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Help! Jeep v mustang?

33K views 65 replies 41 participants last post by  fattirewilly 
#1 ·
Hi everyone! My name is Coral and I live in upstate new York. I've had a 2007 mustang for the past 5 years and I've been thinking of getting a Sahara wrangler in white, the arctic edition. Have any of you switched from fast cars to wranglers? Does anyone regret it? I'm so nervous to trade my baby in, the more I think about getting rid of it the more nervous I get that I'm going to hate the wrangler bc it's slower, and bigger, and more hands on to remove the top (as opposed to pushing the button for a sunroof) please help. Any comments are welcome! I'm getting very close to signing the papers.
 
#48 ·
hey my names Madison im looking to buy my first car and i cant figure out whether to get a jeep wrangler or a ford mustang. witch one would you chose.
A Mustang is going to get speeding tickets and attract attention from the constabulary you won't want.

A Wrangler will feel fast at the speed limit. And lead to fun driving which might keep you below the radar of the local mounties.

I did the fast car thing when I was young... and the Jeep thing too. The Jeep thing was way easier on my pocket book. And far more fun too. Top off, Doors off, Drive thru the water at the beach...
 
#35 ·
Why not keep the Mustang for nice days and get a cheaper Jeep for the crappy weather?

I'm a car guy and I think that you can never have enough cool cars. Personally I have 3 different rides. I have my daily driver which is my 02 F-150 4X4 crew cab. Then I have my 94 Wrangler for nice day driving with the top off. I drive it to work 2-3 days a week in the nice weather and take it out on weekends occasionally. Then when I really want power, I drive my resto-modded 72 Z/28 which has a 500HP 454 big block and a Tremec 5 speed trans. I have the best of 3 worlds.
 
#36 ·
My first car was a 91 5.0 Mustang. I drove the hell out of that thing and got myself in way too much trouble. Burnt through expensive rear tires every 6 months. It was FUN!

After that I got a regular cab Z71 and absolutely love it. I love being able to haul big loads in the bed or off the hitch. The stance makes it feel solid and the loud exhaust and power make up for some of what I missed about the mustang. Keepin the truck.

I finally got a 98 TJ after having wanted one for quite some time. I love having the top and doors off. There's something about freedom and they total sky above. For me that definitely makes up for the adrenaline rush of the fast car... and I don't get myself in so much trouble lol!

Bottom line, I'll always drool over a muscle car. I love open cutouts and the throaty sounds they exude. But I feel secure and confident knowing that with the proper lines, taking my time, and avoiding all of the other idiots on the road, I can get anywhere I need to be... talk about freedom :clap clap:
 
#39 ·
A few years back got a great deal on a 98 firebird. We drove it everyday we could take the t top out. A year ago we got the willys with half doors. Now we hardly ever drive the firebird because going topless and doorless is much more fun. I love to have a ram again with the hemi, a rebel for example.
 
#40 ·
I had a YJ and 02 Mustang Gt. the mustang was a garage queen. Unless weather was nice I sold it 3 years ago to get my XJ. The mustang only had 54k miles on it and it was flawless. In a couple years I plan on getting another mustang. I'll probably look for a 03/04 cobra convertible. I love the new edge mustangs and miss my 02 gt.
 
#41 ·
I owned three 5.0 Mustang convertibles..2 '86 GTs and a '91 GT that was modified like crazy. It was in several magazines and was once described as a "Ford Motorsport catalog on 4 wheels". At first I supercharged the 5.0L and then eventually installed a 351 Windsor (that's 5.8L) engine in it and a Griggs Racing suspension, Baer brakes and just about every other modification you could think of. In the end it made close to 500 hp. It was wicked fast and at first I drag raced it, then I road raced it regularly on tracks like Pocono Raceway and Lime Rock. Unfortunately it became more of a race car and it wasn't much fun to drive on the street so I sold it and bought a 2001 Mazda Miata Sport.

I really loved the Miata and while I modified it somewhat and raced it a bit, I drove it all over the East Coast on road trips. IMO it was a blast to drive, even more fun than the Mustang despite the fact that it wasn't as fast it was like driving a go-cart and it felt just like a roller coaster. I drove it down every curvy back road from Nova Scotia to Georgia.

Both cars were toys. I stored them in the garage from November-April and babied them. I modified them and enjoyed them. When I stopped enjoying them I moved on. I sold my Mustang because it became a real hassle to own and drive and bought and loved the Miata for 5 years.

One day I realized that I wasn't driving my Miata much anymore. More than once during a trip I would come to a dead end where the pavement turned to dirt and I wanted to see what was down there. Once I took the Miata down a dirt road, with laughable results. I think that's why I broke the rear control arm. Ouch! I also found that I had gone down just about every mountain back road I could think of. I was getting bored.

I'd always liked Jeeps and I've always owned convertibles. Racing cars was getting expensive and I wanted to try something new. Plus my kids were getting older and we needed a vehicle that would actually function as a "car" rather than a "toy" and could be driven year round, so I bought a 2005 Jeep Wrangler Sport. My intent was to wheel it so I made sure it had the Dana 44 rear axle, 3.73s and put aside money to have it lifted, put skids on it, etc and took it rock crawling with 500 miles on it. At first I kept it stock, with just skids, and then lifted it 4 inches with 33s.

