I think I may want a Wrangler

[mysta2]

This gets wordy, skip to the end if you're pressed for time, but thanks for reading.


I've been driving my full size GMC van around for about a year now and maybe I'm just bored with it (or maybe it's a mid-vehicle-ownership crisis or something) It was never supposed to be a daily driver but that's what it ended up because the motorcycle that was supposed to be able to do daily duty never materialized.


Now days if I spend more than half an hour in the garage my wife says I don't spend enough time with my 4month old baby girl, so bike progress is severely hindered. When she goes back to work (Teacher) we were hoping to split daycare delivery duty with me picking her up in the afternoons and her dropping her off in the morn. I mounted a bench seat out of a conversion van in the back of the van for the baby seat, but the whole thing's built with half inch square tubing and looks as if it would fold up if you sat down to hard on it. I have yet to buy/mount seat belts for it so as of right now it's a no go. The van's a '99 former cable van with just less than 150,000 on the clock and a rebuilt transmission (that leaks oil)


We talked last night about how the van wasn't cutting it, between the poor build quality, lack of proper kid carrying abilities, poor fuel mileage, leaking trans (which has our HOA sending us notices) and just the absolute drudgery of driving it every day. I'm exploring the possibility of trading her in on something that might be able to check a few more boxes.


There's a long list of cars that "I've always wanted" but among the top ten... or at least fifteen are a Jeep Wrangler and somewhere above that, a first gen Toyota 4Runner. A few months ago I was vigorously searching for such a 4Runner to solve this same problem when it last came up. I must admit though that would have been a tough sale to the wife, she being my practical side (because I lack one entirely) said it was too old and would just be another project. Also I'd probably have to buy from a private seller which means it would have to be cheaper.


So what about a Wrangler? I was hoping that with the 4Runner I could load a bike in the back... but that may have been wishfull thinking between the roll bar and the bed height anyway so it's hard to say the Wrangler loses points there.


This:

is a 2002 Sahara that I really like and it's here local for $11,725 with 117k miles


So what do you think? Can you imagine driving a Wrangler all year around Texas (30 mile commute twice each day) with a baby seat in the back? I've always preferred driving with all the windows down and get very excited at the idea of being able to take the doors and everything else off. Short of our house I have absolutely no debt and would have to finance about 7k to cover that sticker and hate that, but in order to pay for the enjoyment of a vehicle and the practicality of a nice back seat maybe it's worth it. I have absolutely no desire to go offroad, and if Toyota made a vehicle with anywhere close to the same fun factor I'd be all over it as I tend to lean toward metric as a rule but Jeep's the only game in town.


I know some of you must've owned one of these things or still do. Thoughts?


Kit

 

[bryanjnkns]

If you're worried about gas mileage, the jeep won't be much better than the van. It's about as aerodynamic as a brick. With a lift and fat knobbys, its worse.

 

[mysta2]

Yeah I know, on paper the jeep should be only about 3mpg better.


...but what alternative do I have short of a Honda Accord which may as well be a coffin :-\

 

[smeyer]

Jeep with a car seat and baby in the back with top off.....I would never....too dangerous for that precious cargo. Just my two cents.

 

[VonYinzer]

If you go with the Wrangler, you will NEED a hardtop for it if its going to do baby carrying duty.

I like Wranglers too, and was thinking about looking for one (need a new car here next month), as theyre great for the shit winters here in PA. The main problem I see with them is that they are 1: a Chrysler product, and after the early 90s they have issues; and 2. they are too customizable. Haha... Folks like us tend to start "tinkering" with them.

 

[Mr.E]

Well I don't know how the prices are now, but in 07 I picked up an 06 Nissan frontier extended cab for 13,500 out the door. Its base model with a 4cyl, but it gets 24 miles to the gallon in city, and will haul 2 bikes in the back. Trailer towing is less than good, but its a 4 cyl... good all around truck and t will.fit a car seat in the backseat too.

