Buying my first Jeep

[teancum]

OK so last week I kind of put the front of my truck into the back of someones car... Long story short... My truck is totaled and I am getting some insurance money to buy a new vehicle. I have always wanted to own a jeep and now is a good of time as any.

I found some Jeeps on KSL and just wanted to know what you guys thought:

http://www.ksl.com/index.php?sid=0&n...iew&ad=2946294
http://www.ksl.com/index.php?sid=0&n...iew&ad=2943156
http://www.ksl.com/index.php?sid=0&n...iew&ad=2886522
http://www.ksl.com/index.php?sid=0&n...iew&ad=2945318

I really like the first one... but was not sure on it.

[oldno7]

Nobody is ever happy with the 4 cyl. I'd holdout for a 6.
Nice to see your looking at YJ's

[snccoulter]

Get a 6 cylender you will hate the 4. I have had may jeeps and get ready to (J)ust (E)mpty (E)very (P)ocket they like to leak/wear out and rust in all sorts of fun places. But they are a lot of fun enjoy. lifting them and doing the work your self is a lot of fun.

[teancum]

Thanks for the update... I was looking almost extensively at 4 cyl to try to save on gas mileage. I will try my hardest to hold off until I can find a good 6 cyl Wrangler.

[fourtycal]

I have had 5 jeeps over the years and the 4.0 inline six is a good engine, strong, good power and fair fuel mileage. Now if they just could have built a decent truck around it

Really at that price point you can expect to do some work on it but that's half the fun eh

post up what you end up with.

[teancum]

OK I just took my first my first test drive on a jeep wrangler... It was a 2002 that had a lift on it (don't know how big) and some bigger tires... 35x11.5R15 I think... Overall it was a nice Wrangler, but out of my price range.

I really loved being in it. It took me a few second to get adjusted to the unique layout, but all and all a good feel. I loved backing up in the thing because there is no truck and it is easy to tell where your bumper is and I was very impressed with how well it did on U turns.

The only problem I had with this Wrangler was that when I was driving it, it seemed like it was always swaying back and forth... Is this normal?

I felt like I was fighting to keep the wrangler in the lane and I kind of started to get car sick. Also there was a vibration around 50 mph.

Also do you guys prefer standard or automatic transmissions when you are 4x4ing?

[fourtycal]

The vibration is likely tires out of balance, it's hard to get that big a tire to balance. The swaying could be an alignment problem and/or tie rod ends, pitman arm, steering box, frame flex, ball joints or just a result of tall tires and flexy lift.

I am an automatic trans guy all the way but some call me old too

[moab mark]

I just typed a whole long post on this and accidently hit some key on my comp and lost it all. The vibration may be tires but probably the rear driveline. YJ's when lifted put a serious angle on the rear driveline. Spacing down the case helps but it still creates vibrations. You can buy a short shaft kit to help this but they are pricey. The steering can be anything that fourty cal listed. Jeep drivetrains in stock form are on the light side. Big tires etc really puts a beating on the steering etc. I would look for a bone stock one and then build it up to what you want over time. This will help stay away from the Just Empty Every Pocket problem that will nickel and dime you to death.

If possible move up to a TJ. They are just better all around jeeps.Get Auto if possible.But in the YJ's I think the auto does not have an overdrive. This can be a problem if driving alot on the freeway. Definitely 6 cyl. When looking at them lift up the carpet and see how bad the floor board is rusted. They are famous for rusting out there.

Jeeps are great fun. I own 2 of them and would never sell them. But just because they look great with those big tires and lift be careful that the drive train has not been rode hard and put to bed wet. LOOK FOR STOCK and then do your own thing.

Mark

[teancum]

Blasted computers!

Thanks for all of the input. I have been taking good notes and weeding through all of the classified listings. Luckily I have a motorcycle to drive so I don't have to find a wrangler right away so I can be more picky.

If I was going to put a lift on the jeep anyway why not buy it with one already installed? Wouldn't spending $200 to fix a suspension be cheaper than buying a new one? Or is it the fact that the people that put on these things also go 4x4ing and end up causing more/other problems?

[Wasatch Rebel]

I don't own any modern Jeeps because the ones I've owned, a '76 Cherokee and an '87 Cherokee, have both ended up being pieces of junk. Now for four-wheeling, I'd certainly recommend a standard trans. They are so helpful to save your brakes when coming down steep hills.

[IntrepidXJ]

If I was going to put a lift on the jeep anyway why not buy it with one already installed? Wouldn't spending $200 to fix a suspension be cheaper than buying a new one? Or is it the fact that the people that put on these things also go 4x4ing and end up causing more/other problems?

I, personally, would never buy a Jeep that was already lifted/modified. Most of the time you will be buying someone else's mess. I prefer to lift my Jeep myself and know everything is done correctly and up to my standards........

Auto tranny all the way :)

[moab mark]

I, personally, would never buy a Jeep that was already lifted/modified. Most of the time you will be buying someone else's mess. I prefer to lift my Jeep myself and know everything is done correctly and up to my standards........

