I read some posts in here and other boards about how great the h2 is. This has me wondering why? I have read comparison article to the original hummer and a stock tj. the funny part was the hummer did not out do the tj in any test except for in the sand. The new hummer h2 as far as I could tell by looking is nothing more than an ugly body on a chevy truck running gear. So why does it get such rave reviews? Is it because its so ugly people figure it must be great off-road? Lets get realistic now a new hummer is around $50000. A Rubicon is around 30000. Thats 20000 dollars difference (actually more but I'm being nice to the h2). so we buy a rubicon add lift and respectable size tires say 33's or 35's and a lil engine enhancement(which it doesn't need to beat down the hummer) and you have a much more capable vehicle than the h2 for less money? So why give that overpriced junk any credit?
The H2 is the new kid on the block and will get all the good reviews, for a while. But, it still suffers from one of the deficiencies of the H1, it is easily too wide for a lot of trails. That and no one can argue that it is attractive.
The previous post also forgot to mention the H2's fuel efficiency. Something like 11 mpg isn't it?
The 3/36,000 warranty expires on my 2000 tj in a couple of weeks. I am retired and this is my "around town" ride. I plan to keep it as long as I can get in it . Does anyone have experience or have you heard anything about any of the online extended warranty plans? Edmunds links you to Warranty Gold. I have also looked at Warrantybynet.com. I only put about 5,500 a year on it, I need years of coverage, not miles.
In general, I stay away from those extended warranties, although I have bought one or two in the past. I canceled those puppies, though, when I got ready to trade and got a refund. You know how often I used to trade... before the factory warranty was even close to expiring.
If you get one, be sure to read the fine print. I think a lot of things that are likely to go wrong are not even covered in a lot of those policies.
I kind of look at it like this: if the vehicle is gonna fail, it will probably happen while it's still under factory warranty. If it gets you through the warranty period with no problems, then it is probably going to last for 200,000 miles if taken care of properly.
That's just my humble opinion.
Terry, just remember, if you do decide to get an extended warranty policy, their price is VERY MUCH negotiable! Heck, I paid just a little over half of the asking price for the last one I bought through Chrysler from the dealer where I bought a 99 Grand Cherokee. I was getting the first model year after a total re-design, and I felt like it might be a good thing to have that policy.
csjjeep, You saw some in here on how great the h2 is? I hope by 'in here' you mean edmunds and not the wrangler board. I can't understand the reviews either. I would like to see the review between the TJ and H1. I may of read it before but I don't recall. I would put the rubicon against the h2 with the stock tires. Of course the Jeep is the better deal when price is included, but to each his own with what they do with their money. I would like to see fair comparisons of off-road performance.
Ok, I am now a new Jeep Owner. Purchased a 2003 Sahara Khaki Metallic Soft Top. Love it! Actually, wife bought it without my knowledge and suprised me with it 2 days ago. I've ordered a Safari Top, tire cover, and locking latches for the hood. What do ya'll suggest for an alarm? I plan on leaving the top on it most of the time, but will leave the top down and want an alarm that will work both ways.
Also, what do you do about securing the hard doors from theft?
Tom summed it up good. "if the vehicle is gonna fail, it will probably happen while it's still under factory warranty. If it gets you through the warranty period with no problems, then it is probably going to last for 200,000 miles if taken care of properly."
I would add that you would just sell it after the orignal warranty if you are having enough problems instead of getting an extended warranty.
I stupidly got an extended warranty when I purchased my TJ. I am still under the original warranty. Guess what? The extended warranty company is gone. Now I am out my money plus I have no coverage. Well isn't that nice. I WILL NEVER buy an extended warranty on ANYTHING except in the form of insurance for cars, houses, etc. If you decide to do it, make sure it is through the manufacturer or a very reputable company that has been around a long time. Check with BBB and your state attorney generals office.
I would put that money in a money market acct. and don't touch it. You get to keep the money if you don't use it and if you need a repair, it cover it or a good part of it for a major repair.
Cobra seems to be a good brand for alarms but I don't own one personally. They have alarms with the motion sensors inside.
Personally I never lock my softtop Jeep. You can easily end up with torn windows and top. Same with locking those weak consoles and gloveboxes. If you want something good to lock stuff in check here.
There are locks for the doors also. I don't use locks on the doors or hood and have not had a problem. My currect Jeep doesn't see too much time when it is very vulerable though. http://www.quadratec.com/
One of our regulars (yellowman) has had people try to steal his Wrangler several times, and so far the special ignition key (forget what it is called) has been good enough to keep it where it should be (though the last time they did take his doors).
I'm not a great believer in alarms - they just make noise that most people ignore now. A flashing light that simulates an alarm is just as effective as that type of alarm. The ones that actually locate your vehicle seem like they would be more useful, but good car thieves can get around all those things. Personally I think a Club (of some variation) is harder to get around.
I don't have any of those things (well, I do have an alarm I don't use any more that still has a blinking light that works), but then I live in a safer, out-in-the-boonies type of place. The parking structures at work are pretty closely controlled, and I don't leave anything in it worth stealing. It's worked so far for the 4 1/2 years I've owned it.
I'm looking to find another Dealer to service my 00 Wrangler in the Queens, NY area. The current Dealer I use (and purchased my Wrangler)is Bayside Jeep and the customer experience over there is horrendous. It's not just once but almost everytime. The only reason why I've kept going back is b/c of location. The final straw was an incident on 12/31 but I won't bore you with the details. If I can find a "nearby" Jeep Dealer with better customer service & know what they are doing, I would really appreciate it- I'm also opened to any non-Jeep mechanic but who specializes in Jeeps.
