Jeep Wrangler

tsjay · December 2000

First, congrats on your decision to get a Wrangler!

Now, what you need to do is find a dealer that has at least one person who knows how to package the options you want on your Jeep. Even if you don't end up buying from that particular dealer, you will at least know which options go with which, and you will know how much they cost. You can then go shopping around for the best deal with a print-out listing the options and retail cost, so that you are comparing prices on exactly the same Jeep. You could even do this by phone, once you have that list from the first dealer.

The best way to deal is to simply ask for the best deal they will give you on a no-trade-in basis. Describe the vehicle you want in detail according to the list you have obtained from the first dealer. Ask them how much they will charge in relation to invoice price. Don't even mention a trade-in until you have established the price of the new Jeep.

I haven't seen any posts where people have gotten their Jeeps for less than $200.00 over invoice. That seems to be as good a deal as anybody has gotten, and that is what I'm getting mine for. (no other charges either- just tax and license,, etc.)

Jeeps are not selling well. There should be some good deals out there. You won't get any incentives from DC, but the dealers ought to be willing to make close deals to get their money out of the Jeeps in inventory and get that money into a faster-selling vehicle.

I am still waiting on my first Jeep to be built, so I don't have any ownership experience. But I do know it can make a HUGE difference in the deal you get by shopping around. I got my Jeep at the third dealer I checked with, and I got exactly the same Jeep $3440.00 cheaper than dealer no. 1 wanted and $2428.00 cheaper than dealer no. 2. (I am trading in a 2000 Grand Prix GT, and these figures are based on the difference between the Jeep and the trade-in, plus tax and license and all- on the road price, in other words).

Trac loc:

A couple of the experienced Jeepers in this group have said that this option is definitely a good one to include. It is supposed to really help on snow. If you are already getting the canyon wheels and 30" tire option that includes the Dana 44 rear end, then you can add trac loc for an extra $285.00. I had one of those dealers that doesn't know squat about Jeeps trying to charge me close to six hundred dollars for this option, because he didn't know that the Dana 44 was already included in the $850.00 canyon wheel package that I ordered. (It does cost that much if you aren't already getting the dana 44 with the 30" tire package.) Just another reason to get with a knowledgeable dealer. I was just toying with this dealer anyway, since I had already ordered my Jeep from dealer no. 3. This guy was real slow to return my calls, so I pretended to still be interested for a couple days after I actually bought the Jeep at the other dealer. Unfortunately, I was a day or two late in learning the value of the trac loc, and when I asked about including it after my order had been placed with the factory, I was informed that they could do it, but that the process would have to start all over, and my Jeep would be delayed. I told them to just forget it.

Boy, this is a long post, huh?

Good Luck,wleeke. You would do well to take my advice and find somebody that knows how to package Jeep options.

tsjay

goducks1 · December 2000

In response to some of the above critiques that "the Germans" are running Chrysler into the ground, I have to partly disagree. Chrysler has always been a company that teters back and forth between success and bankruptcy. The problems they are having right now have been on the horizon for several years: they have grown to reliant on the light-truck side of their sales and have neglected their cars. Now combine that with rising gas prices, trucks that are "old" compared to the competition (esp. the Dodge pickups), and a failure to make the new minivans with what is quickly going to become an industry standard (the fold-away 3rd seat), a general industry slow-down is going to hit them hard. GM has a lot of the same problems and will probably be next (especially considering GM's history of shoddy products and a management team that seems to have NO idea how to design attractive, innovative cars: witness the birth of the Aztek).

I have thought from the beginning that the merger was a bad idea, but more from the German side than from the American one. I think the jury is still out on this one, but don't blame the Germans for this one unless they start yanking the plug on the one thing that could potentially get Chrysler out of its mess: its ability to create stunningly beautiful cars like the PT Cruiser and the Prowler. They just need to start applying that design team to their car line.

tsjay · December 2000

Thanks for the clarification. Not that it was any of my business anyway.

Let me guess, you want to go back to Vegas and become a chef at one of the resorts? That should be a fun place to live and work. I think it must be an ideal place to have a Jeep too.

