Is this a good trade?

[Thunderace1997]

I know most of you will say no due to this being a Chevy site but I'm looking to see if you think it's even when it comes to dollars.

I have a 91 Suburban with 53k original miles. The previous owner did a 4l80e swap with Compu-Shift kit and painless wiring kit to wire it into the existing wiring kit. The only options my suburban didn't come with was power mirrors and roof rack. It has the 350 in it. The original owner got a cheaper paint job on it when they sold it. Looks good from a distance but once up close you can see the imperfections. Interior is near mint. The only thing wrong with the interior is the front door trim where the window meets is faded. The dash looks almost brand new. I got a deal on this suburban.

I'm looking to trade for an 88 Wrangler that in my opinion is worth around 6k to maybe $6500.

If I sold my suburban could I get more than $6500? I wish I could afford to have both but no can do. Here are two pics. One of the exterior and one of the front interior.

[POS1]

Nice, but the first question is what is the truck's or Jeep's purpose?

I have a 1991 Suburban (35k miles on it) and a 1986 CJ7 I've had for four years now. Two very different vehicles. As a local-driving toy, the Jeep is a blast and I love it. Venture on the highway though, and it seriously sucks. Your 1988 will be a little better than that, but Jeeps are lousy daily drivers. The 91 Suburban is fantastic on the highway, but a lumbering beast in the city. That's okay because I'm used to it.

If its raining, I'm driving the Burb. If there's traffic, I'm driving the Burb. If I'm banging around locally, I'm in the Jeep.

PS - Your Burb rocks. Don't be quick to sell but should be able to get $6000 bc of the low miles.

[Thunderace1997]

I've had a 92 Wrangler that I sold years ago. One of the ones I regret selling. I have a work vehicle so the vehicle I own only gets used for driving around town or to pick up the kids from school. Once or twice a year I may do a 3-4 hour trip to the beach or mountains. Most of the time we do those trips we use my wife's car. The 92 wrangler worked perfect for that. The 92 was fine on the highway. It never had that death shake that Jeeps sometimes get.

[POS1]

As a cool toy, the Jeeps are great. Since you have a daily, I couldn't recommend against the Jeep, that's for sure.

Why'd you buy the suburban?

[Thunderace1997]

I got it because it was a good deal and at the time I wanted one. This one was in such good condition and for what I paid I feel I got a good deal. I was going to wait until winter because there are better deals on Wranglers but I noticed this guys craigslist ad looking to trade his 88 Wrangler for a Suburban.

Plus I have A.D.D. when it comes to vehicles. I'll get something for a year and trade or sell it and since I have a work vehicle I can get away doing this by buying older cool vehicles. I sold the 92 Wrangler and bought a 72 F100, sold the F100 and bought the Suburban. Now thinking of selling or trading the Suburban and getting another Wrangler or an older muscle/classic car.

If I had money and more room in the garage I would own the Suburban, a Wrangler, and an old car/truck. But that isn't doable at this time in my life. Daycare cost as much as our mortage payment.

The main answer I was looking for is a low mileage Suburban worth a lot. I saw one on ebay where the sale was canceled due to selling locally. The ebay ad said the guy wanted 10k. His had around 30k miles I think. I've also seen some with 60-70k miles stay for sale for a long time. I know it's worth whatever anyone is willing to pay but I guess I'm just asking what you Chevy guys have been seeing.

[A1980GMC]

I would stay away from an 88 Wrangler. 87 is when Chrysler started screwing up Jeep. Of course they have come a long way since then but Chrysler was sticking Peugeot transmissions in them. The early Chrysler Jeeps are some of the worst Jeeps.
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[chevyman95]

I would trade. Maybe I'm not looking in the right place but I've never seen a suburban actually sell for $6500 around here

[POS1]

Make sure the Jeep doesn't have great needs. If it checks out, trade.
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[A1980GMC]

Is it a straight 6 Jeep or 4 Banger? Has it been through hell and back? Crawl underneath it and check for carnage. Your Suburban looks clean. Most 25 year old Jeeps are not going to be in that great of shape.
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[Thunderace1997]

They guy has owned it for 8 years. It has the straight 6 with the Holley 350 carb upgrade, intake upgrade, header and exhaust upgrade. It does have high miles but those inline 6's are easy to work on. He says rust free. I know the typical rust spots on those jeeps so that shouldn't be an issue when I go to look at it. It's not a daily driver for the owner. The only thing I don't like is it has the old style roll bar's. Not a big issue, I'll have to keep an eye on craigslist for a family style roll bar from a 92-95. There's one for sale right now for $60 about 2 hours away from me.

If the Jeep is as good as he describes and the pictures show than I know it is worth around 6k to $6.5k.

I've already told him I have no money to offer toward the trade but he's still interested in seeing the Suburban.

He asked what I thought my Suburban was worth. I told him I don't know, maybe in the 6k range but I wasn't sure. I didn't pay that much for it but from what I've seen for sale in the 4k-5k range around here I feel my Suburban is in much better shape.

Most Suburban's I've seen for sale are in the 2k range but they are usually highmilage and rusty. I've seen several in the 4k-5k range that have around 100k miles and faded paint.

Maybe I'm off on thinking my Suburban is worth 6k. Thats why I started this thread, to find out a ballpark on what the Suburban is worth. I think it's a fair trade.

[68Timber]

Originally Posted by A1980GMC

I would stay away from an 88 Wrangler. 87 is when Chrysler started screwing up Jeep. Of course they have come a long way since then but Chrysler was sticking Peugeot transmissions in them. The early Chrysler Jeeps are some of the worst Jeeps.
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I remember that well. Brand new Jeeps busting transmissions. Those 5-speeds were terrible.

[70-K5]

Better question is what did you pay for the Suburban in the first place.

Value the trade for the jeep vs what you have into the Suburban. Sounds like you got a deal so you'd be ahead on the jeep.

[mgchevyparts]

The key ingredient is condition of the Jeep. It needs to be at least as good as your Suburban. Ideally you want to end up on the better end of this trade. Suburbans are popular for people with the need to carry a family, used Suburbans as old as yours do not sell for a high amount. Young couples with not so much money are the ones mainly in the market for a Suburban like yours. $6K is probably top dollar for your Sub. I think the Jeep appeals to a wider audience when you decide to sell it, IF it's in very good condition. Jeeps are very, very popular vehicles in general. The Jeep is probably worth around the same in very good condition but in a few years from now it'll appeal to more buyers then a very old Suburban. Gas cost is high and isn't going down in our lifetime.
If I didn't need the Suburban (size) and the Jeep is in good shape I'd do it, but then I don't keep my old cars very long.

[motornut]

your burb looks mint,keep it,but might get that $$ here
If your used to the space downsizing was hard for me(burb to jimmy)
towing?

lol up here,a "88 Wrangler" is a GM pickup truck,

bring us the burb and get a Canadian Wrangler!