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Baby wasn't hurt, though... it was "light beer."
Tom
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
May each of you get the recognition that you deserve on this day and EVERY day.
Tom
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
Richard
The good thing about the newer Jeeps is that they are MUCH more reliable than the older ones, so, even though they may be a little more complicated to work on, they require a LOT less "working on."
Fuel injection, for example, was a HUGE improvement, since people had fits with carburetors very often.
The distributorless ignition, which I believe came along with the 2000 models, is a nice improvement that eliminates some sources of trouble.
You should try to get a 97 or newer Wrangler, a TJ. They have coil springs, and the improvement both on road and off road is amazing. They ride better on the highway and have a LOT more flex for offroading.
If you can live with the power of a four cylinder engine, about $7000 to $8000 should put you into a real nice SE from around the 1998 to 2000 model year.
Tom
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
Susan, CONGRATS! on the new toy.
And, as Tom so rightly noted, let's remember the Vets today (and everyday). In addition to the incredible personal sacrifice that each and every Vet made for this country, without them, there would have been no need for Jeeps.
Steve
Stephen
Andrew
Andrew, since I was looking to order a Sport (now plan to take an "X" out of stock on a dealer trade), I was advised six to eight weeks, but you now have to build in the factory shutdown at Christmas (figure on two weeks downtime). So an order today, figure on delivery in mid-to-late January. As a sidebar, keep in mind that rebates apply ONLY at the time of delivery, not ordering. Current Jeep incentives are due to expire the first business day of January, 2004. However, given DC's current financial situation, and the substantial decrease in Wrangler sales from last year, I suspect that rebates will continue into the new year.
Have a great evening.
Steve
I've been looking for a while and am close to pulling the trigger and getting a Wrangler - I might have to wait until next Spring though.
A couple of questions: How is the Rubicon for everyday driving? I'm leaning toward the Rubicon (vs. the Sport or Sahara) for the off-road capabilities, but certainly a lot of the day-to-day use would be around town, running errands, etc.
My other major decision is soft top vs. dual hard/soft top. I realize it is largely personal preference, but I would appreciate opinions.
Oh yeah, definitely manual transmission !!
Thanks.
The shipping time is going to be a killer for you, since you are up in BC. It wouldn't surprise me if it took up to a month just for shipping.
I ordered my Thelma Jane on November 16, 2000, and I picked her up at the dealer on December 8, 2000! And, to beat it all, there was an unscheduled down week due to slow orders during the time I was waiting for Thelma Jane to be built. The very week that she was scheduled for build is the week they shut down, but even so, I got her in three weeks and two days after the order went in! ( Would have been two weeks and two days, if it hadn't been for that down week. )
That I didn't have to depend on rail shipment is one thing that was going for me. I am only about an eight hour drive from Toledo, and I think they just used transport trucks to get Thelma Jane to my dealer.
Tom
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
Dacemiller. If you're planning on off-roading at a moderate or more difficult level, I'd say go with the rubi. I am much in the same boat as it will be a daily driver as well as a recreational vehicle... I've decided on the rubi as I figure this way I get the best of both worlds with only minor hindrances. In regards to the top option. I am going to go with the dual, just gives you more versatility.
Andrew
BC?! Damn, those Liberals have invaded and taken Edmonton - I must have missed the news!! ;-)
Andrew
Anyway, just go ahead and order NOW! Whatcha waitin' for????
Tom
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
Andrew
Glad you found this board. Make yourself at home here.
As Mac suggested, go back to his post 10713. You also might want to check 10714. (I followed up his comments with some of my own.) I think maybe some others of us also responded to ratpatrol's question about a Rubicon.
I don't see a Rubicon as being any more impractical as a daily driver than any other Wrangler version would be. It's just that you may be paying for features that you won't use, depending on what you will be doing with the Jeep. I think this was well covered in the post that Mac referred you to and in the follow up posts.
Stick around with us!
Tom
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
If you can spend upwards of $7,500, you can get a '97 or '98 TJ. Since you are needing one as a daily driver and most likely it will already have a few miles on it, go for the 4.0L as it has a tremendous track record for going well beyond the 150k mile mark.
And BTW: While I am confident in my shadetree mechanic abilities, I'm amazed at how simple and uncomplicated everything is on these Jeeps.
Tom
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
Anyway, here's the condensed instructions from Twylie's original post:
On 2001 and up TJ's with factory fogs, pop the power distribution center cover next to the airbox. Find the fog lamp relay (#35 in my 2001), pull it out and check the bottom of the relay. You'll find one of the pins is marked "1". You want to bend this pin on the relay out of the way, so it doesn't make contact in the PDC. I found the pin and bent it on the surface of my workbench. First step is to bend it 90 degrees flush to the bottom face of the realy. Once you've done that, bend the pin around the body of the relay, so it's wrapped up the side a short distance. Pop the relay back in and try it out.