You ought to have plenty of places out there to play with your Jeep.

tsjay

truebeliever · December 2000

Have two offers to order a Jeep for $100 over invoice. First place offered that right away as if it was standard. Second place I had to work hard, but they reluctantly agreed to that figure.

When I say invoice I mean dealer cost which includes invoice plus local advertiser fees. According to Edmunds those are real costs the dealer has to pay. They shouldn't be too much though. If they are check other dealers in the area to see if they quote you the same numbers.

chefrkm · December 2000

I have a question. I have a 2001 TJ and I would like to know of anyone who has a factory hard top and has installed a aftermarket soft top. Any preferances in brand? Does it attach with the factory style latches or like the YJ model, with a rail system? Looking at getting a Best Top, Super Top.

kevinvsr · December 2000

Tsjay, The KY Jamboree I referred to is in Daniel Boone National Forest, near Lexington. There are 2, one in June and one in August. There is also a Jamboree in Williamsburg, KY in the Cumberlands. Check out the 2001 schedule at http://www.jeepunpaved.com/woj/jamborees/. You can also register online. From what I saw for 2000, Daniel Boone will probably sell out.

On some of the questions posted, I couldn't find a dealer anywhere that could make any sense of the options. No surprise. But here is what I finally found out before getting mine.

The Dana 44 is included in 30" package, along with a 3.73 ratio. The trac lock is not included, even though if you buy the Dana 44 separately it is combined with Dana 44. The trac lock is a $285 option with the 30" package. ABS is not available with the 30" group.

The deep tinted windows are a $365 option on a Sport with dual top group. They are standard in the dual top group for the Sahara, because tinted windows are standard on the Sahara soft top. I have them and recommend them. They are a good deep tint, and look nice on the black top. Only one set of doors, the full steel, come with the dual tops. They are included in the dual top price. You can buy half doors, including fabric half doors to use with the top down that are pretty cheap. Check out www.quadratec.com. I have ordered several things from them already, great experience.

The no charge automatic is indeed only for 2000 models, although it is good till 1/8/01 if you want and can find a 2000 auto. One dealer I went too had about 20 2000 models and only a few 2001s, so they are out there.

goducks1 · December 2000

I have the Bestop Sunrider for my '98 Wrangler and it attaches with front clasps like the factory top. It's a pretty good top, folds back well and only took a couple hours to install initially. The fabric is high quality and supposedly they are about to start offering it with the new heavy-duty stuff in the next few months. They already offer it in Britain with the new fabric. If you don't know yet you should always stay away from ANYTHING made by Steel Horse.

ottowrkr · December 2000

Sorry sir but I must disagree with you. As some one who works for DC I have seen first hand things that only could have come from Germany. Future products have been cancelled because they do not want to put money into them.How can you stop planning the next model ? what will happen in 2 -3 years when these vehicles are to be on the market? Were has all our cash gone?? we had a ton of $$$ in the bank now reports have come out that the fund is at an alarming low level. Germany is slowly chocking us, for what reason . Why did they purchase us in the first place ,if they wont share components and hardware? Ford and Jaguar did it ,why not Chrysler and Benz? As for your last statement about yanking the plug on future products, well the Hemi C a 2004 car is cancelled ,a Suv to compete against Suburban axed and the next replacement for the Grand Cherokee cancelled.Need I say more???

ottowrkr · December 2000

http://www.autonews.com/html/main/index.html click on DaimlerChrysler said to mull cutting Chrysler plans 25 %

chefrkm · December 2000

Hey Thanks Goducks1 for the heads up about Steel Horse products. I am going to be in need of a soft top in the next few months as I am moving back to the Nevada desert. Also I was wondering if its hard to asssemble the top and put it on the vehicle? I read somewhere it comes with a video of instalation. I have checked around alittle and look like it will cost me about $500. Not too shabby....

goducks1 · December 2000

It is not too hard to assemble the Sunrider soft top. The first time you do it, you have to fit the brackets onto the roll cage and attach the fabric to the frame. This takes longer than it should, but once you've done that the brackets stay on the jeep (they do not interfere with the hard top) so swapping back and forth b/w the two tops is very easy. I did not get a video but the instructions were very clear. Actually, you can download the instructions from the www.bestop.com web site if you have the ability to read .pdf (adobe) files.

goducks1 · December 2000

Oh, I agree with you that DC could use better management and that throwing out the entire American staff is a bad idea. So is cancelling the Hemi C (that car is BEAUTIFUL). Cancelling the Suburban/Excursion fighter is wise though--I think the market for those Kong-sized SUVS is on the verge of falling apart, and an over-reliance on truck sales is Chrysler's biggest problem. Can't they build a successful world car like Ford has done with the Focus?

