Slowly thinking about another vehicle...

[Kejtar]

OK, even though my XJ is holding up it's own, it's slowly becoming somewhat less reliable for my regular commute (I drive quite a bit to work) and it'd be great to have a spare set of wheels as well for when I do something to it on the trail (knock on wood :angel: ).

In any case, I'd love to have another XJ, but that's not really an option as I'm only intersted in buying a new one (I should be ready I hope at the end of July) due to the special financing that you always get with a new one (plus I'm buying to get rid of headaches and not to gain any new ones).

My second dream replacement would be a Rubicon, but nearly $30K for all that? And regular wranglers if I get the D44 I can only get 3.07 (I prefer to drive stickshifts) and so on.... Even though my XJ would stay my primary trail rig (and hopefully I would be able to do more things to it slowly :) ) I want my second vehicle to be pretty capable as well: something I can take skiing and maybe even occasionally hit the trail with it as well.... Price of course is an issue (isn't it always LOL?)

So what else is out there?

Kejtar
P.S. I don't think I'm interested in using it to tow my XJ.... so that doesn't have to be figured into the equation... and I don't like the idea of a truck too much....

[Eagle]

So buy a Wrangler. What've you got against 3.07 gears? They've taken my XJ 236,000+ miles.

[BenXJCA]

Get a used tacoma. I had one it had an electronic rear locker, 3.4L V6 and a five speed Plenty of power around 25 +/- 5 mpg. Other than the IFS, it kicked a$$!. You could get them years 94-99 for a good deal. I had an 01'
Just an Idea.

[Ralph]

I would leave the XJ as your "capable" rig and buy a vehicle that was suited for commuting. Check out the BMW's. If nothing else, do it just for fun.

RR3

[Kejtar]

Eagle... 3.07's an 30" tires would feel kind of bad after being spoiled with 4.11's and 31" on my XJ..

Kejtar

[XJJPR]

Originally posted by Kejtar
Eagle... 3.07's an 30" tires would feel kind of bad after being spoiled with 4.11's and 31" on my XJ..

Kejtar

Yoo're spending the big bucks... regear it. What's another 1k after 30k for an over priced "borg Jeep". (sorry joke for some, others won't understand)

mark
orgs mfg

[Beezil]

oh no.....

mark hinkley is a trekkie........

[Kejtar]

Well.. it's not a bad idea about regearing.... Cause theoretically it'd be my daily driver which doesn't need the deeper gears, and even more so, it doesn't really need anything bigger then 225's for starters (yeah right LOL).

And the Wrangler X series doesn't look that bad, I saw one yesterday afternoon for about $20K which was 4.0, stick..... hmmm choices choices choices....

Btw, it looks like it might be a last call to buy TJ's as the following article talks about potential 3.7L instead of 4.0 :( and as much as I'd like the stretched version of it, I love the 4.0!


http://www.motortrend.com/future/spied/112_2004fvf/index3.html

OH Beez... for such a non-trekkie, how do you know thar Borg is a trekkie concept?

Kejtar
P.S. Beezil..... you don't know it but trekkies have assimilated almost all.

[96xjeeper]

I am also replacing my XJ with a new daily driver. I have shopped aroung and I really like the new Honda Element. It is a 4cy and probably not a Trail vehicle, but i think it would do fine in snow, wet roads, and a little mud. And best of all you can get it fully equipped for around $25,ooo

[Kejtar]

I saw the Honda element inside and out and all I gues say is "blah" lol......

If anything I'd rather get that new rover....
Kejtar

[Beezil]

I think the TJ makes a great "city car" small, you can parallel park the thing anywhere.

otherwise, i think they're highly impractical for a daily driver.

no room for shit, and they suck on the highway.....squirrelly as hell at the slightest hint of wind.

I had one for three years....it was fun and all, but I was glad to get rid of it.

[Kejtar]

hmm you're making a very good point Beez... Anything you can think of for an XJ replacement for a DD? (must be stick :) )

Kejtar

[GSequoia]

Originally posted by Kejtar
P.S. Beezil..... you don't know it but trekkies have assimilated almost all.

Not quite Remi! I'll tell you that I have not been assimilated and will never be!

Beez...guess we'll just have to call ourselves Trekkie Fighters!

Sequoia

[XJguy]

I know you said you only want new vehicles, but figure this. There are many XJs that are just coming off lease right now; the last of the bunch. Some look like brand new, and you can get it from the Jeep dealer, certified with just about the same warranties as a new one.

By the way I saw a 96 Classic XJ for sale last month with..are you ready for this (drum roll please)........2400 miles!!!!, not 24000, but 2400!! They wanted a high price but it was for all practial purposes brand new, garaged and just not used as all...I wanted it sooooooooooooo bad.

