There comes a certain point for every car enthusiast where a model you once loved from afar or from within the confines of your own garage is no longer available as the cheap runabout that you remember. The YJ-series Jeep Wrangler was about as basic as it got for 4×4 transportation, and like all Wranglers, plenty of them were used and abused and simply dumped on the local classifieds site when no longer practical for daily life. This 1995 Jeep Wrangler Sahara edition listed here on craigslist is a rare exception with right around 25K miles and in exceptional condition.
Thanks to Barn Finds reader Mike F. for the find. The asking price on this truck is going to shock many of you, coming in at a heady $45,000. While I tend to be more open-minded than most when it comes to vehicles getting what they deserve price-wise, I have to admit this number surprised even me. However, I can’t recall seeing one this nice, and certainly not with exceedingly low miles. Combine that with the fact that it’s a super desirable Sahara edition that adds in some of the best features ever offered in a Wrangler of this era, and you start to see why the seller is asking what they are.
There wasn’t much in the way of luxury or convenience features in the YJ trucks, and really, it’s only in the last 10 years that you could even dream of asking for a Wrangler with parking sensors and blind spot monitoring capabilities. In the late 90s, if you wanted to own and drive the most loaded up Wrangler you could find, the Sahara edition was the box you wanted to check. Gorgeous two-tone interiors with forest green upholstery and tan piping, along with complimentary carpeting, door panels, and a center console made for a very handsome Jeep, and this truck with its time-warp mileage remains in absolutely mint condition inside.
The seller notes this Saraha edition is bone stock and completely original, and that alone makes this YJ a rare find. Although not modified for power, almost every Wrangler gets a lift kit and a set of brush guards in the same way every Fox body Mustang gets a set of Flowmasters. The Jeep comes with the venerable 4.0L inline-six which needs no introduction here. While some of the upper trim levels of the YJ line were found with automatic transmissions, this desirable Sahara edition also comes with the preferred manual gearbox. While it will take the right kind of buyer to pay near $50K, I don’t doubt that someone out there is pondering how much they’d spend for the cleanest Sahara edition in existence.
Jeez Louis, not sure where to begin with this foolishness. You’d think I would be happy to see a similar vehicle with such a price, but I’m not. This is nothing more than pure thievery, and as a Jeep owner, I’m tempted to write this person giving them “what for”. Jeep ownership is all about camaraderie, similar to the old trucker days, or used to be. We all have a kindred sense of USA pride, and I’m sorry, $50 grand is unacceptable. It’s not a 454 Camaro, or a ’56 Packard, it’s a freakin’ Jeep and will remind you of that with every ride. All this tells me is the desperation and miscues of some people today.
Complaining aside, it really is a nice one, and shows someone didn’t like it, hence the low miles, ( I looked at YJs with 300K) and don’t be fooled by this, plenty of Jeeps around, and 5 figures is just too much for what it is. Don’t get me wrong, I love my YJ, and am very happy with it for $3500 bucks, but for $50 grand, many that would love one too are simply out of luck. Aw, but ain’t that America,,,.
I too think this is a ridiculous price. I bought a nice stripper ‘94 YJ for $3k a few years back. If it were still as I bought it, I figure that it would easily be worth twice what I paid for it. I can’t see anything near $45k- but that doesn’t make the seller a thief. The market will determine the current value. You, me, and this seller, are free to ask whatever they want. As long as the vehicle is represented honestly, it is not a crime for the seller to ask whatever they desire to ask.
Boy Howard…I wish you offered a ‘shopping service’ for those looking to buy a nice used YJ! My wife wants one…says it’s on her bucket list (we’re both 70!) and other than looking at various cars-for-sale-mega-sites I have no clue as to how to go about it…
Price and tires too large far as I’m concerned Howard. 30×9.50×15 are ideal on these. Love Jeeps.
Howard the trucker camaraderie is gone,they put friggin rubber ducks on each other’s Jeeps at the grocery store! and it’s not a tribute C.W. McCall..
Bravo! Howard.
Insane. And includes stupid square headlights for that discount price. Sorry Howard, these are good vehicles but they screwed up with those.
Plenty of $5-6k 80-90k mile original Wranglers around here. Not to mention decent CJ’s can be found for under $15k, and they are more desirable.
I’ve personally always loved those headlights more than the circular ones.
“Honest dear, I’m trying to sell the jeep but no one’s offering to buy it!”
Asking 45k and no pics of the underside? Here in the northeast the first thing I check for is rust. Nice rust-free YJ’s and TJ’s sell for 10k-20k all day long. One only needs to look at completed auctions (BaT, ebay) and at asking prices on CL, FB, and dealers (online and local). It seems this listing will garner more comments on the asking price than on the vehicle itself
Too much money as I am a Jeep/Chrysler tech since 1993. I know it looks clean and has low miles but it does not have A/C. This is the last year with leaf springs front and rear. Most all 4.0 liter engines leak oil from the rear main oil seal and the valve cover even though the are really good engines. Like othe r comments I would like to see undercarriage pictures. I have a 1990 jeep cherokee since 2002 and I just put it up for sale at $7000 dollars and I will see what people offe.