You are right in that Mercedes needs to share parts pronto. I'd be pissed if I held any DC stock right now, let alone worked for them. I still think that Chrysler largely dug itself into the hole it is currently in. It is up to the parent company to turn it around, and they are not doing a very good job of that right now.

tsjay · December 2000

I would appreciate some knowledgeable sole enlightening me a little on the development of the Jeep over the last several years.

This is the fifth production year for the TJ. As I understand it, the TJ had the cosmetic change in the front end with the return to round headlights and a little different shape to the hood. Also, there was the change to coil springs in the front instead of the leaf springs that the YJ's had. Were there any more significant changes?

When was the last change in the engine (for the 6 cylinder Jeeps), transmission, rear end, transfer case, front differential, or in any other major components of the drive train/ four wheel drive system?

thanks

tsjay

tsjay · December 2000

Meant to say "knowledgeable soul" NOT "sole"

sorry

pocahontas · December 2000

Post 482 has been hidden because it includes a long link that is skewing the page. If you're posting a long link, please hide your post. Okay? Thanks for your participation. ;-)

Pocahontas,
Edmunds.com/Roving Host

goducks1 · December 2000

Jeep added fuel injection to the straight six (and decreased its displacement slightly, from 4.2L to 4.0L) in 1990. Other than that it's pretty much the same engine AMC started using in the early 70s.

The TJ had many changes to the YJ: headlights, coil springs all around replaced leaf springs all around, new soft and hard tops, real back bumpers, Dana 44 offered for the first time since the CJ, new dash and seats, airbags added, moved the jack out from under the hood, windshield raked back and improved, wiper motor moved out from the cabin (god that was annoying) to under the hood and the wipers go all the way down now. The biggest drivetrain change was in the 4x4 system: the automatic hub system of the YJ used vacuum disconnects that were more prone to failure than the TJ's permanently engaged hubs.

texasjeep · December 2000

OnlyinaJeep
I like taking long trips with a bikini top on and my doors. You don't get wind blown to death and you don't have your soft top popping and making a lot of noise. Of course if it rains, all your stuff in the back can get wet. Just hope next time you take a long trip, that there is not such high winds.

1775
You can't get ABS with the 30 inch tire group. You can stop safely without ABS. ABS will make it easier

dragonfly03
I would go with www.skidrow.com for an engine skid. www.teraflx.com has a good gas tank skid, www.kilbyenterprises.com has a better one.
www.rustysoffroad.com has a good steering box skid. I have mopar's steering skid.

truebeliever
To find out how noisy a Jeep can be, make sure you take it out on a windy day.

tsjay · December 2000

It was confirmed for me today that tomorrow is the day that my Jeep will roll off the line!

They estimated four days for delivery to my dealer.

I don't know if that is counting tomorrow, or if they mean four days AFTER tomorrow.

I am counting the minutes!

tsjay

onlyinajeep · December 2000

I bet you are excited. I hope you enjoy your Jeep as much as I have enjoyed mine. Make sure to go over it with a fine tooth comb when you go to get it. Any problems will need to be addressed as soon as possible, that way if you have a service department that tries to blame problems on customers, you can show them it came from the factory with problems.
My 99 SE goes in the shop tomorrow to get the fix anti-freeze leak and the power steering fluid leak. My service department is very good and they always treat me right. The bad thing is it is like the show Cheers, I am in there so often they all know my name. Well, I know you will enjoy your Jeep, we like ours.

tsjay · December 2000

Thanks, pal.

