Any body have recomendations as to what to look for?
She want's a Jeep Jeep.(her words)I think she wants something that looks cool.CJ?What are the good ones that I could get for her with low milage,AC and about 10,000 bucks.I like a V8 but know that aint gonna happen at that price.I've been out of the loop for some years,but I am worried about Jeep/AMC/Crysler products.

D.G.

you can't go wrong with an older CJ and they can be had for decent prices, in pretty good shape.

With you on that,I'm worried about the electronic issues with them.I've seen some real lemmons over the years.
sure I'd like a toy but she gonna have to drive it everyday.
Think dailey driver,but not far.

D.G.

Jeeps, I can talk about them for hours.

Sold them new back in the 70's . Went a long time without one, but just couldn't stay away forever, there is the neatest looking Wrangler in the shed right now.

I really liked the 78 and later CJ-7s till I got my YJ (square headlight varient that came out in 89. The suspension differences are nothing short of amazing especially for a daily driver.

The newer Jeeps have a fully boxed ladder frame under them, with very wide spacing on the springs. With the sway bars and trac-bars they come with, they handle like a little sports car (almost, anyway).

My then new CJ7s were never really comfortable above 60mph, too much road wander. My YJ will hamg right in there and is super stable way above any legal speed in this country.

For me, I like the carburated 6 cyl. Easy to work on, simple fuel system, and will work just fine with no computer (off-road use only, of course). Problem is most current mechanics can't work on carbs, they grew up with fuel injection. If that is what you want, get a 91 and later model 4.0 liter powered ride.

Seeing you are in Fla, you might like to know the YJ bodies were all galvanized before painting about 94 or 95 year models. My YJ is 100% rust free, and was the main reason I bought it. The CJs are very rust prone, bodies in footwell areas, and the frames near the spring mounts.

For YJs, the AX-15 is the transmission you want, if you can handle a manual transmission. The autos are pretty good, but have a (easily fixed) design flaw that shows up when fording deep streams (it is a Jeep, right?)

I run a full soft top in winter, and just 1/2 doors and a bikini top starting this week and till the first frost.

Be happy to answer questions, of talk if you want to talk Jeeps.

You just think S&Ws are expensive, wait till you get a 4X4 toy!

Jeepgarage.org

Ask your questions there. I'm over there too, great place.

__________________
Don't look, reload and shoot!

I appreciate and thank you for the advice.Yea,It's gonna be for the wife and I don't need a toy.Whatever makes her happy.Me it would be over the top CJ with an 8.But for her I think we'll need something safe and reliable.

D.G.

I bought my youngest son our 1987 Jeep Wrangler about 10 years ago when he started college....in his senior year he talked about trading it for a sports car...so I swapped my van for the jeep......(he traded the van)...when we got the Jeep it had 29,000 miles on it.....its a YJ...6 cylinder..stick shift....now it has 142,000 miles on it....and never off road..!!..except to drive out in a field pulling a trailer to get firewood.....I absolutely LOVE this Jeep...it can sit out back in the coldest weather...and wont be started for maybe a month...I get in it...it cranks right up....and its FAST..and stable...I can be going down the interstate...look down and its doing 80mph...feels like its doing 60....Fun to drive...and fun to own....I plan on keeping it forever......two week ago...my oldest son bought him a 2004 Jeep...and it is Fancy..!!..looks like a Hummer inside..!!..and he loves it.....so we all highly reccomend Jeeps....you will never regret buying one.......Hans Fischer in Tennessee...

I had a 1996 Grand Cherokee Ltd. It's not the biggest of the Jeeps, Very comfortable, very stable and will go through about anything. The 5.2 Liter V-8 (the old standard 318 cid engine) had some high mileage issues (head gaskets, main seals) and is not particularly economical although I did average 17.1 mpg up till when I traded it at about 175,000 miles.

The 4.7 Liter V-8 has a couple different output levels that have torque & horsepower written all over them. The Inline 6s seem to run forever, Grand Cherokee Laredo.

Depending on how much it will be driven, you may want to avoid the V-8s for high miles and go with the Inline 6s.

