2000 Jeep Wrangler Sport 4.0 Inline 6 from North America
Summary:
You have to have the personality for this car - not good for suburban yuppies
Faults:
I paid $1800 for an extended warranty - and have not needed to use it at all.
Nothing beyond regular maintenance.
New 32" tires at 98,000.
General Comments:
This is not a pleasure car that drives perfect.
First of all, the bad: it is tiny in the interior - has no space to have bags or extra passengers. It's noisy, uncomfortable, and at times on the highway, it seems hard to keep up. The car is shaped like a brick, so gas mileage is bad. If you have a bad soft top, it's wet, windy. I paid $12,500 for the Jeep in 2007 for a vehicle with manual windows, manual door locks. This car bumps, and is very uncomfortable.
The good: (see cons)
Having a Wrangler says a lot about a person's personality - someone that wants the ability to go anywhere, any time. Someone that wants to feel the wind blow through their hair even during winter. Someone that wants to look down on Miatas and other smaller convertibles, and laugh. The uncomfortable, noisy, and wet ride are positive things for a person that craves adventure.
Wranglers have the best of both worlds - it has amazing turning radius (about the same as a Geo Metro), but has the height of a truck. This vehicle has very powerful lower gears (for offroading), so around town, this can't be beat.
The options and availability of options and add-ons for a Jeep are amazingly expansive. Look up jcwhitney.com. This car has more options than a barbie doll has clothing options. They can be expensive.
Some advice I wish I'd have known when I first bought a Jeep:
- Go with a hard top
Having a hard top first is the best decision (a used soft top is much cheaper than a hard top to find). I paid $300 for a used hard top and half doors. Used hard tops run a minimum of $800.
- Forget the 4 cylinder - it's not worth it
Get the inline 6 4.0 motor - it's world class, and is bullet proof. Anyone that says the 4 cylinder saves gas is full of it. I got 17 MPG with my older YJ Jeep (4 cylinder, 1995), and get 17-19 with my current Jeep (a 4.0 inline 6). The 4 cylinders (typically the SE models) are underpowered, and are available everywhere - there's a reason for that. The owners hate them. Don't ruin your first Jeep (if this is the one) with an underpowered Jeep. With a 2.5 lift and 33/32 inch tires, I can maintain 65/70 mph with little inconvenience. When I had my older Wrangler, I struggled with 55 at times.
If you have a soft top - realize there is no security. There are add-on options that cost a decent amount of money.
Please, regardless of what year Jeep you get - remember the "Jeep Wave". The rule is when two Jeeps pass each other, the younger one has to wave at the veteran. If the Jeeps are the same model (i.e. CJ/YJ/TJ/JK) the cleanest one initiates the rule. Look up the Jeep Wave, there's a huge list of the rules. No offense to the newer [year] Jeep owners, but they never wave. In my opinion, adhering to the Jeep Wave should be in the signing contract.
Have a great time with your Jeep
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 12th October, 2010