Mark, any advice for a 1993 XJ with 60k original miles, from CA with AW4 issues? I bought it on BAT, and once purchased I mentioned to the seller that the trans pan is a little wet. As a “favor” he took it to the mechanic where they proceeded to flush the trans and put an additive in.
Sometimes when in first at 5mph or less there’s just no contact at all. Like you’re in neutral. Same when coming to a stop. If you give it some gas it’ll then catch. Also, some shifts come later than they should. I suspect the original owner, who was older and then the second owner, never changed the trans fluid and the flush killed it.
Everything I read says they’re never the same after a rebuild. Reman? I’m not throwing a random used one in it. There’s gotta be a NOS one sitting on a shelf at some dealership lol. I wish. Maybe replacing solenoids would help?
Depending on how clean your XJ is, consider BAT. If you search 1993’s on there, mine is the light gold Sport, one of the first sold.
My reply to Eric B. My 1990 jeep 4door xj 4.0 4×4 has 258 000 miles on it. I just put a used trans in it. The original had no first or fourth gears. I tried everything before replacing it. I tried a tps sensor, fluid change, and all the solinoids with no change. Since I have three other vehicles it sat around for a while. The trick is finding a used one since certain years have different output splines. !987-1990, 1then 1991-1995 and 1996-2001 The out put splines are different. I did keep my old transmission maybe to sell used needing a rebuild. By the way my dad has a 1997 with 210 000 miles and my brother has a 1996 with 212 000 miles with no trsns problems. I was the unlucky one! You can also try adjusting the trans kick down cable at the throtle body a little bit for different shifting points
Hey Mark, thanks for the reply. Indeed, they’re one of the best engines. 4-500,000 isn’t unheard of. The AW4 gets mixed opinions from what I see. Mainly good, but they tend to run hot and if there is eventually an issue, like we have, they’re can be a mess. Interestingly, they were used in Toyota Supras (I believe) of the same era. Thanks for letting me know you tried all of that. I have reset the kick down cable a few times and thought it did the trick once, but nope.
Unfortunately, I think it’s fate is a rebuild and hope for the best. Just have to find the right guy. Thanks again for the reply!
glad I could help. Yes the aw4 also came in midsize Toyota trucks
Probably the owner is thinking the huge price of a new one nowadays and the dependability of the older Wranglers vs the new ones has a lot of problems all the wrangler websites tell ther stories of ownership and the many troubles they have had with the newer ones from engine lifter camshaft wear to water pumps oil filter housings oh the list gos on so I will stop there. And keep my 2001 Wrangler TJ 60 year edition it has been great and just turned 60,000 miles so its a keeper and not much to maintain
They’re actually sorta reasonable now. New 6 speed V6 manuals can be found around 30k, if I travel a bit some dealers are showing them 28-29k. I was surprised.
Online price apps say the 2025 Jeep Wrangler Sahara has an MSRP starting at $48,870.
Steve R
I have 60th anniversary XJ just hit 370k
More like 23,000. I’d say prior to looking underneath.
Last fall I sold my 1993; a 190,000 mile 4.0 five speed with minimal rust for 3k. It was cosmetically challenged but everything worked like it was supposed to. Mine didn’t have A/C either. A/C is kind of useless in a Jeep with the doors removed. Both the buyer and me were happy with the sale. As to the subject YJ there is no denying that it is super nice and the low miles are pretty amazing. Since I am still trying to refrain from criticizing sellers asking prices; I won’t say anything about this particular item. I don’t think I need to. While I am at it; what is it with the hate for the YJ square headlights? Those headlights and the windshield wipers parked at a 45 degree angle are YJ hallmarks.
Disliking something is not hate. That term has a heavy meaning and is used too quickly.
Didn’t mind square on the XJ, but being a CJ fan didn’t like them. And most people didn’t, thus jeep changed it asap.
Everyone loves nostalgia till your sun burnt , its getting ready to rain and your bikini top left miles away!
The eBay add says it’s located in Putnam valley New York. The seller thinks it’s something special, it might be, but not that special. As mentioned above, the square headlights ruin their look and limit their appeal, even in the SF Bay Area, where desirable cars live forever due to the absence of rust I can’t remember the last time a saw a Jeep from this generation.
As for the seller being greedy, that nothing new or worth getting worked up about. In the early-80’s after school on Fridays me and a couple friends would go to the local 7-11 and get that weeks AutoTrader, we’d get a good laugh at ads like this then move on. Today for some reason people have lost their sense of humor. As punishment for overpricing his Jeep, the seller will be stuck with it for a long time and forced to field calls from people wanting to giving him a piece of their mind.
One last thing, this has been for sale for a while, those pictures, which are obviously designed for an ad weren’t taken recently.
Steve R
Yeah, as a teen during the mid-nineties, thanks for the trip down memory lane with AutoTrader!