CONGRATULATIONS on the new Jeep! Welcome to this message board!
WOW! What a wife you must have!!! Lucky dog!
That Jeep sounds beautiful. I love that khaki color, but as I have said before, where did they get that name for the color? It looks grey to me. I think it would be my top color choice if I were getting a new Jeep.
Sorry, but I don't know anything to use other than car wash detergent... that's all I have ever used on mine. Maybe someone else will give us a good tip on that. Welcome to the board.
Doplee:
Welcome to the board. Can't help you on the dealerships, since I know nothing about your area. Maybe you could go to www.jeep.com and find a list of dealers.
Glad both of you guys posted and hope you will both stick around.
Welcome to the board. I live on the wrong side of the country to help you, but welcome anyway.
I understand your problems - I had problems at a dealership I didn't buy mine from for my first servicing (service writer wasn't familiar with the 2 different schedules that Jeep recommends and was too arrogant to listen to a little old lady). I've been using independent mechanics ever since and my '98 has something like 107,000 miles on it. I do have an issue (known problem) with it that will probably force me into a dealership at some point, but I keep putting it off!
Just got the Hurst shifter and T handle for X-Mas for my '93 YJ Wrangler. I should have bought it sooner. Tall or short, this is a must have accesory for anyone who owns a Jeep with a floor stock floor shifter. My shoulder feels better already. The max throw is around 5 inches. Also, I now have access to my radio. And when I install a CD I will be able to change disks while in 5th. The only drawback is the loss of "access" to one cup holder in the stock center console. The shifter sits closer so I don't get hit in the knee anymore. My upper arm and elbow are at 90 degrees for shifting. If you are tied of reaching, get the Hurst Shifter.
Thanks for the reply. I'm trying to put a little "shine" into my factory hard top. Soap and water cleans it OK but doesn't give it a nice finish. I actually tried some of the clear protectants. They work okay, but wash off and streak when it rains.
Hi everybody!! I hope you all had a great (and safe) New Years eve. It looks that way.
I finally got to go off road and take some pics. www.geocities.com/sreggiedavis
Mtngal - The seats in our Rubicon have a wider base than in my wife's Taco so I think that they are more comfortable. The ride is better in her truck, but if we are on the highway the pavement is pretty smooth so I would rather have comfy seats.
Tsjay - Glad you and Ross Allen had a good holiday season. Did he get any presents?? Our two girls got Dentabones to help clean their teeth. We might be taking them up north to Flagstaff this weekend. It is our first anniversary though so they may stay home.
I dont know if this helps but thee is a great jeep dealer just outside the bronx in westchester. Its Central Avenue Chrysler in Yonkers NY. They have a great reputation for there service deparetment. Also have you looked at the chrysler website for dealers in your area. They tell you which ones are 5 star rated. I think any 5 star dealer has good service. Hope this helped and welcome to the board. I just bought my first jeep this week also.
Doplee: I use to live in Poughkeepsie, whick is a little up state, but I had a GREAT experance with Dutchess Jeep. Whenever I brought in my Jeeps they would give me a loaner car, even delivered my Jeep to me while I was at school after a repair. This dealership was great. If you dont mind driving a ways, this is the best dealership I have ever used.
Markwarren66: I have the Soft top and IntalaTrunk, but no Duster Cover. I'm not too sure that it would fit with the soft top on. You may have to remove the soft top from the Jeep to use a duster. I live in Las Vegas, so I remove my soft top most of the year anyways, less rattle..
stomper1 - Love the pictures! Definitely a nice vehicle there - I'm green with envy! Oh well, only 3 more payments on mine, and then it is REALLY mine. Your wife really have a Taco??? I hope it is newer than 2000 - I have a 2000, 2WD and really hate the seats. It's had a couple of weird problems but otherwise very relable mechanically, and it gets great gas mileage. Since the snow is mostly gone I sadly agreed to go back to commuting in it instead of the Wrangler. I can't wait for the next storm (none in the forecast at the moment).
gces12 - was yours an automatic? I have a '98 manual with the same mileage and haven't had any tranny or clutch problems yet.
Engine oil changes do not matter to the transmission. A transmission uses another type of fluid. And, um, you got 107,000 miles, and that's a lot of miles, so something's gotta break, right? There are also several other factors to transmission failures.
I hope you guys don't mind me posting here, even though I don't really have a Jeep (Yet), but I do love them.
mtngal, we just got dumped on with 7 inches, here in Detroit. Come on over here for snowy fun!
Tsjay, you really love your dog, huh? I love mine too. Nothing wrong with it.
"Tsjay, you really love your dog, huh? I love mine too. Nothing wrong with it."
You got that right! Yeah, Ross Allen is my best bud in the whole world, and I love that boy. If it were possible, I would take him with me everywhere I go. I guess he DOES go everywhere I go, except to work with me, and if they would allow it, he would go there with me too.
Good luck in getting a Jeep!
And, yes, of course, you are welcome to post here. You'll have a Jeep someday, and in the mean time, please just keep posting here. I used to post here while I was suffering from Wrangler Fever but had not yet bought a Jeep. Others have too.
It sounds like Detroit would be a lovely place to visit right now. I haven't been there since I graduated from college, but I have fond memories of Michigan.
I'm an avid reader and occasional poster of a couple of different discussion boards, since I'm real interested in dumping my Taco. Pointing out (correctly) that engine oil changes don't make any difference to a tranny is helpful. That little fact surprised a friend of mine a number of years ago. When asked about her tranny fluid changes, her comment was "oh, you can change it?" This was just after her car started to have tranny problems.
Do I get extra points for being owned by a canine also? My main hiking buddy is now getting older (over 9) and gets stiff more often, but he sure has me wrapped around his paw!
