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Luxury Off-Roader: 1988 Jeep Wagoneer Limited

Delving into the wilds to escape the hustle and bustle of daily life is attractive, but what is the best way to get there? If the idea of completing such journeys in comfort is irresistible, this 1988 Jeep Wagoneer could be the perfect tool for the job. It presents well for its age and is loaded with enough luxury appointments to make every trip a special occasion. It is in excellent mechanical health, having been appropriately maintained throughout its life. If it sounds too good to be true, you will find the Jeep listed here on eBay in Ashland, Mississippi. Bidding sits below the reserve at $4,950, but there is time for interested readers to make a play for this beauty.

The overall presentation of this Jeep is impressive for a vehicle of this type and age. The kind of life these often live can leave the paint scratched and the faux woodgrain damaged. This Wagoneer has avoided those issues, which is a significant factor to consider. Damaged vinyl can be the more challenging of these potential flaws to address because it generally fades with age. Therefore, matching a single damaged section is virtually impossible. Most owners elected to replace the lot or scrap the vinyl entirely. That isn’t an issue here, with the only flaw being broken edge trims in both rear door frames. Otherwise, there is little to criticize. The original Pearl White paint shines nicely, the panels are as straight as an arrow, and there is no rust to cause sleepless nights. The glass looks flawless, and the only trim fault is a small ding in the back bumper that is virtually impossible to spot in the supplied photos.

The equipment levels inside a 1988 Wagoneer Limited aren’t overwhelming by modern standards, but this vehicle would have catered to the top end of the market when it rolled off the lot. The buyer receives ice-cold air conditioning, power windows, power locks, six-way power front seats, cruise control, a leather-wrapped tilt wheel, and seats covered in leather and cloth. The only visible upgrade is to the in-car entertainment, with the original radio/cassette player making way for a Pioneer radio/CD player with Bluetooth. The overall condition of the interior is impressive, with no significant wear, no broken trim, and no stains on the seats or carpet. The woodgrain on the dash and doors accentuates the luxurious feel, and this is as spotless as the rest of the interior.

Powering this Jeep is the fuel-injected 4.0-liter six that sends its power to the road via a four-speed automatic transmission. With 177hp and 224 ft/lbs of torque on tap, this classic would be equally at home on a winding dirt track or a freeway. Power assistance for the steering and brakes makes light work for the driver in either situation. The seller is this classic’s fourth owner, purchasing it in 2021. It has 124,000 miles on the clock and has been appropriately maintained. If correct, the bulletproof reputation enjoyed by the 4.0-liter means the new owner could double the odometer reading before needing to perform any significant work. It runs and drives perfectly and is a turnkey proposition for a new owner.

Some off-roaders are a one-trick pony, and while they will comfortably bash their way into the wilderness, they are all at sea on the highway. That isn’t the case with the 1988 Jeep Wagoneer Limited. These are accomplished vehicles in rough terrain but will comfortably cruise all day at highway speeds. The condition of this one is better than average, with no apparent needs or significant faults. Its few imperfections could be addressed in a few hours in a home workshop without spending a fortune. The bidding has been subdued, but the seller indicates they have set their reserve at $15,000. That figure gels well with recent sales results, so it will be fascinating to see if it achieves their expectations.

Comments

  1. Avatar photo TheOldRanger

    I never thought this one “looked like a Jeep”…. kinda like putting lipstick on a …. well, you know.

    Like 1
  2. Avatar photo chrlsful

    dont remember this grill. Hummm thinkin back to ‘then’ I cant remember what I was lookin at (just switchin from 50/60s itilian to 1st gen bronks, I guess).

    This 1 looks good, sure wish it had the 258 tho (w/weber 32/36). One of the Qudra-thingie-Drive systems was pretty good. I forget which but this might have it. Looks to have auto which is good for somethings (nota truck in my mind but jeep int realy ‘a truck’) and rear wont match up toa 9 inch but doesnt hafta reach that hi anyway. Mopwr has the 2nd best rear axels.

    Over all might bea good one if stayin in the 10K$ range. Not an off rd wrk truck by any means but a true dual purpose, just expect no fuel sipper. In such an app I’d go for smaller, better MPGs & give a lill in the off rd ability (smaller is better there anyway).

    Like 2
  3. Avatar photo JMB#7

    I had two different 1988 models, both with the 4 liter. I liked the 5 speed manual best for daily driving and mpg. It was great for low speed off-road as well. The other with the automatic was better for towing our boat. I prefer the normal two headlight arrangement over the Limited’s 4 headlights. BFG All-Terrain KO, or Cooper Discoverer AT3 will leave you wondering if you’ll ever need to put it in 4wd.

    Like 1
  4. Avatar photo Howard A Member

    Stacked headlights looked corny. Regardless, we can all agree, these sure changed the world of transportation for Americans.

    Like 1

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