Jeep Wrangler

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Comments

  • mullins87mullins87 Member Posts: 959
    I've noticed the sign at the entrance to the elk/bison range that prohibits motorcycles from entering. I would imagine the bison, and maybe even a few of the bull elks, would probably make great sport of knocking riders off their bikes. I don't know where this guy is from, but I'd venture to say from the city. It's a shame that so many people are completely disconnected from nature. They have no idea of what they're missing.
  • tsjaytsjay Member Posts: 4,591
    You got that right. Seems like some people think wild animals are not really "wild animals."

    Hope the poor guy will be OK, but he sure did a DUMB thing.

    Tom

    Have you hugged your Jeep today?
  • mac24mac24 Member Posts: 3,910
    Sorry to hear that your service manager admits to not being able to perform his job efficiently. Not being a Jeep dealer, he probably doesn't have a transmission tech experienced with the 32RH and is trying to get rid of you. Make sure you document everything, and resign yourself to eventually having to take it to a Jeep dealer elsewhere.
  • tsjaytsjay Member Posts: 4,591
    Here's a link to the pics from my first ever wheelin' trip, which was 2/15/02 at Turkey Bay.

    I had hooked up over the Internet with someone kind enough to take a newbie wheelin'. The guy's name was Rod Keeling, and he lived near Mayfield, where Jim lives.

    I have not seen Rod since that day. He got busy with some kind of job, and we never did hook up again. That's seems very strange, like it was fate that we should hook up just that one time, and that his job was to get me hooked on wheelin'. Well, if so, he did a GREAT job! :)

    Here's the link. Please read the descriptions for each pic. When you blow them up to their largest size, you will see below the pic, a description field.

    Thelma Jane sure looks funny in those pics without her lift, mud tires, winch, and rocker guards. She was bone stock back then, except for her 31 x 10.50 All Terrain tires.

    Tom

    Have you hugged your Jeep today?

    http://www.itsajeep.org/PhotoPost/showgallery.php?cat=15008&p- - puser=4&password=&page=1
  • mullins87mullins87 Member Posts: 959
    The link doesn't work. I come up with a Bad Request screen.
  • mtngalmtngal Member Posts: 1,911
    I have dash gauges! I had help - one of my coworkers gave me a hand and between the 2 of us and the instructions that texasjeep and someone else put up on this board. We followed them and had no problems at all. The interesting thing was that you could see which connector didn't have contact - if it does it left a black mark on it. So we followed all of the directions and it worked! We drove home and didn't have the gauges disappear after a bump. Nice change.

    I'm not going to 'wheel today because of the weather. If they haven't shut the local national forests completely, they should. This year's fires are far worse than anything that LA has seen in quite a few years.
  • tsjaytsjay Member Posts: 4,591
    OK. Jim says the link doesn't work. It does for ME, but I guess that's cause I'm logged in at itsajeep. Guess it doesn't work for others.

    I will link each pic separately below:

    http://www.itsajeep.org/PhotoPost/data/15008/4wholegang.jpg

    http://www.itsajeep.org/PhotoPost/data/15008/4redwhiteblue.jpg

    http://www.itsajeep.org/PhotoPost/data/15008/4firstclimb.jpg

    http://www.itsajeep.org/PhotoPost/data/15008/4firsttimewater.jpg

    http://www.itsajeep.org/PhotoPost/data/15008/4firstmud.jpg

    http://www.itsajeep.org/PhotoPost/data/15008/4thelmamuddy.jpg

    That pic where Thelma is climbing a little is funny for me to look at. I thought that day that it was just amazing that Thelma Jane would climb like that, but now something like that is just routine and no big thrill at all. She climbs a LOT steeper hills than that.

    Tom

    Have you hugged your Jeep today?
  • twylietwylie Member Posts: 619
    Congrats on fixing the gauges. Glad you took the plunge to do it yourself instead of letting the dealer overcharge you!

