I'm 61. My Jeep journey is not as long as many here. About 30 years. I have loved all my Jeeps. I've had 9 all up. Importantly for this forum and thread I've had two TJ's Sport's and have just purchased a third, a white TJ Golden Eagle.
Just love the character and unique TJ design. A TJ just soooo simple, classic and just plain fun. It's hard not to smile when you're in a Jeep especially a TJ. That's my experience.
Please indulge me a little. My pics and reflections are from memory in order of purchase. We have greatly enjoyed every Jeep. Our Jeeps have NEVER let us down. We have wheeled pretty darn hard the rocks, mud and sand along the south coast of Australia. Fallen off dunes, flipped, punctured, bogged and recovered. Tight tracks, adventure and beach camping. Though sometimes getting serious injuries we have always driven home. Awesome
My first Jeep was a ZG (ZJ) Grand Cherokee. We called it the white "Austrian Brick" as I recall they were made in Austria. Loved it. Gee wizz we loved the auto in low range on a beach. At the time the ZG was quite rig in Oz as GC Jeeps were unknown. Way out on the eastern edge of WA on a far flung beach coming across some beach fisherman. I remember vividly their shock at seeing this exotic Jeep hammer along the beach was priceless.
Eventually moved onto another GC. Was a WG (WJ) Grand Cherokee as all export GC's came from Austria. More of a family Jeep but we wheeled it a bit. Let my son take it for his honeymoon. Proud as punch he was.
Next was a red TJ Sport. Wife loved this red TJ. Has never let me forget selling it. We flip flopped through family budget priorities and with the arrival in 2007 of the JK it's was off to the dealership for a new black two door JK CRD Sport. Spent way way too much on mods from Quadratec etc. I was though journeying thru what would be a two year life heart crisis. I opened the cheque book as death was at the door.
Sold that to a Queenslander and grabbed on a wim a local nice white XJ Cherokee Limited. Eventually sold to the in-laws who in time sold to my daughter.
Hankered for a Wrangler again. Came across a nice low km black TJ Sport. Shipped it from Darwin which is at the top of Australia, down to where I live in Albany which is basically at the bottom of Australia in another state.
Sold the black TJ to my daughter and her hubby and we purchased mint Anvil 10th Anniversary JK Rubicon. Gee wizz this was a nice Jeep. Very hard to find here in Oz.
The new Wrangler was on the horizon. With much excitement we purchased a new JLU Rubicon. Just on 12 months old the wife wrote it off when she tangled with a double dog country truck. She was shaken but ok. JLUR was too expensive to fix according to insurers. Didn't even have time for some mods. Payout and off to get another Jeep!
Decided on a Granite JT Rubicon. We love it!!! No mods yet.
Finally we needed to "update" our second car. My wife agreed to selling our BMW 335i as the JT with it's long wheel base is quite comfortable on longer country Oz miles... and we live in the country. Guess what she fell in love with for her "new" car?... a white TJ Golden Eagle. What a woman! It's currently in Melbourne and getting it shipped across to us here in WA.
I don't think I'm crazy. As a family and particularly as a couple, we have greatly enjoyed being Jeepers and Jeeping. One thing is true though... can't get the TJ out of my system.
What does TJ stand for in Jeep? Despite all mod cons and JK/JL/JT awesome improvements the answer is obvious... TJ stands for True Jeep.
Livin the Jeeper dream.
What's your Jeeper journey?
ps. Still looking for pics of the first red TJ and WG
Just love the character and unique TJ design. A TJ just soooo simple, classic and just plain fun. It's hard not to smile when you're in a Jeep especially a TJ. That's my experience.
Please indulge me a little. My pics and reflections are from memory in order of purchase. We have greatly enjoyed every Jeep. Our Jeeps have NEVER let us down. We have wheeled pretty darn hard the rocks, mud and sand along the south coast of Australia. Fallen off dunes, flipped, punctured, bogged and recovered. Tight tracks, adventure and beach camping. Though sometimes getting serious injuries we have always driven home. Awesome
My first Jeep was a ZG (ZJ) Grand Cherokee. We called it the white "Austrian Brick" as I recall they were made in Austria. Loved it. Gee wizz we loved the auto in low range on a beach. At the time the ZG was quite rig in Oz as GC Jeeps were unknown. Way out on the eastern edge of WA on a far flung beach coming across some beach fisherman. I remember vividly their shock at seeing this exotic Jeep hammer along the beach was priceless.
Eventually moved onto another GC. Was a WG (WJ) Grand Cherokee as all export GC's came from Austria. More of a family Jeep but we wheeled it a bit. Let my son take it for his honeymoon. Proud as punch he was.
Next was a red TJ Sport. Wife loved this red TJ. Has never let me forget selling it. We flip flopped through family budget priorities and with the arrival in 2007 of the JK it's was off to the dealership for a new black two door JK CRD Sport. Spent way way too much on mods from Quadratec etc. I was though journeying thru what would be a two year life heart crisis. I opened the cheque book as death was at the door.
Sold that to a Queenslander and grabbed on a wim a local nice white XJ Cherokee Limited. Eventually sold to the in-laws who in time sold to my daughter.
Hankered for a Wrangler again. Came across a nice low km black TJ Sport. Shipped it from Darwin which is at the top of Australia, down to where I live in Albany which is basically at the bottom of Australia in another state.
Sold the black TJ to my daughter and her hubby and we purchased mint Anvil 10th Anniversary JK Rubicon. Gee wizz this was a nice Jeep. Very hard to find here in Oz.
The new Wrangler was on the horizon. With much excitement we purchased a new JLU Rubicon. Just on 12 months old the wife wrote it off when she tangled with a double dog country truck. She was shaken but ok. JLUR was too expensive to fix according to insurers. Didn't even have time for some mods. Payout and off to get another Jeep!
Decided on a Granite JT Rubicon. We love it!!! No mods yet.
Finally we needed to "update" our second car. My wife agreed to selling our BMW 335i as the JT with it's long wheel base is quite comfortable on longer country Oz miles... and we live in the country. Guess what she fell in love with for her "new" car?... a white TJ Golden Eagle. What a woman! It's currently in Melbourne and getting it shipped across to us here in WA.
I don't think I'm crazy. As a family and particularly as a couple, we have greatly enjoyed being Jeepers and Jeeping. One thing is true though... can't get the TJ out of my system.
What does TJ stand for in Jeep? Despite all mod cons and JK/JL/JT awesome improvements the answer is obvious... TJ stands for True Jeep.
Livin the Jeeper dream.
What's your Jeeper journey?
ps. Still looking for pics of the first red TJ and WG
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