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When:
Tues, March 13th (Tonight) at 5-6pm Pacific/9-10pm Eastern
Click on the link below to read more about/to enter the chat:
http://www.edmunds.com/chat/chiricochat031301.html
Drew
Host
Vans, SUVs, and Aftermarket and Accessories message boards
Now give us the goodies! Color, equipment??
tsjay
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
tsjay
Where do you live? I was fortunate enough to live only about seven or eight hours from Toledo, so no rail shipment was involved. Thelma Jane came off the line at 12:13 AM on Dec. 5th, and I picked her up after work on the 8th.
tsjay
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
Good luck.
-twylie
KZ status!!!
That means you went from 19 to 17.9 to 17.5. That seems like down to me.
Not to nitpick, but I just wanted to make sure I read that right.
Ordered Smittybuilt stainless steel tube front,rear and side steps yesterday hoping to have installed on Sat. Wife just said no mo Jeep parts!! So will have to stop for now. Un less something I cant live without
Iam so glad to see everyone who has placed an order getting so close to driving their new Jeep.
What a Thrill!!! Congrats to all.
Huggin that Jeep everyday!
Plus, I have a couple of questions that have been addressed here already, but now I can't remember the answers and after going back and scanning through the messages, can't seem to find the topic.
I live in Austin,Texas (great Jeep'n in the surrounding hill country). I'm 35 years young (I'm trying to squeeze that into every communication possible since I can 'truthfully' say it only one more day). Tomorrow begins the next leg of my continuing journey toward the big 40, and beyond (I hope) and to help ease the pain, for my b-day (any excuse will do), I'm considering treating myself to a new (2001) Jeep Wrangler. I'm having a little trouble justifying it, because I have a 1998 Jeep Wrangler SE (4cyl) 5-speed, that I practically stole two years ago when I bought it new. I got it cheap. I paid $12,900, which even back then, was well below invoice, though I don't remember how much. Anyway, it only has 21,000 miles on it, and another year left on the factory warranty, so I don't really NEED another one. It was the last 1998 left on the lot in Feb. 1999. It's a deep green with a spice top and spice interior. It had about 5 miles on it when I test drove it. It is pretty well equipped for the price. Vinyl seats, tilt steering, full spare, flip and tumble back seat, full carpeting, am/fm stereo, etc (not the bare bones-steering- wheel-and-one-seat-only versions they bait you with in the advertisements). Still, it doesn't have a CD player, or cruise control, or an a/c, this being the biggie in Texas and why I think it was still on the lot and why I was able to get it so cheap. I intended to have a/c added by the dealer, which they said they could do for about $1,200 (have to include labor), but I never have gotten 'round to it. Just like I never got around to the cruise control, or the cd player and sound bar speakers. It doesn't actually bother me much that there's no a/c, because if it's not raining, I pretty much have the top down, which makes an a/c nearly useless anyway. There's a few times a year that it's hot and muggy and humid AND raining and I have a meeting with full suit and tie, dripping in sweat, I begin to HATE myself for not getting an a/c, but after the day passes, I forget about it, and the next day I'm cruis'n round soak'n up the sun and feeling that life is good again. BUT, I really miss a cruise control, and I'm a total audio file and tired of driving around jamm'n with headphones (although, at highway speeds, makes the whole wind noise debate moot).
So here's my logic. I love the jeep I have. It's great. But it's almost easier to just get a new one than to have to add an a/c, cd player, and cruise. Plus, I'm not very mechanical, and have no desire to be, I want to spend my time and money at play, and not having something repaired. So I don't plan to ever again own a vehicle that's not under warranty. Actually, I haven't had one single problem with my Jeep, yet. Pretty ironic because the car I had before was a Mazda Miata, and the car before that was a Honda Accord, and both were in the shop several times before they had 21,000 miles on them (the Honda had some pretty pricey stuff at 40,000 miles, hence my decision to never be without a warranty again, and why I traded it off for a new Mazda). The ol' Jeepster, hasn't been to the shop once, except for oil changes. And it's by far my favorite automobile of those I've owned. It's a good combo between toy and transportation. Still, though he's been great so far, I don't care what kind brand, there's no getting around the fact that bad things happen to good autos . So, since my warranty will be running out Feb 2002, I figure I better start planning on ordering my next one. Then there is also the fear they will either stop making them, or alter them to such an extent that the appeal is gone, in which case, I want to have one with low miles, and a renewed warranty.
