TJ vs. JK: Reliability as a daily driver, handling, and more

[LadyD]

Hello all! I'll get straight to the point. I currently have a 97 TJ, specs above, plus owned. Yet I am considering making her the side ride and getting an 09 Sahara jk 2dr. Both are manuals, yet the Sahara will require a lease agreement, which is fine. My questions are, between the two, which would be more ideal for reliability for cities like Atlanta and Nashville type of traffic? I plan to use the jeep as a daily driver (my main vehicle) in the city and state wide travels. The Sahara has cruise control so it makes sense that would be a better ride for long distance traveling. I also will do very light off roading and that will be minimal.

I love the TJ and it's rawness for sure, not to mention the classic look. It's just a beauty in every aspect, but I'm not sure if it would make sense to upgrade to the 09 considering what I'll be using it for, or pull back and put the money into the TJ and re-mod and rebuild to fit today's main roadways handling.

I have fixed a lot of things since I've gotten the TJ, on my own, and it's ease of mechanical fixings is a super plus! For a female who's learned via research and such, I've come along quit well, but reality is, I'm not a mechanic either..however, mechanically inclined enough to get it fixed. I still find myself going to a shop for things I just can't figure out (in which always turns out as wasted money and a headache). Any advice would be really helpful! Thanks in advance!

0IIIIIII0

 

[Chris]

2007-2011 JKs are junk. The 3.8 in those things is the biggest piece of shit engine ever to come in a Wrangler as far as I am concerned. IF you want a JK, do the smart thing and get a 2012+ with the 3.6 Pentastar engine, which is superior in every way.

That being said, having owned both, a JK is superior in every way in terms of daily driving, but when it comes down to fixing things on the JK yourself, have fun with that! The TJ is immensely easier to work on than the JK, so much so that I sold my JK and am getting back into a TJ because of it.

The 07-11 JKs are pure garbage. The 2012-2018 JKs are a worth successor to the TJ in every way other than simplicity and ease of working on them.

The 4.0 in the TJ is superior to the 3.8 turd in those earlier JKs in every way. Horsepower is nearly the same, but the JK 3.8 is notorious for leaking oil, being drastically underpowered, etc.

The 3.6 in the later JKs is a fine engine, a truly fine engine. I makes the 3.8 in the earlier JKs look like an even bigger piece of crap than it already is.

I've driven both, and you couldn't pay me to own a 3.8 JK over a TJ, not even a chance. There's a reason the earlier JKs are so cheap on the used market, because anyone who knows anything about them doesn't want them unless it's for swapping a V8 into

But, the JK with the 3.8 will still ride better than the TJ, that's a given.

 

[BuildBreakRepeat]

2007-2011 JKs are junk. The 3.8 in those things is the biggest piece of shit engine ever to come in a Wrangler as far as I am concerned. IF you want a JK, do the smart thing and get a 2012+ with the 3.6 Pentastar engine, which is superior in every way.

That being said, having owned both, a JK is superior in every way in terms of daily driving, but when it comes down to fixing things on the JK yourself, have fun with that! The TJ is immensely easier to work on than the JK, so much so that I sold my JK and am getting back into a TJ because of it.

The 07-11 JKs are pure garbage. The 2012-2018 JKs are a worth successor to the TJ in every way other than simplicity and ease of working on them.

Couldn’t agree more.

 

[LadyD]

2007-2011 JKs are junk. The 3.8 in those things is the biggest piece of shit engine ever to come in a Wrangler as far as I am concerned. IF you want a JK, do the smart thing and get a 2012+ with the 3.6 Pentastar engine, which is superior in every way.

That being said, having owned both, a JK is superior in every way in terms of daily driving, but when it comes down to fixing things on the JK yourself, have fun with that! The TJ is immensely easier to work on than the JK, so much so that I sold my JK and am getting back into a TJ because of it.

The 07-11 JKs are pure garbage. The 2012-2018 JKs are a worth successor to the TJ in every way other than simplicity and ease of working on them.

The 4.0 in the TJ is superior to the 3.8 turd in those earlier JKs in every way. Horsepower is nearly the same, but the JK 3.8 is notorious for leaking oil, being drastically underpowered, etc.

The 3.6 in the later JKs is a fine engine, a truly fine engine. I makes the 3.8 in the earlier JKs look like an even bigger piece of crap than it already is.

I've driven both, and you couldn't pay me to own a 3.8 JK over a TJ, not even a chance. There's a reason the earlier JKs are so cheap on the used market, because anyone who knows anything about them doesn't want them unless it's for swapping a V8 into

But, the JK with the 3.8 will still ride better than the TJ, that's a given.

HAHA, well thank you kindly!!

 

[jwilson2899]

2007-2011 JKs are junk. The 3.8 in those things is the biggest piece of shit engine ever to come in a Wrangler as far as I am concerned. IF you want a JK, do the smart thing and get a 2012+ with the 3.6 Pentastar engine, which is superior in every way.

