking around on Marketplace and found a good option that would allow me to address the thing I disliked most about the JKU - the lack of power.
Meet Argenta, my high-mile (209,000 at the time of purchase!), bright-silver, 2008 JKU. Originally from Florida, with zero rot and just some mild surface rust, it seemed like a killer option for me to have a little fun with a new build, while getting the space and practicality I needed.
Other than a small dent in the driver front fender, and the absolutely filthy interior, the Jeep was in good overall condition for being 16 years old. For $6500, it was certainly below market by about $2500 (locally at least). Here are some clean-up shots from the day I brought it home...
This filth was just from the driver's door that I wiped clean so my arms and shirt wouldn't get stained... I don't know how some people live to be honest!
The seats... oh the seats. I don't know what the stains are from but they were disgusting. The saving grace with this Jeep was that despite the lack of cleaning, there weren't any atrocious smells. It smelled, well like a normal car.
Some pre-treat spray (just diluted carpet cleaner inside a pump sprayer), a light brush, and hit with my Bissell, and the stains mostly came out.
The previous owner didn't own it for long, only about 3 months, originally for his wife, who soon learned she was pregnant after getting the Jeep. She had little interest in it beforehand, and once learning of the pending bundle of joy, lost any shred she may have had remaining. The PO put a few dollars into it as there were some new parts installed (the rear driver side caliper for example). Still, even with the work performed (just enough to get it to pass the annual safety inspection), the rear brakes were grinding a bit, the dash had a TPMS light on, and the "Change Oil Soon" reminder was blinking on the info panel. Still, even with that, I know from the test drive and cold start up that the motor and trans were in decent overall condition and that any work to make it road worthy would be simple...
