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Comments
Now that's FLEXY!
I was taking a nap yesterday and missed the chat. Whoops! in response to twylie, the "who has the best vehicle" chat was chaos, too many people talking at once. Lotta people thought ultra-reliable vehicles were best but I pointed out that Toyos and Hondas are just so BLAND.
Hope so, but if you need a specific question answered, feel free to post it.
tsjay
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
Keep in touch, and thanks for your service to our country. I appreciate our servicemen and women, and especially those of you who serve overseas. I know you must get lonely for the Good Old USA.
Take care
tsjay
Have you huggged your Jeep today?
I am thinking about getting a wrangler. Anyone please give me some idea on how bad a soft top is for winter. I live in Boston. Winter here is rough. I see very few soft tops in the winter.
Thanks
Where you been?
I think with the winds in the Windy City, your winters are about as tough a test for the soft top as just about anywhere.
I would think that the soft top, especially the improved soft tops on the 2001's, would have better insulation than the hard top. There is no insulation with the hard top- just a solid plastic shell.
I wish I had gotten the soft top!
tsjay
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
It would be impossible to answere your question about the deal without knowing the invoice cost of that particular Jeep.
Make them show you the invoice, and DO NOT pay more than $200.00 over invoice. I'm not even talking about the rebate, either. That is factory to YOU and costs the dealer nothing. So, you should get the Jeep for $200.00 over invoice and STILL get the rebate, which would effectively mean that you buy at $300.00 UNDER invoice.
Nkelly1, there are a few people that have even bought AT invoice, but $200.00 over is very common. That's why I say that you shouldn't pay more than that.
Don't be bashful. Tell them you want to see the invoice. That's the way it's done now a days.
Invoice on my Thelma Jane was $21,883.00, and I paid $200.00 over that, plus tax, license, and the "customer service fee," which is an administrative fee that is commonly charged by dealers.
Have you been to Thelma's web page? I go into some detail there about my buying experience, and there is a copy of the RETAIL price with all the options. I have not yet posted the INVOICE on Thelma on her web page, but the retail price was $23,870.00, and the invoice price was $21,883.00.
Hope this helps. And I hope you find a good deal.
Nkelly1, you WILL NOT be disappointed with your Jeep if you are looking for FUN! They are totally impractical, but they are FUN!
Feel free to email me. My email address is in my profile.
http://members.aol.com/tjoh298765/thelma.html
Good luck
tsjay
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
I have "thrashed" around in the woods with everything from a old dodge dart to my old 67 truck (took my van hunting last year).
So doing it in a jeep will be a new one. At 6'4" and 280 lbs I have some conserns about fitting into it in the first place.
Leg room seems to be more of an issue than head room.So I love the way the tone changes when I tell them "if I don't fit.. the deal is off".
I agree with tsjay..look at the invoice..
they usually have no problem showing you..
one dealer gave me a copy of it..
then I usually ask for a "total off the lot" price. the best offer ive received was $50.00 over invoice.
That was for a 60th anniversary Extreme Edition
invoice was for $24,032.00 price was 24,082.00
Off the lot price was $24,911.27
Again welcome to to the board..Keep us posted..
Snut
Terry
I had a guy at work go to lunch with me a few times in Thelma Jane, and he fit into the passenger seat ok. He was at least as tall as I am and has to weigh at least as much as you do.
If you don't mind my asking, where do you live?
I am in western Ky.
Keep us posted on your progress.
tsjay
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
I guess I'll start on the stupid yard now, but I would rather load up Ross Allen and go for a cruise. (I posted a pic of Ross on the Owners Gallery board just now)
It may just be my imagination, or maybe I have learned a little better technique, but the top didn't seem to be as hard to handle today.
Let's have some posting this weekend! It was too quiet in here last weekend.
tsjay
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
Next I crawled under it too take a look-see, plenty of room there too. For at least an hour I tried to find something wrong with it (I am good at this), I couldn't. So the next thing to do was drive it.
Considering I am looking eyeball to eyeball at 50 I am not in the mood to drive something that handles like an APC.
The test drive was unbelievable. We went down roads I normally would have gotten out and walked down, this thing trotted down this obstacle course like it was pulling into a driveway.
Now we were on a one lane, washboard, road and I was instructed to take it up to 25 mph. This road looked a little nasty, but what the hell it was his jeep. So I told my sweetie to hang on, looked in the rearview mirror at salesman (grinned) and mashed on it. Considering what condition the "road was in this thing was giving us a very smooth ride. The salesman, in the back seat, was not slamming into the roof, he was just sitting there bouncing a little. So I am not sure what the term "rides like a jeep" means.
