Well that's the question. I'll just share a few thoughts since they've been on my mind a lot, and to explain why I've been a member of this forum for over 3.5 years and STILL don't have a JK.

In February of 2007 my 95 YJ that I built up so beautifully was wrecked. I immediately joined this forum and began to part my Jeep despite having major wrist surgery and working with only one hand. The plan was to part what was left of my YJ and use that towards a decent down payment for a new JK plus a few months of saving. So by summer I finally had a bit over 30% to put down on a Rubicon Unlimited. It was then that I decided to start putting money away towards a house considering my circumstances at the time. So I basically rolled over my JK down payment into my new house fund. Wanted a JK but house is more important.

After almost 2 years of saving I found a house at a great time in the buyers market. So then all my money after moving in went to house projects. (Home Depot) I thought well I can put my first time home buyers credit towards a Jeep but then that was quickly reserved towards my wedding (which is not yet planned). Then of course my fiancee and I have a 3 year old too... but now she just graduated and should hopefully be making good money soon... after an extern-ship. Work seems to be picking up for me sooo.... My plan is to now start saving again for that down payment and hopefully get a JK sometime in spring or early summer... provided that the stars align, pigs fly and dirt turns to gold dust. Well we'll see. Maybe by that time the JK will get a better engine. Until then I'll just keep drooling over other peoples Wranglers, circling parts in catalogs and waiting patiently.

 

Your post gives me hope. Don't get me wrong, the world isn't going to hell in a hand basket but debt carried by the typical American consumer is all to often carried for all the wrong reasons.

You have prioritized on an appreciating investment in your home, invested in education and have been consciously saving to meet all those goals. I'm sure you'll get your JK when the time is right. Summer could bring incentives and as I understand it from talking to my local agriculture agent, summer 2011 is supposed to be a great year for flying pigs!

Best of luck to you and your family and hopefully we'll see your new rig this summer. Heck ... You could be the first JKF member to have a JK with the Pentastar.

 

Sounds like you are going about it the right way. I just did about the same thing. Then I got lucky and someone traded in a 09 already lifted sitting on brand new rubicon take off tires and wheels. I got that for just 17k so I just couldn't pass that deal up, didn't even drive it anything just told them to make it mine. I have loved it ever since. Hang in there the right deal will come along that is just right for you.

 

Well
Let me tell you this:

I was born in a country that only a millionaire can afford Wranglers...
After I immigrated to Canada, I had to wait 5+ long years before I managed to purchase my ever first Wrangler, at age 29...!!!
I, like you, got myself married + mortgage + one new baby waaaay before I bought my JK.

Don't worry, and take your time! JK's ain't going anywhere

 

It's cool you've got your priorities straight. It'll seem so much sweeter after you get it. I was 31 when I got my Wrangler. I've wanted one since I was about 7. I've had it for a year now and I still love it. I still look out the window and stare at it for a few seconds before taking another step. I got my education, then my wife, then my Jeep, and I'm now in the process of signing papers for my first house. Another year or two and I hope to have my garage. Life is good. Glad you're on the right path. Dare to dream!

 

Just think, one day when you get a brand new JK (or whatever model is the newest when you buy), it will most likely have the greatest interior, updated engine, and whatever other technology that comes out! oh, and it will have like 50 miles or less, while my JK will have more miles and lesser value ;-)

Hang in there!

 

It sounds like you have your priorities in the right order. Don't get in over your head financially for a vehicle. You and your upcoming family will be a lot happier.

 

I completely agree with everyone and want to say thank you for being smart about your priorities. I, like you, bought a house before getting the JK and had to wait about a year after buying the house before I saved up enough to put a large enough down payment on the JK to be able to afford the monthly payments.

I actually would not have gotten the JK (as it would have been far cheaper to keep my old ZJ) but my ZJ started to have multi-organ failure and the cost of upkeep of my ZJ began to approach the payments on a new bare-bones JK. At that point I decided that having a more reliable and fun vehicle for close to the same cost was worth it to upgrade.

I will also tell you to be patient when waiting to buy the JK. The reason: as soon as you get it then you will start to crave modding your brand new JK and spending even more money! I am keeping mine essentially stock until it is paid off as the monthly payments are expensive enough that I can't really afford to buy larger tires to take it hardcore off-roading and then repair any trail damage

Hang in there and the JK will be the reward after kicking ass at buying a house, starting a family, and achieving financial security!

 

It's great to hear of someone with they're shit together. I started my own company 16 years ago and worked 2 jobs 12 of those, just to make it work. The last 4 years have made the 12 before worth it .So I guess what I'm saying is that it will come in good time.Keep up the hard work and purseverance(?),good things to come.

 

im not certain in this market that buying a house is a good financial decision other than it does give you a place to call your own and a sense of stability rather than going from apartment to apartment....

I do commend you for keeping priorities and thinking about such things as your kid, and soon to be wife.. however.. there is also another thought..

I bought my first house in 2004 (the one I own now).. I was excited, had it built from the ground up...

I sold a classic 1976 eldorado convertible, and also with some inheritance money put some money down and bought the new house....

the builder offered me a no money down option, however I put down somewhere between 18 and 19 percent just because I felt that was the right thing to do.

shortly after moving in I hit the magic 20% equity and my PMI was gone.. sitting at a 5.5% fixed 30 year rate I felt pretty good....

then the housing bust happened.....

I recently got a thing in the mail that I could re-fi my mortgage to a 3.75% fixed term 30 yr.. so I called....

an appraisor did an outside walk around half-wit appraisal.. and they asked questions about the house....

in the 6 years ive owned it, ive installed a complete state of the art hybrid HVAC zoned system, done landscaping, replaced carpet with solid oak floors, all the lighting is GREATLY upgraded.., security system, cameras, monitored fire protection, kept the yard nice.. yada yada...

what i got back from the bank was them telling me that after all those improvements, and the 18% down, and 6 years of payments.. that I am at NEGATIVE EQUITY!! because the values in my area have plummeted THAT MUCH!!!.. so they couldnt approve the loan unless I were to RE_MAKE!! a 20%+ down payment..... (that 3.5 rate is based on 20% equity).. doesnt matter that I make great money, credit is good, etc....

so to you I would say... screw what everyone tells you about home ownership, the future, etc because we really have no idea what is going to happen... and I would go down, take advantage of low finance rates, the fact you have a good job, and order you that brand new JK you want!.. or pick up a 2010 for an even better deal! and enjoy it.....

granted, I would not take any money out of a 401k or such to buy the JK.. but I also wouldnt save forever only to find something else happens....

and yes I like my house very much and have no intentions of walking away from it and making the situation worse for other homeowners.. however the next house i buy will probably not have me skrimping and saving for any bigger down payment than i have to.. to get the keys...

-Christopher