OT: Anyone have any experience with 95-02 Jeep Wranglers?

[Palmettodog]

First of all I'm looking at buying one for my son, who is 16 about to turn 17. I'm not purchasing one that is jacked up with big tires or that has been modified for rock crawling or anything like that. Just a basic Jeep Wrangler. The 95-02 is about my price range so that's why I'm asking about those years, plus I believe 95 is when they started installing airbags.

If anyone has any experience with these models please let me know the pros and cons.

 

[esplanade91]

Had a Cherokee (same drivetrain) and I put 275,000 miles on the 4 cyl with a 5 speed with minimal repair and maintenance. Thing couldn't hit 85 mph with the wind to its back, but it chugged along.

That being said, I wouldn't send my kid to college in one if it's more than 3 or 4 hours away. Used Jeeps usually come with troubles, especially ones with transfer cases.

Solid cars. The Renault 4 cyl that mine came with was a beast, but Jeep's 4.0 straight 6 was a good one too. Chrysler's automatic tranny's? Not so much. Be weary.

 

[KurtRambis4]

check

out www.thepreownedjeepstore.com

I believe they're located in N. Georgia, but they come across a good bit of used ones with good deals. I'm not sure where you live, but it may be worth it. I know they'll deliver within 300 miles (I believe).

 

[Seinfeld]

Had a '97 TJ while I was in school, and I probably loved that thing as much as anything I've ever owned. I had the manual 2.5L 4 cylinder which meant that I could barely hit 80 on the highway, but that was a probably a good thing back on those days. Overall, it was a good car and a lot of fun to work on. If I hadn't wrecked it back in '01, I'd probably still have it today.

 

[GTAdawg]

My first personally owned vehicle was an 86 CJ7, 6 cyl wide track. It's what I drove in my first two years of college(and I'm talking years 06-08). I nearly never had any trouble with it and pretty much trusted it to go anywhere I needed to within a reasonable distance.

Then I upgraded to a 99 TJ, 4 cyl my junior year. I always had coolant issues with it. At varying times, I eventually replaced the radiator, thermostat, and water pump. Other than that it wasn't too bad of a ride. The good thing is they are easy to work on and you can do nearly anything yourself if you have general mechanical ability and the right tools. Another piece of advice, if it is going to be your(his) daily drive, do not buy a jeep with a soft top(unless you plan on buying an individual hard top yourself). Also, they are easy to resale, so if you get burn out on it...you shouldn't have trouble selling if your reasonable.

 

[Cherokee]

I started in a '97 Wrangler and now have a 2006. Good dependable vehicles and I have put over 250K miles on them combined. I've driven one every day for the last 12 years. Wouldn't drive anything else. That said, no way on this earth would I put my 16 year old son in one. Driving a Jeep ain't like driving momma's Buick or daddy's truck for that matter.

 

[tb2]

I bought a brand new wrangler in '95

Mine was the 4cylinder with the 4 speed manual and I wouldn't recommend one for someone young. They can't take any abuse and won't hold up under a kid. I only kept mine for about 30k miles and it had to have the transmission reworked under warranty and 4 gear was starting to act up when i sold it. Then on top of that, the soft tops in that model are an absolute nightmare. I must have had 3 different sets of half doors under warranty. If the zipper gets mud in it, then they are toast. Also in 95, an a/c was only an option as a third party add on. So they are terribly uncomfortable in the summer. Also, they really are rollover prone. I know this b/c we rolled mine pretty bad.

But hey, having a jeep as a kid is cool as hell. I know i thought i was a pimp.

 

[esplanade91]

+1 on the coolant issues. Mine consistently had problems overheating, which I'm not complaining about because the car was almost 20 years old and it was like peanuts to have it fixed. Only ever took it on the highway between Gulfport and D'Iberville, but anything more than that the needle started moving in the wrong direction. An "around town" car. Bought it for nothing, sold it for the same amount 4 years later.

 

[rabiddawg]

Had a 2003 Grand Cherokee with the straight 6, the same one Jeep had produced since the 50's, and it was the biggest piece of **** I have ever owned. Had to replace the engine a year after the warrenty ran out, it had NUMEROUS electrical issues, I had to replace the passengers side window motor(it was never used and I had to replace it), it leaked water into the cabin when it rained.
It wouldn't keep coolant in radiator, the little info center on the headliner constantly read "Coolant Low" in 8-bit language. One repair guy at Jeep dealer finally told me that I bought the wrong one. He said that the V 8 Grand Cherokees were the only ones worth a **** because Jeep didn't manufactor the engine for those. I will never ever own another Jeep product.

 

[esplanade91]

Had a 2003 Grand Cherokee with the straight 6, the same one Jeep had produced since the 50's, and it was the biggest piece of **** I have ever owned. Had to replace the engine a year after the warrenty ran out, it had NUMEROUS electrical issues, I had to replace the passengers side window motor(it was never used and I had to replace it), it leaked water into the cabin when it rained. I will never ever own another Jeep product.

