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Tuesday, I took it out by myself and I would like to apologize to anyone who felt snubbed because I didn't wave. I found myself thinking "clutch, shift, brake, clutch, neutral, shift, don'tstalldon'tstalldon'tstall, gas, clutch, shift, didImissanywaves?" It's going to take a while to refresh my manual transmission skills. I actually took it to a friend's house and she wanted to load up her toddlers to go for an errand. The carseats actually fit in and we tested the cargo capacity (slim to none) with her Target purchases. Surprisingly, the little ones loved it!
Later, DH tried to put the locking lug nuts on, but could only get the one on the spare tire. It appears that the tools that came with the Jeep don't fit our bigger tires. Still trying to find the best place to store the windows. There's no good flat place in the garage and all flat surfaces in the house are vulnerable to the cats jumping on them. We plan to leave the top down all summer, since we can park it in the garage. How do others store their windows?
Rainy today and tomorrow, so I'm back in my Tahoe (no complaints, but it feels like a school bus).
It seems like everyone enjoys a new car story, so thanks for letting me share!
A.
I'm new to the jeep world and I'm hoping for a little advice. I found a 99 Sahara with 62k miles for $12,500. It's auto, with a 2 piece hard top and a new soft top, custom stereo (subs, amp, etc.) with mp3/cd player upgraded glove box and a lock box in the back. It seems to be in decent shape, although the paint on the side-view mirrors is all chipped--is this a jeep thing? It does turn over a couple of times before starting and has a custom exhaust that sounds like a mustang.
This will be a second car for me and I don't want to spend much more than this unless I really have to. Similar jeeps seem to be selling for more, but I'm just not sure. Any advice would be very welcome.
Thanks,
Scott
I was in the same indecision about the 'E' vs. 'H' package when I was initially looking. I ended up wanting to save the money on the 'H' and just get the 'E' package. More importantly, it seemed to me the 'E' was the main rugged "wheelin" Jeep and the 'H' package was the "stay-on-the-pavement-looking-nice-&-sounding-nice-all-the-time" Jeep. I wanted my Jeep with just enough options to cover my needs but not compromise the basic objective of the Wrangler which is to get down and dirty and maybe show its "rough-edges" once in awhile. After owning a Honda Civic and other "comfortable" road cars, I like the Wrangler's attitude of strong backbone and less "cosmetics"...though, with Wrangler fever I think all Wranglers are the most beautiful pieces of automotive genious that makes all other vehicles pale in comparison...but like I say, I recognize that I'm consumed with "The Fever" which I can't imagine will ever leave my body until I die!
From my observations on dealer lots, the chrome grille on the 'H' package appears to be simply a cover over the existing painted grille. It looks like it's just stuck on. After seeing it up close, my feeling was it was just another nook behind which dirt and water could collect and potentially cause premature rust in the long run since it's unlikely you'd ever be able to wash the debris from behind the grille. If you're really into the 'H' package's painted wider fenders, premium seats, and other options, you might ask your dealer if they order an '06 to line-out the chrome grille cover. I read some post here or somewhere awhile back that may be an option when ordering.
Regarding bug screen, I believe the screen attaches behind the grille slats and the A/C condenser coils so you'd still get bug splats on the front side of the 'H' package chrome grille...unless maybe there's a "bra" type cover that goes over the whole front of the Wranger.
Good luck!
Jim
It also does not leak, not even a little.
If you really want a Wrangler you should go ahead and get it. If you regret it, you'll be the first person I've ever heard of that did.
Yours in Jeep Coolness,
Dave
The Ranger is a good practical small truck, but it's rather lacking in 'fun' factor that the Wrangler has in spades!
You're never too old to have fun.
The soft top on my '05 unlimited has a bracket with a "pull-pin" ( :confuse: ) above the doors. The top is supposed to lower into this bracket and snap in easily (at least, according to the video they gave me). Anyway, I always end up having to force the top rail into the bracket above the passenger door. I've removed and reinstalled the door frame, and think I've tried every other possible solution. Is this an issue?
Help! I'm 52 years of age, and nearly at the point of buying my first Wrangler X. I need some opinions on the 2005 softtop..particularly whether or not the softtop is a problem with wind flapping, leakage, etc.
I live in Alabama, and probably wouldn't take the vehicle further than a 300 mile drive. Someone told me their 2002 (2003?) softtop flapped so much at highway speeds he had ringing in his ears for several hours following the trip.
I'm about to sell a perfectly good 2002 Ford Ranger Pickup to get the Wrangler X....good or bad decision as pertains to the softtop and potential problems???
If anyone feels so strongly that I may be making a mistake, by all means...please let me know! I'm "this" close to finalizing the deal.
Thanks to all in advance.....