    -twylie
  • mtngalmtngal Member Posts: 1,911
    I had once called a dealership and got someone who I don't think really knew what he was talking about. He was talking about $300 to fix it. It only took about a half hour - would have been 15 minutes if I had known what I was doing. In a couple of cases I took out screws I wasn't supposed to. It was such a quick and easy job, I couldn't believe it (though I was very glad to have someone who knew what they are doing to talk me through it). All you folks who regularly work on your vehicles probably don't understand just how proud of myself I really am!
  • div2div2 Member Posts: 2,580
    See? I told you it was a simple job. Last night I spent a fairly pleasant hour installing Hella H4 headlamps on the Sahara. What a difference! Now I just need to dial their alignment in a bit. I've always used Cibies in the past, but this time I decided to patronize a local shop that has always given me excellent service.
  • mac24mac24 Member Posts: 3,910
    I'll echo the comments of the previous posters. I always encourage people to at least attempt to work on their own vehicles. Nine times out of ten you'll find it much easier than you thought. It's mostly about self confidence and the ability to follow instructions. Well done!
  • tsjaytsjay Member Posts: 4,591
    It DOES feel good to take care of something yourself, doesn't it? It's more than just the money you save, right? It just feels good to accomplish a task that you weren't sure you could do.

    I have never been much of a mechanic, or really ANY kind of mechanic, but when you have a Jeep, it just seems like part of the whole Jeep Thing is learning to work on your own vehicle. There are so many "mods" that you just can't afford to pay someone to install them. Also, it's good to learn your vehicle, so that you can spot problems before they go too far. This is especially true if you take your Jeep offroad. The routine maintenance for a Jeep that goes offroad involves a lot more than is required for one that sees only pavement.

    A factory service manual is a real good investment!

    So, CONGRATS!

    Tom

    Have you hugged your Jeep today?
  • redkey1redkey1 Member Posts: 270
    I stored my hardtop in my garage this summer and due to the excessive humidity there are some mildew spots on the inside. I tried regular "green" cleaner but there is still some left. The interior of the top is white and it is a 2002. Any ideas?
  • nolid5nolid5 Member Posts: 148
    It's about time you took the plunge and fixed those gauges.

    I hope your not too close to all those fires.

    Wish I could send you some of our rain.

    Rich
  • ratpatrolratpatrol Member Posts: 5
    Hello all! I just found this site about a week a ago and have really enjoyed reading your posts. I currently don't own a Jeep but am actively looking. Back in the early 80's I owned a 77 CJ5, as bare boned as you could get, straight six (232 I think), 3 speed, metal dash, rag top, no back seat, bare metal floor, am radio with a cheap set of retread mudders. I live in the frigid northeast and drove that thing through 3 or 4 snowy winters nearly froze to death but as you probably all can guess I loved it! It went through everything I could throw at in. Eventually I had to get rid of it because the body was rusting away.

    Anyhow I am currently in the market for either a Sport or a Rubicon I test drove both a few months ago and am now just about ready to make a move. I really loved the Rubicon but obviously liked the price on the Sport better.

    Where I live they use alot of salt on the roads in the winter which is mainly what led to the demise of my CJ. How have the newer Jeeps been holding up? Anyone else in a similar area have good or bad luck with corrosion?

    I plan on doing some moderate off roading...What are the advantages and disadvantages of manual versus automatic? I'm leaning toward the manual...

    Any thoughts on Soft top/hard top/dual tops? (Leaning toward the dual setup)

    Now the biggie....PRICE..

    What kind of deals are people getting? I know that there is a $1500 rebate offered right now on the wranglers... Can anyone give me an idea how much dealers are knocking off of sticker on top of the rebates?

    I'm sure I'll have some more questions in the next day or two but any thoughts on the above will really help me. Thanks in advance..
  • drosketerdrosketer Member Posts: 203
    Welcome to the board!

    Much like yourself, I am looking at buying a Wrangler (although in my case I have pretty well decided on a Rubi - once (hopefully) financing rates become a little better anyways). Here are my thoughts...

    Definitely go with the dual top option. You get the most versatility as well as (from all I have read) the best available hard-top for the least amount of money.

    I have no idea about corrosion... a couple of friends of mine have jeeps (one is an older YJ, the other a newer TJ) and neither has any problems with rust. However, we don't use a lot of salt around here...

