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Comments
Having 4 doors in an Unlimited would be nice. I find getting things in and out of the back seat to be a strain sometimes, though having all that extra room compared to a SWB Wrangler is really nice!
Its a black, trail rated X model. The only options on it is A/C and Cruise Control (for the drive to college this fall). I am having a blast and look forward to asking all of ya'll advice when I get up some money to start "buffing" it up, probably be a few years though...
Have I hugged my Jeep today?!?!? Heck, I hug mine everyday!!!
Now you can tell everyone just how much FUN the Wrangler is. When they look at you like your crazy you can say, "It's a Jeep thing, you wouldn't understand." Does anyone know where that came from?
I'm havin a ball with it! Every time I have a few days in a row of no rain in the forecast, the top comes down. I absolutely love it, and I've wanted a Wrangler for a good three years so its like I'm dreamin that I finally have one. I just hope I never wake up if it is a dream!!
Got my rear and side armor on over the long weekend, but I still need to install backup lights (and wire em).
This stuff is STOUT!
About the only additional stuff I'd add would be a stronger tie rod, front D30 differential armor, and hopefully a cage upgrade.
Now, I'm ready for Windrock!
-Paul
eventhough I'm not financially ready to put a lift on my Jeep, I've still been lookin because basically I'm obsessed... haha... anyway, I found this deal that Rough Country is running on a 4" lift. I just want some feedback on how good a deal it is, and if its quality is good. The deal can be found here http://www.roughcountry.com/Jeep_TJ_4in.htm
Thanks and I'll be lookin forward to the responses...
However, it's important to be honest with yourself at the beginning in order to get both the best suited and the best value. For instance, for serious off-road use a more complex and better engineered lift will be required. As usual, you tend to get what you pay for. The biggest plus for the lift you're looking at is its low price.
Probably most of the people on this forum over 30 have at least one, maybe more, Jeeps that they wish they had never sold. We still keep pictures of them. So, do the maintenance, park in the shade, drive SLOWLY (I cannot emphasize this enough, treat this thing as a Mustang even one time and you can really get into trouble), wash off the road salt, etc. Keep it forever if you can.
Welcome to this unique little group. I'm in a few different forums re: Jeeps, and this one is one of the friendliest by far, as well as offering useful advice and minimal use of the word "XTREME". And we have Tom and Mac and Paul and John and Mtngal and...well, you get the idea. Post a pic of your new ride when you can!
CONGRATULATIONS ON THE NEW WRANGLER!
I'm sorry I'm a couple days late in sending along these congratulations, but this is my first time on the board since you posted.
You received good advice already... KEEP YOUR SPEED DOWN with that Jeep. Don't try to take corners at the same speeds as you would in a car. The very things that make a Jeep such a great off road vehicle, like the short wheel base, the narrow track, and the high ground clearance (which means a high center of gravity) are just the opposite of what you would want for good cornering.
Don't be in a big rush to add mods. Take your time to learn how everything relates before jumping into mods. Almost anything you do to modify your Jeep will mean that something else has to be changed as well.
Post some pics!
Tom
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
The lift I'm just going ahead and looking at just to feed my obsession... I'm not jumping in to anything, just kinda gettin a feel for what I want. I don't think I'll ever do serious offroading... maybe a bumpy trail or somethin easy every now and again. So mainly all I'm lookin at is lookin good on the street, but still bein able to handle a trail with some water and mud...
BTW, the Rubicon Express 3.5 Super Flex has worked out really well. Very please so far both on and offroad.
However, dealer A may not act in the same way as dealer B.
Considerations:
1-Price. Under 20k or close to it. (Got to leave room to put gas in it, ya know)
2-Safety
3-Reliability (it will commute 90 mi. each workday)
4-Mileage (well, cause it will commute 90 mi. each workday)
I know mtngal just bought a Fit, and honestly it was on my short list, but she wants something bigger. I also know that everything I just said says "Camry", but the word Camry brings her to tears just like the word "Minivan" does to me... :P
So that's that. One choice was to trade the Wrangler to save money, but that was just irrational, and the thought passed.
