I'm getting ready to buy a 2002 grand jeep Laredo with 197000 miiles.... Am I crazy? My mechanic friend has services the car for 9 years says it's a great car? What to do?

No way in hell that I'd buy a used car / truck (of any kind) with almost 200,000 miles. Especially NOT a Jeep. I'd say to steer clear of it. Your mechanic "friend" has likely made a lot of $$$ over the 9 years!

Depends on how much you are paying for the car and how much you trust your mechanic friend. A car with 200,000 miles is what I would call a project car or mechanic's special. It's fine, so long as you are able/willing to do some work on it 'cause it's likely to need it. If you had to pay someone to do that work for you however, it can get to be an expensive car. Questions I'd ask the owner: Has the timing chain ever been replaced, has the heater core ever been replaced, has the valve train ever been serviced, has the clutch ever been replaced, and so on. I don't think there is anything wrong with a high-mileage car, I've driven some well over 300K miles, but you have to expect some mechanical issues to crop up.

I'm paying two thousand dollars...I will ask the questions you posed...I'm totally conflicted...I drove the car and loved it but now I'm concerned though he says the car is wonderful...if anyone has any more feedback I'd appreciate it. I'm not in a good financial place to be putting money into a car...I have a Chevy lumina I would be selling to buy the jeep which has 100,000 miles...mechanic says the jeep is a better car...I've put more money in the lumina at this point than I will make but an suv meets my needs better....help me make decisions please...

Mechanic says Chevy needs 1500 worth of work

I had to replace fuel filter now needs fuel system and new gas tank?

A car with 100K miles needing a new fuel system and gas tank...? That's not a typical wear item, was it damaged? I'd take it to another mechanic for a second opinion. I'd also be leery of buying another high-mileage vehicle if my budget was very limited. $2000 for a 13-year old 200K-mile vehicle is too high. I'm thinking your mechanic friend isn't much of a friend. Sell the Lumina and go buy a budget car with minimal payments.

Agreed! Sell the Lumina ...AVOID the Jeep (another high mileage American car nightmare that will be a financial drain on you). Get a used Toyota Echo, Yaris, Corolla...or maybe a Honda Civic.

I have had our 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee for 13 years, we just pushed 367,000 miles. All I had to do around 171,000 was front and rear bearings, and a lower engine seal. @ about 212,000 I finally replaced all 4 rotors, all 4 pads, and all 4 calipers; also the black lines going to the calipers. I beat the shit out of this Jeep for years, I would definitely buy another. However, one with 197,000 on it, I would get a maintenance record and stay under $3500.

How much does it cost to replace the front wheel bearings axle and c joints I'm looking to buy one to only I'm paying 1200 for the vehicle and I need a 4 wheel drive vehicle with room to haul and tow plus can fit 5 people