Help with Jeep purchase

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OceanBlue2000
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Help with Jeep purchase

Post by OceanBlue2000 » Tue Aug 28, 2018 6:54 am

A buddy of mine, who knows next to nothing about cars, wants to buy a Jeep Wrangler. He will be trading in his clapped out truck, which I don't imagine will get more than $2,000 in trade. I have offered to help him look, since I know slightly more about cars than him.

Unfortunately, most of my knowledge of cars is about finicky German sports cars.

He wants to spend about $20,000 and wants the 6 cylinder and a manual, which he will be using as his DD.

My question is, when we go to look at cars, what are we looking for? What common issues should I be checking? I could be mistaken, but my impression of these is that they are not the most reliable automobile. Is that true? He is a teacher, and a great guy, and if something goes very wrong on his car, he is well and truly screwed. Should I steer him away from a Jeep?

Any and all opinions appreciated.
Mike
Strange things I have in head, that will to hand.
2000 Ocean Blue 996 Carrera 2
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FRUNKenstein
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Re: Help with Jeep purchase

Post by FRUNKenstein » Tue Aug 28, 2018 7:38 am

Nothing against Jeeps. That being said, I think the vast, vast majority of people who buy them as daily drivers quickly regret the decision. Seems like everyone I know that buys one to commute with gets rid of it within 6 months. Cramped, uncomfortable, shitty gas mileage. But they are cool. I think they would make a fun vehicle for occasional use.
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32wildbilly
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Re: Help with Jeep purchase

Post by 32wildbilly » Tue Aug 28, 2018 7:59 am

OceanBlue2000 wrote: Tue Aug 28, 2018 6:54 am A buddy of mine, who knows next to nothing about cars, wants to buy a Jeep Wrangler. He will be trading in his clapped out truck, which I don't imagine will get more than $2,000 in trade. I have offered to help him look, since I know slightly more about cars than him.

Unfortunately, most of my knowledge of cars is about finicky German sports cars.

He wants to spend about $20,000 and wants the 6 cylinder and a manual, which he will be using as his DD.

My question is, when we go to look at cars, what are we looking for? What common issues should I be checking? I could be mistaken, but my impression of these is that they are not the most reliable automobile. Is that true? He is a teacher, and a great guy, and if something goes very wrong on his car, he is well and truly screwed. Should I steer him away from a Jeep?

Any and all opinions appreciated.
OB2000: Don't know much about Jeep Wranglers. We rented one in Grand Cayman last year and was pleasantly surprised, however, don't think he could get that for $20k. Consumer Reports have never rated them very highly as a new or used car. 2011 through 2015 all rated below average reliability with 2012 being the worst rating CR gives. Overall 2010-17 rated average. From looking at specifics few major concerns i.e. engine-transmission-drive train, etc. Mostly leaks rattles, body integrity, paint, power equipment and in-car electronics. Personally, I would not buy one. Why is he attracted to the Wrangler. Besides rough ride, poor tire consumption, poor gas consumption and reliability issues; there are some really reliable DD SUV's out there that would be better(used Toyota Rav4's, Honda CRV's to name a couple). Is he planning to off road it?
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OceanBlue2000
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Re: Help with Jeep purchase

Post by OceanBlue2000 » Tue Aug 28, 2018 8:52 am

32wildbilly wrote: Tue Aug 28, 2018 7:59 am
OceanBlue2000 wrote: Tue Aug 28, 2018 6:54 am A buddy of mine, who knows next to nothing about cars, wants to buy a Jeep Wrangler. He will be trading in his clapped out truck, which I don't imagine will get more than $2,000 in trade. I have offered to help him look, since I know slightly more about cars than him.

Unfortunately, most of my knowledge of cars is about finicky German sports cars.

He wants to spend about $20,000 and wants the 6 cylinder and a manual, which he will be using as his DD.

My question is, when we go to look at cars, what are we looking for? What common issues should I be checking? I could be mistaken, but my impression of these is that they are not the most reliable automobile. Is that true? He is a teacher, and a great guy, and if something goes very wrong on his car, he is well and truly screwed. Should I steer him away from a Jeep?

Any and all opinions appreciated.
OB2000: Don't know much about Jeep Wranglers. We rented one in Grand Cayman last year and was pleasantly surprised, however, don't think he could get that for $20k. Consumer Reports have never rated them very highly as a new or used car. 2011 through 2015 all rated below average reliability with 2012 being the worst rating CR gives. Overall 2010-17 rated average. From looking at specifics few major concerns i.e. engine-transmission-drive train, etc. Mostly leaks rattles, body integrity, paint, power equipment and in-car electronics. Personally, I would not buy one. Why is he attracted to the Wrangler. Besides rough ride, poor tire consumption, poor gas consumption and reliability issues; there are some really reliable DD SUV's out there that would be better(used Toyota Rav4's, Honda CRV's to name a couple). Is he planning to off road it?
I don't think he's planning to off road it. He's planning on driving it on NJ roads, which is very much like off roading it. Might sound dumb, but I blame myself a little bit. He always wanted one, and he's been listening to me talk shit about always wanting a 911 so I went out and got one.

Good advice about mileage, rough ride, etc. I am not sure he will be talked out of it, but will try. Looks like I will be going along with him and looking for normal things. Thanks for all the great input!