The Cherokee I owned had power everything and was incredibly comfortable to drive and ride. Five people, two in front, three in back is a squeeze. Two and two is comfy.

You can probably pick up a used Cherokee for less than sellers want to get because of the gas mileage. If you have the bux, I'd go for the new V-6. The 1999-2004 range might be a good choice for the higher end in a used Jeep.

I don't care for the smaller models but YMMV. Have your wife drive a bunch. Avoid the 5.2 Liter V-8 if you can.

Check out Edmunds

I have a 1952 willy's Jeep. Runs like a champ!

Jeep = Just Empties Every Pocket.

For me: Chrysler/Jeep: NEVER again, worst vehicles I have ever had.
I like to say: Great design, but lowest overall quality.

If you (she) decides to go with a non-Wrangler Jeep (Cherokee, Liberty etc)
Make sure to get the Selec-Trac 4wd system that has a Full-Time All-Wheel-Drive option
(or other transfer case with AWD)

The Full-Time / All-Wheel-Drive option lets you drive on dry pavement with no "binding"

Living in FL, other than offroad driving, there's not much call for 4WD
but with All-Wheel-Drive you can use it in the rain for better traction

I speak from experience

First Jeep 1987 Jeep Cherokee Laredo Selec-Trac 4.0 I-6 222,000 miles
Current Jeep 1996 Jeep Cherokee Sport Selec-Trac 4.0 I-6 108,000 miles and going strong

My 95 YJ is my daily driver. It has a softtop, 31" tires , a small lift and a 4 cyl w/5 spd manual. This is how it was set up when I got it.

It's noisy, rough riding, and gets right at 17 MPG. The wide 31" tires are **** in the snow and it will hydroplane in good sized road puddles. The 31s will go when they wear out. The heater is awesome!

I do enjoy it. It is fun to drive and it was free!

Dave

I know people love them, all three of my kids had a jeep at one time. I get the "consumer report" monthly magazine which i consider priceless information. They never seem to have a good thing to say about Jeeps, always rate them low.

I had a CJ5 25 years ago, it would go anywhere but was kind of a beater. I've stayed away from them until the last 6 months. My son wanted me to find a 4wd for when he got home from overseas, ended up with a '99 Wrangler (TJ) 4cyl, 5spd, hardtop, 98k miles $6500 (decent ones are pricey up here). It's one owner, extremely well maintained, Jeep in excellent shape. I took care of a couple of naggy issues (loose mirror, bad blower relay, wipers, new stereo, etc) before he got home and other than those things it's been a great vehicle for him. He's been all over the place with it including some long trips, it goes great in bad weather, and the 4cyl is keeping him out of traffic court.

Wen I brought his home my wife took a liking to it right off and within 2 days I'd found another one, a 2005 Wrangler (TJ), 6cyl, auto, AC, CD, etc, 38k miles, $13995 at a nearby Subaru dealer. We traded in her Mitsubushi Spyder and she hasn't looked back, absolutely loves the Jeep. The 6 cyl is much smoother and more powerful than the 4, it'll cruise down the hiway at 80 no problem. They don't have much room, so that can be a pain, but they're smaller than you think, with a tight turning radius, and they'll go anywhere. Plus it's still a convertible, though it's more of a pain to put the top down than the electric one in the Spyder. We've put about 4k miles on it since we got it in December and haven't had a bit of trouble except with the paint, it's cheap. You get lots of little rust spots creeping out of corners and from around hinges. Other than that we've got no complaints with either of them.

Also, you won't find any factory V8's unless you look at old CJ7's. All of them since the mid 80's have been 4 cyls and straight 6's until the new ones came out in '07 and they're all V6's. Our '05 makes a surprising amount of power and with the low gearing is pretty quick. I put on a Pacestter AirF/X intake and a matching Pacesetter cat-back exhaust and that made a substantial difference, sounds better and noticeably more power, as much as I need for the way we use it.

__________________
Don't kiss smiling dogs!

This is our '98 TJ four cylinder. We got it for the kid to drive back and forth to school. Hard Top goes on in winter, soft top or no top in summer.

