[JRoweMDN]

If you like the ride and quiet of the F-150 then do not buy a TJ to daily drive if you are concerned about ride quality too. You can probably get the right shocks and springs and keep a similar ride, but you will be nowhere near as quiet or comfortable in the TJ without having a hard top, carpet, insulation. I do not suggest it unless you really plan to play off road or want a convertible. Don't forget that you cannot tow much with it if you need to.

I love my Jeep and it is a semi-daily driver for me, but it will never be my sole vehicle to DD. I like the comforts of other vehicles too much. I love that I can get into my Jeep and go almost anywhere I want without worrying if I can get there and back no matter the terrain, but I love that I can have a conversation with the passenger at 70mph in my Chevy truck.

 

[JustinCHorst]

I find them to be very comfortable, and totally uncivilized a the same time...they dont corner they just go in a general direction...as for being bumpy Ive never noticed that much although having an LJ helps a bit....DDing a TJ is like using a sledgehammer for a job that could use a scalpel....I love it, but many dont so you will have to drive one to make that choice......oh and I dont even mind long distance trips with a small exception of range...I wish I had more before I had to fill up, mpgs be damned thats what the Cooper is for.

 

[geoffmarton]

I have a company car in addition to the 05 Sport. Every day, I wish I could talk my boss into putting the company's gas into my TJ so I could drive it instead. I love the way it rides, I love shifting, I love the seat, I love everything about it! Well, except the little leak I have to get to.

 

[biggyb23]

Depends on what exactly your looking for. If your literally going to do a daily drive and dont plan on playing in the mud at ALL. Then i would get something with some better gas mileage. Mine is a daily drive and I get roughly 15...16 MPG? But, then again you always find me out in a field or a mud hole after a fresh rain.

 

[BamaRolln]

As long as life is good,,,, I will always own a Jeep,,,, but NEVER as my daily driver.

Life could go not so good suddenely and I could be forced to either sell my Jeep or sell one of my other vehicles (2012 Dodge Ram 1500, 2011 Acura MDX) and use my Jeep as my daily driver. Bad times is the only way I would use a Jeep as a daily driver.

But as long as life is good, my Jeep will ONLY be a take the top off all summer play toy.

 

[bobbylx]

What size tires?

It originally had 32x11.50x15's but I swapped to 31x10.50's. Honestly, I can't tell much difference driving wise between the 2.

 

[vertical horizons]

Mine is a DD but my commute is 2.6 miles round trip to work for me. If I had to drive a long distance everyday I would drive something else.

My commute is around 40 minutes, each way.
BUT, it's only about 13 miles, each way.

(Houston traffic, 8 to 5)

 

[vertical horizons]

... but you will be nowhere near as quiet or comfortable in the TJ without having a hard top, carpet, insulation...

Not sure about the 'insulation' part, but I plan on having carpet in the TJ, and there will be times when the hardtop is on.

... I do not suggest it unless you really ... want a convertible...

I've had :

• 2 Honda Del Sols (Targa Top);
• 1 Camaro (T-Tops);
• 1 Covette (Targa Top).

Yeah, I'm ready for another convertible.

... I love that I can have a conversation with the passenger at 70mph in my Chevy truck.

With the hardtop installed, how hard will it be to carry on a conversation with the passenger at 70 mph in a TJ?

 

[chilly]

Not sure with a hard top, but with my soft top TJ, most of the wind noise I have at 50+ is from the top, so I'd have to imagine a hard top might be a little quieter. I can carry on a conversation at 70, but I unquestionably have to speak up.

A TJ as a DD is a compromise (mine is my DD btw), but to me it's a perfectly acceptable one- I just love driving it!

 

[vertical horizons]

My brother-in-law has a 2007 with the soft top.
He says that, running at highway speeds, for all of his phone conversations, he has to yell.

 

[Rolf]

The day I picked up my TJ I giggled like a girl all the way home. I believe you will get in it and either love it or absolutely hate it. I use mine as a DD with the soft top fitted permanently. I cannot imagine ever owning a different vehicle. I LOVE my TJ.

 

[JRoweMDN]

My jeep has no carpet, bed liner, soft top (smittybuilt), and 33x12.5x15 MT tires, so it is not what I would say is built for quiet. As a matter of fact it is quieter with the windows down when the top is up. I have ridden in a hard top a few times and they are definitely quieter but they are not nearly as quiet as a modern truck, and at 70 you are definitely at old folks home volume. And with a hard top you don't have the easy convertible top.

I just wanted to try and give you an idea of the differences I have found between truck and Jeep. I love my Jeep but as I said it will never be my sole daily driver. And I may just tow it up on my next trip to the mountains. Go drive one, but beware they suck you in.

 

[chemicaljeep]

my 02 sport is a daily driver for me everyday. even my wife would rather go in the jeep.owned jeeps for years. if you want one you want to drive it.

 

[BamaRolln]

The other thing though is that Jeeps seem to hold value fairly well. My dad sold his 94 after keeping 5 years and got $500 more than he paid for it. He sold it to buy another one. I kept a 97 for 2 years and sold it for exactly what I paid for it. I sold it to buy a 2005. Keep in mind we did find good deals when we bought them so that helped us get our money out when we sold them. None of these Jeeps were/are daily drivers for either of us. But the point is, buy one. If you don't like it, sell it. Just don't screw it up in the period of time you have it and you will get most of your money back if not all of it.

 

[vertical horizons]

... I just wanted to try and give you an idea of the differences I have found between truck and Jeep ...

I didn't take offense. I appreciate your input. :thumb:

... Go drive one, but beware they suck you in.

That's what I'm counting on.

 

[vertical horizons]

... If you don't like it, sell it. Just don't screw it up in the period of time you have it and you will get most of your money back if not all of it.

I was thinking more on the lines of if I decide, years later, that I want to keep it, instead of trading up, I could always drop in a crate motor.

Brand new motor, the body (inside & out) fixed up the way that I want, that'd be a sweet vehicle.

And, an added bonus, later on, IF I did decide to trade up, having that crate motor installed would increase the value.

 

[BamaRolln]

Exactly. You can do any number of things. Point being you are not locked into anything. Might cost you a little money but you can't let that stop you from living. If you think you want one you won't be satisfied until you try it.

 

[vertical horizons]

Exactly.
Whenever you purchase a used vehicle, you have no idea how badly the PO may have abused it, no matter how well you attempt to inspect it.

If it ever comes down to the point where you either get rid of the vehicle or drop in a new or rebuilt motor, once that is done, you now have the peace of mind that you REALLY CAN take it almost anywhere, without it leaving you stranded.

 

[spenserb]

98 TJ 6 cyl. is my daily driver. 20 min to and from work. my only problem is i have to turn the radio up when on the interstate. I LOVE MY JEEP

 

[Brew]

As long as you are commuting on potholed and washboard roads for 20 miles each way, you'll be fine. Unlimited is easier to drive since the longer wheelbase keeps it from wandering.