New XJ from China? :)

XJguy

[Kejtar]

Well, a used one wouldn't be necessarily that bad of idea if..... you coukdn't get between 0% and 2.9% financing for the new ones....

I will be hitting yet another jeep dealership today just to do a "look see" and see what I can come across...

Kejtar

[Beezil]

VW jetta or pasat is what I'd get for a car.

Suburu is what I'd get if I wanted extra room....

[XJJPR]

WW,

Why don't you buy my XJ and make your's the DD.

MJR says all the Rubicons come with 4.10s, stick or auto.

mark
orgs mfg

[XJJPR]

Originally posted by Beezil
oh no.....

mark hinkley is a trekkie........

Just because I have a broader span of Knowldge than a guy from Chicago doesn't mean I'm a Trekkie. Anyhow don't they perfer to be called Trekkers.

mark
orgs mfg

Just trying to keep the Borg from asssimilating all the XJ guys into TJ guys.

[REDXJ4FUN]

Subaru WRX what else can make you grin from ear to ear. get the wagon so youu have plenty of room and a car that can make many many other cars look like they have thier e-brake on. Another fun car would be a turbo neon but i'm not to sure on the reliabily of it.

[Beezil]

I'm a Trekkie. Anyhow don't they perfer to be called Trekkers.

only a nerd would be aware of the difference.

[Handlebars]

Do you really want 2 money pits in the garage? Do you think that you will resist the temptation to massage the new one? Get some small econobox that you will have no desire to do anything other than put gas in it.

[Eagle]

C'mon, Remi --

Return to the collective.

I share your feelings about the 4.0L in the TJ. If I had the money, I would buy a TJ Rubicon just to have it. I'd probably park it in the garage and maybe run it out on a sunny Sunday once every few months to wash it. Then, a few years down the pike when all new "Jeeps" have mouse motors, I'd go out with some local Jeep club and whupp a$$.

Seriously, the Rubicon is a pile of change, but you can get a lesser TJ with the Dana 44 and 30" tire package. In that package the 3.07 gears wouldn't be the end of the world (I run my XJ on 30s with 3.07 gears), and even if you regeared it to maybe 3.73s you'd still be into it for a lot less than a Rubicon, and you'd still have one of the last of the "real" Jeeps.

On the other hand, getting a clean, low-mileage XJ coming off lease isn't a bad idea, either. Don't let the financing rate fool you. You'd be buying the XJ for less than half what a new TJ would cost, so if the finance rate is a bit higher it still isn't going to mean you pay a lot more in interest. You should be able to deal -- seems like every two-bit used car lot on every street around here has half a dozen clean XJs these days.

[XJJPR]

Originally posted by Beezil
only a nerd would be aware of the difference.


Nice delete job. Ok so I'm a little nerdie also...

mark
orgs mfg

[Bent]

The new Bentley's are very comfy, and you wont pass too many of them on the road!

[Bloose]

We're thinking about selling my wifes '01 TJ. It's got the D44 and 3.73 gears from the factory. It is an auto but with the 3.73's it works really nice. It has every option available except alloy wheels.

Beezil is sort of right about daily driving but my wife has been using hers to commute since we gat it. There is no room for anything (that is if you have kids like us and can't put the seat down) but otherwise it's really not bad. She has been driving 130 miles per day commuting and she really doesn't complain. She loves it and wants to keep it. But I want to get a truck to tow the Jeep around, so we are thinking of selling it. Otherwise it does work for a commuter, but you do give up some room and luxury for fun in the sun.

B-loose

[Bent]

But I want to get a truck to tow the Jeep around, so we are thinking of selling it.

B-loose [/B][/QUOTE]

I would like to know how you can be married and still get away with thinking like that? Around my house it always seems to work the other way around.

:banghead:

[Kejtar]

Bloose... if yours was only a stick :(

I did see some really NICE TJ's today....... Now I gotta see how much of a raise I'm gonna get (that's one of the bigger deciding factors).

I do know that I want a TJ now as later on it will become another toy.

Kejtar

[CaptTrev]

on a side note a friend of mine just picked up a (nearly) MINT condition red 1988 4 door XJ limited with (drum roll).........................only 36,000 miles!!! the thing is SO MINT.
apparantely the thing was purchased by an older couple, and garaged ever since new.......the old man passed away a long time ago and the jeep sat garaged all this time...amazing

CaptTrev

[FatXJ]

Awhile back they had a program on that had lifted Porsche 911's with AWD going across the desert on some pretty nice offroad trails. Those would be nice.

Otherwise the Subaru's do really good on snow and dirt roads. Yes you can even lift them if you wanted more clearance. Or I have seen chopped fendered Subi's with 31's. The Forester's are nice in stock form.

The VW Passat 4Motion is a nice ride too.