My wife and I usually end up driving more often than he does...too much fun. Its easy to park and handles like a sports car compared to our two big 4X4 Dodges.

__________________
C & L

One of the most fun, most frustrating rigs I ever had was a 54 Willys Wagon with a ford 6. It had 5.89 gears and while top end was around 50 mph it would climb anything.

One on a treacherous grease slick slope I stepped out of it, and walked along side until it finally got enough traction and decided to go uphill instead of the long terrifying other direction.

Lot of fun. Make sure you have towing/roadside repair coverage.

__________________
Dum vivimus Vivamas

Check with your insurance agent b4 you buy one... You may be surprised, I sure was (been a long time ago though).

__________________
In dog years I'm dead.

Points not addressed:

Reduced gas mileage, especially in the older models. They're not the most fuel-efficient vehicles in the world.

Also, expect to pay higher insurance because the insurance companies figure you're going to be more daring with it and put it into situations where it may be damaged or destroyed.

Jeep parts can be pricey too. But thanks to the internet you can shop around. But if you're on the road and your gimmelcracker breaks its fradgit, you may have to wait for the part to come in. And it's almost never inexpensive.

Jeeps are fun, cool, speedy and carry a mystique but in a quick swerve they have a tendency to roll. Always, ALWAYS wear a seat belt. A buddy rolled one years ago, swerving to miss a deer, and rolled it. His seat belt allowed him to walk way. The Jeep was totalled.

The propensity to roll, and crash resistance, depend upon the model, year and how much you trick it out. But these are all points to ponder.

Why not get her an older series III Land Rover or a vintage Toyota FJ?

Both have class, and it would be more individualistic.

I'd be happy with either one, but then I want a 1940 Ford convertible. My wants aren't consistent with my needs.

__________________
Lost it all in a boat accident

+1 on the '40 Andy.I've got a flathead 8 just waiting for a worthy home.

D.G.

I had an 87 "XJ" Cherokee Laredo.
Sold it with 314,000 miles on it.
4.0L 5 speed 4x4, and I got 24 mpg on the hiway.
Had goodyear wranglers on it 235-75-15s and it never got stuck.
One of the most reliable vehicles I have ever owned... I REALLY miss it.




Jim

__________________
Big bullets leave big holes

We had a 87 cherokee and the electronics wrer impossable to diagnose.That thing had a mind of its own.I'm a OK mechanic and know some real good techs and they all were scratching their heads.Maybe we were unlucky but its left me very leary of AMC/Crysler jeeps.
I can't talk her out of it.She's always wanted one.
If I could only find her a pinto!

D.G.

My first jeep was a new 1975 cj5 and in the next 4 years I had bought 3 more cj and 2 jeep truck. I like the jeeps so well that I marry the dealers daughter. Wouldn't ever be without a jeep. I have a 1959 CJ3B down on the farm that I just love and wouldn't sell it for any amount of money.

__________________
Al
Have Gun Will Travel

I love mine



Jim

__________________
Big bullets leave big holes

How'd I know?I guess I'm shameless and just wanted to see your pinto again.Ahh,the memories.....

D.G.

My dream vehicle was a Jeep, but not a CJ...it was a J-10. For those that don't know, Jeep made a full sized pickup for many years even though it wasn't commonly seen (it had its market, in its time)...it was on a par with the Ford F-100 in size, but had much more in common with an old International.
It was a tough old rig, but was VERY high maintenance (when it broke down...it BROKE down), got around 9 mpg with its 360 V-8, had a small fuel tank (16-18 gallons) which gave limited range between refuelings, it was slow and ugly but that thing would go where others couldn't under conditons others wouldn't.
They stopped making it circa 1987 and parts for it dried up REAL quick (this was before the internet) along with the larger Cherokee (the original large sized one) and the Waggoneer.
While this thread brings back fond memories, I am reminded of the fact it was hard to find parts for (even from the dealers) and despite being babied, started literally falling apart at around 95k miles. In the end, I would not drive it as I considered it too unreliable except for short jaunts to the store and I sold it just short of 100k.
With one exception, all of the vehicles I have had since that time have outlasted that J-10 both in mileage and quality
The Jeep we assocate with legend IMHO no longer exists except in name and design (somewhat) only. This is sad. I hope that the brand survives just long enough for some upstart to purchase it and restore it back to its well-deserved glory...only then would I ever buy another Jeep product.