I could keep this one and get an extended warranty, but again, I guess I'm kinda look'n for an excuse to get all the other goodies, like a cd player, the subwoofer and sound bar, a/c, the better and supposedly quieter soft top, cruise control, and maybe the 6 cylinder in either a Sport or Sahara. So, by the time I add all the cost and labor for adding all those to the Jeep I have, I figure it's be little difference in cost to just trade .or so my logic goes.
I'd consider the Sahara, since it's easier to find them loaded up on the lot, and then I wouldn't have to order, but I don't want cloth seats. I love the vinyl seats so easy to clean up and durable and low maintenance too. So, I'm thinking I'll just get an SE or a Sport, with all the goodies, but with the vinyl seats. It's pretty easy to find SE's with, but virtually impossible to find a Sport, loaded, with vinyl seats, so I'll probably still have to order. I don't really like the word "sport" or "sahara" plastered over the vehicle though. Can these decals be omitted if ordered, or is there a safe way to remove them?
Which brings me to my other questions. As long as I'm probably going to have to order anyway, I might as well go down the list and check off everything I want, or think is a good safety feature.
Like I said, I'm not very mechanical, and I don't really understand how ABS works or what the Track-lock does. I know it's been discussed here before, but could someone give a basic summary of how each works and the advantages, and disadvantages (maintenance/ repairs, or special care that should be considered), if any, for both the ABS and the Track-lock options?
We don't get much snow, or ice here in Austin. In fact, it's rarely below 40 degrees, but we do have seasonal rain. Is ABS valuable in the rain, as with snow and ice? How about Track-lock? Does it help out in the rain? I don't do any serious off road 'n, just the beach, or mild to moderate trails .maybe a little mud, or a creek here and there, but predominantly just hopping curbs and laughing at speed bumps here in the urban jungle.
ABS and Track-lock are the two options that I am not sure about just don't know if they would be of any value for me. I don't have them on my jeep now, but wouldn't mind shelling out a little extra if they are worth while options. Any comments, advice, or opinions will be greatly appreciated.
Oh wait, also...axle ration 3;73, vrs the standard? What does the axle ration have to do with anything?
I know this was long, but I figured a little background was in order for my first post.
I'd be too embarrassed to ask these questions in other forums, but you
Trac-Lok is another feature that provides the best benefit when driving in wet conditions or off-road. Have you ever noticed in your current Jeep that when accelerating from a dead stop while making a right hand turn how the inside rear wheel will spin easily? Trac-Lok takes this "escaping" power and transfers it to the outside wheel with the most grip. Also, you mentioned that you sometimes tackle mud obstacles. Trac-Lok is also beneficial in this situation since torque is more evenly distributed to both rear wheels, lessening your chances of getting stuck. Hope this helps!
Thanks again, sounds like I want ABS, Track-lock, and a low axle ratio.
--Holliss
Also, how many of you drive with the windscreen down? Where? Highway (meaning pavement)? Sand (desert or beach)? or woods/mountain?
If you do drive with windscreen down, comments? goggles? sunglasses? nothing? bugs in teeth?
Keep on jeeping, and hug 'em if you got 'em.
I don't know about the roll cage, but I have driven with the windscreen down on several occasions. Only cruis'n down the beach and around in some wooded trails, never on the highway not sure that's legal. Probably never been over 30 mph, but it is very exhilarating kinda like swim'n naked no real point to it, but it feels so good. (I guess it would be useful for hunting, fishing, or flying a kite from inside the Jeep). I just wear sunglasses to protect the eyes...but goggles would be better...and I did once see a guy cruis'n about 40 mph on a local city street here, and he was wearing goggles.
--Holliss
I didn't know it wasn't available on the SE, so thanks for that tip...I was leaning toward the 6 cylinder anyway, so that's just one more reason to go with the Sport. The 4 cyl has been ok, I'm not looking to hotrod, but more power would definitely be better. From what I've read on here, the MPG isn't much different from the 4 to the 6. I get 20 to 21 on the highway IF I drive 65ish, AND there aren't any strong head winds, AND/or hilly country, but I mostly averg 17-18 highway, or city...doesn't seem to vary much between the two...but as has been correctly pointed out on here before, if MPG is the priority, shopping the Jeep lot is a mistake.