I roll my windows up between beach towels and secure it with velcro, toss them in the backseat if it looks like it could rain before I get home at the end of the day.
If I'm not leaving town, they get flopped out on towels on top of the hard top in the shed.
jeff
we took my girlfriends jeep into St Louis last weekend, left the windows at her house,, and yes,, it rained before we got back to her house.
The only complaint I have is that I didn't buy a jeep 20 years ago instead of my 4 runner!!
jeff
As for the upper doors, I keep them with me on top of my trunk I built and under my duster, so if I DO get in rain, I can at least put them on to keep me somewhat dry. The duster keeps the back dry.
I was in St. Louis last weekend too (Mexico, MO actually), and that was a nice series of rain that came through there. I was REALLY wanting my Jeep there on Saturday!
-Paul
even more difficult to unsnap, the roll bar is in the way.
I keep a carabiner in the jeep, hook it into the loop to make pulling it easier. I also hook the carabiner into the zipper on the windows, saves running my fingers against the velcro.
jeff
Help! I'm 52 years of age, and nearly at the point of buying my first Wrangler X. I need some opinions on the 2005 softtop..particularly whether or not the softtop is a problem with wind flapping, leakage, etc.
I
If anyone feels so strongly that I may be making a mistake, by all means...please let me know! I'm "this" close to finalizing the deal.
Thanks to all in advance.....
your only mistake is waiting so long to buy a Jeep
i've got a hard top and soft top,,,
the soft top is nearly as quiet as the hard top, but I prefer no top!! Go ahead and buy that Jeep,, you won't ever regret it.
jeff
I'm now considering the LW2 'Lone Wrangler 2' or 'Love Wrangles, Too!".
Regarding that shrugging of blind brand loyalty...ahhh, well...I have to say that after the joy I've experienced in my first six days of being a Jeep Wrangler owner, I'd buy an old rusty bath tub if someone put a tag on it saying "Jeep Wrangler". Hey, brand loyalty is a good thing as long as the brand delivers and thus far, my Wrangler has already delivered more driving and ownership fun than I've experienced in my 23 years of driving combined!
Yes, Tom, I have hugged my Jeep...and kissed it, too...though, I may wash her first next time... :P
At 52 years of age, I suspect, like alot of us in this age bracket, I continue to find ways of playing with grown-up toys! In the last year, I went through a motorcycle and a boat (that didn't last long--couldn't keep remembering to insert the stern drainplug before launching...sheeshh..).
And, now the Wrangler. I'm intentionally getting the 6-speed, because to me, that's part of the driving experience of such a vehicle. Looking forward to the wind blowing my oh-too-premature graying hair and being the envy of my neighbor who is gloating over his two new jet skis!
Will we ever grow up? Never..I hope!
Thanks again!
Thank You
I got an email from the company I ordered the hardtop dolly from, and it should be shipped out to me within 2 weeks. After that, off with the hard top and on with the soft! (er, off with the soft?! :P )
One thing I've noticed, however, in the first week is, due to its extreme vertical angle, how my windshield catches bugs. I've noticed a few bug deflectors available for Jeep, are they any effective and how do they really look on the Jeep? If anyone on this forum has or had one I'd love to hear your opinions.
Jeeps are great fun.
Now for the bad news... All three of mine developed leaky rear brake cylinders that resulted in no rear braking. The '99 has finally reached what I would call a reliable state, probably due to the lack of remaining Mopar parts. I'm a mechanical guy, if you depend on the dealer for most repairs, PASS! :lemon:
I consider it a four wheel Harley. Drive it, fix it, repeat. I keep on buying them, though!
The Unlimited's extra padding makes it actually quieter than the Sport. There is more traffic noise, but less engine and road noise. The top does flap a bit if you have one of the windows cracked, but it is a soft tapping, not like the much louder flapping on the old soft tops. Otherwise it has to be pretty windy for it to flap otherwise. My biggest complaint for the soft top is the bar on the back window. I prefer to have the ability to easily lift the back window when I'm loading things in the back. I do admit that it is noisier than the tank-like Durango we rented this past weekend, but I still prefer the Jeep.
The Unlimited is our daily driver and our trip vehicle - it's been to Wyoming, Nevada numerous times, all over California and I still love it.
The only cure for Wrangler fever is to buy one. If you don't mind giving up many "creature comforts" then you'll have about the most fun vehicle you can get!
So all, I'm afraid my Rubicon has developed its first problem. There is a rattle in the driver's door that is starting to drive me crazy! Time for a trip to the dealership.
So what do you do to pay for the gas in your Jeep?
I'll go first. I'm a technical writer, and I'm in Grad School getting an MBA in management information systems. Kind of a yin and yang thing, I suppose.