__________________
The Last Standing Knight

"We had a 87 cherokee and the electronics wrer impossable to diagnose.That thing had a mind of its own.I'm a OK mechanic and know some real good techs and they all were scratching their heads.Maybe we were unlucky but its left me very leary of AMC/Crysler jeeps."

My son had an identical experience with his "87. We changed every sensor that we could find - save the one that the new owner found. He then bought
a 01 Cherokee and ot has been very good.

Like my grandchildren, when they are good, they are really wonderful, but when they are bad...

Wife has a 2007 Wrangler...neat buggy/hardtop/6speed.
Anyone remember the Jeep "Scramblers"?

Gonna go look at a '99 Wrangler Sport with 4.0 Auto and AC tomorrow.It's clean with 53,000mi on it.Bone stock and unmolested.
11,000 bucks asking price.We have a '97 Explorer that is shot-out for trade.
Any thing to look for?

D.G.

One thing to keep in mind about that 87 and older jeeps... they had the renix engine management system... totally different to that engine control systems on the newer ones.


Jim

__________________
Big bullets leave big holes

one word: Scrambler

Speaking of J-10. I had a J-20...the 3/4 ton monster "Brutus" with solid everything considered suspension. It rode like the kidney transplant team was just waiting to hear you were in town... 401 high capacity V8---and I mean 12mpg IF I was lucky. Lotsa power, handled pretty good. Rode like a hay wagon on cobblestone.

I got it with 47k on it about 1982-nearly new.... planned on keeping it a long time as I liked a lot of its features.

It started having little snits where I could drive for a couple hours (or minutes) and it would just quit. Sit for 1/2 hour or so, it would fire up for maybe another 100 miles, 24 hours, or who knows.

Had all possible checks, tunes, trouble shooting, engine/brain box/etc closely scrutinized by specialists in 3 states. Went on a 2000 mile road trip that cost $800 in towing...and never left the pavement.

Had the ultimate hot rod shop check it out, AND the ultimate Jeep dealership in Portland, Boise, Pocatello, Missoula. Couldn't find the trouble. It got so it would just die for 2-3 days, then revive & go on.

I finally made it back home, it actually ran 400 miles without incident. I had spent $thousand$ trying to make it work.

The day after I got home, went out to drive down town.

It was dead again.

I had it towed away and bought a GMC 4x4.

Strange, that was about 23 years ago, and I've never had to use my towing insurance since.

__________________
Dum vivimus Vivamas

Just to get back on track guys.

D.G.

Sorry about the off topic. Bone stock and unmolested it might be worth that to the right person, but you are looking at an 11 year old vehicle. I would bump up to a 2004-2006 unlimited (LJ) for a couple grand more(or less depending on the deal). This will get you some more room for cargo and gear. They only made them a couple years so you might need to look around. They also came in the rubicon package with dana 44 axles and electric lockers. This personally would be the only "newer" style Jeep I would be interested in.

I think for $11,000 you could get something comparable but a few years newer IMHO. If it has never been offroad and is in really good shape, then it depends on how much your wife likes it. Is it private party or at a dealer?

http://miami.craigslist.org/pbc/ctd/1685349292.html <----unlimited

Look any potential Jeep over closely for signs of being buried in mud and or water. I've off road ed with those FL boys many times and they do have a tendency to get them off and in the water. It would be best if you have someone who knows Jeeps look at anything you consider. Money well spent.
If it is to be a DD I would opt for at least a TJ or LJ.
Stay away from any of the 80s vintage with the Peugeot tyranny.
Water intrusion is near sudden death the the auto tranny. For that matter water remaining in any of the gear train, clutch or transfer case is death to the item.
The 4 Cly is not enough to move the Jeep safely at highway merging speeds.
Had a YJ, a TJ and now an LJ Rubicon Sahara edition. Great machine.
I have the hardtop on the LJ, much quieter, more car like but still goes anywhere but no cool factor.
Go to www.flajeepers.net , I believe it is. Real active group and they'll answer your questions.
good luck,
oldogy