You've got to understand that the Chrysler takeover was **** to anyone associate with them. No one took a hit worse than MB, but Jeep really suffered some QC issues.

I wouldn't buy a Jeep other than a Cherokee or Jeep made after 94, and I wouldn't buy either of those made after 99 or 00 (when they started messing with those). I've only ever had manual transmissions and I wouldn't have it either way, and buying a car that old especially of the American variety I wouldn't recommend an automatic unless you plan on spending a bit of money.

Like I said, great put put cars. They're slow as **** and they have limitations. I put almost 300,000 miles on mine but it came with several heating issues which I didn't mind dealing with especially at that point in its life.

 

[Digging dog]

I've always viewed jeeps as a high price for a punishing ride.

 

[STATELAW]

Had an '02 sport. 4.0 inline 6. I'd recommend the 6cy over the 4cy. I perfer the manual transmission (everyone should learn to operated a standard, or that's what my dad told me). 3 diff trim levels, over the models you're considering. X, sport, Sahara (think the rubicon came later). X is your value buy, sport is standard model, Sahara is higher end. I will say this I bought that jeep in 2006 with 60k miles for $12,500, I sold it in 2012 w/ 106k miles for $10,000. They hold value if you treat them well.

 

[rugbdawg]

Jeep is the most unreliable brand

On the market. A wrangler, specifically, is one of the lowest rated and unreliable vehicles ever made. They are GREAT for people who like to work and mod trucks because they are huge pieces of poo. If you want it in the shop every month, buy a Jeep. Do yourself a favor and buy him a 1994 model 4runner.

 

[Dawgbite]

I've owned everything from a 53 to a 2012 and currently have a 64 CJ 5 and the 2012. The TJ's were the first Jeeps with a coil spring suspension instead of leaf springs so they ride much better. The six cylinder is really your best option, reliable, good power and great torque. It will get comparable gas mileage to the 4 cyl due to the gear ratio. The 6 cyl had 3.21 axle ratios vs a 4.11 in the 4 cyl so that 4 banger is screaming at highway speeds. Get a hardtop, if it's a primary vehicle you will eventually want a hardtop. Soft tops are cold in the winter, hot in the summer, noisy, and it's going to leak. Jeeps are impractical, ride terrible, noisy, and the most fun you can have on 4 wheels. Good luck with your search.

 

[Cherokee]

I guess I got luck

On the market. A wrangler, specifically, is one of the lowest rated and unreliable vehicles ever made. They are GREAT for people who like to work and mod trucks because they are huge pieces of poo. If you want it in the shop every month, buy a Jeep. Do yourself a favor and buy him a 1994 model 4runner.

Not to argue but been very fortunate to have 3 Jeeps that have given very little trouble. I think the key as is the case with any vehicle is to get the right one. All were low mileage when I got them. The '06 models have been very reliable. That was the last year for the TJ and had the benefit of several years of refinement. There was a world of difference between my '97 and the '06. 150k miles and only thing I've replaced is U-joints. Of course the thing has never been in the MUD which is another key. To each his own I guess but I could never describe my jeeps as unreliable.

Now gas mileage is a whole other story.

 

[thatsbaseball]

3rd generation 4Runner 1995-2002...toughest S.O.B. on the road

 

[Digging dog]

3rd generation 4Runner 1995-2002...toughest S.O.B. on the road

Just sold a 98 tacoma 4x4. 250k with no problems. Sold it only because I drove a friends 2013 and had to have a new one.

 

[rugbdawg]

My dad had a Jeep steering wheel

Fall off in his hands, completely disconnecting from the steering column. Thankfully, he was only going about 25 mph. Unfortunately, he was turning. Fell into a ditch. There are exceptions for everything. Consumer reports typically tells the full story since so many people review them.

 

[esplanade91]

3rd generation 4Runner 1995-2002...toughest S.O.B. on the road

97 here. 4 cyl with a stick. I've put almost 100,000 hard miles on it since I bought it in 2009. Not a damn thing wrong with it. I've squeezed every bit of juice out of the BFG AT's on it too. I get those things rotated (for free!!!) like every month. Really glad I spent the extra $$$ on them.

If I was doing it all over again I'd get a Limited model. Just watch out. The 2 or 3 I test drove before picking mine up all had a loose (auto) transmission.

 

[Palmettodog]

It's funny you say that about the 4Runner

I was dead set on that's what I was buying for him. Had been looking at 95-01 models, preferably with the 3.5 or the 4 cyl, heard bad things about the 3.0. Then my wife starts talking about how she would love to have a Jeep to ride on the weekends. So that got me to thinking that I could buy one for my son under the condition that it would be for our use as well. He'd obviously drive it daily, but my wife and I could get some use out of it on the weekend. He'll get to drive it for his senior year and then he's heading in all likelyhood to The Citadel, which he's not taking a car for his freshmen year, so that would leave my wife and I to enjoy it.