    As to which model you pick. If you are planning on moderate or heavier off-roading, I think the Rubi. is definitely the better choice. That price difference would be quickly gobbled up if you outfitted the Sport with equipment equivalent to the Rubi - but with the Rubi you have the comfort of having it all being factory installed and under warranty.

    The transmission issue appears to be debatable with pros and cons for either side. There are some very knowledgeable folks on this board that will likely have some very good input on this...

    Andrew
  • mtngalmtngal Member Posts: 1,911
    Go with dual tops if you have a place to store the hard top. I have the hard top only and have never taken it off (don't have a place to store it). The new soft tops are very quiet and if I had to do it again, I might go with just the soft top.

    They don't use salt at all on our roads - just sand, so my experience might not be what you would get. Also, for the most part we have low humidity (especially at the moment). I don't have any problems with rust on my 5 year old TJ, and I've driven it on the beach once, often drive through shallow streams and other off-roading places (but rarely mud).

    MT or auto really is a personal choice. I have a 5 speed and love it, though it has some drawbacks when you are off-roading, especially in sand (easier to spin your wheels accidentally and that quickly gets you stuck).

    Sport vs. Rubicon - I go along with Andrew - if you are going to be putting larger tires and lockers on your Sport, save the money and get the Rubicon. Works out to be cheaper in the long run. If you are planning on off-roading a stock vehicle, like I do, then save your money and get the Sport. The Sport is quite capable straight out of the box. While I look longingly at all of the extras you get on a Rubicon, I haven't found myself wishing for the lockers etc. so the Sport is perfect for my needs.

    In the end both are excellent vehicles and you can have fun with either one of them.
  • mac24mac24 Member Posts: 3,910
    The Rubicon is not a heavy duty Wrangler, it's a Jeep that's built specifically for rockcrawling. Unless you have particular use for its features it makes for an expensive 'all round' offroader.

    Wranglers have no more of a problem with corrosion than any other modern vehicle. However, should you be unlucky enough to get a structural rust problem, a chassis is easier to properly repair than a unibody.

    Manual v Auto really boils down to personal preference. I've driven a variety manuals off road for many years and now drive an auto Wrangler. I'd never go back, but there are plenty of valid arguments for the manual.

    Dual top represents the best value for money versus buying one or the other later.

    Finally, don't even think of working down from the sticker price (MSRP). Start at invoice or less and come up a little from there if necessary.

    Good luck.
  • tsjaytsjay Member Posts: 4,591
    Welcome! Glad you found us.

    You've already received some good advice from others, but for no extra charge, I'll throw out some of my thoughts. :)

    I believe it was Mac that said the Rubicon is really for someone who will do some fairly serious off roading. That's not to say that you HAVE to off road with a Rubicon, but why pay more for things that you won't really use?

    The Rubicon has Dana 44 axles front and rear, whereas the Sport would have the Dana 30 up front and the Dana 35 in the rear (Dana 44 in the rear is an option). The Rubicon has a 4:1 low range in the transfer case, and the Sport has a 2.72:1 low range. The 4:1 is more for rock crawling and is not necessary for most other conditions.

    The Rubicon has selectable lockers front and back, and these lockers act as limited slips when they are not engaged as full lockers. This is a REAL nice feature that would be useful whether you rock crawl or not.

    The Rubicon comes from the factory with 31" Goodyear MT/R tires, which are very good off road tires. A stock TJ Sport will accomodate 31 x 10.50 tires, though, so you could upgrade your tires, if you get a Sport.

    Ratpatrol, it sounds to me like your best bet is the Sport, from what you said about how you will be using the Jeep.

    The top option is a very important decision. In the Northeast, with the harsh winters, a hard top might be a necessity. The sail cloth soft tops nowadays are very quiet, and I have heard that the cab is not hard to heat, even with the soft top. But, scraping ice and snow off of the plastic windows could scratch them. Also, with the hard top, you have a rear window defroster and a washer/wiper.

    If you think you will EVER want a hard top, the time to get it is when you buy your Jeep. You will never come close to getting a factory quality hard top for the same amount of money.

