Faults:

The 1987 Jeep needed a mechanical restoration when I acquired it. I am a mechanic for a living and bought this (as a hobby or toy for the weekends) knowing that it needed a lot of work to get it back into tip top shape after many years of abuse, despite the lower mileage.

General Comments:

The AMC versions of these vehicles are far superior then their Chrysler Jeep counterparts of the 90s/00s and up.

These are Jeeps. Not Cadillacs or BMWs. They ride rough, they're stiff, and noisy.

But. This is also why they're a blast.

You can off road with them, drive them rain or shine, snow and ice, beach sand, trail mud. These will go anywhere you want them to.

Once you have made the necessary repairs to put yours back on the road, you'll love it.

Keep in mind... When you are buying a 34 year old vehicle, regardless of how good or bad it was maintained, you are going to run into small snags, or repairs or even previous bad repairs (if previous owner fixed something and didn't know what they're doing) for example. Just be patient. Take your time and you will enjoy these wonderful classics for how they're meant to be enjoyed.

Remember there is a reason there is "Jeep nation" and reason why people still desire the old Jeeps. This is when they prided themselves on building a truck to make all North Americans happy.

Faults:

Clutch had to be replaced at 104,000 miles, very costly $900.

4 Wheel Drive Vacuum motors doesn't work.

Steering Wheel is very loose.

Key is very hard to turn/ get to work.

Left blinker does not shut off automatically.

High beams don't work.

Horn wiring is loose.

Needed new intake gasket.

Power Steering pump went.

Jeep is hard to start.

Choke does not work.

Heater core leaks.

Fuel Odor in car.

General Comments:

This car has been nothing but trouble for me. The only time I actually enjoy it is with the top off. I have put over $2500 into this car in the last year and a half. I hate it during the winter, but for some reason during the summer, I just love it.

Faults:

Alternator died at 110000 miles, higher amperage replacement cost $75. Direct bolt in, took less than 10 minutes to fix.

Had to replace the steering shaft, due to the U-joint wearing excessively at the bottom joint. Happened at 115000 miles, was stock shaft. New shaft cost $115, did the installation in my driveway in 45 minutes.

Gauge lights died at 120000 miles, replaced in 30 minutes, cost $15 for all.

Breaks needed to be rebuilt at 124000 miles, new rotors, pads and drums. Cost $390, including labor.

General Comments:

This car is awesomely fun to drive! Has proven extremely reliable so far, and has plenty of life left in it yet. I feel completely comfortable driving this vehicle to and from school, 230 miles each way. I reccomend avoiding the 6 cylinder models from this year, as they use a (highly un-reliable) carburetor. Not a sports car by any means, but great for camping, going to the beach, or plowing through bad weather. I reccomend the hardtop and full steel doors for those living in areas which get snow in the winter, makes things much quieter, and scraping ice won't scratch your windows. Also, in my experience, it seems that these older AMC-design models tend to have less problems than the newer Daimer-Chrysler built ones.