That being said, having owned both, a JK is superior in every way in terms of daily driving, but when it comes down to fixing things on the JK yourself, have fun with that! The TJ is immensely easier to work on than the JK, so much so that I sold my JK and am getting back into a TJ because of it.

The 07-11 JKs are pure garbage. The 2012-2018 JKs are a worth successor to the TJ in every way other than simplicity and ease of working on them.

The 4.0 in the TJ is superior to the 3.8 turd in those earlier JKs in every way. Horsepower is nearly the same, but the JK 3.8 is notorious for leaking oil, being drastically underpowered, etc.

The 3.6 in the later JKs is a fine engine, a truly fine engine. I makes the 3.8 in the earlier JKs look like an even bigger piece of crap than it already is.

I've driven both, and you couldn't pay me to own a 3.8 JK over a TJ, not even a chance. There's a reason the earlier JKs are so cheap on the used market, because anyone who knows anything about them doesn't want them unless it's for swapping a V8 into

But, the JK with the 3.8 will still ride better than the TJ, that's a given.

I‘ve owned all 3 and this is 100% spot on.

 

[billiebob]

reliability....

I've come to the conclusion the older the Jeep the better the reliability. The computers and sissy nanny controls ruin the driving experience and every extra computer adds complexity. But if you want a better commuter I'd be returning that TJ to stock.

I've had 3 different lifts, 32s, 33s, 35s. The past year, i've gone back to stock suspension and skinny pizza cutters. Better gas mileage. Better on road handling. Tire costs cut in half. Smoother ride.

Build it for how you use it.

 

[glwood]

Exactly what's been said. TJ for classic Jeep looks, cool factor, ease of repair and modification. 2012+ JK for on-road manners, long trip comfort, overall more pleasant to drive; all while being just as capable off-road. Don't waste your $$ on a 3.8L JK. 2007, 1st year JK, had one good thing going for it. Just one. No TPMS.

 

[Chris]

HAHA, well thank you kindly!!

No problem! I don't want to sugarcoat anything. Stay away from 07-11 JKs if you have the chance. While they will ride better than the TJ, that engine is really one big stinkin' turd in every way, shape, and form.

 

[Chris]

1st year JK, had one good thing going for it. Just one. No TPMS.

Which is ironically very, very easy to disable entirely on any year of JK as well

 

[LuvmyTJ's]

Haha..when I read the op mentioned an 09 I knew the 3.8 haters were gonna be a hating...lol. And rightfully so...I couldn't agree more.

 

[Vinman]

I don’t like the early JK’s as much as the guys above me do.

The 2102 and newer JK’s are much, much better at everything than the earlier years.
But I’m still in the TJ side for everything, looks, size, ease of repairs, classic jeep feel etc.

 

[Apparition]

I think early JK’s are great candidates for LS swaps

 

[No.343]

I think early JK’s are great candidates for LS swaps

I have 2012 JKU and went wheeling with a guy that had a 2009 JKU. He had the LS swap done and one ton axles installed. Needless to say we discussed the LS swap. He told me that the LS swap on a 2012+ would have been $1000s of dollars cheaper.

 

[Apparition]

I have 2012 JKU and went wheeling with a guy that had a 2009 JKU. He had the LS swap done and one ton axles installed. Needless to say we discussed the LS swap. He told me that the LS swap on a 2012+ would have been $1000s of dollars cheaper.

Curious as to why that would be?

 

[No.343]

Curious as to why that would be?

Something about mating the engine to the 6 speed transmission if I remember correctly.

 

[T_Hase89]

I’ve owned both a 3.8 and 3.6 JK. While the 3.6 is hands down the superior motor, I wouldn’t go as far as calling the 3.8 a hunk of shit. If I didn’t have a choice between the 2, i would have no issues jumping back into a 3.8. I have several wheeling buddies who daily drive and wheel regularly on 3.8s with 150k plus (one with 220k) and have had no issues out of their motor.

 

[Goatman]

Wow! I think this may be the first time everyone is in agreement on an issue. Taking into account the TJ is an older vehicle that would have more parts on it reaching replacement age, it is so much easier to work on and I'm most cases cheaper too.
That 3.8 is shit in the minivan they pulled it out of. Parents had one (3.8 minivan) and I don't think they ever made it to the next oil change without having it back in the shop first.
They finally got a newer minivan with the 3.6 and it runs like a top. Power. Quiet. Milage. But a newer vehicle of any type has so many plastic parts to break. So many computers. So many sensors. So many places to fail.
While for me personally I do not fit in a JK without jamming a shoulder into the roll bar, most seem to think the TJ gives a more comfortable ride. So you will have to decide if that extra bit of comfort is worth making a payment every month, hoping the engine doesn't crap out on you, or use the TJ with a much higher degree of dependably and put the payment money in a coffee can each month, so if you need to fix the TJ you have a nice roll of cash and can fix it cheaper by yourself.
Whatever you do do not go with the 3.8 engine. Newer or older.