Trade-in a '95 GC or buy a '04?

At today's ridiculous labor rates (at an all-time high vis-a-vis manufacturing wages) you cannot afford to pay other people to refurbish old vehicles! Except _high dollar_ collectibles. Sad but true.

In my opinion, it's not worth it unless your crystal ball tells you you're driving a future classic the likes of a '57 T-bird or 'vette.

I had my '99 break a connecting rod and punch a hole through the side of the block. I was going to trade it in in two years anyway, after the wife's Liberty was paid for. I would be lucky to get $2K for it in trade and the dealer wanted $4K for a new engine. I just told him to jack the radiator cap up and drive a new Jeep under it! I still got $2.6K for the '99 with no engine by donating it to Purple Heart!

So I'm now driving around in a 2005 GC with the 5.7L Chrysler Hemi. I apologize to all you true Jeepers out there, but as I get older I like my creature comforts (and Jeeps). Plus, I hold a Phd in gadgetology and that GC is full of fun things to play with!

Regards,

The 97 ZJ v8 I have just hit 160K over the weekend.... which transfer case do you have? The cat isn't that much - especially if you do it yourself. As for the AC - I can understand that. I don't know how much it costs to replace, sorry. But in the end, afaik it's cheaper to keep the clunker you have :) anyone else? Bill? Mike?

Paul