P.s. - ask questions. We love answering them. And ownership is optional, love of these impractical vehicles is not.
I hope everyone is looking forward to a fun weekend!! I was thinking about the question of cleaning hardtops (I have one) and thought maybe a marine store could help. They probably have all kinds of products to clean/shine fiberglass.
Mtngal - My wife has a '02 Taco pre Runner which she absolutely loves. She probably could have taken it with us to Lake Pleasant this weekend since we did not go anywhere really hard core.
i was going to ask almost the samething. did you ever change your trany oil ? if you had a auto you should have it chanded 1 or 2 times a year. most peaple never think to have it done.
1. Liz Claiborne Collar (Don't ask, it was my sister's idea) 2. "Iced Out" (If you know what that means, if you don't, look it up on the internet, I can't really explain it) "F", for Freddy, his name. (Also my sister's Idea) 3. Squeaky Dog Bone 4. Doggy Sweater (For the cold weather) 5. Doggy Treats
What I would have gotten my Jeep for Christmas, if I had it: 1. Oil Change 2. ATF Change (HeHe) 3. Wash 4. Clean Interior 5. TLC. 6. CD Player
Howdy. Just wanted to stop in and say hi. I am going through my mid life crisis and can't bear the thought of a sports car, so I think I have to go get a jeep wrangler. I am looking at a red 94 with soft top and I-4. Anyone have anything to say about the 94 or the inline 4 cylinder?
conman '94 is a fine year. It is not coil springs all around like the '97 and newer wranglers. The newer wrangler rides better and in stock form performs better off-road. The I-4? I have something to say about it. Nothing good, but I have something to say about it. It will be fine around the city and off-road but will underperform on the highway. Wind and hills can cause problems for it. I guess it depends if you will do highway driving, how fast you want to go, and where you live. Let us know if you have more questions.
wheelerman, Change the auto 1 or 2 times a year? Sounds too frequently to me. It that what the manual shows?
mtngal impractical? Nothing impractical about my Jeep. I don't let some columnist tell me what their opinion is of my Jeep. For what I want and get out of my Jeep, it couldn't be anymore practical. Have you thought about selling the Taco and just keeping your TJ? Pay off the TJ and Taco and save on payments and maintenance and insurance and put it towards a new TJ in a year or so. Only problem would be if you were to need a repair. Renting a car you could still come out ahead though.
Hey Tom or anyone else. Don't you kinda sorta work in oil or something? Any thoughts on the extended oil products they have out now? Are they any different or are they very benefical?
Detorit locker? You have one in your rear axle now? I would like to here your thoughts about it on road. Tell me if you posted this somewhere (JU or something) and I will look it up. Tell me how it would react in this situation. You are on a 2 lane wet highway and you go to pass someone driving slow. As you pull around you let off becuase you don't have the time to pass. So full throttle to no throttle at highway speed on a wet road. Will it jerk? How much?
I was going to try and get you to go to Camp Jeep this year, but I doubt I am going with it being on the east and west coast this year. The Jeep Jamborees have gotten even more expensive now too.
I sent you an email, if the address I have is still good. It's been so long, I'm afraid you might have a new email addy now.
I work at a paper mill that makes the paper for automotive and heavy duty oil, air, fuel, and hydraulic filters. We sell to all of the major filter makers.
There's a good forum here in Edmunds on oil. I think it's called "Engine Oil, a Slippery Subject."
Let me know if you get that email.
Why don't you just come to Gill's, and I will tell you about my locker???
I have the Bestop duster that is used with the soft top. It has a pouch that's raised maybe 2-3" above the rest of the cover. I don't have an instatrunk, so I can't tell you if that will be a problem. If the soft top is packed with some care and the rear window is removed, it all folds pretty flat and I'd expect it to fit. I pulled my top last spring and am only installing it again this weekend because of a long trip to the VA mountains.
I've never seen any posts anywhere on the duster not fitting if you have an instatrunk. You might try calling Bestop. They were really helpful to me in clarifying the attachment method for the various bikini options.
Based on some internet research, discussions with experts in the field, and personal experience I'm comfortable running Mobil 1 10W-30 in my 1999 Sahara with 6000-7500 mile drain intervals. I've been following this practice in all my cars for the past 14 years or so. One car is now on it's fourth owner, and at 300000 miles it finally needed a head gasket. In any event I would NOT put an additive in the oil; SL rated oil is plenty good on its own.
A few months ago, we discussed the gearing of the new four speed auto transmission. I picked up an '03 Wrangler brochure from my jeep dealer today, and I compared it with the '99 Wrangler brochure.
For the '03 six cylinder engine and the four speed auto transmission, the following is listed: 1st: 2.84; 2nd: 1.57; 3rd: 1.00; 4th: 0.69
The '03 six cylinder engine, with four speed, is shown with the 3.73 axle ratio.
Now for the '99 Sport six cylinder engine and the three speed auto trans:
1st: 2.74; 2nd: 1.54; 3rd: 1.00
The standard axle ratio (that I ordered on my '99 Sport) is shown as 3.07; in '99 it was possible to order the 3.73 with certain other six-cyl/auto configurations.
Other trivia: for '03, the 3.07 axle ratio is listed only for the six cylinder engine with the five speed manual transmission.
Can you believe it?? Went off roading last Saturday and on Monday morning my Jeep had a flat front driver side tire. 1500 miles on it and pssst!! I took it to Discount and they said it is not repairable because the sidewall was punctured. The tires on Rubicons have TRIPLE THICK sidewalls!! All we did was motor around Lake Pleasant for a while. Our friend was in his beater Mazda and none of his tires went. $190+ is what Discount wants for a new one. Yuck!!
