Anyone ever own a Jeep Wrangler (or old TJ, CJ)?

[MikeIIA]

We have TWO 1995 Rio Grande Wranglers. Lotta fun to drive. Only downside to them is they are "REALLY squirrely on ice". We drive them only in good weather. Insurance is unbelievably high on them too.Nice big go-cart when you take the top and doors off. Fun to drive.Crank up the stereo and drive. Oh yeah... Did I mention they are "REALLY squirrely on ice"? /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Mike

 

[r0GuE]

Ut Oh! /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
So if I have to drive in all conditions, I better hope there is no ice. Hoping doesn't seem like a good safety measure. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[rdam]

I used to have a CJ-5 that I purchased new in 1982. It had the "Iron Duke" 4 cylinder engine (151 CI I think) and a manual transmission. I was young and single and living in Florida and it was a "chick magnet". Oh yeah, I used to go mudding in the everglades too!

However, it was a piece of junk. heater core failed. transmission synchronizers in 3rd gear failed (not my fault...I swear) and the steering box needed to be replaced. This vehicle was FAR from abused. I was extremely dissapointed in the durability of the vehicle. Did I mention chicks loved it? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Anyway...That's a lifetime ago and another company. You can't beat that 7 year warranty....have fun.

 

[rdam]

Oh yeah...trivia question.

Why did Jeep first produce the CJ-7 ?????

They couldn't fit an automatic transmission in the CJ-5. The driveshaft would be too short.

 

[jmc]

Old cj5

Bought a new cj5 renegade in 1974 when I was young and careless. It was my only vehicle. This had a 304 V8 and a heavier suspension. (like no suspension at all) Everyone hated it when it was my turn to carpool because we all arrived with sideaches, especially the ones in the back seat, right over the axle. Drove it from Indiana to the Colorado mountains for a two week vacation once. The canvas top made more noise up than down so we left it down most of the trip. By the time we returned, we were sunburned and bleeding. Great triip, though I still shudder thinking about some of the things we did in that jeep. Yeah, and it was poorly made and my heater core went out too.

 

[MikeIIA]

Just thought I would let you know about my experiences.Rogue...
Did not mean to push your buttons about your Jeep purchase.
They are a fun thing to have but they have their problems like all vehicles do.
One of the issues we found with our Jeeps was some insurance companys will not insure a vehicle with less than a 96 inch wheelbase.
The insurance companys that DO insure you charge a premium. Wife and I are both 54 years old. Do not know your age but we both have good driving records and our insurance on our Wranglers is a bit high. Full coverage ($250 deductible) is $347.00 for 6 months.
Some people care about this....some don't.
Mike

 

[MikeIIA]

Bottom line is ENJOY your Jeep!!! Wranglers are COOL /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif
Wife and I absolutely LOVE driving them.
Chick Magnet...YUP /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
(But I already have a chick)
/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gifMike

 

[sendero]

>>2) Jeeps can be addicting - especially if you get involved in the Jeep "culture." (yes, there is a Jeep culture out there - it's almost cult-like, but in a good way. )

Sounds like you need to enroll in a 12 step program /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Actually - when finances are better I plan to buy a (used) Jeep. I recently sold my 300ZX Twin Turbo, because it was my weekend car and my weekends are now spent at my land - a place it could not even get to (due to riding about 5" off the ground /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif)

After thinking a while, I decided that a Jeep would be the perfect 2nd car for me. The fellow that moved my shed to my place was a Jeep nut. He showed me pix of him and his many Jeeps in all kinds of fun situations /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

And, you don't have to poke around the net much to see that there are plenty of Jeep nuts out there - and I figure there must be a reason...

 

[RanchMan]

<font color="blue">Sounds like you need to enroll in a 12 step program </font>

Perhaps I should. They say the first step in addressing a problem is admitting you have one -- but then again, denial sounds a lot easier (and a lot more fun) than completing the other 11 steps. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[wroughtn_harv]

The wheelbase thing on the insurance is interesting. I found out about the hazards of short wheelbase and mucho power the hard way.

I lived out in the country a bit in so Cal. The back way had a big sweeping curve graveled road. I'd take my Datsun pickemup full bore into that curve and momentum would bring out the rear and for a ways I was a getter.

I traded the Datsun off. I bought a Duster for the wife. I picked up a 60 CJ5 with stout small block and a super T10. She was as raspy as one can be and still be streetable. Scheiffer clutch and aluminum flywheel meant instant high rpms in any gear.

The first time I came home the back way I thought I'd see what the eighty inch wheelbase Jeep would do on that curve. I planted the pedal. We swapped ends. We whooped. We went every direction but straight. When it all came to an end I hadn't left the road. But it took a little longer to find my heart than it did to clean my pants. I never gassed that sweetheart again on a dirt road doing over forty. It was like you pointed out there was a spider on her shoulder and she'd just come unglued.

My son was named after the Jeep. His mother wanted to name him some ungawdly fad name at the time. I wanted him to be named after my dad which would make him a third since I'm the junior. We had some heated discussions about that. Then one day bouncing down the highway I settled it with the suggestion we name the darn kid after the Jeep. She paused and then asked what it's name would be. Off the wall I came up with Christopher John.

The Jeep was a ton of fun in the sand. But with that aluminum flywheel and killer clutch she wasn't worth throwing rocks with or at in rock or on snow.