Mike
Mike
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2000 Ocean Blue 996 Carrera 2
1982 928 (sold)

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32wildbilly
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Re: Help with Jeep purchase

Post by 32wildbilly » Tue Aug 28, 2018 9:15 am

OceanBlue2000 wrote: Tue Aug 28, 2018 8:52 am
32wildbilly wrote: Tue Aug 28, 2018 7:59 am

OB2000: Don't know much about Jeep Wranglers. We rented one in Grand Cayman last year and was pleasantly surprised, however, don't think he could get that for $20k. Consumer Reports have never rated them very highly as a new or used car. 2011 through 2015 all rated below average reliability with 2012 being the worst rating CR gives. Overall 2010-17 rated average. From looking at specifics few major concerns i.e. engine-transmission-drive train, etc. Mostly leaks rattles, body integrity, paint, power equipment and in-car electronics. Personally, I would not buy one. Why is he attracted to the Wrangler. Besides rough ride, poor tire consumption, poor gas consumption and reliability issues; there are some really reliable DD SUV's out there that would be better(used Toyota Rav4's, Honda CRV's to name a couple). Is he planning to off road it?
I don't think he's planning to off road it. He's planning on driving it on NJ roads, which is very much like off roading it. Might sound dumb, but I blame myself a little bit. He always wanted one, and he's been listening to me talk shit about always wanting a 911 so I went out and got one.

Good advice about mileage, rough ride, etc. I am not sure he will be talked out of it, but will try. Looks like I will be going along with him and looking for normal things. Thanks for all the great input!

Mike
Understand. The rental was fun for a week(still wouldn't buy one) except for the wife almost falling out every time. She forgot it was so high in the air! Didn't Cuda buy one or was that a CJ. Can't remember.
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Cuda911
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Re: Help with Jeep purchase

Post by Cuda911 » Tue Aug 28, 2018 10:05 am

Yeah, it's a '93 YJ. As stated above, cool and lots of fun for occassional use. Horrible for a DD.
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'68 Ford Custom 500; '70 Plymouth Cuda; '71 Ford Econoline; 73 Porsche 914 1.7, '74 Porsche 914 1.8; '74 Suzuki TC185; '86 Suzuki GS450L; '88 Subaru GL104WD Turbo Ltd Edn;; '88 Subaru XT; '91 Lexus ES250; '93 Jeep Wrangler, '99 Porsche Boxster, '03 Turbo VW Beetle; '03 Porsche Boxster; '03 Porsche Carrera C2; '07 Porsche Cayman, '11 BMW 328i, '12 Porsche 991 S, '14 Porsche Cayman, & a mishmash of other vehicles.

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Re: Help with Jeep purchase

Post by Kalashnikov » Tue Aug 28, 2018 10:23 am

I've ridden in 2015 jeep for a couple thousand miles in the last two years. It was a V6 with 6 speed manual.

Off roading it is cool and fun. On road it was terrible. My buddy insisted on driving with no doors or roof when it was warm, so that may have tainted my perception significantly.

Car was slow, cramped, interior was cheap feeling, it was loud, and got 15 mpg.

If he wants a competent 4x4 with better daily driver score, have him test drive 2014-2015 Xterra, with Pro 4x package especially. It is right in his price range and offers 95% of Wranglers off road ability.

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OceanBlue2000
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Re: Help with Jeep purchase

Post by OceanBlue2000 » Tue Aug 28, 2018 10:50 am

The MPG may change his mind. He's got an awful, stop and go commute. I will definitely suggest the Xterra, thansk.
Mike
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2000 Ocean Blue 996 Carrera 2
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5chn3ll
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Re: Help with Jeep purchase

Post by 5chn3ll » Tue Aug 28, 2018 12:53 pm

How often is he REALLY going to offroad? I picked up our CPO 2017 Cherokee in September of 2017 for right around $20K - it was a pretty decent deal. Everyone wants the "Trailhawk" model and its "Trail Rated" fender badge; I just wanted a decent Jeep 4WD with a warranty, screw the badgers.

We've already put more offroad miles on the Cherokee than most people will in a lifetime, including getting further up Gold Mountain than anything I've driven up there since I got rid of my S-10 4x4 after college.

And it has a warranty with roadside assistance. And heated leather seats that beat the hell out of Wrangler seats. The biggest problem with our Cherokee is the motor - it's fine for all on-road driving and even hauls itself up to 8000ft relatively well, but it just doesn't have the grunt to power over large rocks/steps. Which is fine - I don't NEED to do any of that, but it was fun to find out just how much grunt it could muster.

These videos make the road look fearsome, but you can pick around a lot of the bigger stuff. You also need to go REALLY SLOWLY if you like your sheet metal and stuff. Hell, I got a rental Focus all the way up to the old ranger outpost at the six-minute mark (admittedly, I came up the back way and cut off about 6 miles of the 6.5 mile drive...).


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Re: Help with Jeep purchase

Post by FRUNKenstein » Tue Aug 28, 2018 1:11 pm

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www.kansascityautomuseum.com
Current:
2002 996TT X50, Guards Red
1987 928S4, Guards Red
1987 951, Guards Red
1973 914 2.0 Bahia Red

2006 955S, Lapis Blue
Other toys:
1988 BMW 325i Cabriolet, Alpin Weiss
1987 Bertone X1/9, Verde Chiaro
Gone but not forgotten: 1975 914 2.0, Laguna Blue; 1999 996 C4 Aerokit Black; 1990 964 C2 Guards Red; 2006 955S Arctic Silver

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