Works like a champ for me, but always excercise caution when doing mods like this, I have yet to run the lights for a long time to make sure there are no ill side effects (I don't expect any).
Steve
I am not quite sure if you will remember me, but I use to own a wrx wagon and I believe we had a few wrx conversations a few years ago. Well, sure enough about two weeks ago I ended up getting a jeep. I have always wanted one and finally treated myself. Pretty funny though that two x-wrx wagoneers have switched to jeeps. -scott
Make: JEEP
Model: WRANGLER
Year: 2003
Complaint Number: 10041471
Summary:
ACCORDING TO INTERNAL SALES BROCHURES AND ADVERTISEMENTS THE 2003 JEEP WRANGLER RUBICON IS SUPPOSED TO BE THE MOST CAPABLE OFF ROAD JEEP EVER. MY JEEP HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS, WHICH CONSISTS OF 2 BROKEN AXLES, FAULTY BRAKES, FAULTY PARKING BRAKE, FAULTY U-JOINT CLIPS, FAULTY WHEEL BEARING. AFTER PAYING THE DEALER TO REPLACE PARTS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, THEN REALIZING THAT THEY FAILED TO REPLACE ANOTHER FAILED PART, CALLED TO ASK ABOUT A WORKAROUND UNTIL THE NEEDED PART CAME IN. THE ADVICE GIVEN WAS TO REMOVE THE BROKEN AXLE SHAFT AND DRIVE WITHOUT IT. THIS CAUSED BRAKE AND WHEEL BEARING FAILURE. AN ATTEMPT TO GET THE DEALER TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIR COST TOOK SOME TIME TO GET RESOLVED. FINALLY, THEY FIXED THE PROBLEMS AND VOIDED THE MANUFACTURE'S WARRANTY. REASON FOR VOIDING THE WARRANTY WAS MISUSE/ABUSE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN USED OFF-ROAD AND HAD MUD ON THE UNDER CARRIAGE. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE BECAUSE YOU CANNOT MARKET A VEHICLE AS OFF-ROAD AND THEN VOID THE WARRANTY IF IT IS USED IN THIS MANNER. THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER SUBMERGED, OR IN MUD/WATER DEEPER THEN THE HEIGHT OF THE BOTTOM OF THE FRONT BUMPER. FURTHERMORE, JEEP CLAIMS I AM A MEMBER OF A 4WD CLUB THAT I HAVE NO AFFILIATION WITH AND CLAIMS A WITNESS SAW THE VEHICLE UNDER WATER. BOTH NOT TRUE. ASKING FOR HELP FROM THE DOT TO MAKE JEEP STAND BY IT'S WARRANTY, OR HAVE THEM NOT MARKET THE VEHICLE AS OFF-ROAD SINCE IF USING IT OFF ROAD VOIDS THE WARRANTY THEN THIS IS FALSE ADVERTISING. *LA
I had the dual top option on my Sahara, and I just sold my hard top on e-bay last week, after it occupied my spare bedroom for the past 6 months. (I don't have a garage to store it.)
I love having the top down as long as it is not raining, but I do live in southern California. With the soft top, I can put the top up in minutes. I don't know what I'd do if I got caught in the rain away from home 'topless' with the hard top only. But if you live in a snowy climate, I think you would probably want a hard top, be it dual or alone.
BTW, it cost me $1675 for the dual top option, sold the hard top for $1100. Probably not too bad of a price to pay to find out which option is good for me.
FWIW
If you think you are going to want a hard top, then get the hard top only option or the dual top option. This way you will be set up for rear window defroster and rear window washer/wiper.
I assume that for that $1675, Yoko, you got the dark tinted windows and the defroster and rear wiper/washer, right? All of that would cost well over $2000 after purchase of the Jeep.
If you don't get the hard top from the factory to begin with, but you later decide that you want one, then the way to get one would be to buy one used from someone who wants to sell theirs, like Yoko did. You might then have to have some wiring and "plumbing" installed for the defroster and the wiper/washer, though.
WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN, YOKO??? We missed ya! Glad to finally hear from you again.
Tom
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
I have known enough Jeepers, and have spent enough time on various message boards to feel confident in saying that the reliability of Wranglers is GOOD. There are lemons in any make of vehicle, though, and the guy whose message you posted must have gotten one.
I would not be afraid for anyone to compare the percentage of negative posts in this message board concerning the Wranglers to the percentage of the same for any other message board.