We were on a one-lane dirt road, so I decided to turn around. With very little effort I had it heading the way we came. We spent another half an hour driving through ruts at least 12" deep over rocks (the size of basket balls) beds. For hunting, camping and prospecting this thing was perfect.
What struck me was that it would be just as comfortable on a long trip. I couldn't believe how well it fit. With the drivers window rolled up the shoulder room is close, but nothing I can't live with. It fits better than most cars I have sat in.
The seat fit very well (didn't hit my head once), this is the first time, in a long time, since I had a seat that I did not have tilt so far back I was laying down, to drive it.
It's quieter than our ('89) trooper and my old '67 ford truck, rides better than both of them.
So there I was back at the lot trying to find something wrong with it. There are more practical vehicles out there, but none of them fit. $40,000.00 for a truck? Can't do it.
So I bought it, what the hell. Last time I did something like this was in 1974, when I bought my shovelhead... still have it.
Now you can't get away with this lack of details! Tell us all the goodies about your new Jeep. Post some pics, if possible. You see, all of us in here get excited when someone gets a Jeep, and we like to know all the particulars.
If you would be so kind, please post in Meet the Members and tell us about yourself and about the new Jeep.
If you don't mind sharing the info, how much over invoice did you have to pay? It is by telling about the deals we get that we can help others know what they should expect to pay. I found this info invaluable when I bought Thelma Jane.
I am happy for you, Mr. Nkelly1! I hope you will be a regular poster in here.
tsjay
Have you hugged your Jeep today? (I'll bet you have)
Another Jeep owner...
You did it...I've sure you will love your new TJ
Now get Tsjay to help you pick out a name..
All wranglers HAVE to have a name..
Now go post everything on the meet the members section..
We all love to read it...
Welcome to the club
ps..I know Tsjay...it my turn...
take care
Snut
Well, today was the day I finally tried taking the top and doors off. Tsjay, thanks again for your information on the tools - I went back and found your post, printed it, and took it with me to the auto parts store to get what I needed. Thanks also for the warnings about the weight of the doors - no problems with them banging into anything - I think I was overcompensating. I did have one casualty (other than the expected scraping of paint off the door nut)...When we set the hard top down on a thick blanket on the ground next to the Jeep, the rear window (which was in the "up" position) came down on my right front fender and made a 3-4 inch scratch :-( It's not all that noticable, and I'm sure most wouldn't notice it unless I pointed it out. Anyway, driving around was a blast. Took my parents to get some frozen yogurt and had fun tooling around. Showed a buddy of mine, too. I only drove about 15 miles or so with the top off, then it was getting late and I had to put the top back on. I was hoping I'd be able to store the hardtop in my parents backyard, but it won't fit through the side gates, so...Now I have nowhere to store the hard top. But don't worry, I'll figure out some way to get that thing off and stored somewhere so I can take it off for a couple days every now and again. And tsjay, I now know what you mean about the softtop. I'm still not ready to say I wish I had opted for that instead of the hard top, BUT...I can definitely see how it would be nice to drive around topless and not worry about it starting to rain. I have the full cover now, but that's no good if I have to drive in the rain with no top. After today I'm thinking of finding a friend's garage to store the hard top for a week or so this summer and drive around topless when I know it won't rain.
One other observation. When I put the top back on...My dad and I had the darndest time figuring out those two front latches - there are two parts to them, one that fits in the holes in the windshield and one that latches down over the filled holes. Well, when we put the top back on, the part that fits in the holes got tucked behind the rubber seal atop the windshield and we couldn't see it. We kept trying to close the latches and they didn't want to close. Finally we figured it out - I just hope all our futzing with it didn't damage anything. It looks fine now, but I'm a little nervous about the next time it rains :-o Otherwise everything went pretty smoothly, and I bet I could do it next time in 10-15 minutes. Just gotta buy those QuickMirrors from Quadratec now!
yellowman
I only suggested that you post in Meet the Members for your introduction, because posts here on the main board get very hard to find after a while, since new ones are being added all the time.
If someone wanted to check out the details on your Jeep, and if you posted that info here, it would be very hard to find later.
This is the place to do your regular posting, Ned. I just thought we ought to take advantage of the Meet the Members for our introductory stuff.
Glad you are with us! Keep posting. The more the merrier! Keep us up to date with how that Jeep is doing.
You gonna give him/her a name?
tsjay
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
Sorry to hear about your scratch. Hope it is just a minor one, and it sounds like it was.
Not an easy job, even for two people, is it? That top and those doors are HEAVY!
I have Thelma's top and doors off again, and it's time to go to work. It looks like it could rain any minute: wish me luck!
It is supposed to clear off this afternoon, so if I can just make it the 27 miles to work without getting wet, I should be ok.
Did you get some door bags from Qtec? I really like mine, and they sure seem like they ought to prevent any damage to the doors while they are being stored. They were $99.95, if I remember correctly, for the pair. Well worth it for the protection they afford.