Auto tranny all the way :)

Randy and I are on the same page. But if you can find one that drives straight looks like it hasn't been to hell and back and doesn't do everything the one you drove does then you may be ok.
As far as the motor. We all say get the 6 but a few years ago I bought my parents a yj with a 4. When I went looking there were so many nicer 4's out there then 6's and for what they wanted to do I went with a 4. I then lifted it for them and put on a set of 33's. Other then trying to pull mtn passes at 60 it has been a nice jeep. But it was an absolute stock cream puff when we bought it. It is a 95 and it drives like it just came off the showroom floor.
Around town the 4's really do ok. They are geared lower which helps make up for the difference in power. But when out on the open road, especially with big rubber the 6 is alot stronger. I do not think you can get a 4 with an auto. Even if you can I would not reccomend it. They just will not have the power to turn it.

YMMV
Mark

[oldno7]

Do some research on lifts. Buying one that is already lifted means nothing if the lift is sub standard. I'd also steer away from a jeep with a body lift.
Auto Trans here. I've had a stick in a jeep and they suffer miserably when wanting to "ease" through tough areas.
Be very careful!!!!Jeeps are a disease. Very spendy to cure, I'm still not done after many years.
The ONLY way I would go the route of a 4 cylinder is if I installed a 4/1 gear reduction first.(or similar)

[kkemp]

I've owned a YJ for 5 years and I agree with pretty much everything said here. I bought mine bone stock and did almost all the mods myself. I have to say though finding a YJ that isn't worn out is going to be a challenge. I'd recommend looking for a TJ if for not other reason than they are newer. You are not going to save money buying an older Jeep. Trust me!

If you're not a mechanically skilled, you will be if you buy a YJ. Think about it, the newest YJ is 15 years old.

Here's a short list of things you can plan on replacing right away...

Exhaust header (they all crack)
radiator (they all leak)
ball joints (expensive)
tie rod ends
unit bearings
u-joints, if not driveshafts too
body mounts (a bear to change!)
steering gear (these get real sloppy)
There is a good change the crappy vacuum actived 4wd gadget in the front axle is probably about to quit.

Also if you get a 6 cyl (recommended) YJ, get one with fuel injection. The earlier ones have a carb and they suck!

If you get one that's already lifted, find a very knowledgeable person to check out. You may want to consider taking it to someone like Rad Jeeper to get an opinion.

[Wasatch Rebel]

Hey I asked some other guys at rockmountainextreme.com, the question, manual or auto trans? Here's what they had to say: http://www.rockymountainextreme.com/...ad.php?t=77138

[teancum]

Thanks for the link. It sounds like the auto/manual thing is just what ever one you have is the best... I have driven manual transmissions most of my life and the only time that I didn't like it was when I was in California during rush hour... and I was thinking that 4x4ing might turn out to be the same type of thing where I would just always have my foot on the clutch.

****************Update****************

I test drove two more Wranglers today and my first 6 cylinder. I didn't think that the 4 cylinder Jeeps where that bad... Well until I got into a 6 cylinder and now I know why I would never be satisfied with anything less.

http://www.ksl.com/index.php?sid=733...iew&ad=2934828

This was the last one that I drove... It was really nice and it seemed like the guy took really good care of it. It is highly modded and kind of at the top end of what I want to spend.


P.S. Thanks to everyone for the advise given so far. It has and is very useful.

[teancum]

Oh ya another question. For winter use is a hard top a must or will a soft top do? I found a 97 wrangler with 98K miles and no mods to the body... but it only has a soft top for it.

Just so you know a little about me... I LOVE the cold weather. I went through two winters without trying to fix the heater to an old ford escort that I had because I just didn't care enough to try to fix it.

[snccoulter]

I have had both and i was more happy with the soft top than the hard top. Either way there is no insulation. The heater is fantastic and you will stay toasty with either. and the soft top is much nicer to take off and put on in the spring and summer.

[DOSS]

I have had both and i was more happy with the soft top than the hard top. Either way there is no insulation. The heater is fantastic and you will stay toasty with either. and the soft top is much nicer to take off and put on in the spring and summer.

That said driving a soft top with the window portion of the door missing in 15degree weather for 60+ miles at highway speeds is really freaking cold :)

[Cirrus2000]

That said driving a soft top with the window portion of the door missing in 15degree weather for 60+ miles at highway speeds is really freaking cold :)

I live where the weather is milder in winter (and cooler in summer). We get a lot of rain here, though. In winter I love my hard top - quieter, which is nice, and I'm not wanting to ride around topless anyway. It stays on from October through April. The soft top is noisy on the highway, so it's nice driving around without the top. If you'll do that a lot, consider a Windjammer and/or a Duster.

Good heater, all right - a friend refers to his as "Chernobyl" - as in, "It's cold, but I'll just put Chernobyl on."