Thinking of buying this FJ40 Buggy on Rockwells...is it worth it???

[orangefj45]

wow, i'm gonna have to dis-agree with most of you guys on this one. has anybody on this thread owned or built a buggy except for eskimo?!

sure, the one-links are not the greatest suspension setups ever. but, i can guarantee you that the owner has spent AT LEAST $20 k in parts alone, nevermind the original rig or labor.

i think his asking price is in the right ball-park. i also think that offering him $10 k would be an insult. if it were my rig ( or yours) i certainly would'nt sell it for $10k. but then again, it would'nt have that suspension in it either.

compile a parts list and see what you some up with. building a buggy is not like doing an soa swap on a 40........

engine
trans
t-case
drivelines
axles
hydro steering
wiring harness
fuel system
exhaust
tires
rims
"tube work"
brakes
winch
seats
cooling system
..........

 

[smtyblt]

wow, i'm gonna have to dis-agree with most of you guys on this one. has anybody on this thread owned or built a buggy except for eskimo?!

sure, the one-links are not the greatest suspension setups ever. but, i can guarantee you that the owner has spent AT LEAST $20 k in parts alone, nevermind the original rig or labor.

i think his asking price is in the right ball-park. i also think that offering him $10 k would be an insult. if it were my rig ( or yours) i certainly would'nt sell it for $10k. but then again, it would'nt have that suspension in it either.

compile a parts list and see what you some up with. building a buggy is not like doing an soa swap on a 40........

engine
trans
t-case
drivelines
axles
hydro steering
wiring harness
fuel system
exhaust
tires
rims
"tube work"
brakes
winch
seats
cooling system
..........

I wiould have to disagree, I was not saying you had to buy new parts like he did it, but you could build that exact buggy for way less than 20K you may not have the bling new parts, but you would have the same type components.

In this market you just cant get even what you put into it out of it if you tried.

The only way to do that is build something with all new parts never touch it or drive it and sell it to a customer or as a custom build for the buyer.

That is the only way to get top dollar out of a rig right now.

now is what he asking out of line NO! I just would not pay more than 10k or so. Too many things that look like they may need to be re-done.

 

[orangefj45]

you could build that exact buggy for way less than 20K .

amuse me.

 

[Exiled]

I'm going to side with George on this one. We all know that in 95% of cases you can't get what you have out of a built Cruiser, and in the current economic environment, it will be virtually impossible. But I do think that the guy's price is in line with the buggy as an overall finished product (i.e. not just the sum of its parts). In order to say "I can build it for less" (which is possible) and compare apples to apples, you'd have to use the exact same components, not skip some.

At the end of the day, a Cruiser or buggy is worth *exactly* what the market will bear, which is why these "how much do you think it's worth" threads tend to degenerate into arguments. Personal preferences, regional differences in labor costs, geographical location (both for proximity to the type of trails you use a buggy like this on *and* in terms of comparable vehicles) and even time of the year all come into play to determine the "worth" of a unique vehicle like this.

When I sold my heavily-modified FJ62 1.5 years ago, just as the market was softening but before the bottom fell out of it, I got all kinds of people telling me "it's not worth what you're asking", which I sometimes found laughable, other times insulting. I had an asking price and only the market determines whether it's the right price. I think it will be the same for this guy.

If you really like the buggy, make him a reasonable (to you and to him, offering 2/3 of his asking price does seem like a lowball to me) offer and see if you guys can meet a common ground.

 

[orangefj45]

thanks exiled.

i'm not looking to start an argument here, nor am i saying that the buggy is great or not. i'm just trying to help people understand what it takes to build a vehicle likt this. all the little crap adds up in a hurry.

 

[smtyblt]

thanks exiled.

i'm not looking to start an argument here, nor am i saying that the buggy is great or not. i'm just trying to help people understand what it takes to build a vehicle likt this. all the little crap adds up in a hurry.

I believe just like you guys and I are saying. Is it worth what he is asking by all means it is. Would I pay that for that buggy not sure I would.

I have and do build alot of expensive projects. I do know what it takes. Wether done on the check with sorced used parts or an expensive all new part build. Both of you are correct.

I did not write my first post very well. bottom line is it worth it yes. would I buy it for that no, but that is personal and financial preferences.

Cam

Oh yeh Merry Christmas guys

 

[orangefj45]

would I buy it for that no, but that is personal and financial preferences.

very well put cam and i agree 100%