 

[MNBikerPup]

I own a 97 TJ wrangler. Best purchase I ever made. I drove it as my daily commuter till the tranny went out (PO wheeled in the mountains of CO, scars of proof). I had the jeep when my daughter was born. Prior to her birth, I ripped out the airbags, both driver and passenger side. Wasn't that hard of a job at all. In fact, quite easy. When I had her, I would put the top on, as she got older, she'd ride shot gun with me and I would take the top down, but I would leave the doors on, including the top halves as well. She loves this jeep and won't even let me sell it! she's 6 now. So, as I save for a new tranny, I have many ideas floating. So much accessories you can get for the jeep to include bike carriers. Since I don't have a spare tire currently, I use the spare rack on the door to haul a bicycle. It has a lip to catch the top bar on and so I applied foam to protect the bike finish and use bungees to secure. Does a great job too. I carried my bike with me all the way through school since I had to park about a mile away. I would recommend a hardtop though, and a windjammer to split the cab so your child is in the back and the windjammer would cut down on the wind going into the back. Then, you could drive doorless and not worry about her either.

 

[mysta2]

If you go with the Wrangler, you will NEED a hardtop for it if its going to do baby carrying duty.

...The main problem I see with them is that they are 1: a Chrysler product, and after the early 90s they have issues; and 2. they are too customizable. Haha... Folks like us tend to start "tinkering" with them.

Yes a Hardtop would be a necessary purchase (also because plastic windows are just awful) Both your points are my primary hesitations... and now Jeep's Italian :\

Well I don't know how the prices are now, but in 07 I picked up an 06 Nissan frontier extended cab for 13,500 out the door. Its base model with a 4cyl, but it gets 24 miles to the gallon in city, and will haul 2 bikes in the back. Trailer towing is less than good, but its a 4 cyl... good all around truck and t will.fit a car seat in the backseat too.

Yeah, when I was looking at the 4Runners I couldn't help also looking at the late model double cab Tacomas and really liked them, just didn't like the price. Frontiers and Titans also looked pretty good and a bit cheaper. Mileage didn't seem much better, but maybe I just didn't do enough research, might have to revisit those.

 

[VonYinzer]

I have an 08 Tundra (company vehicle) and its a GREAT truck. Only complaints are price ($27,000 new) and upkeep (21" wheels, so tires are about $1200 a set for the low end brands). Oh and the body panels are made from the thinnest steel imaginable. If you look at it the wrong way it dents.

If I had the cash, first truck on my list would be a used Tacoma dual cab. With the v6 it gets 20-26mpg, has a massive towing capability for its size and will last forever.

 

[mysta2]

I have an 08 Tundra (company vehicle) and its a GREAT truck. Only complaints are price ($27,000 new) and upkeep (21" wheels, so tires are about $1200 a set for the low end brands). Oh and the body panels are made from the thinnest steel imaginable. If you look at it the wrong way it dents.

If I had the cash, first truck on my list would be a used Tacoma dual cab. With the v6 it gets 20-26mpg, has a massive towing capability for its size and will last forever.

Oops, I meant Tacoma (edited it) Yeah, the Tundras are really nice, but way bigger than I need. I don't know where you guys are getting your fuel mileage numbers, but both you and Mr.E are quite optimistic compared to the official EPA numbers.

 

[VonYinzer]

According to Toyota, my I-Force V-8 gets 18-22mpg (more like 15-18 in real life) with 375 HP and nearly 400 ft lbs.

The V6 is much better on gas than the I-Force.

 

[mysta2]

A brief look through CarMax for a double cab Taco under $15,000 brings up an '08 auto V6 prerunner, which according to Fueleconomy.gov is rated at 16/20mpg.


Also on fueleconomy.gov an '07 Frontier 4cyl auto is rated at 17/22


This all has me back in Wrangler territory... wait no, actually on second look the '02 that I listed earlier is 13/16


...this sucks. I just want a 5 seat truck that's 7ish years old that's made by Toyota, has a removable top and doors, averages more than 22mpg, and costs $12k! Is that so impossible?!


BTW, That same site lists my van at 13/18 (actual mileage over 456 days is 15.97mpg)

 

[MNBikerPup]

The straight 6 in a TJ is the way to go. They are bulletproof engines that will last. They average 250K miles and some can go more depending on the upkeep. I have the first year TJ and I haven't had any issues with the engine. It's old technology tried and true.