    I would recommend the hard top only, or the dual top option, if you can swing the price.

    Now, old Mac would tell you to get ABS, especially up there with so much snow and ice in the winter. I would tell you to get the Dana 44 rear axle, which is much stronger than the Dana 35. Unfortunately, you have to choose between the two: you cannot get ABS with the Dana 44.

    The Dana 35 is OK for a lot of people, but if you ever get seriously into off roading and want a locker and bigger tires, then the Dana 44 is the axle you want. The Dana 44 is beefier than the Dana 35.

    If you want the Dana 44, then the option package AAS is the way to go. It gets you the Dana 44 rear axle, 30" tires, alloy wheels, and gas shocks for $850. That is a super deal for all that you get.

    Jeeps are being sold for invoice or very near invoice, plus you get the factory rebate. I haven't been in the market for one since getting my Jeep, but I got mine for $200 over invoice, and that was not uncommon back then.

    Use the Edmunds car pricing feature and build yourself a Jeep. You get the invoice price that way, minus the ad fees. Edmunds does not list the ad fees, since they vary by region. The dealer will charge you for ad fees, and this is a legitimate item on the invoice, even though Edmunds does not list these fees.

    Good luck, and keep us posted on how it goes!

    Tom

    Have you hugged your Jeep today?
  • tsjaytsjay Member Posts: 4,591
    I won't be back in here after tonight until probably Saturday night. Gotta take a bidness trip.

    C you guys when I get back. Keep up the good work in helping Ratpatrol!

    Tom

    Have you hugged your Jeep today?
  • tsjaytsjay Member Posts: 4,591
    I forgot to get into the auto vs manual tranny thing.

    My personal preference is the manual, but that IS just personal preference to a large extent.

    Some things to consider about the auto trannies are:

    1. The four speed autos that are going into the TJs are fairly new and had some bugs. Maybe they are all worked out after the initial year for them, which was the 03 model year???

    2. Tranny vent lines are not as high for some reason as they are on the manual tranny. Some people correct this by extending them. If you get into water that is a little too deep with an auto tranny, it can be big time bad news.

    Tom

    Have you hugged your Jeep today?
  • embeedueceembeeduece Member Posts: 260
    Answering your question on prices/deals, I just bought a 2004 Sport for $100.00 over invoice. Also took $1500 cash back in place of incentive financing. That was at a dealer in So Cal. You can check current incentive offers at jeep.com. Also, elsewhere on Edmunds you can price out a Jeep with specific options and see the MSRP, invoice price, and an average of what people are really paying. Good luck.

    -Mike
  • embeedueceembeeduece Member Posts: 260
    Well, I figured out my thrid gear problem, and not surprisingly it was user error.

    I have a bad habit of letting my hand rest on the shifter. When I would downshift into third, the weight of my hand would push the shifter forward slightly and out of position. That would result in the oscillation.

    Embarrassing, but I'd rather that than have a real problem.

    Thanks, Mike
  • tsjaytsjay Member Posts: 4,591
    Check out my Thelma Jane's web page, if you've never been there.

    http://home.earthlink.net/~tsjay49/thelma.html

    Tom

    Have you hugged your Jeep today?
  • mac24mac24 Member Posts: 3,910
    Glad to hear it was such a cheap fix. Now, when someone asks why leaving their hand on the shifter is a bad idea, you'll be able to give them one of the reasons why!

    :--)
  • tsjaytsjay Member Posts: 4,591
    Ratpatrol, KNOW what you want and KNOW what options are available with what other options... DO NOT TRUST THE SALESMAN TO KNOW WHAT HE IS TALKING ABOUT!

    You might get one of the rare salemen who actually know something about Wranglers, but I wouldn't count on it.

    Get info here or by "building" a Jeep at Jeep.com. Talk to someone who knows something about Jeeps, if you know anyone who could help ya. Get a brochure.

    It's a shame, but the vast majority of salesmen know squat about Wranglers.