I briefly thought about keeping the Miata because like the OP, I really liked it and hated the idea of giving up on my beloved sports car. I just couldn't afford to insure two vehicles and with the price of used high mileage Jeeps being almost as much as a new one and the Miata needing some maintenance as well I decided that selling it and using it to buy a new Wrangler would be the best option so that's what I did.

So how did that work for me? Well, I was a die hard when it came to sports cars. Speed and handling were the idols I worshipped for almost 2 decades and I traded them in for a slow, rock crawling Jeep. It was a big leap for me in that regards but in some ways it wasn't. For one thing, I found Jeepers to be much nicer people to hang with than either Mustangers or Miata people (the Miata people were the worst!). I joked that I bought a Jeep so I could run over idiots who drove Miatas.

I was always into modifying my sports cars and you can do the same with a Jeep (Just Empty Every Pocket). I found rock crawling to be a lot like racing in that you have to actually have skill and think about what it is you're doing. I found that even though I wasn't driving as fast, I was having just as much fun. I joined a local Jeep club, went out wheeling and best of all, my daughter loved it too and she was my constant wheeling companion and spotter. We went wheeling almost every other weekend and to several Jeep Jamborees and had an awesome time.

And it is damn nice to have a vehicle that you can take everywhere, though everything and not worry. Whether it's exploring trails in the woods, driving through a snowstorm or taking the doors off and the top down and piling my beach chair and/or camping gear in the back, my Jeep can do it all. I'm not worried about it getting scratched or dinged like I did with my pristine sports cars..It's a Jeep! It's supposed to be scratched and get dirty!

Yes it's slow, but for some reason I find it fun to drive. I just sit back and watch the world go by and I was able to sell my Valentine One radar detector and never worry about getting a speeding ticket.

It's a different state of mind driving a Wrangler. These days I'm more into hiking, kayaking and camping so the Jeep is the natural evolution of where I've come to in life. Do I miss the sports cars? Once in awhile, very occasionally I do but I'd never, ever give up my Jeep. If I was going to buy another car I'd get another 2nd generation Miata.

I'm not all that crazy about the newer Mustangs. I was a 5.0L affectionado because just like the TJ 4.0L, it was an easy engine to work on and modify. I don't think I really like any new car. I've been upgrading and maintaining my TJ and I don't plan to buy another vehicle. If I did, it would be another TJ.

As to whether you want to buy a Jeep, think about why you do. Is it to go off-road? Because you want something to drive year round? You won't be getting any better gas mileage, that's for sure. If a convertible is what you want, why not get a convertible Mustang? Saying which is better is the proverbial "apples vs oranges". It's like saying "What's better, wine or beer?" Depends on what you like. ;)

Some pics below shows the evolution of my cars. I'm sticking with the Jeep after 10 years I still love it. It's outlasted the others so that's saying something.
 
#47 ·
:lmao: :funnypost:

I love the part where she said her Mustang was "fine" in the snow. Really? I made the mistake of taking my Mustang out once in the snow shortly after I bought it. It took me an hour to drive 10 miles up the highway. If I went more than 25 mph the entire rear skidded out. Everything was passing me like I was standing still except this one car which was following me close behind. When I got off the highway I looked back and it was ANOTHER Mustang!:nonono: That's when it became a "fair weather" car.

With my Jeep I get pissed when they plow the roads before I can go for a drive in a snowstorm. Going out in blizzards is what I do for fun. I got a new set of Duratecs sitting in the garage waiting for winter. Can't wait to use them in the snow.
 
#46 ·
Thank you! I was BIG into the Fox Body 5.0 scene. Got into it when it peaked back in '87-93. Then the OHC 4.6 was dropped in and I said "I'll do what they SHOULD HAVE done" and dropped the 5.8L in. :) Then it got to be a hassle and it was time to get out. I sold the '91 in 2001 for almost the same amount I paid for it new. I don't want to think what I spent on it in those 10 years.

I look back and can't believe how much $$ I spent on that Mustang. I also can't believe that I had the money to spend! I learned a lot from that car though and it's translated into my Jeep. Now I do almost all the work on my Jeep myself. I just love my Jeep because it's so simple and fun. It suits my lifestyle very well, especially since I plan to sell everything but my Jeep and my camping equipment and move out to the Rocky Mountains next year.
 
#50 ·
I've been successful in convincing myself that I really need to have 2 cars at a time, and convinced my wife it's also a good idea :bop: now we have her car and 2 of mine in the driveway. Jku rubicon and an m3.

Most car guys I know eventually have at least 2, so just embrace it and plan for it. Why choose one or the other, get both and enjoy them. If I could only have one, it would be a jeep. More usable, fun in all seasons and safe in all seasons (New England winters).
 