Looking to buy my first Jeep! I have read about 1,000 of the nearly 8,000 posts on this forum and have enjoyed. I followed tsjay’s play-by-play purchase consideration in the early posts and enjoy his openness (it was almost like reading his diary). So much good information here thanks to everyone!
My jeep will be a third vehicle for our family of 4 (me, better half, 2 kids (12 & 9)). Our 2000 Town & Country will handle most family duty. This is my wife’s car. I have a ‘97 extended cab Ram p/u (2wd, 52k miles) that is used as my daily driver. The jeep will be for fun! Zipping around town. Maybe some occasional off-road use but I’m not sure even where around here. I’ll drive it to work some but that’s only about 5 miles down a country road. I also want the 4wd benefits for the occasional winter snow & ice. We live o/s the city and our roads are the last to be plowed. The lane we live on never gets plowed.
I found what appears to be a very good deal. A 2001 SE with only 4,000 miles! The owner says his rock bottom price is $9,950. He’s added new wheels and tires that are slightly larger than stock but he wasn’t sure what size. The owner sounds like an older gentleman. I’m hoping to look at the Jeep this weekend it’s about 2 hours away.
I don’t think it has many options. He mentioned a CD player. It does not have A/C. He couldn’t remember if it had tilt (he doesn’t drive it often). It has half doors and a soft top and manual transmission.
I know the 6 cylinder is preferable, the Dana 44 is a ‘requirement’, and the hard top has a wind noise advantage, but for my intended use of this vehicle, I’m thinking this vehicle will work out great. Based on my research, an equivalent priced Jeep with the preferred set-up would be about a ’98 Sport with about 90K miles (actually located one about a 100 miles from here).
Some questions for you experienced jeepsters: What do you think of the deal? Any idea on what it would cost to add factory air? Does the fact that it has a CD imply that it has a sound bar (I’ll find out for sure when I get a chance to see it)? Any advice before I take the plunge?
I had a '94 SE (YJ). You probably know its the low end model and would have come with the 4 cylinder and no Dana 44. Since it is the low end I doubt it has tilt steering or sound bar although the sound system might have been upgraded by the owner.
For the use you described I think you'd be happy. That's what I used it for. Also drove many a dirt road with it to go hiking also. It's just about the perfect vehicle for zipping around town in my opinion.
Word of caution. Never drive a 4.0 jeep while you own a 2.5 I had (and still have) a '91 4.0 at the same time I had the SE. It is indeed a WORLD of difference so make sure before shelling out your $$.
I won't comment on price since I've got no idea. I'd check out the edmunds price for a starting point.
I'm not one to offer marital advice, but if you've not driven a Wrangler, well, they ain't like many other vehicles. Getting in and out of them, the ride, the handling, the noise level, all very different. I'd sure make sure the wife got a test drive first.
You are almost always better off buying a Jeep with the options you want rather than trying to add them later. I'll echo what others have said; I've never heard a six cylinder owner say they wish they had gotten the four-banger. OTOH, lots of four cylinder owners wish they had bought the six. Even if acceleration isn't a major concern, be aware that larger diameter tires will make the four even less responsive. I have the soft top but with full doors. The half doors can be a pain, and retrofitting full doors = more $$$. Me, I'd wait and find a nice Sport or X with AC, full doors, and the MT. If it doesn't have a CD you can install a decent Pioneer head unit for <$300 if you do it yourself. That said, the only person you have to please is yourself; if you drive the SE and like it- pull the trigger.
I am not the experienced Jeepster that you are looking for, but I do have a couple of additional thoughts.
You should have the new top material on the 2001 that is a bit quieter. Not luxury vehicle quality, but it helps.
Does the SE come with a back seat (for the kids)? Doing a build on Edmunds for a 2002, a fold and tumble rear seat is $526. Quadratec has one for $240 if yours does not have one. It might also have vinyl, but a set of seat covers will take care of that if it is a problem.
On Edmunds a base 2001 SE was priced at $9597 from an individual, not a dealer.
The 4000 miles is a low mileage vehicle for sure. The larger tires could have thrown the odometer off a bit so that the mileage would be slightly higher, but not by much.
Don't know about the sound bar, but once again in Quadratec they have one for $195. For that price you should be able to put a decent set of speakers in the SE. I think the factory CD player was like an extra $69, but I could be wrong.
I built a 2002 SE on Edmunds and it came out to $13668 for a base vehicle. Add cloth seats, a rear seat , and air and it shoots up to $16,524. Is it possible to find a 2002 SE still on the lot that would have air for not much more than the 10 grand being asked for the one you are going to check out?
After all of the above, the asking price is in the ball park from what Edmunds shows. The SE should do you right for how you want to use it. I agree with Geepers post above, don't drive a 6 cylinder. I test drove a 4 and ordered a 6.
I'm planning to switch my transmission, axles, and transfercase over to synthetic. How much does the trans. hold, my owners manual doesn't list that? I have 75k now on my 97, and switched to Mobil 1 at 50k, the 4 banger purrs fine. Has anyone seen an improvement in the drive train with synthetic??
Wrangler Fever strikes again! You know there is only one cure, don't ya?
As far as that particular Jeep, hey, if you like it, go for it! It should still be under factory warranty, right? The time may run out soon, depending on when the other guy bought it. An 01 could have been bought as early as Setember of 2000, right? Even if that is the case, you still would have until this coming September for your warranty.
For comparison, my buddy at work bought a 97 Sport with 51K miles on it this past summer for $10,40O. Now, it WAS a Sport, but still, he paid more for a Jeep with 51 K miles (and a 97 model at that) than you would pay for an 01 with only 4K miles on it.