    Tom

    Have you hugged your Jeep today?
  • mtngalmtngal Member Posts: 1,911
    I'll go along with what Tom had to say about salesmen. Most of the time I get someone brand new who can't figure out how to check the dealer's own inventory to see if they have something in the configuration I want. So go into a dealer already knowing what you want and how much the invoice is. I've had very good luck finding out what I want to know about a vehicle by reading what Edmunds has to say, and also the official Jeep website, where you can configure a vehicle.

    And anyone heading out to the great outdoors, be careful and pay attention to what is going on around you. Imagine a dark morning with an amusement park's numberous roller coasters all lit up. Next to them is a black hill and beyond that another bunch of lights - a yellow glow from the low flames of a brush fire. That's what I saw this morning on my way into work. Definitely spooky!

    Mike - Have you started to explore some of the national forest trails yet?
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    I didn't get any memo from Edmunds giving you a few days off! Not that you haven't earned a vacation. Maybe you'll have WebTV at the hotel :-)

    Mtngal, hope the wind remains quiet today - we get brush/grass fires in my area but nothing like SoCal.

    Steve, Host
  • erickplerickpl Member Posts: 2,735
    Mildew ... yuck... glad I live where the humidity is low. :)

    As for getting rid of the mildew, this can/should work, but you will need to be VERY careful, especially if you have a dark color.

    Mix a solution of half/half water/bleach. Use a spray bottle or soak a rag, but not dripping wet. Saturate the mildew spots and let it sit. If you are worried about drips and bleaching your interior, use a drop cloth like you would use for painting. This method also works on walls in your house too.

    Speaking of tops, has anybody done anything with their hard top to make it quieter? I was thinking about dynamat on a hard top interior surface and putting a liner of some type over it. What cha think?
  • erickplerickpl Member Posts: 2,735
    I take it you work in Valencia and those roller coasters are Magic Mtn?

    Up here in the San Jaoquin Valley, I can see the distinct smoke plumes from several fires. Spooky.

    I don't plan on any offroading or camping until the fires die down or we get rain. Too risky at this point.

    Your point about be aware is well taken. Whenever you are out of doors, have the necessary gear for survival (first aid kit, non-perishable foods, WATER, clothes, etc) with you. You NEVER know when something like that will come and bite you. Things can change literally within minutes out there and you have limited methods/paths of escape.

    -Paul
  • jacknimblejacknimble Member Posts: 171
    Thanks for the info, Mac.

    I will have to figure out when and where I can take my TJ to have another dealer look at it. Do you think that it is anything serious, or will it fail eventually?
  • mac24mac24 Member Posts: 3,910
    If I remember the symptoms correctly, you may be getting excess wear on the brake bands and clutch plates, plus the shock loading on the entire drivetrain when you lurch forward won't be good.

    None of the above will contribute to a long transmission life.

    :--(
  • justinjustin Member Posts: 1,918
    thanks for all the new Jeep congrats :)

    Jeep will be a week old on Thursday. already over 300 miles on it. some top issues are gonna have to get fixed. dealer will probably just replace rear window. one of the zippers is missing it's handle, and one of the snaps on the top, back, "brace" is not working -

    other than that, and the occasional missing of third gear, it is great fun, and great to be back.

    still not sure what i think about the design of the steering wheel. why did my 99 Sport have a leather wrapped wheel, and my 04 Sport does not?
  • mtngalmtngal Member Posts: 1,911
    Paul - I actually work in West L.A. but drive by Magic Mountain on my way from Frazier Park. Last night the smoke in the San Fernando Valley (not far from where the Simi fire is burning) was very thick. The winds have shifted and now West L.A. is getting smoke from Simi. Everything is quite orange out my window.

    One of the fires near San Diego was started by a hunter who supposedly set a signal fire to find his partner. The firestorm created by that small thing killed the most people in SoCal. I get equally frustrated by the small percentage of dumb hunters and off-roaders - they give the thousands of careful and considerate hunters and 4 wheelers a bad name. OK, I'll get off my soap box.