I sure hope I get her in the four days they promised (or less). I guess she could even come in
Friday or Saturday of this week.

tsjay

2001wrangler · December 2000

I had my second problem with my new TJ. For the past couple days the temp. gauge was only making it to 160° and that wasn't nearly enough heat to keep it warm, even with the hard top on (it's been pretty cold here in S. Ohio). I took it to my dealer and they replaced the thermostat and everything is fine (and warm) now.

My first problem was that the wiring harness was not plugged into the 3rd brakelight. It was fixed quickly by my dealer also.

(O||||O)

chefrkm · December 2000

I'm real glad for you Tsjay. I was told by the dealer that mine will also be here within the week. I am really looking forward to it as I bet you are too. well I hope i'll be crusing in my new Jeep by Friday!!!!!

tsjay · December 2000

Thanks. Hope you do get your this week too. I think, realistically, mine will not be here til next week, though.

I am afraid to get my hopes up too much.

I hope you didn't get in trouble by blowing your cover (letting it be known that you are associated with the CIA, I mean).

Bet you hear that one a lot, huh?

tsjay

(that's Culinary Institute of America for you who missed chefrkm's post a few posts back- he is going to be a chef)

tsjay · December 2000

Chef:

I meant to ask you why you ordered from the factory instead of having your dealer locate one and do a dealer trade.

I am curious as to whether your reasons were similar to mine.

My reasons were:
1. Had never done it before, even though I have bought so many new vehicles over the years
2. Didn't want to make any compromises- wanted to get the exact Jeep I had in mind, color and all
3. Didn't want someone else to drive the first miles on her, transferring her from one dealer to another
4. Thought it would be neat to have my name on the window sticker

Did your reasons match up at all with mine?

tsjay

onlyinajeep · December 2000

Hello,
I just got a call from my service department. I took the 99 SE in because of an anti-freeze leak and power steering leak. The say that they will have to keep it overnight, it needs a new radiator and power steering hoses. This Jeep only has 9100 miles on it. So, if any of you notice a smell of anti-freeze coming from your Jeep, take it in. Sounds like they may have a problem with radiators.
Happy Jeeping.

chefrkm · December 2000

Basically I ordered for the same reasons as you. I have known in my mind the exact Jeep I wanted and wasn't going to compromise paying for something I didn't want or need. I didn't know about the name on the sticker thing, this sounds pretty cool. But I have ordered before, a 1994 Jeep Cherokee. Took about 4 weeks. I drove it for about 6 months and sold it out right. I then bought a 1994 YJ Sahara that was used. It had 4000 miles on it. The guy bought it without telling his wife and she was pissed. I guess they had a new baby and she didn't want him driving the Jeep w/ the kid in the car. So he sold it to me REAL cheap. He ended up with a Grand Cherokee. Well Enough babbling....
Still waiting

tsjay · December 2000

I proudly announce the birth of my baby girl, Thelma Jane Johnson!

She weighed 3316 lbs and was 150.1 inches long.

It's official! She rolled off the line today, and I ought to have her by Friday or Saturday!!!!

tsjay

dragonfly03 · December 2000

Wow, my boyfriend with the Black Sport and I have been making a trail in my backyard(I have 33 acres of land around my house). This includes a long stretch of woods until you get to a shallow stream. We worked all afternoon to make the sides of the banks more passable. Aparantly we didn't do enough. He took his jeep in first and before we knew it, it was stuck and stuck good. We got the tow straps out and hooked my baby up to his. After about 30 minutes, his jeep got out. We had very little room to manuver and to pull which made this more difficult. At least we have the experience now and my jeep got to rescue someone. What an afternoon! I'll have pictures up on my site(http://Sparx.muddyyellowjeep.com) soon.

Alee and Sparx

PS-tsjay, congrats! I hope she works out wonderfully for you with no problems. I know my baby hasn't had any yet.

truebeliever · December 2000

Does Mopar make a supercharger for the 4.0L engine? Does anyone else? What kind of horsepower gains do they give? Does anyone have any experience with them?

Thanks

chefrkm · December 2000

Just a little infor, my Jeep is STILL not here. I Hate to wait for something I have wanted for years....

tsjay · December 2000

Sorry, pal. I hope she shows up soon.

My Thelma Jane is supposed to be in tonight or in the morning!

