Well folks, I'm considering selling the TJ

Wouldn’t want the electronic steering,or all the other electric things.

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ran out time. i was saying in all my years owning it. i’ll never get rid of my jeep.

it still brings a smile to my face every time.

it’s hard to own multiple toys. if the M3 brings the smile and the TJ doesn’t.

well don’t try and fool yourself a JL would make a good daily. plenty of trucks out there that could fill those shoes better
 
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Just my $0.02. I would take my monthly rent payment, add in the monthly cost of a JL and put it all towards buying a house that does not limit my parking spaces. Keep the TJ and build it .

Trust me, I'd love to - but I don't know if I'm going to stay in Casper long-term. Don't want to buy a house and tie myself to the area. Plus, just like cars, houses are ridiculously expensive.
 
Pretty soon, my TJ will be paid off. Woo-hoo!

But she is a 2006 and isn't getting any younger. Parts are getting harder to find - like that heater core I still haven't bothered to get installed.

So, I went to a dealer today and talked to them about a 2023 2 Door Rubicon (in blue) that I optioned out on the website.

I'm attaching the part list I had - they say it's about 3-4 months until delivery.

I haven't committed to anything yet, but I did ask a lot of questions. I also test-drove a 2 Door with the 2.0L engine and automatic transmission. Drove quite nicely!

There are so many creature-comforts that my TJ doesn't have - like bluetooth, power windows/locks, etc.

I'm going to do a deep-dive on my finances and see where I stand - I shouldn't have any problem with the payments, but it always helps to double-check. It's also a bit intimidating as it would be the first new car I've bought in my life.

I think their website said a little over $6k for the TJ in trade - but I don't have the back seat, that's in Ohio. And it needs the heater core replaced. Other than that, she runs just fine. I think I could get more selling it private party than using it as partial trade. What do you think I could get for it private party?

Anyway... Yeah, that's what's on my mind right now. lol

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Newer jeeps are quite nice, stock vs stock there is just no comparison to the TJ, both on and off road. They are expensive but they aren't crazy expensive (not considering the post COVID madness). You don't need to do much to them at all, really. Hence the less tech focus on the JL specific forums in general. Some people still will always build them up, they always will even it came with a 37" tire from the factory.

What's lost in the modern jeeps in something more intangible. They don't have the same feel of the TJ. You may or may not feel or miss what I'm talking about. Note that I'm making a personal observation here and not judging .. this is what I feel and perceive. I don't know what it is, but I simply don't enjoy being inside them after a while. Yes, I've driven a good JK and been passenger inside a JL. Both 2 door and 4 door.

This is where it gets a little more philosophical and it greatly helps to understand what it is that you are really looking for. Put aside the cost aspect of it and really just think about it and be honest to yourself, and the answer will be clear to you.

I can afford a newer Jeep. But I won't own one even if you gave it to me free of cost. Nothing against modern tech or modern powertrains, but I would rather build the best TJ possible and (happily) live with the compromises that I will have knowingly made. And yep, I'm aware this is not very logical.

There is no right or wrong decision here. Whichever way you go, you'll gain experience. Maybe get on Turo, rent a JL of your choice for a week and see for yourself if you really can't decide. But I think you know the answer already inside 🙂
 
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Newer jeeps are quite nice, stock vs stock there is just no comparison to the TJ, both on and off road. They are expensive but they aren't crazy expensive (not considering the post COVID madness). You don't need to do much to them at all, really. Hence the less tech focus on the JL specific forums in general. Some people still will always build them up, they always will even it came with a 37" tire from the factory.

What's lost in the modern jeeps in something more intangible. They don't have the same feel of the TJ. You may or may not feel or miss what I'm talking about. Note that I'm making a personal observation here and not judging .. this is what I feel and perceive. I don't know what it is, but I simply don't enjoy being inside them after a while. Yes, I've driven a good JK and been passenger inside a JL. Both 2 door and 4 door.

