New member with some basic questions
- Thread starter Tock13
- Start date
I'll second the comment on offering them a bit less for that particular Jeep. I'm also a noob (full disclosure!), but I was in your shoes a few months ago so I'll add in my 2 cents. I spent about 6 weeks searching most of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana for the Jeep I wanted. I paid $19,100 for an exceptionally clean 2005 manual Rubicon with 58K miles from a Wrangler dealer that specializes in buying and flipping Jeeps. It seems like I was looking at the same 6 Jeeps no one wanted every day and then all of a sudden a good one would pop up and disappear within a few days. Very frustrating, but worth the wait.
I would advise getting one with a hard top, particularly if it is in good condition. I don't think mine has ever even been taken off the Jeep and it doesn't leak or have any damage from improper storage. I have been doing a lot of research into storing the hard top and putting a soft top on the Jeep, and that seems to be less expensive than trying to convert the other way. You may also consider the area you live/work in and your situation, also. I, for example, live in an apartment and there is a group of stray cats that have taken to hanging out on and around my Jeep. Having it topless is not an option because I'm afraid the cats will move in, and I'm not sure I'd like this band of scoundrels climbing on a soft top. This isn't something I had considered before buying the Jeep.
I wish I had a place to store my hard top and a lift to get it off alone and quickly
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Yeah, I have two ideas... idea 1 is get a (hopefully cheap) storage unit up the street and get a hoist to store it on. Idea 2 (which is less costly) is to build a hoist in my parents garage 45 minutes away and store the top there until I get a house.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
The plans for the TJ will be the, top n doors off back roads fun but no hard core wheeling with highway\city driving just as much of the time. Semi-garage queen?
If this is the plan than just buy what you like and don't worry about gears and whether it's a Rubi or not. Any stock TJ will handle that. Hardtops are a pain to store IMHO. Plus if it starts raining when you are out, you are screwed. I like having my top always available wherever I am at. Plus I like the looks of the soft top much more than the hard top. Only negative I find with the soft top is noise when it's up. But we tend to only drive it during top down weather anyway. It's not our daily driver.
As far as engines go, well I drove plenty of both the 4 and 6 cyl when I was hunting for mine. The 4 is just too doggy IMO.
Happy hunting and welcome aboard
I want to thank you all for the great feedback. It it truly appreciated!! You all gave me great advice and a lot of things to think about. A very welcoming group here and that's not such a common thing on a specialized forum when newbies ask the typical question like I did!!
My one other concern is transmission. Am I making too big a deal of Manual vs auto? I just think manual gives more reliability...but maybe that's me? Anything to watch out for in the different models? 5 speed vs newer 6 speed? I am seeing at least 3 to one on auto vs manual on TJs for sale around here. Passed an a few really nice low mileage rigs that were auto because of what may be an unfounded concern on the auto trans reliability.
Thanks again!
My one other concern is transmission. Am I making too big a deal of Manual vs auto? I just think manual gives more reliability...but maybe that's me? Anything to watch out for in the different models? 5 speed vs newer 6 speed? I am seeing at least 3 to one on auto vs manual on TJs for sale around here. Passed an a few really nice low mileage rigs that were auto because of what may be an unfounded concern on the auto trans reliability.
Thanks again!
With you looking at an 03 or 04 the transmission options are the manual NV3550 which can tend to have more issues than the AX-15 that came in them thru '99. The automatic for those years is the 42RLE tends to be better.
I think it's also important to consider your personal preference and what you think you'll be happy with. I've never owned an automatic and didn't even consider getting one because it's just not my speed. You don't want to be kicking yourself in a year or two because you settled for something you aren't happy with. If it's not an issue of preference, but of reliability, I think others will have some excellent advice for you.
I had a very similar experience when I put my specifications in autotrader - 05-06 Wrangler, less than 75K miles, manual transmission - it went from over a hundred TJs to like six and I had two bought out from under me because I waited for the weekend to go look at them. Get what you want and take your time if you can.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
At the same time, you might surprise yourself by driving one out of your comfort zone. I did the 'manual transmission only!!' thing for decades. Then one day I drove an automatic TJ (current one), and I was instantly hooked. It may have been the 4.10 axle gears that made all the difference, but I had driven a couple of automatic Rubicons in the past and they were dogs, and those test drives were over almost before they started. The one I have now, I love the automatic. Not to say I wouldn't have a manual transmission again, but I can no longer say I'd never have an automatic Jeep again.
I'd get what you prefer to drive, that's a daily issue, unless reliability outweighs it for you. I like the fun of driving a manual. An auto is superior for most drivers off-road (not trying to open a can here.
Thanks again for the great feedback. I have opened up my options on years. I figure the whole OPDA thing isn't that hard to keep under control (I hope!!) I found a '06 sport with 47k miles on it for a good price. Hopefully this works out and I can finally get one before summer is over!!
I wouldn't discount an auto if I did a lot of city driving. Good luck with your purchase.
https://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/cto/6213537139.html
@Tock13 Just down the road from my work. Would be glad to ride over and give it a look.
@Tock13 Just down the road from my work. Would be glad to ride over and give it a look.
X2. While I love driving manuals, I hate driving them in stop-and-go!
I've heard that in the city or in the rocks, the automatic is the way to go enough from folks who should know to believe it.
Very true. While I can't comment from personal experience (well, I can to some degree, but not rock crawling), if you plan on doing the hardcore type of off-roading that Jerry and Blaine do, you really don't want anything but an automatic.
Now I know that most of us don't do that sort of stuff, so take that advice for what it's worth. But the most extreme rock crawling rigs (even the ones they use in King of the Hammers) are all automatics for a reason.
This statement is not meant to incite a war, it's simply something you'll quickly pick up on if you do enough reading.
Not to hijack this thread, but my wife is giving me grief about the TJ I just bought for my son. It's an 04 Rubicon, 4.0L manual, with 150k miles. AC, stereo, lockers, paint and interior all in great condition and it has never been wheeled and always garaged. Had to put two new matching front tires and a new soft top on, but got the TJ for $8750. I think that's about $4-5k on the good side.... Am I right or do I owe my wife a helping of crow?
Similar threads
