Jeep Wrangler owners...step in.

[The Big D]

Update and request for more info.

Very seriously considering a 2010 Wrangler that I found when in State College, PA, last week.

It is a 2010 soft top, red, 6-speed, V-6, 51000 miles on the odometer.

Appears pristine...never off road. No dings, no scratches.

Loaded with everything except power locks and windows.

$19,200.

Thoughts, anyone?

Thank you.

Be safe.

 

[Sven]

That one should do you well. I woldn't call it a a "low maintenance 'beater'," as you mentioned in your original post. Price seems good. Wranglers sure seem to hold their value well.

Good luck. My Wrangler just turned sweet 16 this spring. I'm the original owner and it's still my daily driver.

 

[Mike7.62]

Very seriously considering a 2010 Wrangler that I found when in State College, PA, last week.

It is a 2010 soft top, red, 6-speed, V-6, 51000 miles on the odometer.

Appears pristine...never off road. No dings, no scratches.

Loaded with everything except power locks and windows.

$19,200.

Thoughts, anyone?

Thank you.

Be safe.

Your idea of a beater is way different than mine. My Jeep cost $4200 new in 1978. I still have it, and probably will until I croak.

You never said how you wanted to beat it, primarily on road or off. If off road look to suspension, gearing, and tires. If primarily on road, then all of that is secondary. Jeeps are fun regardless of how they get used, and I had/have loads of fun with mine, although nowadays it sits in my barn most of the time.

 

[DelFuego]

My idea of a beater is a 1997 or newer TJ. They can be found for 7,500 or less and have coil springs instead of leaf springs which make for a better ride on and off-road.

Sent from my AT300 using Tapatalk 2

 

[1morethan8]

..putt putt

putt putt..

2006 Rubicon

 

[The Big D]

"Beater" amendment.

Thanks to the remarks of some who replied, I herein aver no "beater" for me now that I have seen some of the Jeeps in my search. Seems they have been beaten senseless.

Now think I need one that has not climbed a mountain of rocks.

Again, thank for your comments. Will keep you posted...

Be safe.

 

[scooter123]

FYI, Mopar Parts offers a kit to convert the 4 door JK into a 2 door short bed pickup. Looks totally cool. You can also have a 6.2L Hemi V8 stuffed into it that is fully emissions certified and compliant. In a straight line that's a pickup truck that would be a bit of a surprise to someone driving a new Corvette. Yeah, I know the Vette would win, however it would have to work at it a lot harder that it's driver would expect.

 

[laskt9]

My tip to you? Avoid all jeeps!


But I'm biased I'm an old Toyota fan. Us and jeepers don't get along

 

[rburg]

The 2010 V6 is a dog when comparing to a 2012 or 2013. The new engine is a little smaller, 3.6L compared to 3.8. The difference is the newer engine comes alive. The 3.8 is rated at 202 hp, and most of us call them liars. The 3.6 is rated at 285 and I believe it. The engine just screams. Better still, they've dumped the junk minivan transmission and put in a good one. Its always got a gear that seems right for the situation.

 

[Wee Hooker]

I've had a 92 4cyl, manual and a 95' 6 cyl, Auto. I tend to like the older YJ's myself but hate the ride They ride harder than the coil spring's jeeps but the newer styles tend to have more plastic inside than I care for.
Things to consider. !/2 or full doors? 1/2 doors are nice but looking through plastic windows gets old for me.
Hard/soft top. I never saw the use for hard tops. Jeeps have great heaters and should be driven topless whenever possible. Hardtops are a PITA to take on/off.
Door Style: For me full doors and a good soft top do it all. Your likes may differ.
Look underneath GOOD. Jeeps that have been driven through salt water will show excessive signs of rust.
Nice thing about Jeep Wranglers is that they are the "Mr. Potato Head" of SUVs. If you don't like it as is, there are hundreds of sources for parts to make you fall in love with it again.

FWIW, I'm without a jeep right now but have been planning another before retirement. They get under your skin!

 

[laskt9]

Look underneath GOOD. Jeeps that have been driven through salt water will show excessive signs of rust.

Or have been driven in winter... Or driven anywhere.

They will also need brake lines and crank sensors. Guaranteed.

 

[Roadtrash]

My 97 TJ has a little over 140k and still rocks right along. Nothing special just a 4 liter with 5 speed. Guess I'll keep it till it dies and can't be fixed.

 

[The Big D]

UPDATED info re: Jeep Wrangler search

Much sound info was generated from my OP re: consideration of a Jeep Wrangler. In particular, rburg noted the benefits of the 3.6 engine.

New Corvette will be much delayed now. Since it won't be available 'til late spring, 2014, at the earliest, I decided to wait for the 2015 model. With that in mind, I just bought a new 2014 (yes, 2014) Wrangler.