 

[JRK5892]

man i LOVED my wrangler! miss it so much! if you are looking to save some $$$ look at the YJ's they are not as fancy as the newer ones but by far the best platform to build on. i had a 4cyl, intake, chip, and exhaust and it pulled a trailer with 3 bikes no problem. nothing stopped it! NOTHIng i mudded it like no other in missouri... on gas it was not too bad... better than most of my buddies trucks
wish i still had it but at the time was living in an apt and could only have 2 cars on the prem.

I now have a Grand cher. limited... nice rig tows great!!! but sucks on gas... bad

but still run in the local jeep events

 

[cdiver666]

+1 on the YJ. Got mine for 3 grand, and it was like a tank. It could go anywhere. It has 35s with all suspension lift.
This was my 88 wrangler that I unfortunately had to sell. It needed some work to be totally dependable but I wasn't in a position to fix it up (away at school).
Mine had 230k miles and ran fine. It had its issues, but not with the engine or transmission. It also had the less desirable carbureted 4.2L but still had enough torque to pull a trailer, on level ground. On hills however power was pathetic, really. It needed lower gears (a bigger engine, really). Did incredibly well off road.

I probably wouldn't run a wrangler as a family vehicle with a baby, but it would probably be okay depending on your weather conditions. I got wet driving mine when it rained, having only part of the soft top on. It would probably be cold too.
My uncle has a 95, lifted just as much but with a more solid drivetrain. It was their families only car (4 people) for some time. He took it off-roading too. He had a hard-top for the winter and ran no top in the summer (in salt lake city).


Shop around, try and get a good deal, and do it! I sure do miss mine. Try and grab an early 90s with a 4L, but be careful, you'll be tempted to spend money upgrading it!

 

[RedPlastic]

you could always combine both?

 

[PHeller]

I had an 1980 CJ7, older GC, older 92 Cherokee


Buddy has a 1994 YJ, and lifted Cherokee


Another friend has a YJ, lifted.


What we've learned is that:


1) Don't make this your only vehicle. You will grow tired of it very quickly.


2) Age doesn't matter. Rust does. If you can get a CJ with no rust, it'll be just as fun as a 2006. The fun is in the top (or lack of it). Buy a $1000 minty clean no-runner and have at it.

 

[BlackCoyote]

just my thinking but if it's hauling my kids daily...i want as safe as possible. check the crash test data on what ever your thinking of buying. My wife had an incident where another driver crossed the line and to avoid a head on at 55 she swerved lost it and rolled our chevy equinox which at the time had both my boys (2 & 4) in it. All 3 came out without a scratch luckily but it has changed our car shopping habits.
She now drives Malibu and I have a Toyota Tacoma double cab.

it's liking riding your motorcycle you have to always worry about the other guy...

 

[tsbigdog]

I've been thinking about this recently too. I've been thinking about a Ridgline. Before you all start bashing me, I know it's not the greatest looking vehicle out there and it doesn't really do well off road. It is however very safe and comfortable. It also gets good mileage for a full size pickup. Something like 17-23. The neat thing about it is that they make a motorcyle rack for the bed and it has a really big lockable trunk in the bed. I have seen some of them with some mods and larger tires that look kinda cool. It's not for everyone, but it's an option to consider.

 

[4eyes]

So what do you think? Can you imagine driving a Wrangler all year around Texas (30 mile commute twice each day) with a baby seat in the back? I've always preferred driving with all the windows down and get very excited at the idea of being able to take the doors and everything else off. Short of our house I have absolutely no debt and would have to finance about 7k to cover that sticker and hate that, but in order to pay for the enjoyment of a vehicle and the practicality of a nice back seat maybe it's worth it. I have absolutely no desire to go offroad, and if Toyota made a vehicle with anywhere close to the same fun factor I'd be all over it as I tend to lean toward metric as a rule but Jeep's the only game in town.


I know some of you must've owned one of these things or still do. Thoughts?


Kit

Yes I have commuted 30 miles each way on a Wrangler to work. It's not for the weak of heart.
If you have no interest in OFF-ROAD you shouldn't get a Jeep Wrangler. The OR capability is what you put up with all the other negatives to get. You have a motorcycle, get a daddywagon and be responsible (except when on the bike alone).