Ok so need some help on this. I've got a 2015 AEV unlimited in great shape overall with 94k. I know I'm gong to need a radiator, steering box, regearing, and at some point a clutch most likely in the next year or two. Love the jeep but here's the dilemma..
I drive 22-25k a year with work. Do I....keep the Jeep and hunt down a beater. Trade Jeep for newer JL or gladiator and just trade every 3 years, or get a fuel efficient newer car and an older tj. Side note I still owe 19k on the jeep. Any thoughts are welcomed as having this conversion with myself has gone no where...lol.

 

Radiator and steering box are necessities, probably $300 each. Re-gear is a product of your choosing, the cheaper alternative is to put smaller tires on it. I daily drove mine with a 45k miles/ year commute. I'm down to 20k/ year now but still daily it.

Continuing to "trade" is going to do nothing but keep you under water in debt- that's ok for some folks but others like owning it free and clear. You're having thoughts about getting out of it though so maybe it is better for you to leave it now and pick up another when you're in a better spot to do so, whether it be financial or just milewise.

 

When I bought my jeep in 2013 I lived 10 miles from work and put ~8k miles/yr on it. Fuel efficiency and mileage didn't matter at all. I moved and my commute tripled. That didn't seem bad until the miles started racking up and I calculated 15k m/y just to drive to work. It was at that point I bought a cheap beater commuter car for a couple grand. It was an '06 jetta (so 9yo) and I paid $2800 for it. I put gas in it and it got me through 4 years of commuting. I only threw in the towel due to some electrical gremlins I couldn't solve which had started leading to cooling issues. After that, I picked up an '01 Infiniti I30 with 220k miles on it from someone local for $1500. I knew that engine was bulletproof (they changed in '03). I've now driven that thing for 1.5 years and it just runs. The clearcoat started going to shit during my ownership but the interior is in great shape. I figure that Jetta paid for itself in fuel savings alone, and so is this Infiniti. Granted, I can do most work myself if it needs it. My Jeep turned into a toy/pleasure vehicle. Oddly it still gets a good bit of mileage with trips. Those 2k mile trips add up! Bout to turn 100k miles next week en route to Big Bend NP. I'm a believer in the commuter car myself. I carry liability only and view the commuter car as a throw-away. It might not fit everyone's model of use.

The work you're talking about on the jeep is not a big deal if you plan to own it for a long time, or forever. If you plan on keeping it as your daily it's probably not worth it just due to the mileage racking up and the lifespan associated with that.

 

So I'm not worried about doing the work. I just tore the axles apart and did all the steering components minus the box this past summer. As pointed out I love my Jeep but don't want to get under water in what its worth/owe. I've been leaning more towards keeping and getting a beater but was having a mental issue getting past multiple vehicles. I mean if a local dealer throws out the right number I'll upgrade to a rubi but otherwise I'll keep it. The tires aren't bad with the gears for a dd but offroad it makes the jeep miserable. Thanks for the input and brain food

 

Your profile isn't complete but I can see an AEV build using 3.21's, though I could be wrong. It looks like you're on 35's and with the 3.6, it really shouldn't be terrible. I ran that combo (35's, 6speed, 3.73's) albeit with the anemic 3.8 for years before upgrading. If you're not willing to move down in tire size, go to a lighter weight tire.

Even if the dealer gives you the right number on a Rubi, the old jeep loan doesn't disappear, it simply rolls into the new one. They'll find a creative way to hide it, but you're still paying for it. I have a friend who unfortunately did that- "upgraded" and they just roll the old into the new. The only was out was to drop just enough money to make it "look cool" so some kid would buy him out of it....then start the process again.

 

Yeah I know the dealer tricks in and out and deal only in real numbers not the what do you want your payment to be crap. I think after hearing you guys I may be going back to my original plan to keep it since its still cheaper than starting over and when the engine dies down the road V8 swap. Keep it as the fun vehicle and just buy a commuter beater. All comments appreciated.

 

Almost any vehicle is going to be "under water" when you drive it off the lot. Buying new makes no sense at all with what prices are today. With your commute the only thing that makes sense is a compact that gets 40+ mpg. How do you owe $19k on a 6 year old car?

 

I don't enjoy driving a beater to work every day and parking in a garage full of Porsches, BMWs, Telsas, Land Rovers, and more, but I do appreciate keeping the miles off the jeep and I don't give a crap what people think. The fact that some people spend more on a cell phone than my commuter car costs is a little comical to me at times. Nice thing about this though is it keeps my jeep topless for 90% of the year. I drive it to work occasionally just for the enjoyment aspect....and I giggle when those big ass tires are next to some nice car.

 

I have a modified lease through my credit union so that's why I owe a bit more and I didn't buy this new either so I've only owned it 3 years. For what it is I stole it from the dealer I bought it from. They had no idea what they had or how to advertise it which is why I lean towered toward keeping it but wanted some outside opinions.

 

Some people simply cannot "lower" themselves to drive a beater but a personal plate saying "paid for" helps. Your Jeep looks to be in good shape and it has a lot of life left. Take it from a guy that did his V8 swap himself using Motech kit - it is expensive even doing it yourself. Better off to gear it to match a stock 4.10 Rubicon performance but select the gear ratio based on tire size EG 35" go 4.88. Its a Jeep not a Corvette!
Keep upgrading and buy the beater.