1976 Jeep CJ7 Renegade - 304 c.i. V8 from North America

Summary:

A capable off-road vehicle that is a great investment to boot!

Faults:

Faults: Poor heater and defroster, gas hog (14 mpg if I'm lucky), front frame is prone to stress cracks (can be remedied easily with some welding), rear original axle design is poor & prone to twisting axle shafts with hard 4-wheeling (1-piece axles fix this problem & cost about $300.00), shifter is vague & takes some getting used to. My Jeep is completely rust-free, but the old ones tend to be prone to rust.

General Comments:

Overall, an awesome ride. Very reliable with extraordinary amounts of power with the stock V-8 engine. Extremely capable off-road, particularly on narrow, steep trails in the mountains of Colorado. Extremely low-geared with a granny 4-speed transmission, 4:10 gears and factory limited slip differential. Despite the reputation of Jeeps, it actually handles quite well on the freeway and is reasonably comfortable. It performs very well in snow, as long as you don't drive too fast. This Jeep still has the original red paint with the factory Renegade decals and draws attention like no new Jeep ever will. I am constantly approached and asked if I want to sell it. I would never trade my Renegade for one of these gimmicky new plastic & computer-controlled things that Chrysler is calling a Jeep. Old original CJ-7's are getting hard to find, and they keep increasing in value every year. However, the older Jeep CJ's do have their quirks and I recommend that the buyer has a reasonable amount of mechanical knowledge and ability. Old Jeeps are very easy to work on, but a mechanic will charge you a mint to keep the little things working on them. Not recommended for daily transportation, although I have done it for several years.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 30th January, 2004

1976 Jeep CJ7 258 6 Cyl from North America

Faults:

I have had no major repairs on my Jeep since buying it in 1980, only standard maintenance, hoses, belts, spark plugs, etc.

General Comments:

My CJ7 had 63000 miles on it when I bought it for farm use. It has had a well serviced, but hard life and is still going strong at nearly 130000 miles. This vehicle seldom sees a paved road and has never had an engine or transmission overhaul, or even a clutch, while I've owned it anyway (although it is about due). It has a hard top and steel doors which I love to remove in the Summer. Can't be beat around the farm. New Jeeps look nice, but my advice is get a CJ7 and rebuild it.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 28th February, 1999

26th Sep 2001, 16:17

***Jeeps are built, not bought!***

30th Apr 2010, 11:35

That's just what we've done! Looking forward to building it back up to what it once was!