From what you said about how the Jeep will be used, the four cylinder should be fine. It's out on the highway that they are so bad. You just can't keep your speed up on a long hill with the four banger, even sometimes when you downshift. For around town and out on the trails, the four is just fine.
The Dana 44 would have been nice, but you said only occasional mild offroading, so the Dana 35 should be OK.
Let us know how this turns out! I wish you the very best of luck in getting just the right Jeep at the best possible price.
Where ya from? Your profile doesn't say.
Tom
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
P.S. I don't know where you live, so I don't know what kind of climate you have, but maybe the lack of an A/C isn't so bad. You are gonna want that top down in good weather anyway, right? If you get that Jeep, I wouldn't rush out and have A/C installed. Wait and see if you think you really need it first.
geepers, div2, oceantoad & tsjay thanks for the quick input. Your comments are appreciated. This Jeep community is so cool!
I plan to check the Jeep out tomorrow. I did get a little additional information today in a follow-up conversation. It does have a rear seat. The seats are a combination of vinyl and fabric. There is no sound bar as suspected by geepers.
I ran through a customized appraisal on Edmunds and it came up with $9,949 Trade-in ($1 less than asking price), $10,959 for private party seller and $11,918 Dealer Retail. It benefits from the low mileage to the tune of $1,015. I also gave it the outstanding condition (based on what the seller tells me), which adds another $300 to the value. I’ll make my own determination on condition tomorrow. In addition, the Jeep has new (slightly larger) wheels and tires, which should add another $500 - $1,000 to the value (I’m guessing here I’ll get specifics tomorrow). The original tires and wheels come with the Jeep also (they can keep my two other extra sets of wheels company in my shed)
My thinking is that it’s going to be hard to get hurt on the cost, unless I spend a bunch on modifications (which is something I see myself doing). As div2 pointed out, I could end up racking up the total cost (TCO). OTOH, planning for and implementing modifications is where a lot of the fun is for me and what makes a vehicle unique. If the Jeep checks out, my plans would be to buy it and force myself not to perform any mods for 6 months. I’ll even hold off on the a/c as suggested by tsjay. If I don’t like owning a Jeep, I’ll sell it and probably lose very little, if anything. If I love owning a Jeep, I may have to sell it and buy one with all the right features. If I become emotionally attached to this one, I’ll just have to modify it.
The emotional attachment we have we our vehicles is what drives us to get vehicles with character (like Jeeps). What’s fun about owning an Accord or Camry (both of which are great cars) everyone has one, they all look about the same and there’s no pizzazz to them.
Tsjay, I live in SW Missouri, near Joplin. The Jeep is in Kimberling City, just outside Branson, Missouri. A/C’s are pretty much standard equipment the humidity here tends to be high. I do plan on having the top down a lot! Does it help any to turn the a/c on with the top down or is that just a waste? My pickup has a sunroof but I’ve never owned a convertible.
I think there are some off-road opportunities in the Branson area... I may have to check into them. Wait... I wasn't going to be doing much off-roading. I feel myself geeting sucked in deeper and deeper.
Thanks again for your input, I’ll keep you posted.
Comments
The previous post also forgot to mention the H2's fuel efficiency. Something like 11 mpg isn't it?
Tom and Ross Allen
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
Here's hoping that all those who want a Wrangler get one this year!
Old people like me have trouble staying up late.
Tom
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
Happy New Year
Terry
If you get one, be sure to read the fine print. I think a lot of things that are likely to go wrong are not even covered in a lot of those policies.
I kind of look at it like this: if the vehicle is gonna fail, it will probably happen while it's still under factory warranty. If it gets you through the warranty period with no problems, then it is probably going to last for 200,000 miles if taken care of properly.
That's just my humble opinion.
Terry, just remember, if you do decide to get an extended warranty policy, their price is VERY MUCH negotiable! Heck, I paid just a little over half of the asking price for the last one I bought through Chrysler from the dealer where I bought a 99 Grand Cherokee. I was getting the first model year after a total re-design, and I felt like it might be a good thing to have that policy.
Tom
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
You saw some in here on how great the h2 is?
I hope by 'in here' you mean edmunds and not the wrangler board. I can't understand the reviews either.
I would like to see the review between the TJ and H1. I may of read it before but I don't recall.
I would put the rubicon against the h2 with the stock tires.
Of course the Jeep is the better deal when price is included, but to each his own with what they do with their money. I would like to see fair comparisons of off-road performance.
Also, what do you do about securing the hard doors from theft?
Thanks for your help in advance.
JohnS
Tom summed it up good.
"if the vehicle is gonna fail, it will probably happen while it's still under factory warranty. If it gets you through the warranty period with no problems, then it is probably going to last for 200,000 miles if taken care of properly."
I would add that you would just sell it after the orignal warranty if you are having enough problems instead of getting an extended warranty.
I stupidly got an extended warranty when I purchased my TJ. I am still under the original warranty. Guess what? The extended warranty company is gone. Now I am out my money plus I have no coverage. Well isn't that nice.
I WILL NEVER buy an extended warranty on ANYTHING except in the form of insurance for cars, houses, etc.
If you decide to do it, make sure it is through the manufacturer or a very reputable company that has been around a long time. Check with BBB and your state attorney generals office.
I would put that money in a money market acct. and don't touch it. You get to keep the money if you don't use it and if you need a repair, it cover it or a good part of it for a major repair.
Your wife got a sister?
Cobra seems to be a good brand for alarms but I don't own one personally. They have alarms with the motion sensors inside.