#54 ·
Most car guys I know eventually have at least 2, so just embrace it and plan for it. Why choose one or the other, get both and enjoy them. If I could only have one, it would be a jeep. More usable, fun in all seasons and safe in all seasons (New England winters).
My original plan was to keep my Miata and buy a used Jeep. When I saw what used Jeeps went for I figured I'd buy a new one but I couldn't afford the insurance on both. Plus my ex husband put his foot down about my wanting to have TWO cars of my own. So I sold the Miata and bought the Jeep and am glad I did. I sometimes miss the Miata but the Jeep is so much better for all around that it was a better than fair trade.
 
#51 ·
Well, about two years ago, I bought a BMW 328i. The first vehicle I've ever owned that wasn't a truck. (I'm 52). Yeah, it's fun, but most of the time I drive the Wrangler. It's more fun.

I end up just driving the Beemer for long trips on the interstate, or if for some reason other than winter, a vehicle with a top on it is more appropriate for the situation.





.... Um... and of course to go buy parts for the Wrangler.
 
#55 ·
I went from an 04 Civic Sir with a K20A engine from Japan, hondata CPU, stage 3 cams, skunk2 intake manifold and throttle body, weight reduction down to 1900 lbs. Cruise control delete, a/c delete, Power mirror delete, sunroof delete, stereo delete, washer fluid delete, rear wiper delete, cross member delete, carbon fibre everywhere. All sound insulation delete... No interior, no rear seats, 3 lb racing seats, racing battery that needed to be trickle charged daily. It was so loud I had to wear earplugs. 11,000 rpm redline, I sunk over 15 grand into it. I was always getting tickets, harrassed by cops, a vehicle inspection that cost me 3 grand. It was a stressful love hate relationship. I lost so much money selling it. I do miss it but my Jeep is wayyy less stressful.

It has its own stresses but they are more manageable. Cops love it, in a good way. Driving slow is relaxing. I can actually kill it in the snow instead of stressing about the weather. I hope it snows now!

I don't drive and park in downtown Vancouver though because of fear it will get broken into. But who wants to hang out downtown anyways?? :-?

Best and most mature switch I ever made.
 
#59 ·
I went from an 04 Civic Sir with a K20A engine from Japan, hondata CPU, stage 3 cams, skunk2 intake manifold and throttle body, weight reduction down to 1900 lbs. Cruise control delete, a/c delete, Power mirror delete, sunroof delete, stereo delete, washer fluid delete, rear wiper delete, cross member delete, carbon fibre everywhere. All sound insulation delete... No interior, no rear seats, 3 lb racing seats, racing battery that needed to be trickle charged daily. It was so loud I had to wear earplugs. 11,000 rpm redline, I sunk over 15 grand into it. I was always getting tickets, harrassed by cops, a vehicle inspection that cost me 3 grand. It was a stressful love hate relationship. I lost so much money selling it. I do miss it but my Jeep is wayyy less stressful.

It has its own stresses but they are more manageable. Cops love it, in a good way. Driving slow is relaxing. I can actually kill it in the snow instead of stressing about the weather. I hope it snows now!
Wow..this sounds a lot like the situation I had with my Mustang. I must've sunk $20k into that car over 10 years. It was described as a "Ford Motorsport catalog on wheels" by one car magazine. It was so loud that I had the cops called on me for pulling it out of my garage at 3 am. By the time I got done with it, it was barely a street car and I had to go through all kinds of things to get it inspected. It was truly a love/hate relationship...and a stressful one. Eventually it got to me and I sold it for $20k after ten years and bought the Miata with cash. I wasn't ready to give up on sports cars.

The Miata was better and I had fun with it for 5 years but my life was changing and becoming more "outdoors oriented" so I bought my TJ. The Jeep has been the BEST vehicle of them all. I've had it the longest and have no desire to sell it. Quite the opposite. It's easy to live with, suits my outdoors lifestyle and I can drive in any weather, drive/park it anywhere. I used to go nuts with my sports cars about parking in a lot because I was scared that it would be and scratched or dinged. All that went away in my Jeep. One time I watched someone open their door and hit my Jeep and laughed because they got a ding in THEIR door from hitting my rock rail. Ha! :iamhappy:
 
#61 ·
keep them both... I love my Jeep , but will never sell my Mustang..I need balance in life...Like almond joy and mounds bars...sometimes I feel like going blazing fast , sometimes slow and technical.
 
#63 ·
It depends on what your plans are, if you only drive on the street and never plan on 4 wheeling, why buy a Jeep ? Your mustang is better suited for that. If you have to have a Jeep, you could buy a used one and use the extra money to install a super charger or something if you have to go fast. I like a fast vehicle and only own Jeeps. I have a Jeep that is faster then your Mustang so, you could always go full custom also but, I live close to Lake Tahoe so there is 4 wheeling every where and that's what I do.
 
#65 ·
Not just "car guys" have more than one car! So do "car girls"! I have an 87 Mustang that I used to race in my younger days. I have an old Wrangler - that I specifically got because my Mustang sucked in the snow - and I'm about to replace it with a newer Wrangler. And, I recently bought a Challenger SRT8. Oh, and my daily driver is a supercharged Monte Carlo SS.

As for which is "better" - the latest poster who asked for advice said it's for a first car, so I'm assuming young - if you are the type that tends to drive too fast, and give into temptation that will make your insurance bill skyrocket, think carefully before getting a sports car!
 
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