Thanks revho,i'll also be looking at a '02 with a 6 and stick.83,000 on the odo.It's to be a city driver for the wife.
Oh yea,It's a dealer and I don't have much cash but really good credit.We shouuld be able to do the payments,but for a total collapse.
But then who cares at that point.I'll ride the dirt bike.
I like the the Topper on the Scrambler though.


D.G.

oldogy,Both of the ones I'm looking at have never been off the road 'cept when some yuppy cut the curb short.Ha Ha

Call my wife a 'yup,It's OK I still love her.At least she's not a liberal.

D.G.

53k is low mileage but $11k is pricey for a '99, even by Maine standards. Like I posted, the '99 I bought with 98K miles was $6500 from the original owner and was in excellent shape. Knock a couple of grand off the price and you'd be getting into more realistic territory.

__________________
Don't kiss smiling dogs!

11K is way out of line unless there is a large bag of cash under the driver's seat.

Jump on the internet classified sites (mods don't like links, so I won't post any) and see what the asking price is on vehicles within a 2 hour's drive of you. Jeeps are bought as 2nd vehicles usually, and low miles is the norm. Also, jeep owners tend to sell them themselves rather than trade.

On the 11K jeep, offer the dealer your truck and $5300, and stay within a grand or so difference. Be prepared to walk.

There are a gang of jeeps for sale right now equipped the way you want, and money talks in buying at this time. In just 5 minutes of looking, I found 4 1999 and newer jeeps hardtop, air, auto, etc., close to me for well under $7,000 asking price.

If you aren't mechanically inclined, hire a mechanic to go with you and pay him a day's labor at the going shop rate for a thorough exam of any used jeep you intend to purchase.

m1gunner,I went on automotive.com and looked.This was the best price in So.Fla.I don't have cash to offer to a private party.
Every thing is expensive here.But I do plan on haggling a better price or walking.Hopefully the explorer holds out for her.It's a good ride but the cooling system is shot.And the evaporator is NG.Summer is upon us and I don't like her stealing my truck on saturdays to go to work.

D.G.

D.G.

I've got a 2004 Wrangler Rubicon. Prior to that I had a 2000 Wrangler Sport .... a '83 CJ 5 and a CJ 7.
My wife has a 2005 LIberty which is a really nice Jeep. I tried to talk her out of getting the Liberty .... but I have to admit that its really grown on me.
In my own humble opinion .... nothing tops a Wrangler. Different series / years are favored by people for different reasons.
Check out a few that are available and go with the one that she seems to like the best. Don't discount the newer ones .... they really are great Jeeps.
And take it off road. Jamborees & off road parks are a complete blast. Off roading is the best thing about having a Jeep that is also not done by most people who own them.
Have Fun Out There.

We've had at least one jeep utility in the family since we bought our first one in 1977. Before that, going back into the 1960s, we used them to go rockhounding in the mountains. Most of the last 33 years we've had more than one, like now. My daily driver is a '06, but my fun jeep is an '03. We just took it to Utah for 2 weeks in the sun. Even in my decrepit condition, we managed to have a lot of fun. Once you own one, you get hooked.

They're more fun in the winter, summer, and fall. Only the spring when its rainy does the interior condensation sometimes become a pain (where I live.)

You learn quickly to do your own maintenance. It cheaper and you learn to look for problems when they're still cheap to fix. Someone above suggested they break down. All cars do that. But jeeps and jeepers seem to stick together. Many times I've pulled over to help some poor fool. On occasions I've also pulled out a tow strap and hauled someone home. Once about 30 miles.

I've noticed an trend for more and more women and girls to buy and drive jeeps. Some seem affronted by the wave, but they get used to it. It just means they're one of us.