Gotta go to work. I hope I can steer ok with my fingers crossed.
tsjay
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
I looked up your account to email you but it didn't show an email address. We should try to plan something sometime....Is Furnace Hills large enough to spend a couple hours on or is it just a small area and a couple short roads? I haven't been able to find it yet either...I've been looking on some maps to try to find it, but no luck.
Talk to you later...
-pizzadude
Is that your Jeep pic that you posted showing the flex with sway bars disc'd?? That is pretty wild...If that is your jeep then i guess that is a good example of what a a TeraFlex lift can do for you....did you have to put on brak line extensions or just relocate the stock ones?
later on...
-pizzadude
I don't have a website yet (or my Jeep!) so I can't post this thing anywhere. If one of you with a website would like to post this, please let me know. I'll email it to you.
I'd like to have this reviewed by some of you who already have a Jeep, as some of the items refer to the gauges, radio, etc.
Only 78 days to go!
Madman
Actually, the waiting isn't too bad. I'm living vicariously through all of you!
As long as no one else is driving MY JEEP, I'll be happy.
Madman
tsjay & tonkadave have lookes at it..
I also have a chat board on it.
maybe we can chat on it..instead of once a week here..
madman...please email your checklist to me..
i can put it on my site
http://www.terrysjeeppage.homestead.com/index.html
sign my guestbook tell me what ya think
Snut
Terry
The trip home from work was just about the best ever top down drive I've had. The temperature was PERFECT!
I filled Thelma up after work, and she got 18.0 MPG this time. The two previous tanks were 19.7 and 18.1. I'm completely happy with that kind of mileage!
tsjay
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
Yeah, just what you need is her and her friends on a topless road trip. NOT!
I am already the proud owner of a 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited (Patriot Blue) with everything. Well after a year and a half of ownership, I want to get a Wrangler to park next to it. I am not sure I will be able to get a new one, so I'm looking at used ones.
My question is this: What in particular do I need to look for when looking at used Wranglers? Are there any particular model years to stay away from or that I should look at? What kind of wear and tear should I expect to see on a good vs worn out Wrangler.
I'd like to get some ideas of which is the better way to go, hard or soft top. My wife has declared no to the soft doors, and with kids, I can understand that. And the important question: What color combinations (body/top) are the best?
Paul
cloth doors: Why the objection? Do you let your kids run around the car with scissors or knives, or do you keep them strapped in?
other than those 2 comments, I am looking for a new or used 4x4 as well.
I'm wondering if most dealers are trying to move the 2001's to make room for the 2002's. Anyone bought one recently?? I'd like to know how far they'll go! I'm in the Atlanta area.
Thanks for your help!
Can't wait to hug my Jeep!
The Wranglers are not and have not been selling well, and the dealers are letting them go for $200 over invoice and sometimes even selling them at invoice.
There is a $500 factory to buyer rebate which can bring your effective purchase price to $300 or more below invoice.
If you want an automatic transmission, they are free now. I would rather have the five speed, even with the automatic being free.
Since used Jeeps hold their value so well, and considering what I have told you about new ones, it might make more sense to go with a new one rather than with a late model used one.
I have only been a Jeep owner for about five months, so I can't help you much as far as the used ones. I do know that you would do well to get at least a '97 model or newer. These are the TJ's and have a much better suspension system than the YJ's, which were the previous models. The TJ's have coil springs rather than leaf springs, and the ride is MUCH better. The headlights are round on the TJ's instead of rectangular like the YJ's.
One very important thing that I have learned the hard way is that a soft top is the way to go. I bought the hard top only, and I regret it. A Jeep is only enjoyed to its fullest when the top is down or off. I have taken the hard top off three times this spring, but had to put it back on the first two times because of rain in the forecast.
While it's true that the hard top can be taken off, it is NOT an easy job and requires two people. I also take the doors off, since I have the full metal doors, which you have to have with the hard top. Topless and doorless is a BLAST!
Check out my Thelma Jane and my buying experience in Thelma's web page.
http://members.aol.com/tjoh298765/thelma.html
tsjay
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
My first experience with it sold me on it, and I have used it ever since.
I had a '94 Z28 Camaro that was making a fair amount of noise on cold starts, but when I switched it to Mobil 1, the cold starts were less noisy and the noise stopped sooner.
I also got one mile per gallon better gas mileage. ( I am a nut about checking gas mileage. I check it on EVERY fill up, so when I say I got one mile per gallon better mileage, I am talking over the long run, not just once or twice.)
That's what got me started on Mobil 1.
Since I do almost all highway driving and very few short trips, I go five thousand miles between changes with the synthetic oil, compared to three thousand with regular oil. This offsets the cost of the Mobil 1 oil.
