Technical > Automotive > [Help] Any Jeep Wrangler or Similar Owners

[Help] Any Jeep Wrangler or Similar Owners

Bro, that Jeep is in Virginia, and may be a bugger expensive with the Canadian re-certs for use here.

reply to Rifleman
I have a 2009 Wrangler and love it. I prefer to buy an unmodified Jeep and customize it to my tastes, rather than buying a tricked-out one. I had a 97, and was pleasantly surprised at how much resale value it had. To be truthful, a Jeep as a daily driver can be a little rough riding, and the 6-speed in rush hour gets tiring. But, if you're into the whole Jeep experience, there's no substitute.

reply to Rifleman
Would you really pay that much for a vehicle that is 12 years old?

The ride will be bone rattling at best, the tires will hum like a swarm of angry bees and the fuel mileage will suck.
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"from a broken heart to a hole in the sky"

reply to Rifleman
I don't see some of the important stuff listed for the Jeep. First thing I'd want to know, since it has tires that are much taller than stock, is: What gear ratio is in the axles? Many people buy a stock rig, put big tires on and then discover that it drives like crap. The engine is always lugging, they have to downshift for every hill, and mileage goes out the window. By changing the effective gear ratio they have moved the RPM's out of the engines power band. It costs a LOT more cash to do it right and swap in lower gears at both ends. On the order of $1,200 per axle if you pay someone to do it.

Also, if you're on a budget, check the price of those big tires. The price on them has risen dramatically over the last few years. I'd guesstimate those at $225-250 each.

Does it have a locker in the rear end? While they add traction like mad, any non-selectable locker can take a while to get used to, especially in a small rig like a Wrangler.

Jeeps can be fun, but as others have said, driving one every day can get old. It really puts the "Utility" in SUV. Over much of the interior, the only thing between you and outside is a single wall of sheet metal. The inside is hot in the summer and cold in the winter, accompanied by plenty of road noise. I had a CJ7 years ago. Kept it a few months and sold it to buy a K5 Blazer. I wanted to have at least a few creature comforts.

reply to Rifleman
As a former Jeep owner and general 4x4 enthusiast, the biggest piece of advice on looking for any type of 4x4 is to avoid the ones like the TJ in the Autotrader link.

Why?

If it's been modified like that chances are it's been used and abused. Of course, that's the whole reason to do that to a Jeep, but then you as the buyer of said vehicle have no idea to what degree it's been beat up. A fair number of people, not just Jeep owners, will toss on a lift and bigger tires while not considering how much more stress that puts on the rest of the drive line like the differentials, transfer case, and transmission.

Can't really tell what the tires are, but they look like Interco Irok's which are basically mud terrain tires. That means they're loud on the highway, lower fuel economy by quite a bit (unless the owner re-geared which a lot don't), and generally handle like crap on wet pavement.

Like vector and fixr already said....try to stay away from already built 4x4's as a daily driver. If you're wanting to take it and make a trail rig out of it - they're great...otherwise not so much.
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Support the country you live in or live in the country you support!

reply to Rifleman
Thanks. For now I think a car would be better.
Jeeps are very expensive up here. Going down into snow and salt free states there should be very little rust. I figure if I got the jeep for 6500----7000 it would be a deal.
To bring it into canada I think there's just an RIV fee and inspection. 15 percent tax on the purchase price to get it registered and plated.

reply to Rifleman
The jeep, even if it was a honda, toyota, anything else big NO... it has been abused... just look at it.

A jeep in general NO unless it is a Rubicon. JUNK things total junk (Spelled jeep wrong just like nome) you want to get a older one with a slant 6, well then eh... junk but tuff junk at least.

Ford... again going on that junk theme... a focus is a low end POS car. I'd never own one.

The Nissan eh... they used to be better than they are BUT it says tampa... aka sun, aka dry rotted everything... also is 10grand. I would look at a car in FL before buying it, the sun can wreck them. I have a buddy in FL looking for a car for me... and that is the big issue all the rubber is pretty hurting on cars around the '00 area (So I am being told).

reply to Rifleman
Buy a low mileage car in Florida and drive/ship it back to Canda with save you thousands and get a rust free, low mileage vehicle

It is amazing what little money is needed to buy great used cars in this state, The retirees and there 4000 miles a year trade ins are everywhere

»tampa.craigslist.org/hil/ctd/2798787428.html

reply to matt5

reply to Rifleman

reply to Rifleman

Hi Sailor--you're 2 RV's behind. They seem to be dangerous to my health.
»rv burned

»New Wheels

»In Regards To This Old Thread

I now remember the one you bought after the first one but I never did see the thread about that guy pulling out in front of you..

Happy to hear both of you were not seriously injured..

Just more proof that bad stuff happens to good people ( you )

Better luck from now out.

reply to matt5
The 05-07 Zx4 ST Focus was a great little car. It had a 2.3 that made 154HP and same torque over a wide RPM range. It shared suspension parts from the 04 SVT and rode just right and handled great. The EX gave it to my son and he drives the hell out of it----cause he didn't have to work for it-----and other than the alternator dying because of his 2400 watt sound system it runs perfect with 130000 on the clock.

I want to buy in lower states as salt kills cars up here in short order. Rubber I can fix.