ALT-1 What you need to know before you Buy a Jeep Wrangler
If you've never had a Jeep Wrangler and don't know much about them, but you are thinking of getting one, maybe this will help you make an informed decision.
My daughter bought a 2003 Jeep Wrangler base model in early 2005, and it turned out to be an expensive lesson for both of us.
I feel they are terribly overpriced. My daughter got hers from a dealer for more than $18,000 (used!), with a 4-cylinder engine, which is not the preferred engine size among Wrangler enthusiasts. They like the more powerful 6-cylinder engine. Yet the smaller, weaker 4-cylinder still gave her only about 15 miles per gallon around town, even though it had a manual transmission. And it had no air conditioning. It did come with a hard top, alloy wheels rear defroster and rear wiper.
Admittedly, she could have gotten a better price if she had shopped around a bit, but I feel the vehicle would have been expensive at half the price.
They are specialty vehicles that are not built for comfort or, in my opinion, safety. The body is not substantial and, since Wranglers are actually "trucks", it has none of the safety features a car is required to have, except for driver and passenger air bags. But those won't help in a rollover or side impact collision.
They're great for off-road driving, and the 4-wheel-drive is nice in snow. But they are not a vehicle designed, or intended, apparently, to be a commuter or hauler. The high center of gravity means you can't take curves at high speed or jerk the wheel to change direction suddenly, like you can in a car; if you do, you might go flying. There is a back seat that folds down, but cargo space is still very limited.
They require careful maintenance. For example, the manufacturer recommends the front end be lubricated at every oil change. That's not something you have to do on a car. Also, changing the spark plugs on the 4-cylinder is a massive chore. The throttle body has to be removed to gain access to all the plug sockets, and you definitely need a long extension for your socket wrench to remove and install the plugs. I'm not familiar with the configuration of the 6-cylinder engine.
Off-roading can damage the suspension. Wranglers have a "stabilizer" shock absorber in the front that helps control the steering. My daughter damaged it and it had to be replaced at a cost of over $400.
The hard top can be removed for summer fun, but if you do remove it, you need at least 2, and preferably 4, people to handle it. It is heavy. And, it needs to be stored carefully to avoid damaging the rear windshield and wiper.
Another thing I didn't like is that anyone can come along and open the hood because the hood clips are on the outside.
After 2 years of hefty payments, she decided she couldn't afford it anymore and we were lucky, in my opinion, to sell it for barely half her purchase price.
If you're still getting one, good luck with it.
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