Wrangler ?'s

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Carl Saiyed - 26 Sep 2004 10:49 GMT

I am looking to purchase a Jeep Wrangler as a daily driver and to take to
the mtns occasionaly, no serious off roading. I am looking for a 96 and up,
under 100,000 miles. I have a few questions:

I would assume the 2.5 liter is pretty weak, so I would want to find one
with the 4 liter, correct? I drive 40 miles a day so gas mileage really
isn't a huge issue.

How reliable are said Jeeps as daily drivers?

What should I look out for? I'd like to buy one as stock as possible.

If I buy one with a soft top, is it expensive to aquire a hard top?

How loud is the hard top / soft top when up/on and on the freeway at approx.
65 versus a regular passenger car.

Any other advice?

Thanks,

Carl

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Greg - 26 Sep 2004 16:16 GMT

If you can find one with the Dana 44 rear end as opposed to the Dana 35 it
would be better. Besides a few known and well discussed problems, they are
very reliable. Used hard tops go for $750.00 to $1500.00, and you do want
the hard top, cheaper to find one with a hard top and then get a soft top if
you want later. Soft top at 65 mph will sound like it's being ripped off at
200 mph, hard top will just sound like your going 200 mph. Gas millage isn't
much different between 4 and 6 cyl, so go 6.
If I was looking for a used TJ I would be looking for a 98 up, D 44,
checking underneath for dents in skid plate to see where it's been, checking
manifold for cracks, and looking at only 4.0L hardtops.
Posting your questions in rec.autos.makers.jeep+willys will get you a few
more thing to look out for, although it's heading is willys, I only know of
one guy there who drives a willys. But it is a well used news group
dedicated to jeeps, you can find out anything about any jeep there.

>I am looking to purchase a Jeep Wrangler as a daily driver and to take to
> the mtns occasionaly, no serious off roading. I am looking for a 96 and
[quoted text clipped - 20 lines]
>
> Carl

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Carl Saiyed - 26 Sep 2004 17:21 GMT

Thanks Greg. How can I tell if it has the Dana 44? My current truck has a
Dana 44 in the front, so I can get a visual if I need one..

Carl

> If you can find one with the Dana 44 rear end as opposed to the Dana 35 it
> would be better. Besides a few known and well discussed problems, they are
[quoted text clipped - 35 lines]
> >
> > Carl

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Greg - 27 Sep 2004 01:29 GMT

Here's one of many sites showing what all diffs look like
http://www.powertrax.com/diff.htm

> Thanks Greg. How can I tell if it has the Dana 44? My current truck has a
> Dana 44 in the front, so I can get a visual if I need one..
[quoted text clipped - 50 lines]
>> >
>> > Carl

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Generic - 26 Sep 2004 17:54 GMT

> Posting your questions in rec.autos.makers.jeep+willys will get you a few
> more thing to look out for, although it's heading is willys, I only know of
> one guy there who drives a willys. But it is a well used news group
> dedicated to jeeps, you can find out anything about any jeep there.

But, expect a lot of bickering about arcane topics from a few regulars in
that group...they are not too kind to newbies or open to new ideas.

-John

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Chris Perdue - 26 Sep 2004 18:11 GMT

>From: "Carl Saiyed"

>I would assume the 2.5 liter is pretty weak, so I would want to find one
>with the 4 liter, correct? I drive 40 miles a day so gas mileage really
>isn't a huge issue.

i had a 94 YJ with the 2.5...was no muscle machine on the highway but
adequate...in offroad situations it was fine also...the factory put a really
decent low range ratio in the 4 cylinder models...

>How reliable are said Jeeps as daily drivers?

six years and 80k miles had to replace one axle seal in the front(was covered
under warantee)

>If I buy one with a soft top, is it expensive to aquire a hard top?

depends on if you want aftermarket or factory...aftermarket is about 2k for a
hard top...factory parts would be best if you could find them in a wrecking
yard...the factory had full steel doors with roll up windows...

>How loud is the hard top / soft top when up/on and on the freeway at approx.
>65 versus a regular passenger car.

not sure of the hardtop since i had a soft top...it can be quite loud...if you
take a trip with a passenger you will be a bit hoarse after the trip if you
intend to talk...<G>.... a loud stereo helps with day to day highway
rides.....heh

-------------------
Chris Perdue

"Sometimes you're the windshield, sometimes you're the bug!"

Remove "PANTS" to e-mail

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