1998 Jeep Wrangler SE 2dr 4WD SUV for sale in Bakersfield, CA
Listed at $8,000 USD.
Very reluctantly, I have decided to sell my Jeep, “Augustus.” It has taken me on countless adventures. When I lived in Palmdale it would find itself off-road in the Angeles National Forest nearly every week. After moving to Bakersfield, those mountains are two hours away, and the Los Padres National Forest (which I also know and love) is just a little too far for weekly excursions. My work is also more demanding now. And I have decided that I don’t want Augustus to become just a city truck: he was made for off-road adventures! I want to sell Augustus to someone who will put in the work to get him in top shape and actually use him for the things he was built to do. This jeep has regularly taken two people and four dogs through extremely rough terrain without breaking a sweat. Good things about this Jeep: Just two years from "classic" status! 1998 was the first model year to REintroduce the round headlights, giving you classic Jeep styling; it was the first year to INTROduce coil-spring suspension, making for a much more comfortable ride in the roughest terrain. The straight-six engine is legendary for being practically "bulletproof" - properly maintained, it will likely outlive us all. The people I bought this Jeep from were of the opinion that the original, long-time owners put a lot of the then-miles on it under tow, since they were avid RVers. Can’t guarantee this, but it seems plausible in light of the mechanical condition of the truck. Replaced within the last few years: Both door latches Passenger door lock Tailgate lock Starter switch Headlight switch Starter Replaced this year: All five tires (we can provide the receipt; whether or not they’d be under warranty for you is between you and CostCo) Plastic coolant cap Included: Original factory hard-top Fast-back style soft-top from Bestop (the best), used only seasonally so it’s in good shape Sun shade (great under the soft top for when it's open) Ball hitch with lock Lock nuts for wheels Trunk (onboard when I bought the truck; rough condition; I removed and never used it, but all it really needs is to be stripped and painted as it’s all steel) If desired, rubber duckies that have been conferred upon this jeep by various people over the years Available for purchase: Cargo rack (inserts into trailer hitch) Bike rack (ditto) Things you should know about this jeep: Needs a new coat of paint, especially the hood Does not have antilock brakes (but does have the shelf for the unit, which could be retrofitted) Airbag light is permanently on; status of airbags unknown Has an electrical issue that my mechanic has not been able to diagnose which, very occasionally and briefly, causes all the gauges to go dead Most importantly, has a very slow oil leak due to aging valve cover gasket, rear main seal, timing cover, and oil pan gasket, which will eventually need to be addressed; my mechanic said that as long as you pay attention to the oil level and keep it topped up it could go on as-is for quite a while; I found that, when taking the jeep on off-road trips weekly and driving it to work and back daily (7 mins each way), I’d need to add oil about every couple of months. But a proper repair, which would involve removing the engine, is best. Price reflects the anticipated approximate cost of this work. If you are in Bakersfield, I can bring the Jeep to you to view.