Hope I get to pick her up tomorrrow.

tsjay

tsjay · December 2000

If this works, you can see my Grand Prix, and in a couple weeks or so, you will be able to see my Thelma Jane.

http://pm8.ps.photoworks.com/SfwOnline/albums/displayalbum.asp?AlbID=303361

tsjay · December 2000

I guess I'll have to do some homework. When I first posted that link, it was working, but the time expired on my log-in at photoworks, and the "time expired" message started showing up.

I guess I might have to start a website of my own, but I have never done that and don't know anything about it. I have emailed photoworks to see if there is any way to just designate some of my pics for public viewing, but I haven't heard back from them yet.

tsjay

texasjeep · December 2000

Just give us your userid and password. Just joking.
Try using this site. It works good
http://www.photopoint.com/

See ya

saenzski · December 2000

lots of guys name their jeeps girls names. What are some other jeep names out there?

P.S. tsjay...I like Thelma!

dragonfly03 · December 2000

My Yellow SE is named Sparx and my boyfriend's Black Sport is named Spyro.

alee and sparx
http://Sparx.muddyyellowjeep.com

chefrkm · December 2000

Jsjay:

My Jeep arrived this morning and will be dealer prepped and ready on Monday. I ordered a Red Jeep with a Tan Hard top, but they screwed up when ordering it and put on a Black hard top. It has Tan interior. I hope it doesn't look too weird. I really wanted a Tan Top. If I had to wait for another top it could take months....Oh well, I guess I'll have to just deal with it. If that is my only complaint ir problem I will have with the Jeep then its OK with me....

saenzski · December 2000

I have seen your site, very cool. I can't imagine having two jeeps, I am jealous.
Mine does not have a set name yet...
Possible names

Cucaracha or heep...

www.angelfire.com/geek/jeep/

read a tale of a boy & his jeep....

tsjay · December 2000

Well, my good friends, Thelma Jane and her Daddy are together now! Picked her up this afternoon.

She was so beautiful I almost cried!

I was afraid my memory of the white Jeep I had seen this summer had been exaggerated, and I was afraid of a let down when I finally got to see Thelma Jane. Not! She was even MORE beautiful than I had imagined.

We are hitting it off real well. I live 45 miles from the dealer where I bought her, so our first drive together was a nice long one. She handled beautifully, didn't have too much wind or road noise, had a smoother ride than I expected, and the radio sounds much better than I thought it would. That subwoofer really helps.

I think I'll have trouble sleeping tonight. I will want to go out in the garage and sit in her.

I got a good taste for how little room there is for storage, though. It is dark by the time I get home from work, and, since there's no electricity in my garage, I hadn't cleaned out the back seat and trunk in the Grand Prix. I didn't think I was going to be able to get everything in the Jeep!

I'm not complaining. If Jeeps weren't so small they wouldn't be as much fun to drive. They just wouldn't be Jeeps.

I had to try out 4wd high and 4wd low in my yard when I got home. The neighbors probably think I have lost my mind, with my driving around the house several times.

I LOVE HER!!!!!!!

Have YOU hugged YOUR Jeep today?

tsjay

tsjay · December 2000

I'm so sorry about your Jeep. What a bummer!

You ordered from the factory so you could get your Jeep equipped JUST EXACTLY LIKE YOU WANTED, and then you went through the agony of waiting all this time.

Don't let them get away with that crap! Tell them you will drive the Jeep until they get you a tan hard top and then they can swap tops.

You would expect someone to refuse to accept the food at your restaurant if they didn't get exactly what they ordered, wouldn't you?

tsjay

tsjay · December 2000

I intended to tell you guys the time of birth for Thelma Jane was 12:13 AM on Tuesday, December 5th.

The dealer said no one had ever asked him for the exact time before, but that he would try to find out. He told me today what he found out.

This has to be world's record time in getting a vehicle ordered and delivered from the factory! The order was placed after regular business hours on Nov. 15th, and I got my Jeep today, three weeks and two days later, and, to beat it all, the factory was down all of last week because of slow sales.