Personally I never lock my softtop Jeep. You can easily end up with torn windows and top. Same with locking those weak consoles and gloveboxes. If you want something good to lock stuff in check here.
http://tuffyproducts.com/
There are locks for the doors also. I don't use locks on the doors or hood and have not had a problem. My currect Jeep doesn't see too much time when it is very vulerable though. http://www.quadratec.com/
Should have the door locks.
I'm not a great believer in alarms - they just make noise that most people ignore now. A flashing light that simulates an alarm is just as effective as that type of alarm. The ones that actually locate your vehicle seem like they would be more useful, but good car thieves can get around all those things. Personally I think a Club (of some variation) is harder to get around.
I don't have any of those things (well, I do have an alarm I don't use any more that still has a blinking light that works), but then I live in a safer, out-in-the-boonies type of place. The parking structures at work are pretty closely controlled, and I don't leave anything in it worth stealing. It's worked so far for the 4 1/2 years I've owned it.
I'm looking to find another Dealer to service my 00 Wrangler in the Queens, NY area. The current Dealer I use (and purchased my Wrangler)is Bayside Jeep and the customer experience over there is horrendous. It's not just once but almost everytime. The only reason why I've kept going back is b/c of location. The final straw was an incident on 12/31 but I won't bore you with the details. If I can find a "nearby" Jeep Dealer with better customer service & know what they are doing, I would really appreciate it- I'm also opened to any non-Jeep mechanic but who specializes in Jeeps.
Thanks in advance
WOW! What a wife you must have!!! Lucky dog!
That Jeep sounds beautiful. I love that khaki color, but as I have said before, where did they get that name for the color? It looks grey to me. I think it would be my top color choice if I were getting a new Jeep.
Post often! Be part of the family here.
Tom
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
Sorry, but I don't know anything to use other than car wash detergent... that's all I have ever used on mine. Maybe someone else will give us a good tip on that. Welcome to the board.
Doplee:
Welcome to the board. Can't help you on the dealerships, since I know nothing about your area. Maybe you could go to www.jeep.com and find a list of dealers.
Glad both of you guys posted and hope you will both stick around.
Tom
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
I understand your problems - I had problems at a dealership I didn't buy mine from for my first servicing (service writer wasn't familiar with the 2 different schedules that Jeep recommends and was too arrogant to listen to a little old lady). I've been using independent mechanics ever since and my '98 has something like 107,000 miles on it. I do have an issue (known problem) with it that will probably force me into a dealership at some point, but I keep putting it off!
Good luck with your search.
I should have bought it sooner. Tall or short, this is a must have accesory for anyone who owns a Jeep with a floor stock floor shifter.
My shoulder feels better already. The max throw is around 5 inches. Also, I now have access to my radio. And when I install a CD I will be able to change disks while in 5th. The only drawback is the loss of "access" to one cup holder in the stock center console.
The shifter sits closer so I don't get hit in the knee anymore. My upper arm and elbow are at 90 degrees for shifting.
If you are tied of reaching, get the Hurst Shifter.
I finally got to go off road and take some pics. www.geocities.com/sreggiedavis
Mtngal - The seats in our Rubicon have a wider base than in my wife's Taco so I think that they are more comfortable. The ride is better in her truck, but if we are on the highway the pavement is pretty smooth so I would rather have comfy seats.
Tsjay - Glad you and Ross Allen had a good holiday season. Did he get any presents?? Our two girls got Dentabones to help clean their teeth. We might be taking them up north to Flagstaff this weekend. It is our first anniversary though so they may stay home.
Take care all!!
Hope everyone had a happy and safe New Year.
I'm planning on buying a Bestop Duster cover in the future, but had a quick question.
I have a soft top and an instatrunk installed. When folded down, the soft top (I think) sits higher than it would if I didn't have the instatrunk.
Does anybody have the same set up? I'd hate to buy it and have to send it back because it doesn't fit.
Thanks!
I use to live in Poughkeepsie, whick is a little up state, but I had a GREAT experance with Dutchess Jeep. Whenever I brought in my Jeeps they would give me a loaner car, even delivered my Jeep to me while I was at school after a repair. This dealership was great. If you dont mind driving a ways, this is the best dealership I have ever used.
Markwarren66:
I have the Soft top and IntalaTrunk, but no Duster Cover. I'm not too sure that it would fit with the soft top on. You may have to remove the soft top from the Jeep to use a duster. I live in Las Vegas, so I remove my soft top most of the year anyways, less rattle..
-Pete
Sorry it went south on ya. Hope you can get it replaced at a reasonable cost.
Tom
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
gces12 - was yours an automatic? I have a '98 manual with the same mileage and haven't had any tranny or clutch problems yet.
I hope you guys don't mind me posting here, even though I don't really have a Jeep (Yet), but I do love them.
mtngal, we just got dumped on with 7 inches, here in Detroit. Come on over here for snowy fun!
Tsjay, you really love your dog, huh? I love mine too. Nothing wrong with it.
You got that right! Yeah, Ross Allen is my best bud in the whole world, and I love that boy. If it were possible, I would take him with me everywhere I go. I guess he DOES go everywhere I go, except to work with me, and if they would allow it, he would go there with me too.
Good luck in getting a Jeep!
And, yes, of course, you are welcome to post here. You'll have a Jeep someday, and in the mean time, please just keep posting here. I used to post here while I was suffering from Wrangler Fever but had not yet bought a Jeep. Others have too.
Tom
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
I'm an avid reader and occasional poster of a couple of different discussion boards, since I'm real interested in dumping my Taco. Pointing out (correctly) that engine oil changes don't make any difference to a tranny is helpful. That little fact surprised a friend of mine a number of years ago. When asked about her tranny fluid changes, her comment was "oh, you can change it?" This was just after her car started to have tranny problems.
