Wife totaled her Jeep WK2 Hemi

[jeepguy03]

Correction, thank you! 3.6L with tow package 6200! Really good!

I’m thinking my LJ plus trailer is knocking the 7200 door at 6800-7000lb.

If you are towing that close to the limit, you will definitely want the V8. I was never a fan of the 3.6L. It has something like 290hp but every one I've driven feels like it has zero low end torque, so I bet pulling a trailer it would be screaming in the high RPMs constantly.

 

[speeding_infraction]

Interesting thread. My dad has a 2023 GC L with the 5.7. my bil has a 3.6 that feels absolutely gutless compared. It gets about 3 mpg better. And the v8 sounds way better. I'm trying to convince my dad to keep his after the lease is up.

 

[lBasket]

Interesting thread. My dad has a 2023 GC L with the 5.7. my bil has a 3.6 that feels absolutely gutless compared. It gets about 3 mpg better. And the v8 sounds way better. I'm trying to convince my dad to keep his after the lease is up.

So that you can buy it from him later??

 

[bbaldwin237]

Personally, we've loved our 3.6 but it's also just my wife's daily and our family car. When we bought it, I had a Ram 1500 5.7 and 8-speed (until 2 nights ago). We had no need for two V8 vehicles. If you compare them side-by-side I have no doubt I would want the V8. But the 3.6 does great for what we need it for. And it towed up around 3500-40000lbs just fine and very comfortably. All in what you're looking for.

 

[JMT]

If you are towing that close to the limit, you will definitely want the V8. I was never a fan of the 3.6L. It has something like 290hp but every one I've driven feels like it has zero low end torque, so I bet pulling a trailer it would be screaming in the high RPMs constantly.

 

[speeding_infraction]

So that you can buy it from him later??

Maybe. We don't need to talk about that.
The real motive is I'm trying to get him to supercharge it once the lease is up. Proving pretty difficult lol

 

[BlueC]

@JMT Maybe I missed it, but have you looked into fixing your wrecked Jeep and keeping it? From the posted pic it didn't look that bad, but I know the prices of everything and unseen damages can add up.

 

[jeepguy03]

@JMT Maybe I missed it, but have you looked into fixing your wrecked Jeep and keeping it? From the posted pic it didn't look that bad, but I know the prices of everything and unseen damages can add up.

+1 definitely worth looking into. With any wreck that totals a vehicle I'd want to be checking the frame/unibody for straightness before buying it back so it doesn't wear out tires every 5000 miles for the rest of its life.

 

[lBasket]

+1 definitely worth looking into. With any wreck that totals a vehicle I'd want to be checking the frame/unibody for straightness before buying it back so it doesn't wear out tires every 5000 miles for the rest of its life.

And cuts it's MPGs in half. The one newer car I had, got hit, and I wish they'd have totalled it so I could've replaced it. Instead I ended up with a car that wasn't straight and had to take a loss selling it right after a repair.

On a car like a TJ where you're doing all the work anyways and aren't selling it so don't care about title I'd buy it back but I probably wouldn't bother with something like this.

 

[BlueC]

+1 definitely worth looking into. With any wreck that totals a vehicle I'd want to be checking the frame/unibody for straightness before buying it back so it doesn't wear out tires every 5000 miles for the rest of its life.

If he keeps it, it 100% needs to take a trip to a quality frame shop first thing, even with mild looking damage. With relatively minor damage, including some frame bending, I don't mind fixing a vehicle, they can be made good-as-new, but I won't buy a "fixed" vehicle from some stranger because most are doing it on a budget trying to flip a wreck they bought.

 

[BlueC]

On a car like a TJ where you're doing all the work anyways and aren't selling it so don't care about title I'd buy it back but I probably wouldn't bother with something like this.

It will come down to just a few things if he likes the vehicle, which it seems he does; 1 - how fast does he need a replacement, 2 - how bad are the actual damages, 3 - what is the actual cost (repairs and diminished value)

The vehicle can be made good-as-new, but what does that take and is it worth it to him are the questions to be answered. From what I've seen, that Jeep will be fixed by someone and back on the road within weeks. Will it be in his driveway, or on the local used car lot for $25K + fees?

 

[joe98tj]

Interesting read. Got me curios so I spent sometime on autotrader and back checking with the window sticker link theres only one 2017 5.7L with tow package within 200 miles and its actually a personal listing which I hadn't seen before on there. $15k but 131k miles in a salted roads state...

 

[ColoJeep]

Maybe. We don't need to talk about that.
The real motive is I'm trying to get him to supercharge it once the lease is up. Proving pretty difficult lol

Cause you can't " inherit " a N/A V-8 ...

 

[JMT]

Personally, we've loved our 3.6 but it's also just my wife's daily and our family car. When we bought it, I had a Ram 1500 5.7 and 8-speed (until 2 nights ago). We had no need for two V8 vehicles. If you compare them side-by-side I have no doubt I would want the V8. But the 3.6 does great for what we need it for. And it towed up around 3500-40000lbs just fine and very comfortably. All in what you're looking for.

Ok, no worries taking a peak at that one. My wife looked up those interiors, and even though I liked it she said it was a NO go, so thank you. You’re a blessing friends have a safe day with your son!

 

[MtPockets]

We had no need for two V8 vehicles.

I'm trying to wrap my head around this statement.
Since when does "need" have anything to do with making a really good, irrational buying decision?

My wife and I have 5 4x4 vehicles, could probably do just fine with 1.

Don't tell her I said that...