Wanted to say thanks to you and keats and mtngal for your posts regarding my job situation back in May. As all of you said it would, something did indeed work out!
I'll be working from home on contract for the next year, which means I can stop putting commuting wear and tear on the Jeep. Plus, almost no gas expenses! Furthermore, it gives me up to a year to find something else.
If I wind up having to commute long distances by next summer, so be it, but for now, all's well. I must admit it's a good feeling to have this settled. Thanks again for your kind words.
By the way, there's been reports of a Fit being in a head-on collision in a tunnel in the Bay Area (hit a Jeep by the way. Sad to say the Fit driver was reported to be driving the wrong way and appeared intoxicated). The pictures showed a smashed in front end, but they could open the driver's door and the driver only had a broken clavicle (collarbone). Not bad safety for a little car!
I'd react the same way to a Camry as she does - give me a Wrangler, a hatch back or anything except a sedan or a coupe (unless it's a Corvette, Porshe or something along those lines).
I'd LOVE a Mini Cooper S with a few goodies added.
But how much cargo space do they really have? I'd love an Audi A4 or A6 avant for family hauling but those wouldn't be in the price range you're looking for.
Probably the best thing you could do, is check out sites like KBB and Edmunds and look at the various models that makers you like have available. Perhaps a Magnum wagon would work. Perhaps the Fit would meet your needs. Maybe the Honda Element would suit you. Regardless of what we say, you need to decide what elements/features YOU need in the car (don't think of price yet) and then see what cars meet your criteria. THEN apply your price constraints to it. Don't be afraid to consider pre-owned, especially if they can be certified pre-owned.
-Paul
God protects the drunk and the stupid...
Honda Accord
Mazda 6
Subaru Legacy
VW Golf
Our Accord is an EX with leather but no navigation and it was around 23K.
It's not a Wrangler, but it is a nice addition. Now all we need is a motorcycle and an airplane!
Yours in Jeep Coolness,
Dave
Mac- I reviewed all of the messages in the new Problems site. My hat is off to you. You have great knowledge and even greater patience. You are like a Jeep Therapist. It should be Dr. Mac. I learn alot just from reading the advice you give people. You and Tom have helped me just by your knowledgeable (and to the point) responses to other people. Very unselfish. A trait that is difficult to find from strangers (or anyone).Its an interesting (and somewhat depressing) site. I still go to this site first. Its much happier. Thanks, John
This board is more sociable, the other one by its very nature is perhaps a little gloomy, but getting a positive answer lifts the mood (I hope).
Thanks for the kind words, but don't forget that everyone is welcome to answer questions and post support.
Can't beat it for a daily driver, but what do I know? I drive my 1999 Sahara @35 miles per day Monday-Friday... :P
Jeep Wranglers/CJs, Grand Wagoneers (the AMC ones)
Mini Cooper
most Mercedes sedans, coupes, and convertibles
Porche 911
To which I would add (and I'll keep it short):
Morgan (the quintessential British sports car which looks virtually the same as it did in 1930).
New Beetle (instantly recognizable roots).
AMG H1 (sadly, production of the H1 Alpha ceased last month, however the last one to roll off the line is very little different in appearance to the first HMMWV (or HUMMER) that appeared in 1983)
EDIT: I have to admit that 1 & 3 wouldn't be suitable choices for a backup commuter vehicle!
Thanks for all the advice. Now comes the annoying part..."whaddya mean where are the keys to your trade?". I am SO not looking forward to the inevitable wrestling match.
*lol* Oh, man, I remember when they went to test drive my trade when I bought our Grand Cherokee. They came back and said, "OK, let's go set down. I've got some numbers for you." I said, "where are my keys?" He said, "What?" I said, "I'd like my keys back before we start talking about numbers. That way when I don't like your numbers I can go across the street to the Ford dealer and buy an Explorer." The service manager came right over and I got to avoid the back and fourth garbage they pull. I was in and out in about 1 hour.
Btw, I had my Edmunds invoice and TMV for both my trade and the Grand, and I got $500 below that.