Do I get extra points for being owned by a canine also? My main hiking buddy is now getting older (over 9) and gets stiff more often, but he sure has me wrapped around his paw!
P.s. - ask questions. We love answering them. And ownership is optional, love of these impractical vehicles is not.
Mtngal - My wife has a '02 Taco pre Runner which she absolutely loves. She probably could have taken it with us to Lake Pleasant this weekend since we did not go anywhere really hard core.
Take care!!
I got my dog:
1. Liz Claiborne Collar (Don't ask, it was my sister's idea)
2. "Iced Out" (If you know what that means, if you don't, look it up on the internet, I can't really explain it) "F", for Freddy, his name. (Also my sister's Idea)
3. Squeaky Dog Bone
4. Doggy Sweater (For the cold weather)
5. Doggy Treats
What I would have gotten my Jeep for Christmas, if I had it:
1. Oil Change
2. ATF Change (HeHe)
3. Wash
4. Clean Interior
5. TLC.
6. CD Player
Good list, huh?
'94 is a fine year. It is not coil springs all around like the '97 and newer wranglers. The newer wrangler rides better and in stock form performs better off-road.
The I-4? I have something to say about it. Nothing good, but I have something to say about it.
It will be fine around the city and off-road but will underperform on the highway. Wind and hills can cause problems for it. I guess it depends if you will do highway driving, how fast you want to go, and where you live.
Let us know if you have more questions.
wheelerman,
Change the auto 1 or 2 times a year? Sounds too frequently to me. It that what the manual shows?
mtngal
impractical? Nothing impractical about my Jeep. I don't let some columnist tell me what their opinion is of my Jeep.
For what I want and get out of my Jeep, it couldn't be anymore practical.
Have you thought about selling the Taco and just keeping your TJ? Pay off the TJ and Taco and save on payments and maintenance and insurance and put it towards a new TJ in a year or so. Only problem would be if you were to need a repair. Renting a car you could still come out ahead though.
Twyile usually checks in every so often and he should be able to anwser your question.
Check this site. You may find an email address on there and I don't think he would mind.
He also has a lot of good info on other things.
http://www.ewylie.com/jeep/mods.htm
Don't you kinda sorta work in oil or something?
Any thoughts on the extended oil products they have out now? Are they any different or are they very benefical?
Detorit locker?
You have one in your rear axle now? I would like to here your thoughts about it on road. Tell me if you posted this somewhere (JU or something) and I will look it up.
Tell me how it would react in this situation. You are on a 2 lane wet highway and you go to pass someone driving slow. As you pull around you let off becuase you don't have the time to pass. So full throttle to no throttle at highway speed on a wet road. Will it jerk? How much?
I was going to try and get you to go to Camp Jeep this year, but I doubt I am going with it being on the east and west coast this year. The Jeep Jamborees have gotten even more expensive now too.
I work at a paper mill that makes the paper for automotive and heavy duty oil, air, fuel, and hydraulic filters. We sell to all of the major filter makers.
There's a good forum here in Edmunds on oil. I think it's called "Engine Oil, a Slippery Subject."
Let me know if you get that email.
Why don't you just come to Gill's, and I will tell you about my locker???
Tom
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
I've never seen any posts anywhere on the duster not fitting if you have an instatrunk. You might try calling Bestop. They were really helpful to me in clarifying the attachment method for the various bikini options.
HTH
-twylie
For the '03 six cylinder engine and the four speed auto transmission, the following is listed:
1st: 2.84; 2nd: 1.57; 3rd: 1.00; 4th: 0.69
The '03 six cylinder engine, with four speed, is shown with the 3.73 axle ratio.
Now for the '99 Sport six cylinder engine and the three speed auto trans:
1st: 2.74; 2nd: 1.54; 3rd: 1.00
The standard axle ratio (that I ordered on my '99 Sport) is shown as 3.07; in '99 it was possible to order the 3.73 with certain other six-cyl/auto configurations.
Other trivia: for '03, the 3.07 axle ratio is listed only for the six cylinder engine with the five speed manual transmission.
Best Regards,
John Thurlow
Take care!!
Yes, I can believe it! Even Wranglers are not invulnerable to sharp rocks, metal and whatever else you might venture upon.
tidester, host
My jeep will be a third vehicle for our family of 4 (me, better half, 2 kids (12 & 9)). Our 2000 Town & Country will handle most family duty. This is my wife’s car. I have a ‘97 extended cab Ram p/u (2wd, 52k miles) that is used as my daily driver. The jeep will be for fun! Zipping around town. Maybe some occasional off-road use but I’m not sure even where around here. I’ll drive it to work some but that’s only about 5 miles down a country road. I also want the 4wd benefits for the occasional winter snow & ice. We live o/s the city and our roads are the last to be plowed. The lane we live on never gets plowed.
I found what appears to be a very good deal. A 2001 SE with only 4,000 miles! The owner says his rock bottom price is $9,950. He’s added new wheels and tires that are slightly larger than stock but he wasn’t sure what size. The owner sounds like an older gentleman. I’m hoping to look at the Jeep this weekend it’s about 2 hours away.
I don’t think it has many options. He mentioned a CD player. It does not have A/C. He couldn’t remember if it had tilt (he doesn’t drive it often). It has half doors and a soft top and manual transmission.
I know the 6 cylinder is preferable, the Dana 44 is a ‘requirement’, and the hard top has a wind noise advantage, but for my intended use of this vehicle, I’m thinking this vehicle will work out great. Based on my research, an equivalent priced Jeep with the preferred set-up would be about a ’98 Sport with about 90K miles (actually located one about a 100 miles from here).
