Jeep Wrangler Forum banner

Fix up 1990 Wrangler or order 2011 Rubicon?

10K views 33 replies 25 participants last post by  STxWrangler 
#1 ·
..... or both?

I test drove a 2010 Rubicon last Saturday and fell in love with the smooth riding, smooth shifting 6 speed manual transmission....wow...what a great vehicle. The dealership would not honor the company incentive of 3.9% and give me a discount. I walked out of the place pretty mad....but I still have a yearn for a new Jeep.

I have a 1990 Wrangler, (square headlights), and was thinking of revamping the whole thing....(new engine, tranny, maybe suspension, lift kit, bigger tires, etc.), instead of getting a brand new Rubicon. I don't think that I could ever get the old Jeep to run near as smooth as the new Rubicon...but it is still a blast to drive, (love to drive manual transmission Jeeps). I wonder how much I would spend getting the old Jeep to be like new. Comments and suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

What to do.....?

By the way....this is my first post and I have enjoyed reading about everyone's ideas and suggestions. Great info here!!! :wavey:
 
#2 ·
First order of business is to welcome you to the forum. As far as your choices are concerned, I have to say that I am one of those that always pulls for the underdog. I also get attached to my rides. Of course I am going to say stay with the 90. You already love it. Just build it the way you want it.
 
#16 ·
Fake??..I wouldnt consider any Jeep fake...whether its a CJ or a JK, or anything inbetween. :confused:

Go with fixing up the YJ. It will be a LOT better offroad than a stock rubi
You sure about that?? A YJ is gonna be "aLOT" better offroad than a jeep that comes with superior coil spring suspension, front and rear lockers, disconnecting swaybar, 4.10 gearing, 32" BFG MT's, and huge wheel wells to allow plenty of flex....


I say if you can afford it and you want something new, go for the Rubicon. Ihave absolutely nothing against YJ's, but I wanted a new vehicle, so instead of dumping thousands into my TJ to keep it going, I bought a new vehicle/jeep
 
#6 ·
I was in the same boat as you i had a 1993 yj which i wanted to dump piles of money into. than one day i was like why dont i buy a older rubicon like a 2003 or something. they still have the 4.0 and the 5 speed. and they come stock with lockers, dana 44's, sye and cv shaft. plus you have coil springs and a/c. I think going with an older rubicon which is kind of afordable is something to think about.


this is my old yj i liked it alot but in order for me to get it where i wanted it to be. It would of taken me about 8 to 10 grand.



This is my 03 rubi i had to put a 1.25 body lift and 1 inch motor mount lift on her but besides that the rest was already done. mind you i still need to take off the side bars and install some rocksliders and a front bumper and winch and stuff.
 
#9 ·
I guess that there must be a 4WD shop somewhere in South Texas that would take on the job of helping me rebuild my Jeep. I am too busy to do any of the work myself...so I have to hire someone to help me out. The Jeep runs pretty good and doesn't leak oil....but I would feel better getting everything revamped so I can trust it when I drive it around.
The 4WD shifting is a bit difficult...but I can usually get it to shift into 4LO.

Any suggestions on where I could take it to get the work done? Also, where would you recommend that I get parts for the rebuild? (going to visit the sponsors area)
 
#12 ·
Sorry about that. i guess im not really sure what its called it opens in the middle but it dont have the double cardan part. i guess that would be a normal shaft that opens in the middle instead of on the slipyoke. anyways sorry about the mix up.
 
#18 ·
Having spent two miserable days working on a friend's new Rubicon JK in my garage, I'd much rather have my TJ or a YJ. The JK is too complex, has a V-6 engine that sounds like it's right out of a family minivan, and is too hard to do meaningful mods to. For the money, you could put much (!) less into your YJ than a new JK costs and have an awesome Jeep that you built yourself.
 
#22 ·
It actually is right out a family minivan, the Chrysler Town and Country to be precise. A V6 out of a grocery getter is cancer compared to the far superior longitudinal engines bestowed upon Jeep by the gracious engineers at good 'ole AMC. To me it makes a mockery of a once great brand that has been watered down by the demands of "green" liberal agendas.
 
#20 ·
A modified YJ would drive all over a stock JK thats just a matter of fact, I have a TJ lol. I have no affiliations with either. If he takes the money he would spend on the YJ on mod's he will have better suspension, lockers, tires.

Anywho, I would stay with YJ and build it up. It'll be nice to see something come together especially if you do some of the work because youll love the vehicle and old vehicles just have a good feel to them, idk its just me though. My Jeep is more than a Jeep to me, its my DD it gets me around everyday. Ive worked on it modding it and keeping it in good condition for numerous hours and I have a bond with it, it drive me and my woman around so we share good times in the Jeep. Its apart of the family. I'll never get rid of ole' yeller. If it ever blows up itll sit in a barn until I can restore it, it means that much.
 
#21 ·
A modified YJ would drive all over a stock JK thats just a matter of fact, I have a TJ lol. I have no affiliations with either. If he takes the money he would spend on the YJ on mod's he will have better suspension, lockers, tires.
Yea depending on how extreme you go with the build on the YJ, and its not a stock JK with street tires. Its a rubicon, not made of gold, but its alot more capable than stock.
The only problem I have with this comparison is that if you go with the new Jeep it will be a larger amount of money, but it will be financed over a certain amount of time, making it affordable.
If you go the direction of fixing up an older jeep and replacing all those major things like engine, tranny, suspension, tires, gears, lockers, ect...that will still be a substantial amount of money that kinda needs to be upfront for parts and labor.


Im all for the older jeeps, I own a TJ myself. But from the sound of the OP, hes looking to get into something a little newer. This is kind of a similar situation I was in. Dump more money that I dont have into my TJ to keep it going. Or buy something newer and finance it over some time.
Either way you go its still a jeep and you'll be happy.
 
#23 ·
I get what your saying and if he wanted to do that more power to him. I know a rubicon would walk me in the trail most likely depending on the driver, statiscally yes because i have less superior parts.

I just like old vehicles the have personality to them and my Jeep is irreplaceable to me. Thats for sure, if he wants to do mods, that monthly payment can be a savings that can get what you want eventually you wouldnt want to rush that stuff anyways.
 
#24 ·
Close to 100% say fix up the old YJ. I was planning on putting $10,000 down on the Rubicon....but....it seems that much money put into my YJ could make it "like new" and as was mentioned....I wouldn't be afraid to scratch her up a bit.

Decisions....decisions.....
 
#26 ·
I'm with Fredo on the 3rd option... buy a TJ Rubicon. You end up with a vehicle that's approximately 10 years newer, drives better, and already has lockers and good axles. If you can find one that hasn't been molested (yet) then it'll drive smooth and give you a solid base to build on. Plus you get the benefit of an upgraded coil spring suspension.

You mentioned that you don't have time to do a lot of work yourself. Sure that '90 would be badass with 10k dropped on it but it would also take a lot of time. And it sounds like half of that time would be spent "fixing" rather than "building". If you go with a used Rubi you'll have a headstart and still have money left over for bumpers, lift, etc (compared to buying a JK Rubi).

Anyway, just my $.02! Good luck with whichever you decide and make sure to post pictures!
 
#28 ·
Well....I decided to go for the new Rubicon. I will be on my way to Houston in a bit to go pick her up. It is a Black 2010 Rubi with Freedom 3 piece hard top.
It's going to be a long ride up and a FUN ride home! :cool:

I will still have the YJ ... so maybe I can fix her up later.

Thanks for the comments guys....I know I went the other direction on this one.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top