Guy welcome to the club...join us tomorrow night for wrangler chat...
i've only been onboard only a week..
I'm in the Shopping phase of buying a TJ myself..
leaning more to the sahara..or the 60th anniversary edition...
Saharanut
Thelma's mileage is UP overall. Remember my posts when she was only getting 16 to 17 MPG? As rb123 pointed out, you look at your average over several tanks, and there's bound to be variation from one tank to the next. You don't get the tank filled to exactly the same level each time, and, of course, there's some variation in your driving conditions and speeds. I TRY to drive the same cruising speeds, and I do a pretty good job of it, but if I'm running a little late, I will probably have a tendency to drive a little faster.
I know... use cruise control. After all, I paid extra for it.
The 19.0 was posssibly a case of variation toward the high side (maybe I didn't get the tank quite as full as normal that time). If I could remember the tank before that, it might have been 17.o, which would have meant an average of 18.0 for those two tanks.
I used to average about 16.5 over several tanks, and now I'm averaging 18.0, so that's why I say Thelma's mileage has gone up.
It's possible that the mileage will go up slightly when she goes on Mobil 1 in a few days. I got an improvement of about 1 MPG on that '94 Z28 I had when I put it on Mobil 1.
If she never does any better than these last few tanks, I'm still a happy camper.
tsjay
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
-twylie
You guys wouldn't believe how nice some of the "old hands" were to me when I was new here and didn't even have a Jeep ordered yet. Some of those guys have disappeared, and I miss them.
Anyway, I like to repay the kindness I was shown by "paying it forward" to you new guys. Unfortunately, I am still just a rookie Jeep owner myself, and I won't be able to answer some of your questions like the old guys did for me.
Somebody corect me if I'm wrong, but, Hollis, the rear end ratio of 3.73 means that the drive shaft turns 3.73 revolutions for each turn of the rear axle, which, of course, is one revolution of the rear wheel. The higher this ratio, the more torque delivered to the rear wheels for better acceleration, other things being equal (like the transmission and tire diameter). The combination of the transmission gear ratios and the rear end ratio determines how many engine RPM's you will be turning for a given speed.
I like the acceleration that Thelma Jane has with the five speed tranny and the 3.73 rear end combo. She still gets 18 MPG with this combo, so I think it is a good balance between gas mileage and power.
The higher gear ratio will be good if I ever go to larger tires, which I would like to do some day. The larger tires will have the same effect as lowering the gear ratio in the rear end, so if I start with a higher ratio to begin with, when I put the larger tires on, I'll still have pretty good power.
Hope this helps and that I have been correct in what I've said- somebody jump in here and tell us if I'm on the right track.
tsjay
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
I understand that torque is what gives you acceleration and that the torque peaks at a lower RPM than horsepower. I know that I love Mr. Torque, because I like acceleration before the RPM's get real high. I like the immediate response that you get from torque.
But what do Mr. Horsepower do? Anybody help me out here?
tsjay
I guess your one of the "old guys" now...
I'll send your your cane.. all in chrome of course.
with JEEP engraved on the handle...
Saharanut!
Horsepower = torque x rpm / 5250
http://www.datsuns.com/torquehp.htm for a more detailed explanation.
-twylie
It's all over my head. All I know is that I love that feeling of acceleration, and even a Jeep ought to have a little of it (and Thelma seems to do fine in that department- not a hotrod, but plenty good enough acceleration to merge with traffic getting on the parkways I drive and to pass a car on two lane roads without needing a mile to do it).
tsjay
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
We had fun last week, but we only had about a half a dozen participants, so join us tonight.
It's 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM PACIFIC time, so adjust for your own time zone.
Hope to see everyone there!
(By the way, it's OK to bring your Jeep too)
tsjay
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
I'll join in chat tonight, if I can figure out how (my non-mechanical nature extends to computers too)....
--Hollis
holliss: When the time comes, just click on the link at the top of the page. It will take you to the chat room.
See ya there!
KarenS
Host
Owner's Clubs
tsjay
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
Have you been to Big Bend?