Some questions for you experienced jeepsters: What do you think of the deal? Any idea on what it would cost to add factory air? Does the fact that it has a CD imply that it has a sound bar (I’ll find out for sure when I get a chance to see it)? Any advice before I take the plunge?
Thanks in advance!
For the use you described I think you'd be happy. That's what I used it for. Also drove many a dirt road with it to go hiking also. It's just about the perfect vehicle for zipping around town in my opinion.
Word of caution. Never drive a 4.0 jeep while you own a 2.5 I had (and still have) a '91 4.0 at the same time I had the SE. It is indeed a WORLD of difference so make sure before shelling out your $$.
I won't comment on price since I've got no idea. I'd check out the edmunds price for a starting point.
I'm not one to offer marital advice, but if you've not driven a Wrangler, well, they ain't like many other vehicles. Getting in and out of them, the ride, the handling, the noise level, all very different. I'd sure make sure the wife got a test drive first.
Gary
You should have the new top material on the 2001 that is a bit quieter. Not luxury vehicle quality, but it helps.
Does the SE come with a back seat (for the kids)? Doing a build on Edmunds for a 2002, a fold and tumble rear seat is $526. Quadratec has one for $240 if yours does not have one. It might also have vinyl, but a set of seat covers will take care of that if it is a problem.
On Edmunds a base 2001 SE was priced at $9597 from an individual, not a dealer.
The 4000 miles is a low mileage vehicle for sure. The larger tires could have thrown the odometer off a bit so that the mileage would be slightly higher, but not by much.
Don't know about the sound bar, but once again in Quadratec they have one for $195. For that price you should be able to put a decent set of speakers in the SE. I think the factory CD player was like an extra $69, but I could be wrong.
I built a 2002 SE on Edmunds and it came out to $13668 for a base vehicle. Add cloth seats, a rear seat , and air and it shoots up to $16,524. Is it possible to find a 2002 SE still on the lot that would have air for not much more than the 10 grand being asked for the one you are going to check out?
After all of the above, the asking price is in the ball park from what Edmunds shows. The SE should do you right for how you want to use it. I agree with Geepers post above, don't drive a 6 cylinder. I test drove a 4 and ordered a 6.
Just my thoughts.
Still a happy camper.
As far as that particular Jeep, hey, if you like it, go for it! It should still be under factory warranty, right? The time may run out soon, depending on when the other guy bought it. An 01 could have been bought as early as Setember of 2000, right? Even if that is the case, you still would have until this coming September for your warranty.
For comparison, my buddy at work bought a 97 Sport with 51K miles on it this past summer for $10,40O. Now, it WAS a Sport, but still, he paid more for a Jeep with 51 K miles (and a 97 model at that) than you would pay for an 01 with only 4K miles on it.
From what you said about how the Jeep will be used, the four cylinder should be fine. It's out on the highway that they are so bad. You just can't keep your speed up on a long hill with the four banger, even sometimes when you downshift. For around town and out on the trails, the four is just fine.
The Dana 44 would have been nice, but you said only occasional mild offroading, so the Dana 35 should be OK.
Let us know how this turns out! I wish you the very best of luck in getting just the right Jeep at the best possible price.
Where ya from? Your profile doesn't say.
Tom
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
P.S. I don't know where you live, so I don't know what kind of climate you have, but maybe the lack of an A/C isn't so bad. You are gonna want that top down in good weather anyway, right? If you get that Jeep, I wouldn't rush out and have A/C installed. Wait and see if you think you really need it first.
I plan to check the Jeep out tomorrow. I did get a little additional information today in a follow-up conversation. It does have a rear seat. The seats are a combination of vinyl and fabric. There is no sound bar as suspected by geepers.
I ran through a customized appraisal on Edmunds and it came up with $9,949 Trade-in ($1 less than asking price), $10,959 for private party seller and $11,918 Dealer Retail. It benefits from the low mileage to the tune of $1,015. I also gave it the outstanding condition (based on what the seller tells me), which adds another $300 to the value. I’ll make my own determination on condition tomorrow. In addition, the Jeep has new (slightly larger) wheels and tires, which should add another $500 - $1,000 to the value (I’m guessing here I’ll get specifics tomorrow). The original tires and wheels come with the Jeep also (they can keep my two other extra sets of wheels company in my shed)
My thinking is that it’s going to be hard to get hurt on the cost, unless I spend a bunch on modifications (which is something I see myself doing). As div2 pointed out, I could end up racking up the total cost (TCO). OTOH, planning for and implementing modifications is where a lot of the fun is for me and what makes a vehicle unique. If the Jeep checks out, my plans would be to buy it and force myself not to perform any mods for 6 months. I’ll even hold off on the a/c as suggested by tsjay. If I don’t like owning a Jeep, I’ll sell it and probably lose very little, if anything. If I love owning a Jeep, I may have to sell it and buy one with all the right features. If I become emotionally attached to this one, I’ll just have to modify it.
The emotional attachment we have we our vehicles is what drives us to get vehicles with character (like Jeeps). What’s fun about owning an Accord or Camry (both of which are great cars) everyone has one, they all look about the same and there’s no pizzazz to them.
Tsjay, I live in SW Missouri, near Joplin. The Jeep is in Kimberling City, just outside Branson, Missouri. A/C’s are pretty much standard equipment the humidity here tends to be high. I do plan on having the top down a lot! Does it help any to turn the a/c on with the top down or is that just a waste? My pickup has a sunroof but I’ve never owned a convertible.
I think there are some off-road opportunities in the Branson area... I may have to check into them. Wait... I wasn't going to be doing much off-roading. I feel myself geeting sucked in deeper and deeper.
Thanks again for your input, I’ll keep you posted.
eARS