TJs stared in 1997 model year (there are no 1996). They ride and handle much better than earlier utility jeeps. Its the coil springs. The early TJs, up until 2000, seem to have much stronger engines. In 2000 they went to the new ignition systems. Jeep had a policy. When they hobbled or crippled the engine, they lie and up the horsepower rating by 5 or 10 (but really they'd reduce the output.) My 1995 YJ had the strongest engine of any I've owned. Well, except my 1983 we transplaned a 360 into.

Jeepers are almost always smiling. It hurts too bad to frown. Once, back in the early 1980s, my wife took my CJ to work. She's a nurse, and was wearing the obligatory while uniform of that time period. On the way home, it started to rain, then storm, then hail. Open top jeep. All she could find was a hard hat to wear (pained the same color as the jeep, and with matching pinstripping.) So she put it on. A lot of drivers were amused by it. Of course I got reamed for not having even the bikini top on the jeep. My policy at that time: Hardtop in winter, soft top in early spring and late fall, no top in summer. A good rain washes down the interior. With the floor plugs out, it just runs out.

For the last 26 consecutive years we've gone to Moab for the Easter Jeep Safari. Heart surgery and all, I was going this year if it killed me. Just not a problem. Jeep vacations are pretty interesting. We see stuff the rest of the world never even imagines. We see places that only the extremely radical hikers or horse riders see. Colorado high country opens to us in July and August. Old mines and ghost towns, mountain lakes, you name it.

__________________
Dick Burg

Thanks all,The '99 was not what she wanted.I took her to see a '03 Wrangler X and she really liked that one.So we made an offer,We'll see.

D.G.

Hard to go wrong on a '97 -- '06 Wrangler, especially if she wants a "Jeep" Jeep. That 4.0L six will run forever. As far as things to look for, I'd try to find one with the Dana 44 rear end. The more common Dana 35 has an symetrical oval cover, the D-44 is not symetrical. The X model will be a D-35, Sahara a D-44, Sport could be either. My D-35 lasted about 115K miles. The 4.0 has plenty of power and gets about the same fuel mileage as a 4 cyl. If she really thinks she needs a V-8, it's much easier to drop a 5.7 Hemi into an '05 or '06. It truely is more power than anyone needs, but it sure is fun! (Ask me how I know!!!!)

Dick, were you trail leader on Moab Rim with hike again this year? I was going to sign up for that run for sure, but a temporary job assignment at work screwed up my vacation plans royally! I was planning on 5 days at EJS and an additional 3 weeks in AZ, but. . .

Get a Jeep Liberty. I love mine!
Steve

__________________
Steve

How much do you want to spend? CJs are likely either junk or expensive restorations. You can still find a nice YJ if you're lucky...the late ones (93-95) are the best. Lots of TJs from junk to mint. All of 'em are fun. I have a '95 YJ with 115k miles that I've owned for about 6 years. If I had the money to burn I'd have a new Rubi. The decal across the top of my windshield says, "It's a Jeep thing. You wouldn't understand." Jeep drivers will.

__________________
Rick, W0FG
CTR2 68-72

°|||||° °|||||° °|||||° °|||||° °|||||°

Its all been said-so let me just say this: DO NOT BUY a jeep from over here on the East or Southern Coast. Find one Northern AL, MS, AR, TX, OK, NM, UT, NV or AZ. Low to no road salts used on the roads during their winters, and a lot less likely to have rust issues. Also show her the early 70s FJ40s or a late 60s to early 70s Bronco. They are all good trucks. I have owned a 67 Bronco, 75 FJ40 and 83 CJ7. Low miles are not all you want to look for. Check transfer cases and differentials. Look at the backs of the wheels for bearing leaks. Does it already have large tires on it? All indicators that the truck has been run hard off road, and will cost you in the long run. The only late model truck I would buy off the coast would be from some guy who just moved here from one of those States I listed above. I see way too many idiots driving them in Saltwater at the beach........SO DUMB
feel free to PM if you have any questions.

Cheers all,We're working on it.Seems as tho financing is crazy for anything more than 5 years old.I've got great credit.I guess I'll see what my bank will do.Strange,I could buy a new one for not much more.

D.G.