    Bleach is the commonly used chemical to treat all types of mold, so it should work on a hard top. The other thing (besides all that Paul brought up) that you might want to think about is to use it in a well ventilated area - the fumes can get strong.
  • erickplerickpl Member Posts: 2,735
    Take care around there and make sure you have a fire break around your home. I have a fire break around mine and it made it about 2-3x wider than required by local code so hopefully if anything comes up Tehachapi way, we'll be okay.

    I've got gear in each of my cars, just in case.

    -Paul
  • guy21guy21 Member Posts: 129
    Justin - the only way to get a leather wheel is to buy cruise control and they include the wheel or buy the leather wheel and they include cruise control, however you want to look at it.
  • bogie64bogie64 Member Posts: 7
    hi,

    i joined this discussion group in hopes of getting some information about jeep wranglers because i'm considering buying a 1999 or 2000 wrangler se.

    since i was a kid i've wanted a jeep. since i'm now looking for another car i thought i'd start figuring out if a jeep would be a good choice.

    i drove a brand new wrangler once on a bright sunny day. it was black with tan leather interior and i loved it.

    my main concern with the wrangler is the tipping over factor. do they roll over a lot? whenever i expressed interest in purchasing one, i was warned against it by well meaning friends due to this safety issue. i've read the editor's review on edmunds that states that driving the wrangler on the freeway in high winds at high speeds is scary. however, i think i'll just stay off the freeway on such days. :-)

    i'm in search of a vehicle that is fun to drive and lets me feel the road. i don't really enjoy driving cars that feel like i'm rolling on clouds. i currently drive a honda crx, 5 spd, with 140,000 miles. seems very different from a jeep but maybe not so different in terms of fun factor.

    i don't do any off road driving so maybe a jeep wrangler isn't the best choice? i live in ohio and the past few winters have been snowy, that's a good jeep thing. :-)

    i've yet to test drive one but i thought jeep lovers might have some interesting input.

    thanks.

    susan
  • ratpatrolratpatrol Member Posts: 5
    Thanks to all of you who responded so promptly with your advice and heartfelt opinions to my first post. The information and opinions will be of great use to me in narrowing down my choice. I work 3rd. shift and sleep when I get home in the early morning hours so I'm gonna try to get up early tomorrow and hit at least one of the local dealerships. I plan to test drive both the Rubicon and the Sport. Thanks again!

    Brian
  • mtngalmtngal Member Posts: 1,911
    Is this going to be your daily driver or a second car? That might make a difference. I wouldn't mind having my Noble Black Steed (a '98 Sport) as my daily driver, my husband prefers to have it as a fun vehicle and a winter daily driver.

    There are some definite disadvantages to the Wrangler, but if driven sensibly within its capabilities it has no more risk of roll over than any other SUV and it actually has a fairly low rate. It is terrible in the wind (I know - my commute goes through an area that is usually windy and I'm often white knuckled), and extremely thirsty at higher speeds. I can get a pretty consistent 20 mpg (almost all highway) if I keep my speed around 65. If I slow down some in the wind it isn't so bad - sometimes I go 50-60 mph when there are wind warnings. If you are going to be doing much highway driving I would strongly advise you to buy a Sport or the newer X. The SE only has a 4 cylinder engine and it is much noisier at higher speeds. The Sport and X both have the 4.0L inline 6 cylinder and is much quieter.

    All those things that make the Wrangler excellent off-road works against it on the road. The TJ (97 on) are pretty comfortable compared to older models as far as ride. They have a short wheelbase and have a choppy ride. There is one spot on the I-405 freeway where the expansion joints are at an interval that really gets the Wrangler rocking.

    There isn't much insulation, so it is noisy. The heater and air conditioner work well, so the lack of insulation only makes a difference with the sound.

    The seats are very comfortable, it can be parked just about anywhere, if you have a soft top you have a convertable and you can get through all kinds of terrain and weather. I really love mine, even with all of its disadvantages.

    The best thing to do is test drive one and see what you think. If you are willing to put up with the disadvantages, it is a truly FUN vehicle (and it doesn't matter if you never take it off-road).