I am the Technical Director for our mill, and my areas of responsibility are paper specifications, fiber combinations (recipes) for the various grades of paper, resins (used to saturate our paper for endurance), the paper making process, and experimental runs.
I will have been at that mill for 31 years on 6/26/05. Actually, I worked the last seven months of construction on the mill, but I was on the payroll of the general contractor then. I switched to the paper mill payroll on 6/26/74.
Tomster
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
Dan
Here is a pic of her a little dirty
Her name is Jeeves and the code name for off roading is golfing
I'd say they're probably 50% effective at deflecting bugs from the windshield. However, they're 100% effective at stopping bug splatter and stone chips on the leading edge of the hood.
The pay's terrible!
CHOW
Interesting how two similar sized competent 4wd vehicles from the same company can have such different characters.
My better half says we need steps on the side to help her and the kiddos getting in and out (plus by the way my 5 yo gets in, the door sills will be worn down in no time!)
Anyway been lookin at different options but heres my dilemma, I would to find something that fits all the following in order of importance:
1. Fits 2005 Unlimited (obviously!)
2. Able to be used as entry/exit step
3. Provides rocker panel protection off road
4. No need drill into frame rails for install
I found SRC side armor guards on JC Whitney that say "including Unlimited" but everywhere else (Quadratec, 4wd.com, etc) says they dont fit the Unlimited???
Any info or suggestions would be appreciated and thanks!
Toys by Troy and 4xDoctor are a couple brands you might try. I don't know their official website URL's, but you can do a search.
If I come across something, I will post.
Tomster
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
Here's their number: 1.888.717.6170
Please continue to keep the folks here updated on your progress on getting into a Wrangler.
I was quick enough to copy down your phone number from your first post before it was nuked.
At least you have hair for the wind to blow through. Me, I am getting real thin up there.
Still a happy camper.
Still a happy camper.
I found some really nice looking rocker guards for ya at shrockworks.com. Those puppies look like they should afford great protection, and they can be used as a step also. They DO have them to fit Unlimiteds.
They ain't cheap.
Tom
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
I don't think in terms of monthly gas bills - I think of daily gas bills. We put gas in every morning since 2 round trips is stretching it a bit more than I want to and gas is often cheaper up here on the hill (paid $2.31 today). I'm really happy that we're down to a bit less than $20.00 a day - I hated it when that $20.00 didn't quite fill the tank! Weekends aren't usually all that much less - living in the boonies and working full time means that at least one day on the weekend is spent "off the hill" (either Bakersfield or Santa Clarita) shopping or else going somewhere (last weekend was Monterey, weekend before that was La Jolla/San Diego, next weekend will be Vegas, and I'm hoping that I'll be able to work in a trip to Yosemite this spring but it's not looking good).
As far as what I do - I'm just an admin person who maintains record drawings for a large employer/landowner in West L.A. I'll have 15 years (3 different jobs) next year, and I'm hoping to make at least another 8 (there's always talk of lay-offs etc.). I think I have the best job in the world - it's always interesting and each day brings something new.
jeff
http://www.shrockworks.com/jeepbars.htm
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v603/jeff62301/IM003382Medium.jpg
second link is a pic of my jeep with the rockerguards.,,
I make home loans for low / moderate income families and business loans to help keep rural communities alive and hopefully thriving.
I've been doing this for 20 years, but when I was little, I wanted to be the guy that drove the tractor and groomed the beaches every morning, I could not think of anything that sounded more fun than driving a tractor on a beach.
but I'm not sure if they make an Unlimited version yet.
For rocker and frame protection, these types of rockers can't be beat. They protect AND they don't reduce clearance. However, for these types, often you will have to drill into the frame. It really is no big deal. Once you drill a hole on your Jeep, the rest come easy.
Now as for my profession, I'm a contractor working for a government agency that deals with space exploration. I work as a systems analyst in support of their financial and business systems.
-Paul
You indicated you were from Central Texas. I'm an Austinite, though transplanted to Alabama after retiring from the Air Force. Will be making a visit there at the end of June to see my brother and sister....about an 11 and a half hour drive....hmmm...could be a good endurance test for the Wrangler....is my old butt gonna take it? You and the others are right...after driving a small Ranger P/U for so long, I won't be going from a "comfort" ride to the characteristics of the Wrangler. I suppose the only thing I'll give up are the forward visability I have sitting higher in the Ranger, and not having anything to haul my yard mulch and such...although I can tell my son-in-law to bring his utility trailer over so I can use that!
Regarding the hair issue....I'm still so disgustingly vain about my hair, sometimes I wish I would lose it just so I wouldn't have to keep it "perfect"...if anyone else has OCD, you know what I'm talking about!
Thanks....Randy
Tomster
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
-Paul
Wow...I thought Texas to Alabama was a culture shock....but from California? That must have been some transition!