Tom
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
Andrew
.............and I say, if you look back to see those negative posts you'll find a large proportion of them are from you, bcmalibu99ls............ and none of them are from your personal experience.
You once posted that you like to make negative comments because you can't afford a Rubicon and it made you feel better about not having one. I'm guessing that you've still got some saving to do!
Jeeps are not perfect and they have problems just like any other make. However, these problems can be exacerbated by a poor dealer. As important as getting a good price when you buy your Jeep, is to get a dealer with good customer service practices. Usually, the smaller dealers (who will often have an affiliation with a local Jeep off road club), will have a vested interest in keeping their customers happy.
Anything can be broken, no matter how strongly it's made! I believe even battle tanks have their limits, right?
Tom
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
Yoko - sounds like you did quite well resolving the top issue. I hope you don't live around the area that got all that hail and flooding last night!
I still would rather have a Wrangler than a Toyota...
Chill out, people :-) You may be pleased to find out that I am yet to see Wrangler on a "least reliable" list anywhere. So, yes, it's a not bad vehicle overall. See, I praised it without ever driving it. Give me a candy. Thank you.
That being said, I think by giving DC a free pass when they make crap, you are setting yourself up for disappointment later on, when you will buy new Jeeps. 4Runner owners are suing left and right over relatively minor 4Runner defects and are very vocal about it. Maybe that's why Toyota is a perennial leader in quality, while DC is not even close?
I will buy a Jeep eventually, and I hope it will be a quality product in part because DC customers complained when they received a lemon. Thank you for your understanding!
Who was it here that had an SE with a bad tranny? DC finally bought back the Jeep, and he got a Sport. I don't think he had to sue DC or anything... they just did the right thing by him.
Just searched, and it was Guy21 who had the tranny problem. His dealer went to bat for him and got him a buy back from DC. Guy now has an X model (not a Sport as I said above) that I believe he is very happy with.
Tom
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
The Timberwolf car, number 37, driven by David Green, is the car I'm talking about. The final race is Saturday at 12 noon eastern time on NBC.
The race is at the Homestead track near Miami, and Green qualified 12th today.
This is truly a local team, with the team owner, Clarence Brewer Jr., being a Central City, Kentucky native. That's where their shop is, and that is only eight miles from Greenville, where I live. The driver, David Green, is from Owensboro, Ky, which is only 40 miles away. I bought Thelma Jane in Owensboro, by the way.
I am really pumped up over this! That team goes up against teams with a LOT more financial resources every week, and they still have been at or near the top in the standings all season.
I am very proud of them, no matter how things go Saturday.
CONGRATS TO THE TIMBERWOLF TEAM! GO # 37 !
Tom
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
BC, just getcha one! You WILL NOT REGRET IT!
These puppies are more fun than you can imagine, and their reliability is at least "average." I have heard of VERY few people having serious problems with the newer Jeeps, the "TJ's."
Why do you think Jeeps command such loyalty from their owners? BECAUSE THEY ARE FUN AND THEY ARE RELIABLE!
I LOVE MY JEEP!
Tom
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
Where on earth do you get that from??? I haven't made any posts of that nature, nor have I seen any by other posters here. I'll be happy to discuss any real problems you have with your Jeep (when you get one), but when you make negative posts like the one sided complaint in #10870 it does a disservice to anyone researching this board for information on a future purchase.
I hope you notice that whenever you do this it usually invokes several posts in contradiction to yours. If you've got a problem with DC in general or Jeep in particular, be open about it and we can discuss it. Otherwise, expect to be called on it when you post this stuff.
Besides, my sister would kill me if I didn't since she used to work on his cars before he made it to the spotlight.
-Pete
I got my backseat tonight and it went in without a hitch. It is the exact match to my front seats. Now I just need to drop the coins to get that new tranny and put on that 3" suspension lift in the spring and I'll be set for almost anything TB can throw at me. While I'm at it, I need to add a set of 33x12.50 wheels and tires. And maybe that Superior Super35 rear axle and locker....and a set of door mirrors....and Rhino Line the interior....
Dang. This Jeep habit is just as expensive as my motorcycle habit used to be.
Tom
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
Tom
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
Tom
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
Also, there's an option of placing a lockable storage box instead of having rear seats. How big is that box? What is it made of?
Thank you!
I think you would want to make your own lockable storage compartment for the cargo area. The "add a trunk" thing is too small to be of any real value, and it's made to be used with the back seat in, I think (guess that's why it's so small).
Maybe someone else here knows of a commercial product for the cargo area that would provide lockable storage???
Tom
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
Tuffy make a good range of storage boxes specifically for Wranglers, some steel some aluminum. Check out: http://www.tuffyproducts.com/trunk/trunk.html