So I'm down to considering a hard top Jeep or the 4runner. My best friend runs an auto auction, so whatever I buy will be at wholesale cost. I haven't checked on insurance for the Jeep yet, which may make up my mind for me.

 

[Palmettodog]

Thanks. I'm in Lexington, SC, so it's not that far.

 

[Lawdawg.sixpack]

I had a 97 Sport, 6 cyl. manual. Drove it for 9 years as my only vehicle, Put about 150k on it before getting rid of it, and I kick myself every day for not keeping it. The radiator went out at about 130k, and the exhaust manifold cracked somewhere around 100, both minor problems.

Also I didn't treat it the best. Got it when I was 20, and plowed through mud whenever I got the chance. I upgraded to Goodyear MTAs, expensive but awesome tires, great on the road too. Like esplanade, I rotated the hell out of them, and put lots of miles on them.

My biggest suggestion is GET FULL STEEL DOORS. That gives you a window you can roll down, and provides a much quieter ride than flapping plastic windows. Plus they're easy to take off before you leave the house if you want (two bolts on each). Also, if it's mainly a secondary vehicle or for your teenager, I wouldn't get about a hard top. The best part about having a jeep is riding with the top down. You can't just take the hard top on and off whenever and wherever you want. You're probably not driving it unless it's a nice day, and your kid can handle the noise, which really isn't that bad if you have the full doors. So get a soft top. You can also get a new aftermarket soft top that is thicker and quieter. See www.quadratec.com for everything Jeep. I remember being told by a mechanic that I trust that the 6 cyl was Just a better engine than the 4 cyl, so I would suggest a sport or Sahara for that purpose. Though that may or may not be a big deal.

I know it's difficult to find the perfect used car, but I would look for a 6 cyl with full steel doors, a soft top, and low mileage. I'd go manual, but that's just my jeep snobbery.

 

[thatsbaseball]

It`s always interesting to see video clips of Al Qaeda or other "rebel" groups in the middle east and notice that all seem to drive Toyota vehicles. The environments they operate in are absolutely brutal and you can imagine how well they are serviced and cared for**. It`s probably not really the kind of endorsement Toyota would prefer but it further shows the damn trucks are just tough as hell.

 

[drt7891]

The 90's models Toyota Tacoma/4Runner and Chevy trucks from the early 80's to 95 (before they put those freakin' spider injectors in them) with a 5.7 V8 are to me the toughest consumer vehicles ever made. People beat those trucks to hell and back and they don't tear up. If they do, most any autoparts store in the country has what you need to fix them.

 

[Digging dog]

97 here. 4 cyl with a stick. I've put almost 100,000 hard miles on it since I bought it in 2009. Not a damn thing wrong with it. I've squeezed every bit of juice out of the BFG AT's on it too. I get those things rotated (for free!!!) like every month. Really glad I spent the extra $$$ on them.

If I was doing it all over again I'd get a Limited model. Just watch out. The 2 or 3 I test drove before picking mine up all had a loose (auto) transmission.

Also to add. I sold it 2 days after I put it on autotrader. Even crazier is the fact that I almost got half what I paid for it new. TRY DOING THAT WITH A JEEP.

 

[Wicked Pissah]

Dont do it. Jeeps are the biggest pieces of **** on the road.

 

[mcdawg22]

That inline six had more problems than any other engine. When I worked at Scratch N Dent we had to replace the PCV valve on almost every one because it was blowing oil all over the air filter. Not a big deal, but why did almost every engine do that. They ran hot as hell, rear mains started leaking @ 75,000, head gaskets seemed to leak a good bit. Idle seemed tuned wrong especially on the Cherokees, didn't understand why a car ran idle at 2.5 RPMs. Then when you shifted you cout feel the transmission strain as the gears set under that many RPM's.

 

[esplanade91]

The 90's models Toyota Tacoma/4Runner and Chevy trucks from the early 80's to 95 (before they put those freakin' spider injectors in them) with a 5.7 V8 are to me the toughest consumer vehicles ever made. People beat those trucks to hell and back and they don't tear up. If they do, most any autoparts store in the country has what you need to fix them.

Sold a 88 Sierra 4X4 for a helluva lot more money than it was worth. It was incredible how I could go to any auto parts store and buy an entire list of maintenance parts (belts, filters, plugs, the whole lot) for peanuts. That GM 350ci V8 will be one of two things that survives the nuclear holocaust.

 

[Indndawg]

Wouldn't do it

First of all I'm looking at buying one for my son, who is 16 about to turn 17. I'm not purchasing one that is jacked up with big tires or that has been modified for rock crawling or anything like that. Just a basic Jeep Wrangler. The 95-02 is about my price range so that's why I'm asking about those years, plus I believe 95 is when they started installing airbags.

If anyone has any experience with these models please let me know the pros and cons.

Safety, fuel, and reliability

http://4wheeldrive.about.com/cs/jeepreviews/a/aa121102a.htm

http://www.cars.com/jeep/wrangler/2002/safety-ratings