Wood paneling makes everything better, even today’s Nice Price or Crack Pipe Jeep Commander. Still, some people can’t see the forest for the trees, and we’ll have to decide if you can see paying this three-row Jeep’s price.
Information is power, and there wasn’t enough information regarding the history of yesterday’s 2001 Acura Intera GS-R to make some feel empowered in casting their vote. Did it really exhibit body panels that were off-color, perhaps indicating a former repair? Or, was that just a trick of the light? Why did the car come with aftermarket headlamps—tomfoolery, or just a former owner seeking to look a little fancy? So it went in the questioning comments.
In the end, enough of us were blinded by the power of a reasonably clean and rare GS-R four door—and all the Armor All’d surfaces it presented—that the car took home an easy 58 percent Nice Price win at its $4,433 price.
Do you like Jeep Wagoneers? Of course you do. You may not ever want to personally own one, but I’m sure you appreciate their existence on the planet in the same way you do… of, I don’t know, bacon. One of the things that make Wagoneers so gosh-darn adorable is their propensity to come adorned with woodgrain paneling.
Now, at the dawn of the automotive age pretty much every car on the planet had some amount of wood in its construction, oftentimes as wheels, clutch material (cork), and for all I know, piston rings. As cars evolved, the amount of wood generally decreased (save for Morgans) until its presence actually became a unique and notable factor, engendering the nickname of “Woody.”
Real wood, being heavy, and requiring unique maintenance was eventually replaced by metal and later plastic wood trim, but the panache of planks on cars and trucks still continued apace.
The idea in fact, was realized as recently as just a decade ago, as evidenced by this 2007 Jeep Commander, which has custom phony-baloney woodwork on its flanks and hatch and looks… how shall I say this, awesome! Considering its size, it’s a literal lumbering giant.
There are a number of companies that made wood panel appliqués for the Commander, but most of those go a little overboard, extending the paneling to down below the rub strip. This one seems to be mama bear just right and evokes a strong spidey sense of Wagoneer heritage in its appearance. It all looks clean and both the panelling and the white paint beneath seem to be in decent shape.
The grey interior appears to be holding up its end of the bargain too. The leather on the seats seems perfectly serviceable and there appears to be no missing kibbles or bits in here. Weather Tech mats protect the floor making this a perfect Uber ride for carting drunk sorority sisters/frat bros around all night without the fear of suffering puke rug stink the next AM.
The ad notes that the 103,000-mile car comes in “very good condition” and with newer brakes and exhaust. That’s pretty much ALL the ad says. It doesn’t give the model of Commander, nor its cylinder count, which seems sort of a big deal. It does note in the ad descriptor that its a “2007 Land Rover Range Rover HSE” which is both hysterical and sort of baffling. I mean, I’m baffled, are you?
Looking at the interior with its leather seats, power passenger throne and Boston Acoustics stereo speakers, I’m going to go out on a limb here and say this is a Limited model. That means it probably has the 4.7-litre V8 (235 horsepower) and five-speed automatic transmission. The AWD is also probably Jeep’s Quadra-Trac II.
The car comes with a clean title and the seller demands “serious inquiries only” so I guess I am shit out of luck.
The Commander was kind a sales dud over its short five-year model run, but they seem to hold their value reasonably well. Earlier models are still asking a bit above five grand, while the later ’08—’10 models can command (get it?) mid-teens prices.
This one comes in right in the middle at $9,995, and it has the added perk of all that (fake) wood. What do you think, does that panelling add to this Jeep’s value? More importanly, does that make its price feel like a deal? Or, does that make you want to tell the seller to go climb a tree?
You decide!
Washington DC Craigslist, or go here if the ad disappears.
H/T to Rk19 for the hookup!
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