Debating a Jeep Wrangler, worried about maintenance and gas costs
I have always wanted a Jeep, I am ready to buy a car but want to know really how it will impact finances, gas wise and really if things really go wrong with them. I have heard they, being american made, dont last like say foreign cars. I am not sure how much I drive a month and I am going to be moving soon which makes it very unknown. I won't be doing any off roading, it will be for job and general driving which I know, is not what they were made for but I love them. I also have a miniature horse that I'd like to be able to have a vehicle that can tow a mini trailer in case of emergency and not relying on anyone. I am just trying to find out if it is a huge mistake. I will probably be getting a new 2013 2014 Jeep Wrangler the automatic not manual with a hard top. So it will have the warranty for 5 years and the 3 yr bumper to bumper which will pay for maintenance but after that is it a mistake? and I've seen that tires are 75 each does that sound right? I know Wranglers only get 17 mpg but I am not sure about how much it really costs to fill up or how quick I would go through a tank. Any ideas of costs gas maintenance etc would be helpful
Comments
Let me see if I can address your questions.
1) American made - build quality of all manufacturers have gotten better over the last decade, so I wouldn't worry about reliability
2) Wranglers are rated to tow 3500, so it should have no problem with a small trailer and miniature horse
3) Not sure about the cost of tires - that would depend on size and quality. For example, I put new tires on my 2006 Saturn ION for about $65 each; for my wife's Mazda CX-7, I shopped around and was able to find tires for just over $200 each. I would think replacement tires for the Wrangler could fall between those two extremes.
4) MPG and range - the Wrangler, according to the Edmunds web site, has a 22.5 gallon gas tank. I've always calculated range by subtracting a couple of gallons from the capacity - so, 17 MPG city x 20 gallons is a range of 340 miles. Gas prices also fluctuate greatly around the country, so the cost to fill the tank depends on where you live. I am paying $3.13/gal for regular unleaded here in Colorado, so 20 gallons would cost me almost $63. If gas prices are higher where you live, then expect to pay more.
I hope I have been able to address your questions - I'm not advocating that you buy it or not based on the numbers. Sometimes, a car purchase can be as much about the emotional attraction to a particular car.
Good luck!
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My view on the fuel comments, is if your going to lift or put bigger tires on your jeep after the sale or even as you're buying the jeep.. You may need to think about the fuel savings. Typically, adding these types of off road equipment tends to decrease your fuel savings. My static as pertaining to our 08 wrangler (which has the Pacifica engine) was upon purchase, it had the appearance of a rubicon. Bigger tires and rims etc. Traveling for at least 2 years with this setup.. We were getting 15 city - 19 highway. Over the summer, I posted a blog about wanting to swap tires & rims with another jeep owner. and just before our big trip in Sept we got a hit. Another jeep owner swapped his tires (Goodyear SR-A) for my more aggressive (BFGoodrich Mud Terrains) Our trip proved to be beneficial to the point what our fuel savings went 19 city - 24 highway.. But there is a catch here.. Not only did I have more street ready tires.. I've actually been testing non-ethanol gasoline as an alternate fuel source. So no matter what type of jeep you get.. think about how you'll want to drive it.