Other full synthetics may be just as good as Mobil 1, but that's the one that I have experience with.
I do like to break in an engine on regular oil, and then start on Mobil 1 at 5K miles. May be silly, but I am afraid that the Mobil 1 lubricates too well and might prevent some of the "wearing in" of moving parts.
Just Old Tsjay's two cents worth.
tsjay
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
What is in Mobil 1? Is this better than say Slick 50? What do you use in your tarns and rear end?
How about spark plugs.. any better than the others for the jeep? I just hit 300 i. so I have a little while yet.
I'm running Mobil 1 10W-30 in Thelma Jane.
So far I haven't had to put anything in the transmission or rear end, but when the time comes, I will just let the Jeep dealer put the regular Mopar stuff in them.
There are other brands of full synthetic oil, and they may be just as good as Mobil 1, I just don't have any experience with them.
How's it going with that new Jeep? Having a ton of fun with it, I'll bet.
tsjay
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
I am not aware of any further rebates on the Wranglers, and I don't expect that there will be.
From all that I can gather, even this $500 rebate and free auto transmission are very out of character for DC. They usually don't give ANY incentives on Wranglers, even on left-over Jeeps from the previous model year.
I've always wondered how they sell those left-over Jeeps without any incentives, since a person could get the current model for the same price. The dealers that I asked said that they don't have a problem selling them.
Go figure.
tsjay
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
right now the incintives are the $500 or 1.9
3.9 or 4.9 financing..
the best offer I have gotten was for a 60th anniversary extreme edition it was $50 over invoice.
If you are looking I suggest to go to a 5 star dealer. They seem to be willing to deal with you more.
Getting a good deal is realtive..i guess its according to what options you want.
When you get an offer ...ask for the invoice..
my dealers even gave me a copy of it.
then ask for an "off the Lot price"
that will be your total price if you bought it.
That way you will see any hidden charges..
Welcome to the board..join us here for chat on thursday nights..
keep us posted
Snut
Terry
I am NOT trying to be mean about this. There is a very good reason why you need to do this yourself. Anyone can post a list of options they want up here and the regulars can do the math for you, but when you walk into the dealership you had better understand how those numbers came to be. If you do not, the salespeople will make mincemeat out of you. Salespeople will try to argue from sticker, and this puts you at a disadvantage AND wastes your time.
Anyone wanting to buy a car need to know two basic things: what the invoice prices are for the vehicle and all the desired options, and how much you can reasonably expect to get over that invoice price. We can help you out with #2. New and newly-redesigned models are generally hard to get for near-invoice: witness the PT Cruiser. The Wrangler was last redesigned in 1997, so there is no problem there. After you get done settling on how much over invoice is reasonable, subtract the available rebates and add any taxes, fees etc. Then you are done.
I write all this from personal experience. When I bought my Wrangler in '98, dealer #1 refused to do anything but negotiate from sticker. I was naive and wasted 2 hrs with a salesman/manager team playing "good cop / bad cop", then walked out in the middle of negotiations. I went online and learned from this website, then went to dealer #2. We negotiated for 10 minutes from invoice, and agreed on $200 over. We then subtracted a $400 rebate that was available, added fees, and the deal was done.
Which would your friend rather do? If he wants to get a Jeep for as low a price as possible, then he needs to put in the time. Otherwise, he can just pay sticker like so many people do. There aren't any shortcuts. If you would like to save a few thousand dollars, then do the work.
He put in the cheapest Walmart oil he could find. Whatever he saw on sale, he bought a couple cases of it.
Oil is oil. It is a lubricant, and also traps contaminants.
He would change his oil frequently, which is important, because oil can break down (and synthetics do this less) and oil also traps bad stuff in there. Synthetic oil will not break down as easily as regular oil, but it still gets contaminated. In which case you still need to change it often, in which case you are throwing away oil which is contaminated, but not broken down. In which case, you are throwing away money.
Mobil 1 is fine (the best?), but I think it is overkill.
If you are paranoid, stick to a name brand regular oil.
Whatever you do, stay away from the Jiffylube type places. They hire the kids who flunked out of shop class at high school.
So I'll need the camera if I am going to post any pictures of this... I can cover a lot of the state on logging roads.
As for the oil.... I will look into moble 1 when I have it broken in.
I worked a couple summers in northern Idaho. I loved that country!
I'm stuck in western Ky. now.
tsjay
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
While your looking down you can see a small meadow way the hell down there (in the winter it is a pond). Some where in this area there are horse trails.... think this jeep would make that?
Not too far away from here (40 or 50 years ago) over one million dollars in gold was pulled out of one of the rivers (excellent fishing there by the way).
Anyway that is just one area I can pick off the top of my head.