I have my own business (yep, that's right - magnets, Tom). My wife recently got a new car, so we needed to decide whether her Blazer or my SE was more appropriate for picking up parts, etc. Clearly the Blazer wins in the 'practicality' category. (Please, no arguments - - I've struggled with all of these already.)
As an unmotivated seller, we learned that a friend of a neighbor girl needed a vehicle and had seen my Jeep. This girl and her father asked if they could come look it over, and I said yes. I'd just painted the faded wheel flares (the Krylon Fusion worked wonders!), washed and waxed it, so the Jeep looked great. Not shabby at all for a '98. They stopped by, and even though I was unmotivated to sell it, I couldn't curb my enthusiasm to "sell them on the Jeep thing". I put the top down, the windows were already out, referenced this forum for information, let the Dad take her (the daughter) for a drive since she needs to learn to drive a stick, and told the Mom that "when Dad gets back, he'll be grinning ear-to-ear and want this for his own." Bingo! Dead on! But the daughter was not likely to let this baby go to anyone else.
After some negotiating, letting his mechanic check it out, and so on, I'd convinced my wife that if these people were unwilling to meet my price, I'd just keep 'Eugene' since we knew the history, and it wouldn't cost us much to keep him as part of the family. I spoke with the Dad, told him the price was firm, and he said he'd check with his wife and call back. I knew I was sunk at that moment.
Sure enough, the only people we really showed 'Eugene' to ended up buying it. I guess the only positive is that their attitude is so pro-Jeep. The girl was making comments like "Of course you wouldn't just want to sell him to anybody...you'd have to know something about the people first" when she took her first ride. Plus the Dad figures she can learn to drive a manual in his Civic, while he drives the Jeep to work just to check it out
I'm fairly crushed by all of this. This is the first time since March 2000 that I've been Jeep-less. Again, it helps that Michele and her Dad will be really good Jeep owners. I'm not sure how I'll react the first time Michele comes to visit her friend next door....
There will be another Wrangler in my future. The sooner the better.
Wonder if we should start a book on how long it takes you to come to the conclusion you don't want to be Jeep-less any more?
It is helpful from the standpoint that far too many people try to fit one vehicle into many different roles, and then complain about the fact that they don't do all of them well. I bought my F-350 to PULL. I have had over a ton in it while pulling a 30 foot trailer behind it. It does this while climbing hills with ease, but it will only get 10 MPG empty or full. That's why I bought the '06 Elantra, (36 MPG). There was a person on one of the threads here that complained that their Wrangler only did 80 MPH on the highway. Someone rightly said that if he wanted a Mustang, he should have BOUGHT one.
My 4 cyl. Wrangler will only do about 65, but I take it places that would give a mountain Goat a nosebleed. Brie :shades:
When they are orderable
What pricing will be
When they are starting production (other than pilot)
When the dealers might see them
They've been fine ever since and I have about 37K now.
6 Wranglers? At your pace I'm due for a new one! Nice of you to break in those 5 other vehicles, I bet they're all still running for someone.
Yours in Jeep Coolness,
Dave
I love my Jeep so it would have to be another vehicle that made me happy and got way better gas mileage. I thought the best option especially for the purpose of doing the financial analysis, was a motorcycle. It fit the characteristics I was looking for; cheap (relatively), fun, great mileage.
I put together a little spreadsheet (I know, what a nerd!) and compared the Honda Rebel to the Wrangler. The Rebel is probably not enough bike to commute with but it's cheap, get's great mileage (50 mpg) and if it doesn't make financial sense then nothing will.
I simply looked at the cost in fuel to drive the Jeep on my 60 mile commute and compared it to the cost in fuel to ride the bike. Then I divided the cost of the motorcycle (purchase price, helmet, gear, insurance, etc.) by the fuel savings to see how many trips it would take to pay for itself.
With gas at $3.00/gallon it would take 491 trips to work to pay for itself. If I conservatively estimate that I'll ride it to work an average of 1 day per week (more in the summer, hardly at all in the winter) then it would take me at least 10 years to pay for the bike with the money I'd save on gas.
I will probably still buy a motorcycle someday because I want one. But for now, I'm feeling better about the real cost of my Wrangler's mileage.
Yours In Jeep Coolness,
Dave