When you get your Jeep check it out sometime. A co-worker just got back today and loved it. He said there are hundres of miles of trails from 2wd,to good and tough off road trails. He said he saw no less than 250 Jeeps all sizes and colors. This is busiest week because of spring break. I think I will try to go in late April, seems like alot of fun.
See Yall down the road
-twylie
So, tell us all about your Jeep!
tsjay
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
hosstj, there is some real purdy country down your way. Finally got to Big Bend early last year and it's a nice spot fer sure.
Steve
Host
Vans, SUVs, and Aftermarket & Accessories message boards
The only thing that could even be considered slightly negative was the realization of how little room you have to carry anything around with you. I don't think a test drive really lets you know that, but when you start trying to put all the stuff in the Jeep that you have been carrying around in the trunk of your car or when you put your stuff in there for a trip, you really learn how little room you actually have.
That's just one of the things that you know that you have to sacrifice in order to have a Jeep as your only vehicle. I wouldn't want Thelma Jane to be any bigger, cause that would just take away from the fun. The small size of the Jeep is a major contributor to the all-important fun factor.
On the positive side, just about everything was BETTER than I expected. Thelma was expected to be fun, but, Good Lord, she is even MORE fun than I thought she would be!
I just LOVE driving her! It even makes going to work in the morning something to look forward to.
I am very pleased with her gas mileage- it is all that I had figured on. Her ride is actually smoother than I thought it would be, and the noise is not too bad at all. (Of course, I have the hard top.) I am speaking in relative terms here: she's still a Jeep. This may sound crazy, but I really don't think that a Jeep that had a perfectly smooth, car-like ride and absolute quiet in the cabin would be nearly as fun to drive. The bouncing and the road and wind noise are part of that wonderful "Jeep feel."
Well, I hope that answers your question.
tsjay
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
It was hard to keep up with all the posts, and there were at least two or three conversations going on at once. Crazy, but fun!
If I failed to respond to anyone last night, forgive me, but I was having a hard time keeping up with who was saying what.
I hope everyone will be back next week and some new folks will show up too.
We probably had about a dozen people last night.
tsjay
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
I agree that the chat was well represented and it is always a challenge to follow multiple threads. Maybe we can make a request of the host to see if there is any way to capture and archive the chat sessions. This would give us a chance to go back if we missed something and possible spark a larger discussion on this board.
I had a great time and look forward to being able to make it most weeks.
-twylie
Comment - It is all about HP. Torque and HP are directly related by rpm. Engineers use torque to calculate how strong to make the metallic parts of the driveline. Level of HP is what gives you towing, top speed, starting,.... All the calculations are done with HP. People that say they like "torky" engines are really saying that they like their engines to develop lots of horsepower at low rpms... So, just look at a HP curve and look for lots of HP at rpms around where you like to drive (like from 1500rpm to 3000rpm).
PS I had a diesel that had a whopping torque peak at 1400 rpm and the HP pear was at 3200 rpm. Guess where it towed best, accelerated best,.... at/near the HP peak.
Thanks, now off my soapbox
Buck - (the Mech. engineer and motorcycle racer)
The Jeep looks great and i wanna love it, but right now i am real dissapointed. I had a Suziki Samuari 6-7 years ago when i was stationed abroad and it never had these problems (and that place had monsoons). Does anybody else have this shaking thing? Is this normal?
Hate Al wheels, bend/break too easy. Steel wheels with a sledgehammer for tuning is just fine by me.
Thanks!
A stock sport would not be a bad buy at all. My .02 go for Dana 44 if you want bigger tires,also get trac lock if you plan on off roading. I found makes a difference on wet pavement as well.
Im sure others can add more to this, Im fairly new to Jeepin but have done alot of reading and some experiences from a neighbor who has a Sport
Oh ya, we got more than 100" of snow this year, I ride my snowmobile out my back yard....
Still not sure about A/C. Sure would like to have less to go wrong. None of my three motorcycles have A/C......
So, the stock steel wheels are 7" wide, that's great, I'll probably do the 30x9.5" conversion when the jeep comes in.... or buy new wheels and go even bigger.
By ordering the Dana44, I automatically get lim slip right?
Must go watch more tournament basketball...
P.S. - I can't wait to finally hug my Jeep! Not to mention take the top down and get out 4 wheelin' immediately!