    Oh, one last thing. If you have Wrangler fever there isn't any cure except to buy one. I got it in my early 20's and it didn't go away. I finally gave into it when I was 45, and now I'll get another one when my Noble Black Steed finally falls apart. It is 5 years old and has 112,000 on the odometer and is still going strong, and I want to replace my 2000 Tacoma with something else first.
  • geepersgeepers Member Posts: 93
    Because of it's short wheelbase and high center of gravity, I'm leery of the "safety" of my Wrangler in an emergency situation. By this, I mean the brakes jammed on hard while turning the wheel. It's just not a situation I want to get into. So I drive it like the vehicle it is and in twelve years I've managed to stay upright and not run into anything.

    I drove a SE for about five years and it does best sporting around town. The 4.0 engine that you can't get in the SE, is better for the open road. You'll definitely feel the road and you'll surely have fun too.

    Gary
  • wildbl1500wildbl1500 Member Posts: 48
    I am a new owner of a 01 Wrangler Sport. I have retired my Ram 1500 to just hauling, plowing and work truck type use and use my Wrangler as a daily driver.

    I drive about 100 miles daily to work. It's all State of Maine highway. No problems at all with high speed driving or poor road manners. It was a little interesting in my first wind storm, but not all that much different from a full size pickup.

    Every off-road benefit is a trade off on the road. However, everything is relative. People warned me of excessive road noise and the cold in the winter. I think my wrangler with the hard top on is just as quiet and warm as my Ram w/ All Terrain tires. Just crank the radio louder, hold on to the wheel w/ both hands, maybe drop into 4th and have fun!

    -Bill
  • bogie64bogie64 Member Posts: 7
    hi, mtngal, geepers and bill,

    thanks for your input about the wrangler.

    after reading your posts, i'm looking forward to test driving some jeeps this weekend. i feel less afraid of rolling over and since i take the bus to work most days, the jeep may not be a daily adventure, although i might want it to be. :-)

    although i'm used to a car that sits low to the ground, i'm sure that i will get used to sitting up so much higher. and my small car gets buffeted (sp) by the wind as well as semi trucks when i'm on the highway, although i'm sure it feels differently in a vehicle that sits up higher. i just have to be sensible and realize the limitations of a jeep, just like the limitations of a honda crx. :-)

    now that i'm a bus rider, i don't get on the highway much anymore, but after the info you have provided, i think i'll consider finding a used jeep wrangler sport instead of an se. i might eventually need to drive the jeep more.

    it's supposed to be in the 70s here on saturday (columbus, ohio) so it should be a great day for a test drive.

    thanks again for taking the time to help me out!

    susan
  • mtngalmtngal Member Posts: 1,911
    Sure sounds like you are a good candidate for a Wrangler owner, and will do just fine. I wish I could ride the bus to work, but there are no buses from my area, and besides, the transit mechanics are on strike.

    It doesn't take long at all to get used to sitting up high, and now I'm uncomfortable when I drive anything lower than my 2WD Tacoma. A Wrangler can turn on a dime and give you some change, so be aware that the steering is different than most other vehicles. Take your time when you are doing your test drive (if you can) and get used to a very different vehicle. That steering is great - I now have a hard time with parking the Taco since the Wrangler is so easy to park.

    And further good news - there is a slight possibility of sprinkles/light rain on Friday or Saturday! And since it will be cold, they are talking about a snow level of 5,000 feet! All you Easterners or NorWesterners, please send us some of your rain.

    Paul - I wish I had a better clearance around my home. In the spring I'll be able to limb a tree that has overgrown my back deck. While the rest meets Kern Co. laws, it really isn't enough. Hope you are upwind of all of this mess.
  • erickplerickpl Member Posts: 2,735
    So far we are lucky, the winds are keeping it from going too far north. I am looking forward to the rain too, but I'll be out of town this weekend (in St. Louis) to visit some family.