This is where it gets a little more philosophical and it greatly helps to understand what it is that you are really looking for. Put aside the cost aspect of it and really just think about it and be honest to yourself, and the answer will be clear to you.

I can afford a newer Jeep. But I won't own one even if you gave it to me free of cost. Nothing against modern tech or modern powertrains, but I would rather build the best TJ possible and (happily) live with the compromises that I will have knowingly made. And yep, I'm aware this is not very logical.

There is no right or wrong decision here. Whichever way you go, you'll gain experience. Maybe get on Turo, rent a JL of your choice for a week and see for yourself if you really can't decide. But I think you know the answer already inside 🙂

I know exactly what you are talking about. I am over 70 and my first car was a 1957, four door, 6 cylinder, 3 on the tree, 210 Chevy.
 
I've always considered my TJ(s) to be 4-wheeled Harleys that CAN be buttoned up pretty damned tightly if you choose to - SO many options! No doors, half doors w/o uppers, half doors with uppers, half doors with fiberglass "hard" uppers, full doors; all those choices with no top, soft top, or hardtop - tell me ONE other vehicle with that many options! And truthfully, they CAN be made to ride and drive fairly "civilly" - mine has 31" tires (and I could put softer riding tires on it if I felt the need) and a 1/2" spring block lift and Rancho shocks. Combined with 6 degrees of caster and factory cruise control, heat & AC that will run you out the cab even with a soft top only - what's NOT to like I wanna know?

And I'm sorry - once "4 doors" became an option on a Jeep, they ALL stopped being "Jeeps" in my arrogant opinion...
 
Completely setting aside the merits of either vehicle being discussed, it's a terrible financial move. I understand wanting away from the expense of keeping the TJ and the need for comfortable and reliable transportation, but there are a million better ways to accomplish that than a loan that you'll be upside down on the second you sign the papers.

I'm your age with more income and stick to the philosophy that if I can't pay cash for a depreciating asset, then I can't afford it. When my wife and I needed something efficient and low maintenance to keep miles off the vehicles we enjoy, we spent $8k on a 1 owner Honda Accord. It's mindnumbingly uninspired and boring to drive but that's what it's for and it's not an ongoing financial burden. We probably have $60k total spent on 3 vehicles that we could get $45k back out of by selling, and no payments.
 
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I've always considered my TJ(s) to be 4-wheeled Harleys that CAN be buttoned up pretty damned tightly if you choose to - SO many options! No doors, half doors w/o uppers, half doors with uppers, half doors with fiberglass "hard" uppers, full doors; all those choices with no top, soft top, or hardtop - tell me ONE other vehicle with that many options! And truthfully, they CAN be made to ride and drive fairly "civilly" - mine has 31" tires (and I could put softer riding tires on it if I felt the need) and a 1/2" spring block lift and Rancho shocks. Combined with 6 degrees of caster and factory cruise control, heat & AC that will run you out the cab even with a soft top only - what's NOT to like I wanna know?

And I'm sorry - once "4 doors" became an option on a Jeep, they ALL stopped being "Jeeps" in my arrogant opinion...

Like 4 door T-Birds
 
It's going to be a couple of months before I decide to do anything - probably not until late spring/early summer.
If you like working on your own vehicles you're going to hate the JL. Even its spark plugs, buried under plastic, are very difficult to get to. Not to mention everything is on a computer bus, even the exterior lights are on the bus and not easily worked on. But if you have the $$$ to pay someone else to keep it running well go for it. And in a Wrangler I see no need for electric windows or door locks. All those electronic gadgets are why it costs so much.
 
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I am probably the only person on this forum who drove a 2CV as a daily driver in the USA.

You really do not need all the crap that they put on new cars.

KISS Keep It Simple Stupid is a valid statement if you want a fool proof car.


I drove one in Scotland for a short time. I recall it had a bizarre "push in/turn/pull out" sort of shifter. And right-hand wheel, obviously.
 
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