Personally I want an '03 Dodge Ram 3500 Dually 4x4 w/ 6speed and Cummins HO. After some propane, injectors, exhaust and computer you could be easily pushing 700+lb/ft of torque. The best part is the gas mileage is awesome.

[Kejtar]

ahhahah one tiny problem.... I don't want a tank :)

Kejtar

[GSequoia]

http://home.earthlink.net/%7Ecwptx/bigbear/06.08.2003%20-%20Big%20Bear%2038.jpg

[KY Chris]

Originally posted by Beezil
VW jetta or pasat is what I'd get for a car.

Suburu is what I'd get if I wanted extra room....

I just retired the XJ to second car/trail beater a couple of weeks ago. I looked at used Subaru Outbacks, and Passats, but ended up settling on a used Volvo 850 Turbo. Outbacks are awesome. I loved the ones I drove. I steered clear of Passats after reading about alot of electrical problems. I'm happy with the Volvo. It's not flashy, but it's solid, roomy, has plenty of power, rides great and is safe and reliable.

KY 'turning into an old man at 28' Chris

[bgcntry72]

My wife-to-be had an XJ as a company car. When she changed companies she got an allowance rather a car. I knew exactly the ticket for a little rocket to truck the family around. We got a 2002 Jetta GLI. 200 hp, a six speed stick(!), black leather, Monsoon stereo system, and 17" alloys with Continentals. I love my XJ, but that car rocks. If I drove it every day my license would be flat-out revoked. Fast. Way fast. Comfortable. Reliable. 30 MPG in the city, if you keep your foot out of it, which is NOT easy. I have had a lot of VWs, and used to hot rod them before I left the pavement world. They are great, reliable, fast cars and I would never hesitate to get another one. My .02.

[ChEwBaCcA]

Just one more Volvo to add to the L.ville crowd..... I swear that town is paid to drive volvo's.
The Rev must have gotten you on some tabs and told ya to buy it.

Chewy

[KY Chris]

Originally posted by bgcntry72
My wife-to-be had an XJ as a company car. When she changed companies she got an allowance rather a car. I knew exactly the ticket for a little rocket to truck the family around. We got a 2002 Jetta GLI. 200 hp, a six speed stick(!), black leather, Monsoon stereo system, and 17" alloys with Continentals. I love my XJ, but that car rocks. If I drove it every day my license would be flat-out revoked. Fast. Way fast. Comfortable. Reliable. 30 MPG in the city, if you keep your foot out of it, which is NOT easy. I have had a lot of VWs, and used to hot rod them before I left the pavement world. They are great, reliable, fast cars and I would never hesitate to get another one. My .02.

Totally agree on the Jetta. I've had 3 VWs, 1 Jetta and 1 Golf that I autocrossed, and had no probs with them. I just think there is still too much Audi in the Passats for me ;)

[KY Chris]

Originally posted by ChEwBaCcA
Just one more Volvo to add to the L.ville crowd..... I swear that town is paid to drive volvo's.
The Rev must have gotten you on some tabs and told ya to buy it.

Chewy
Yeah, we're building a fleet. My bro just got a 780 Volvo Bertone Coupe, too.

[Goatman]

Remi, don't just buy an interest rate. I see people doing that all the time, in fact I like them to do it. It gets me nice clean trades, and puts parts on my XJ. But, you can save much more on the difference in price between a new and slightly used vehicle than the amount of difference between the low new car rates and current loan rates. The prime rate is extemely low right now, and all car loan rates are very low regardless of whether you buy new or used.

Keep your options open and look at the price you'll pay overall, including taxes and interest, until the vehicle is paid off. I think you'll find that a slightly used vehicle compares very favorably with a new one at a very low rate.

Get another XJ. They're cheap and reliable, and you already know what to look for. Spend the money you save making yours more capable.......... :D

[Renegade Jpr]

Just to let you know, you CAN get a TJ with a 4.0L 5speed, D44 rear WITH 3.73's. All Rubicons come with 4.10's also.

[Kejtar]

yeah I just finally read into the fine print in the sales brochure:
all d44 rears with 30" wheel and tire group and manual tranny come with 3.73 gears and no abs (cool)....

Although now I'm considering a different way to go around this:
Look for an old CJ or 'uki samurai ... pick it up for dirt cheap and keep the XJ as a DD..... the XJ will still be my primary toy and the other would be another money pit that would be used as a spare if the DD is damaged :) The down side is that what happens if both are down? LOL grrr.... choice choice choices... and never enough $$

Kejtar

[Jason Jones]

Buy a Mountain Bike, build up those legs, and Shave :)


Jason

[Bent]

Originally posted by Jason Jones
Buy a Mountain Bike, build up those legs, and Shave :)


Jason
Shave his beard too? That's harsh!