That is unbelievable!

tsjay

ottowrkr · December 2000

just shows you how bad sales of TJ's are ,that in two weeks you can place an order and take delivery. Sounds like some good deals $$$$ are to be had!!!

ryan23a · December 2000

I've heard 2 theories about washing your car in the winter. The obvious is YES, wash the salt off.

However, I've heard that you actually do more damage washing it in the winter. The theory is that when the temperatures are below freezing, their's no chemical reaction between the water and salt to cause corrosion. As soon as you wash it, you've started the reaction.

Is it best to oil gaurd it, then leave it alone for the entire winter and do one major wash in the spring?

Any thoughts?

onlyinajeep · December 2000

I have always put a good coat of wax on in the fall to protect my vehicles through the winter. I also have always washed my vehicles in the winter, and I never have had a rusting problem with them. I have had an MGB for 16 years and it still has no rust. This is just how I treat my vehicles, others may have other opinions. Happy Jeeping!!!!!

dragonfly03 · December 2000

I'm wanting to get some offroad lights and have a
few questions. I plan on getting a roof rack(the
Expedition Rack that has offroad light mounts) in 3 years, but in the mean time, I thought it'd be
easiest to get a cheap but nice light bar. Any
ideas? Also, what lights would everyone recommend?
KC Daylights would be nice. Has anyone had any
problems with them? Thanks!

alee and sparx
http://sparx.muddyyellowjeep.com

tsjay · December 2000

I'm just gonna die, if I don't tell everybody how much I LOVE my Jeep!

I have had two whole days with Thelma Jane now, and I have never had a vehicle that is anywhere near as fun to drive. Too bad I've had to work both days this weekend, but I have sure enjoyed that 27 mile drive each way.

This Jeep is much more than I expected, and I expected a lot.

I haven't pushed her too hard, since she isn't broken in yet, but that 4.0 will move that little Jeep right on down the road!

I don't have any reservations now about driving a Jeep on long trips. I still haven't actually taken a long trip, but from my commuting to work, and the long drive home from the dealer when I picked her up, I don't think traveling in her will be a problem.

Do you guys talk to your Jeeps? Am I the only certified lunatic in here?

Most of you know my history of trading vehicles way too often and getting myself in a deep hole, but I really think Thelma Jane is the one I've been looking for. I can really see myself keeping her a long, long time. She is so unlike any vehicle I've ever had.

Anyone thinking about getting a Jeep should seriously consider getting the subwoofer option. I cannot believe the difference it makes. I actually ended up with a pretty good sound system when I was expecting crap (after listening to a radio in a Jeep that I test drove that didn't have the subwoofer). I thought the subwoofer would help, but I figured it would still be a pretty lousy system. Not so at all!

Well, I feel better now.

Let's get some posting going on around here, people!

tsjay

Have you hugged your Jeep today?

gblue1 · December 2000

Hello,

Just checking out the messages. Check out my jeep pages.

http://lalug.com/~gblue/yjeep.htm (my yellow jeep)

http://lalug.com/~matthew/mjeep.htm (my son's jeep)

tsjay · December 2000

Nice couple of Jeeps!

I'll be trying to post some pics of my Thelma Jane in a couple of weeks. I just got her Friday evening.

tsjay

dragonfly03 · December 2000

Don't worry, I talk to Sparx too. I personify every aspect of him. Everyone thinks I'm crazy. The right part of the front bumper is bent(I hit a tree on a trail and it hit back) and I have to order another one tomorrow. Poor Sparx. I'll have pics up later.

alee and sparx
http://sparx.muddyyellowjeep.com

wleeke · December 2000

Hey folks! I'm getting down to the finals here on getting my '01 Sport ordered and wouldn't you know it, at the LAST minute, I'm getting hung up on color! I started out wanting blue. Well, the Patriot Blue is what I figured on. Now that I've looked at few I'm starting to think it's a little too dark. It looks black to me from a distance and also at night! I thought about the steel blue but it looks more like silver to me. I was wondering if anybody that maybe had each of these colors could give me some feedback. The brochure shows a steel blue jeep that looks ALOT like a "medium" blue, but the actual color doesn't look the same in the back of the book.
Anyway....would appreciate any comments. Thanks

Jeep Wrangler

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