 

[jeepguy03]

If he keeps it, it 100% needs to take a trip to a quality frame shop first thing, even with mild looking damage. With relatively minor damage, including some frame bending, I don't mind fixing a vehicle, they can be made good-as-new, but I won't buy a "fixed" vehicle from some stranger because most are doing it on a budget trying to flip a wreck they bought.

Agreed, it's also a much different scenario now with unibody vehicles where the entire vehicle is built to absorb the impact. A hit on one corner can send the impact forces through the entire vehicle. One of my XJs was a 2000 Sport 4-door I owned my first two years of college. Absolutely MINT condition for an at the time 9 year old Jeep with just under 70k miles. I got T-boned while at a stop sign just outside of campus in a snow storm, by a lady doing 60 mph in a Volvo. She hit me right in the driver side door/front wheel area. The hit was so hard I got a concussion, and my laptop that was behind the passenger seat flew to behind the driver seat and cracked its case. From initial inspection, the driver fender/door was where most of the damage was, but if you walked around the backside of the XJ you could see the entire thing was sitting crooked. The front axle was bent, control arms, driveline wasn't sitting correctly on the crossmember, and none of the doors opened easily anymore.

Interesting read. Got me curios so I spent sometime on autotrader and back checking with the window sticker link theres only one 2017 5.7L with tow package within 200 miles and its actually a personal listing which I hadn't seen before on there. $15k but 131k miles in a salted roads state...

Yeah the 5.7L WK2 is a niche vehicle, but once you have one it is hard to find something else that fits that role as well as a V8 Grand Cherokee. Anything else is larger or more truck-like. The only thing similar would be a Durango which shares the same platform. I think the only real comparison back in the day was the Explorer to the Grand Cherokee WJ, because the Explorer could also be ordered with a V8 at the time.

 

[bbaldwin237]

Ok, no worries taking a peak at that one. My wife looked up those interiors, and even though I liked it she said it was a NO go, so thank you. You’re a blessing friends have a safe day with your son!

No problem! Anytime!

 

[bbaldwin237]

I'm trying to wrap my head around this statement.
Since when does "need" have anything to do with making a really good, irrational buying decision?

My wife and I have 5 4x4 vehicles, could probably do just fine with 1.

Don't tell her I said that...

Let me put it a different way. At that time, our income didn't make sense to have two V8 vehicles!

 

[JMT]

Agreed, it's also a much different scenario now with unibody vehicles where the entire vehicle is built to absorb the impact. A hit on one corner can send the impact forces through the entire vehicle. One of my XJs was a 2000 Sport 4-door I owned my first two years of college. Absolutely MINT condition for an at the time 9 year old Jeep with just under 70k miles. I got T-boned while at a stop sign just outside of campus in a snow storm, by a lady doing 60 mph in a Volvo. She hit me right in the driver side door/front wheel area. The hit was so hard I got a concussion, and my laptop that was behind the passenger seat flew to behind the driver seat and cracked its case. From initial inspection, the driver fender/door was where most of the damage was, but if you walked around the backside of the XJ you could see the entire thing was sitting crooked. The front axle was bent, control arms, driveline wasn't sitting correctly on the crossmember, and none of the doors opened easily anymore.



Yeah the 5.7L WK2 is a niche vehicle, but once you have one it is hard to find something else that fits that role as well as a V8 Grand Cherokee. Anything else is larger or more truck-like. The only thing similar would be a Durango which shares the same platform. I think the only real comparison back in the day was the Explorer to the Grand Cherokee WJ, because the Explorer could also be ordered with a V8 at the time.

Well, we went down to Carmax and got a 2024 Dodge Durango R/T Plus. It’s about the only one we could find anywhere near with the Class IV tow package, Hemi, vroom vroom! It’s only money and I feel good about it. Only 21k miles. It’s freakin’ awesome, and while I don’t particularly like all the modern infotainment crap, I’ve got 5 years of coverage for all that stuff that should get us past any issues that pop up.

It’s worth it knowing I can sell it in five years for $20+ today’s money or keep it ten years. My wife really liked it too.

I possibly could re-buy the Cherokee, but the estimate was parts heavy (over $10k). The rack and pinion was going to have to be replaced. The axle shaft was forced into the diff and there’s that. I really don’t have the time to fix it and there’s still the issue of the unibody. Just having it evaluated is $$$. I think in the grand scheme I’m ahead. Hopefully I’ll get about $20k out of the Cherokee. I will be arguing my case. I know what I’ve got.

I’m glad getting a car is over with. It’s exhausting. I’d love to be able to take our time and sort it out, but our lives are too crazy.

 

[bbaldwin237]

Well, we went down to Carmax and got a 2024 Dodge Durango R/T Plus. It’s about the only one we could find anywhere near with the Class IV tow package, Hemi, vroom vroom! It’s only money and I feel good about it. Only 21k miles. It’s freakin’ awesome, and while I don’t particularly like all the modern infotainment crap, I’ve got 5 years of coverage for all that stuff that should get us past any issues that pop up.

It’s worth it knowing I can sell it in five years for $20+ today’s money or keep it ten years. My wife really liked it too.

I possibly could re-buy the Cherokee, but the estimate was parts heavy (over $10k). The rack and pinion was going to have to be replaced. The axle shaft was forced into the diff and there’s that. I really don’t have the time to fix it and there’s still the issue of the unibody. Just having it evaluated is $$$. I think in the grand scheme I’m ahead. Hopefully I’ll get about $20k out of the Cherokee. I will be arguing my case. I know what I’ve got.

I’m glad getting a car is over with. It’s exhausting. I’d love to be able to take our time and sort it out, but our lives are too crazy.

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Congrats! Great looking Durango! Hopefully it will serve you guys well for many years!