:D

[Kejtar]

hahahhaha..... well not to give anything away.... but the next person that sees me is in for a surprise :) :) (no... I didn't shave my legs!)

To give you a preview... I showed up at work on Tuesday and everyone walked up to me to talk to me to make sure it's me :) And my boss told me I go from one extrem to another :D

Kejtar

[Ed A. Stevens]

Great, the next time you stop by the house the kids will be screaming ... look dad, look ... it's a stranger (but he has a nice looking Jeep -- or will they be laughing at the drive too ;) ).

[Casper]

We bought a more dependable everyday vehicle last year for some of the same reasons. But I wanted something that could also tow the XJ, especially now that it is not a highway vehicle. So we bought a 1995 ZJ with the V8. So far no complaints. I love the power of that engine. Towing the XJ to Moab this year will be a pleasure..........................

Casper

[Moto]

If you want new then what about the X-Terra? They do have around the same room inside, and you can do a little wheeling in it too, and the aftermarket possibilities seem to be expanding quickly to make it into a cool rig, either that or a nice ZJ if you would prefer to stick with Jeep.

[Kejtar]

geee thanks Ed....... They didn't seem scared last time :D although you're right, they might have a hard time recognizing me.

I did look at the ZJ... but... automatics only :( one of my main requirements is stickshift and I'm standing by this one :)

Moto, I testdrove Xterra, and I must say that I'd buy it if I could get one with a 4.0 or something like that. That engine needs a loooooot of work!

Thanks guys :)
Kejtar

[offroadman83]

the new Mazda mx-8 or whatever it is

Personally I would take a 5.9 zj anyday or any second for that matter. stickshift is not needed for these factory hotrods:cool:

[bgcntry72]

But a tailgunner with a few jerry cans is needed.
A friend of mine has a 5.9, and it is indeed a blast to hammer around in, but it'll cost ya.

[Rob Mayercik]

If you do a lot of miles on the commute (e.g. such as Bloose's wife), here's three little letters that might be music to your ears: TDI.

With the 5-spd, and conservative driving, you can see 55mpg - how's that grab you.

The only problem is that VW won't be bringing in any TDIs to CA or some other states for 04-06, so if you decide to go this way, either look for a good used one, or snap up one of the last of the 03s

Fred's TDIClub (http://www.tdiclub.com) can help you find one of these little jewels if you desire - q

[Rob Mayercik]

If you do a lot of miles on the commute (e.g. such as Bloose's wife), here's three little letters that might be music to your ears: TDI.

With the 5-spd, and conservative driving, you can see 55mpg - how's that grab you. Heck, my '02 with auto is averaging 43mpg on my 50 mile commute (that's 50 each way)

The only problem is that VW won't be bringing in any TDIs to CA or some other states for 04-06 (you can thank the greenies and CARB for that), so if you decide to go this way, either look for a good used one, or snap up one of the last of the 03s.

Fred's TDIClub (http://www.tdiclub.com) can help you find one of these little jewels if you desire - quite a number of Californians on that board.

Just a thought.

[Slip Kid]

fuel efficient, capable, fun, and cheaper than a rubicon

http://www.foleywood.com/assets/images/busa.jpg

I definately want a crotchrocket for my DD, I'm thinkin Ducati, but these are a bit cheaper

[Kejtar]

ummm that would not work on the LA freeways in rush hour....... too many idiots out ther...
Kejtar

[Moto]

IMHO Ducati for a DD is a waste they suck as a DD, they cost a ton, insurance is high and they are so damn uncomfortable as anything but a track bike, if you like the whole kinda exotic thing go with truimph I think I will actually be buying one come winter time I took a Daytona 955i for a test run and it ripped, plus you dont see a whole lot of them out on the roads, they cost ALOT less than ducati and are much more streetable than most Ducati's and still have alot of power, but thats just my opinion not trying to hijack the thread or anything . take a lookDaytona (http://www.triumph.co.uk/site/bikes/page.cfm?BikeID=69)

[Kejtar]

I used to work with a Brit couple years ago who bought a brand new Triumph (he used to won one many many moons ago while he was still on the island :) ) and he hated that thing with a passion...... it was down with some sort of a failure more often then I can count....

Kejtar

[Moto]

Yeah when Triumph got bought by hinckley and revived a few years back they were having alot of issues like that, and have kinda been given a bad rap but the new line of Daytona's are extremely competitive with the latest and greatest Jap offerings , after all the new 600 just won the Isle of Man race which is up against Jap companies that have some deep pockets but i probably just think british bikes are cool

[marcusguy]

I got a samurai with a new engine a while back for $800 bucks. I threw 3" under it, some 31s, a rear lockrite and had a blast with the thing. Never had any reliability problems and got 30 MPG on the freeway.

Marcus