For whatever reason, we are in the age of “everything 30 years old is valuable”. Nope, AMC/Chrysler built 632,000 Jeep Wrangler YJs. It outsold all the 76 and newer CJs before it. Maybe it is my age, but it seems everyone is hanging onto nostalgia instead of comparing this to a $32k stripped sport Wrangler JL that will drive like a dream, has a/c, a great top, modern stereo, power windows, power locks…
I have a 1981 CJ-5 here in the SW. It is loud, leaks, the manual steering is weird, I’m a bit squished (6’1″), hauling most things sucks, yet it is my favorite car I’ve owned and is super reliable. My CJ still wears its original 1 year only paint color, has an uncut dash, after market EFI, and HEI ignition, yet I know it is worth $12k TOPS (more like $8k to $9k).
$45k is insane for this.
These were the YJ’s to have in my opinion. I had the chance to buy one just like it but with AC and needing a new soft top (and 100k miles and not as pristine) in the early 2000’s for $4500. I got spooked when I checked the oil and it was a quart or so low. The AC worked! It’d cool your knees just fine! AC is kind of pointless on these (at least with a soft top or no top at all), but I’ve always wanted a Jeep with it. Why the heck not, right?
I won’t comment on the price of this one.
Even with the top down AC feels better than no AC!
This is a nice YJ and I usually try to compliment (or not) the vehicle, not the price. It’s not the vehicle’s fault because somebody over priced it. I have a 2016 Rubicon Rock Crawler edition. I paid just a few bucks more for it brand new than the one listed here. I once posted a picture of it here and got berated by the old school Jeepers. Even accused of lining the dash with ducks (which I don’t) and some female accusations. I happen to respect all models and will call them out for what they are. Nothing personal to anyone. I’ve never had the vehicle off road and enjoy putting through town on sunny days. It has 8K miles on it. Perhaps when I’m gone my kids can place it here. I will remind them to not overprice it!
One thing nice if you are keeping a newer jeep they make a LS swap kit and you can drive many more miles without engine problems
https://bruiserconversions.com/jeep-ls-conversion-kits/
They are rectangular not square.
Wow is all I have !!
Had one just like it, riding in it reminded me of my go cart from the 70’s, with about as much power.
Don’t think I would dish out that much loot for that experience.
Really your go cart had 180hp? Bet that thing was a beast
This thing has been on and off the market so many times the last 3+ years, same price range, I assume the same seller. I, too, have considered just messaging seller with a laughing emoticon. This is absurd. Tomfoolery… Nincompoopery!
Got a 95 with 150, 4 cyl 5 speed, just to run around the island,me and my dog……priceless
Amazing what beautiful images your statement conjured up in my head, Donald. Thanks!
Got a ’91 4cyl – 5-speed Sahara @ salvage auction while looking for parts for a customer car ! Pulled the front, new radiator and leaf springs – full doors/hardtop gave me winter travel & popping those off and bikini top on and loading the BF Doberman in, I was ready for summer- still in the driveway now 30yrs later ! Don’t use it anymore tho – Great all around fun vehicle 😀 plus jeepers wave all the time , how friendly can a ride be – Ha !
There have been a few similar examples sold on BaT. Green Sahara yj’s with really low mileage in excellent condition. Two weeks ago one with supposedly 500 miles sold for 47. In September one with 6000 miles sold for 50. That’s where they’re getting their price from, but they’re not going to get that price unless they sell it there or one of the big auctions.
Us lowly barn finds readers don’t live in the same world as people who have 50k for a Jeep. The buyers are most likely 40 something tech bros who loved these growing up.
Last summer a nice CJ pulled into the gas station. Blasting edm/ techno, driven by a 20 something snob. The late 50’s guy the next row over, driving a beat up minivan and looking beat up himself, told him he used to have one as a kid, would love to have another and was fawning over it. The kid told him good luck, they’re really hard to find, barely talked to him, essentially stuck up his nose and left, again blasting hideous techno. I found it quite sad and a sign of the times. At least it was someone young that’s actually into old vehicles.
The price for this is crazy, but there’s people out there willing to pay close to it. Better spent on this than a new “Jeep” if you are going to spend that kind of money.
@DSC – they didn’t make 4 cyl Saharas.
Craigslist is the wrong place to list for that kind of money. Is it worth it anyway, probably not, but also not the silly prices people in the comments are throwing around comparing decades old previous purchase prices or clapped out Jeeps. As someone else noted, collectors have caught on to the YJ and are paying good money for clean, low mile, unmodified examples – mainly Sahara models (particularly so) and Islander models.
And Howard – “It’s not a 454 Camaro, or a ’56 Packard, it’s a freakin’ Jeep and will remind you of that with every ride.”
Yeah, both of those examples will remind you with every ride they aren’t worth what they are fetching now either just based on their driving quality. Actually, I’d rather the Jeep!
It isn’t the ride driving the prices up.
Heh Heh Heh. I told my Wife I wanted to buy my 85 CJ 7 Laredo as an investment and she thought I wanted a new toy. I got both and now I can tell her “I told you so”.