It's sweet. Drove it home from the dealer just a bit ago. Drives like a dream...seriously. Best phone/audio interface I have ever experienced. 3.6 motor is more that expected. Ditto the 5-speed slushbox.

I dig it.

Be safe.

Just sold my Corvette in anticipation of the C7 convertibles that won't be availbale until this winter or early spring, 2014.

Need something fun to get me through the summer. Owned a '94 Wrangler for a couple years but sold it circa 2004. It was a fun/cool ride and now considering another to tide me over.

So...any special concerns, years to avoid, etc? I want this to be a low maintenance "beater," if you will.

Didn't wash the last one the entire time I owned it...and pulled the drain plugs so I could get through the summers with just a bikini top (on the car...not me!)

Your wisdom is appreciated...in advance.

Be safe.

 

[Cpo1944]

My grown son and I drove his Jeep from NC to CO to do the Alpine Loop & the Black Bear Pass. We had a great time and the Jeep never faltered anywhere on the mountains , HOWEVER it was a total dismal drive . The Poor very underpowered engine really struggles to maintain highway speed. If you
never drive it on the highway it`s ok , but high speed ,never, it`s just awful!!!
If I ever buy another -and I`ve had about 6 or 7 of them- It will have to have a better engine- maybe the new Diesel, of a modified V-8?

 

[The Big D]

Clarification/explanation.

Suspect your son's Jeep is pre-2012. That edition of your "Unlimited" Jeep has eighty (80!) less HP and 20# less torque. Plus, having driven a 4-door Wrangler it is noticeably less efficient than the 2-door versions.

Beileve me, even though my new Jeep had just 6 miles on the clock at delivery and thus couldn't be driven "hard," it has more than enough get up and go.

Be safe.

My grown son and I drove his Jeep from NC to CO to do the Alpine Loop & the Black Bear Pass. We had a great time and the Jeep never faltered anywhere on the mountains , HOWEVER it was a total dismal drive . The Poor very underpowered engine really struggles to maintain highway speed. If you
never drive it on the highway it`s ok , but high speed ,never, it`s just awful!!!
If I ever buy another -and I`ve had about 6 or 7 of them- It will have to have a better engine- maybe the new Diesel, of a modified V-8?

 

[1morethan8]

The main thing is to "Wave"!!
...it's a Jeep Thang!

 

[Cpo1944]

BigD, Your right it`s a 09 or 10or 11, I don`t remember which. Anyway several times during our tour -at pitch black night in the Rockies- He would remark to me as I was driving He thought I forgot I wasn`t driving my MB clk-430. I told him Every time I pressed the throttle I was painfully reminded I wasn't in my MB.
It`s kinda hard to go from high performance to no performance.
I`ll have to test drive one of the new ones, But I still have my doubts.
ON a side note I was impressed that most of those Goat Paths dirt trails that we drove showed up on his built in GPS.
If you havn`t been to the San Juans of Co. you should go they are breathtaking!!!

 

[BigBill]

I was a amc jeep mechanic in the 70's I prefer my '99 wrangler sport with the 4.0L inline six that actually came from the 50's scrambler straight six. The block is pretty much the same basic design. I orders my TJ W wrangler from the dealer with all the HD options, optional Dana 44 differential with 3:73 gears and posi rear. I have the larger Chrysler auto tranny without overdrive. The 30" tire and HD syspension with gas shocks(pkg). I got the mag wheels with both hard and soft top too. It just turned 100k. She is ready to build next spring. I figure to add a loc rite in the front diff. And a set of super swamped 32" 950 tires. And a snow plow.

I still liked my 80's CJ 7 but the 304 v8 with 4:27 gears with posi f&r loved gas stations too.

My best jeep ever is my cj 5 that I still plow with today. She has 5:38 gears and loc rites f&r.

You can have all the horse power up front but if you don't have two loc rites in the differentials there is only one front wheel and one rear wheel pulling it. I could Jack up three wheels off the ground and it will still move with loc rites.

Even my 80's CJ 7 with posi' s out pushed snow better than a 460 3/4ton Ford with open differentials. He left a big pile of snow in the street that my cj 7 pushed right thru it. It's all about traction not horsepower.

 

[S&WForty]

The main thing is to "Wave"!!
...it's a Jeep Thang!

My Comanche rarely gets any return waves. Must be a CJ/Wrangler thang. I don't even bother waving from my Grand Cherokee. LOL

Sounds like the pre-2012 V6 is as much a dog as the late 80s and early 90s 4 cylinders when weighed down with hardtops and automatics.

If I sought out a Wrangler, I'd take any 4.0L from the 90s.

 

[bdsorcic]

Find yourself nice CJ5 Renegade and enjoy the time with it... It is just ilke getting a smooth S&W baby chief!