Jeep Advice

[Perry Winkle]

I'm thinking of buying this 1990 Jeep Wrangler. The KBB price is $4,665 for a 1991 (couldn't find Laredo or the 90 model in it) in Excellent condition.

It looks pretty trashed/dirty on the inside. I have a friend who will go with me to check out the mechanical stuff.

Any advice on where to start negotiations? Other advice?

I do have a 1995 Toyota Avalon to trade in. It's got 250k miles on it, but still runs like a champ with regular maintenance.

[Perry Winkle]

After more research I noticed a lot of complaints about poor performance and gas mileage on pre-91 models.

[glatt]

If it were me, I'd prefer the existing Avalon to the Jeep, but YMMV.

The Avalon is old and reliable. The Jeep is older and unknown.

[Shawnee123]

As one who has always wanted an old jeep, just for play, I always liked the
CJ7s:

[jimhelm]

It's amazing how much those old wranglers still pull. You won't see them for less than $3500 even if they're all beat the hell up. In 1996, they changed (among other things) to coil springs in the rear, and round headlights.... they tagged them as 1997 Model year, but they came out in 96....anyway... they're much easier to live with. the top/ window zippers alone are a reason to get one made post 97. Also, if you like your kidneys, the ride is SO much better.


How do you feel about the Cherokee? That seems to be a much easier Jeep to find cheap. You should be able to get a late 90's early 00's XJ for a reasonable amount, and there is just as much aftermarket stuff available for them.....

What are you planning on doing with it, PW? is this just a project car, or a daily rider?

[Perry Winkle]

Originally Posted by jimhelm

How do you feel about the Cherokee? That seems to be a much easier Jeep to find cheap. You should be able to get a late 90's early 00's XJ for a reasonable amount, and there is just as much aftermarket stuff available for them.....

What are you planning on doing with it, PW? is this just a project car, or a daily rider?

I don't really like the Cherokees, mostly because they are so damn common. At least they are around here.

It would be for learning about car and driving to local trail runs, which can be out in some pretty rough/remote places. A very slight reason is I also want to learn to drive a manual transmission. I already had to get the suspension and alignment on my Rondo fixed because of the places I tried to take it.

I definitely like the hard-tops best.

I found this site after googling S123's CJ-7 mention. Lots of lovely Jeeps there, but none in the "for fun" price range.

[Perry Winkle]

Originally Posted by glatt

The Avalon is old and reliable. The Jeep is older and unknown.

The truth is, the Avalon just doesn't get driven enough. We live 3 blocks from my wife's office and about a mile from mine. Plus we drag a big ass dog around with us a lot of the time.

As much as I hate to say it, pragmatics might win. But I'll keep dreaming until the wife flat-out shoots the idea down.

[Pete Zicato]

Remember, PW, that Jeep advice is worth what you pay for it.

[Griff]

I don't know how much the handling improved when they switched from CJ-7 to Wrangler. Someone new to manual 4x4s and driving high speed highway miles could find the old CJs a might touchy. Dying on dry pavement is an embarrassing way out. (I would still love to have one again.)

[tw]

Originally Posted by Perry Winkle

The truth is, the Avalon just doesn't get driven enough.

At 250,000 miles, an Avalon is probably cheaper to keep as a second car.

[plthijinx]

jeeps are pretty simple to work on. provided you're mechanically inclined. i used to have (well it's still there) at the farm before i sold it, a '74 cj-5 that was bought brand new. now that thing was beat to hell and back and still ran good. it was strictly off-road. i loved that jeep. zippyt can confirm this.

[jimhelm]

Originally Posted by Perry Winkle

But I'll keep dreaming until the wife flat-out shoots the idea down.

funny. this reminds me of an email i got from bruce this week:

You want my opinion? Ok…

Shut the hell up. You're not his wife. You're not paying for the repairs. It's absolutely none of
your business what he does with his Jeep or his money. I know your type well… first it's "Sell the
Jeep because it's costing too much money." Then it's "No, you can't go spend the weekend with your
buddies because I need you to take me shopping." Then it's "Oh gee, honey… I'm pregnant. Gosh,
I have no idea how that happened."

You're a DreamKiller. You kill a guy's dreams, take away his future, tie him down with a fat mortgage
and too many babies, and turn him into just another miserable guy wondering, "How the hell did I get here?"

Do you really want to help him? Here's what you do… go to your local library (it's a big building
with books inside) and check out a couple of books on rebuilding engines. Read them, over and over,
until YOU understand what needs to be done. Then help him get that engine out and rebuild it. Tie your
hair back in a ponytail, put on some old jeans and get your hands dirty. Hand him wrenches, hold the light,
pull the wire connectors apart, help him get the hood off… help him with anything he needs. When he gets
tired, run inside and make him a hot lunch or dinner. Fix him coffee, hot chocolate, whatever he wants.
(But NO beer. Beer is for when the job is done.)

Then when the day is over and you're both exhausted from working on the engine, push him into a
hot shower and jump in with him. Scrub his back, wash his hair, rinse him off, and dry him with fluffy
towels still hot from the dryer. Then push him into bed and screw his ears off. Then get up the next day
and do it all over again.

Make him realize that rebuilding an engine is a slow and methodical process. Make him realize that
every step should be regarded as surgery; every step must be perfect… perfect torque, perfect fit,
perfectly clean. If you run into a step that you just can't figure out, ask for help from someone who
knows what he's doing. Are you cute? Put on a low-cut top, show some cleavage and go (by yourself) to
the local Jeep shop, and explain to the guys that you are helping your boyfriend to rebuild his engine
and neither of you can figure out this one little step, and do they have any advice…

Think it won't work? Think again. We guys love to help cute girls, even if they have a boyfriend.
(Hey, maybe you've got a sister, or girlfriend…)

But absolutely DO NOT whine or complain. Do not say a single negative thing. Not a single "Oooooo,
I broke a nail." If you break a nail, or cut your finger, or bang a knuckle, you just shut up and
DEAL WITH IT. You should be a hopelessly optomistic, never-say-die cheerleader, encouraging
him every step of the way.

That's my opinion.

[Gravdigr]

Originally Posted by Shawnee123

As one who has always wanted an old jeep, just for play, I always liked the
CJ7s:

I always wanted a Jeep Scrambler.

[ZenGum]

I know nada about Jeeps, but $4,500 for 20 year old car? I figure 20 years is about the lifespan of a car before you need to start doing major rebuilds.

[zippyt]

its a Jeep Thing You wouldn't under stand