    -Paul
  • mtngalmtngal Member Posts: 1,911
    Sorry to hear you'll be out of town. They are talking about a snow level of 5000 feet, which gives me a great excuse to drive the Wrangler tomorrow to work! I noticed as we drove into Frazier Park this evening that there is a "closed" sign, so I guess they have completely closed the Los Padres Forest, not just that part around the Piru fire. No hiking this weekend, but at least I can drive the Wrangler to work tomorrow (and I'll know how fast I'm going, too)! Come on winter!
  • bogie64bogie64 Member Posts: 7
    mtngal, thanks for the test drive suggestions. i'm really looking forward to saturday! i'm planning on driving an se and a sport.

    i read through several messages on this board but i can't locate one that addressed a mileage issue with a used jeep. someone asked if a price was reasonable for a jeep with 92K miles.

    i know that cars can go for a while and mine has 140K now, but it's beginning to nickel and dime me and it now burns oil when it didn't before. so when do jeeps, in general, begin to age to the point of being more trouble than they are worth? or do they ever? :-)

    is it worth the money for me to buy a 98 se with 70-80K for around $10,000? i found a red sport with 52K for $10,000 too. car prices are a mystery unto themselves. maybe i just can't believe my good luck with these lower prices.

    i drove around tonight and visited jeep wranglers!! :-) i really like the red and the black ones. found a very pretty yellow girl but she's way out of my price range! but maybe i'll go test drive her on saturday!

    susan
  • jim225jim225 Member Posts: 11
    Hi folks. I'm new to the board but just purchased a new 2003 Sport after looking at and wanting a Wrangler for over 20 years. I finally got my toy and love it! Anyway, does anyone know if Wranglers come with break in oil or just the normal kind? I would like to change out to a synthetic as soon as possible but don't want to do so earlier than the recommended mileage (3K or 6K) if the car came with break in oil. Thanks for your help and I really enjoy this discussion board.
  • mtngalmtngal Member Posts: 1,911
    Susan - My '98 Wrangler has 112,000 miles on the odometer and while it hasn't been trouble free, it hasn't been terrible either. The problems I've had are known problems with my model year (the dash gauges, and the exhaust manifold) and one that is probably unique to my climate - the rubber weather stripping has dried up some and the tailgate is now rattling no matter how hard I tighten the screws (and it also leaks a bit). I haven't decided how to fix this issue yet.

    I don't know much about used car prices - I would start by checking here on Edmunds. I've used their prices to get an idea of what my Taco would be worth as a trade in (not much, unfortunately). I also usually check a couple of other sites that have used car prices (kbb and nada, there are others) to get an overall idea.

    Jim - Does anyone use break in oil any more? The owners manual for my '98 said that the oil was regular oil, and I don't think my 2000 Taco had it either.

    It is a Jeep day today - there was a coating of frozen white stuff on the vehicles this morning! Snow level does seem to be 5000 feet, rain lower down. I know there are many people who are very grateful for this otherwise "lousy" weather.
  • drperez007drperez007 Member Posts: 30
    You folks are great for responding to all of us seeking Jeeps! Based on my research and your considerable (and much appreciated) input, I think I know for the most part what direction I want to go with my new Sport.

    HOWEVER, a monkey wrench in the works of sorts. I was in a dealership yesterday and saw my second [Jeep Wrangler X] Willys Edition. The only difference was that they had taken the stock [Moss Green painted] wheels and put 31x10.50 mud tires on them, which gave it even more of a true GI look. I hate to assume, but I will, that these stock wheels will adequately take 31x10.50 tires? Can I also assume that this edition is using the Dana 35 axle? In general, does anyone have any input on this Willys Edition...love, hate, or indifference? Jeep claims it is only going to make 1,500 of them and then they're history (my dealer back home says he'll sell me his Willys for invoice and I get to keep the various rebates, including, ironically, the $500 military one). I'm somewhat partial to military Jeeps, as my first vehicle in life was an Army Jeep (stolen by the Air Force and painted blue). I'm really interested to hear what the "membership" has to say.

    By the way, one more Sport question. If you were only going to use a soft top (probably in a desert-like climate), and you had your choice of doors, would you take the half-doors or the full-metal doors with real windows? As always, thanks...

    Steve
  • redkey1redkey1 Member Posts: 270
    In a warm climate I would absolutely take the 1/2 doors. I want to get 1/2 doors for the summer but the full hard doors are a neccesity with the hard top.
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