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The best Jeep Model for my needs?

6K views 24 replies 11 participants last post by  2much 
#1 ·
Hi there. I am a noob to the forum, but am not a noobn at all to cars. I have decided that I would like to buy a Jeep, but am very new to them, so I feel the need to ask this forums opinion on what model to get. The JK, the TJ, the YJ, or the CJ.

To help you all out, I will fill you all in a little bit on myself and my needs for the Jeep.

Basically, I am only 22 yerars old, but helped a buddy rebuild a 68 Camaro from the ground up when we were 15-17 years old, fully rebuilt and built up my 300ZX and NSX, and definatley know how to work on cars...even though I hate doing it haha.

With the NSX and 300ZX everything has to constantly be babied, waxed, ect, and can never even see rain....Here's where the Jeep copmes in =)

I have kind of gotten a little hooked on having car you don't have to worry about how it looks...hell when it's dirtier it's better, and it loves it. This all started when I got myself a Dodge 2500 for my landscaping company I started a while back. Seriously, it seems the more you use it, the less you clean it, the more it rewards you (as long as you keep up with regular maintenance).

I am moving from Texas to California in about 6 months to continue my acting career which is truley the best job ever (moved from Hawaii to Texas several years back for school). While doing this big move, I am tossing the NSX and the Dodge for sale and just keeping the 300ZX because it is my baby.

While in California I want to get a Jeep that will match my needs best. This is where hopefully you all will be able to help me out as well as my own research.

Basically, I want a Jeep that if it gets bumped into, light scratches ect I don't have to worry about it. Even though I know how to work on very complex cars, I want it to be easy as hell to work on (like my buddies 68 Camaro...not like my Z). If something breaks...no biggy...go to the store, buy it, put it in overnight...done. I obviously want it to look good, however I think they mainly all look the same. I want it to be a good strong manual transmission with a good strong rear-end. I don't need any fancy electronic 2x4 to 4x4 switches or anything like that. Ads long as it has lights, gauges, and a waterproof stereo (I'd like to never have doors or a roof on it :)...I'll install the stereo (nothing fancy...one speaker will really do...as long as there is noise). Somewhere I could my 6'6" short surfboard (roof ect...anywhere will do). Preferably a model year that is less prone to rust as well.

Anyways, I think that is mainly all of my needs really. Sorry if this post seems a little random, but if anyone feels like sharing their opinion with me, that'd be great.

From my little research thus far, I "think" the JK Jeep I definatley don't want (I don't want this to be another "new" car with crap loads of electric parts and emissions junk). Also, I think the TJ Jeep might also be something I don't want (same thing with electronics)

I have kind of narrowed it down to the YJ and CJ models. Simplicity is a great thing sometimes when you have one of the mosty damn complicated engine bays to ever work on with your other car lol. The one thing I think might be bad about the CJ is that since it is older, it might need a lot of repair just to get it up to par and may also suffer from rust, hidden orrrr not.

Thanks for reading you guys and gals. I look forward to your responses.
 
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#3 ·
that link isn't working for me, but i'd say you don't want a cj if you don't want to work on it much. also would stay away from 87-89 yj (same motor as cj, but worse for emissions) and suggest buying 4.0 engine, don't consider 4 cyl. you have to be carefule of rust, check floor boards, rocker panels, rear of frame, and windshield frame for rot. yj w/ 4.0 is a great jeep, and is very dependable. hope that helps, good luck, and oh yeah
welcome.:wavey:
 
#6 ·
linky no worky for me either.
but as to your question, I would stay away from a cj, cuz that is definatly a project jeep. and wouldn't suggest a jk b/c I think you would be paying for stuff you don't really find important, so that narrows it to a tj or yj, even though I'm a tj guy, it sounds like a yj might be more suited to what you are looking for, and as stated earlier, avoid the 4 cylinder. I would throw up a pic of my tj, but you can go to the pic forum and look until your hearts conetent, and I'm lazy tonight. :rolleyes:
 
#9 · (Edited)
#23 ·
Mr. Clifford. I really do like how your grey Jeep looks a lot. I don't know enough about Jeeps yet to comment on the performance of it, but I'm sure it's great as you know your stuff. I checked out your homepage and bookmarked it. I'll be using your Jeep as a reference for mods for me to look into. Great job on it!
 
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