View Full Version : Buying a TJ, need some advice.
A buddy of mine is looking into TJ's, he is a first time jeep buyer and I am trying to help him out. I have owned a TJ in the past ('99 model), but I don't know as much about the newer ones, so I have some questions.
First, my '99 had an automatic with the 4.0, it only had three gears and did not get real good gas mileage. Did they change this to a 4 speed, is it any better, if so what year was it changed?
Second, should he look at manuals over auto, I now it is personal preference, but is there any advantages over one than the other?
Third, he has found some jeeps, following is the specs., how do they sound?
-03 X model, 5 speed, 4.0, hardtop and full steel doors, 35K miles, $14,000.
-03 SE model, 5 speed, 2.4, softtop, half doors, 24K miles, $10,500.
-00 Sport, auto, 4.0, hard and softtop, full steel doors, 66K, $10,800.
Finally, if anyone has some good advice or suggestions, I would appreciate any help.
BigMudder
10-31-2006, 03:17 PM
Dont know much about the brand new jeeps but if he is gonna wheel it, tell him to get a manual
I owned a 05 TJ Auto and it got 12mpg, i have an 06 standard and get 17mpg plus in my opinion the power difference is incredible
I would look for one with 4.0/standard tranny and d 44 rear
How can you tell if it has the d 44 rear?
OhioYJ
10-31-2006, 04:00 PM
Jeep used the 32RH automatic up until 03, which is a three speed automatic, with no real overdrive gear, ratios are 2.74 - 1.54 - 1.00
In 03 they started using the 42RLE automatic, which is a four speed automatic, with a real overdrive gear, ratios are 2.84 - 1.57 - 1.00 - 0.69
As for wheeling it, usally a deep pan will solve starvation issues in an automatic for steep angles, and an automatic is night and day easier to wheel with. The being said, you have to deal with waterproofing it, and heat issues.
To me a manual transmission is more fun, and I can fill the thing full of water and still drive home on it, they are very simple, and create no extra heat, and usually get better mileage. The only time the manual really sort of gets old is stop and go heavy traffic, other than that I love it. Manual transmissions are cave man simple, and typically will last longer than an automatic, if you can deal with some bulky shifter issues as it ages.
I guess on them, mileage would matter some too. First thing I would do on both those 4.0 Jeeps is look under them and see if one has the Dana44 rear axle, that would be a huge plus.
After the rear axle question, I would look at the mileage vs. cost.
For me I always recommend getting a hard top and full steel doors first. You can buy soft tops much, much, cheaper than you can buy hard tops and full steel doors for.
I guess it really comes down to what is he looking for? Will this Jeep be fourwheeled? Is it going to be a daily driver, how much highway driving? If he does much highway, or towing, I would toss the 4-cylinder idea out the window. Not that the 4-cylinder won't do it, I just prefer to be able to get up and go on the highway when I need to.
And the number one question should be, will he get used to those funky round headlights?? :D :D
OhioYJ
10-31-2006, 04:04 PM
Dana35 has a "round" cover:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y249/mr5oh/dana35ident.gif
Dana44 has more of a hexagonal shape:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y249/mr5oh/dana44ident.gif
chutta
10-31-2006, 04:40 PM
Also a 2001+ has the updated ex manifold to avoid a nuisance failure?
Knuckelhead
10-31-2006, 05:40 PM
Originally posted by chutta:
Also a 2001+ has the updated ex manifold to avoid a nuisance failure? Nope. 2000+ for the newer manifold and no distributor or plug wires. The early 2000 4.0 also don't have the dual cats on the manifold.
2000 (early) 4.0, 5000 lbs, auto, 17 mpg on the highway @ 60 mph...
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e333/knuckelhead/waiting.jpg
OhioYJ
10-31-2006, 06:10 PM
5000 lbsIs that actual weight, or estimated? I knew Jeeps weren't light, but that still seems heavy.
Knuckelhead
10-31-2006, 06:29 PM
2300 lbs front axle weight and 2700 lbs rear axle weight (full tank and trail gear). I've added a few parts ya know?... :D
yzergod
10-31-2006, 06:36 PM
Originally posted by LR:
-03 X model, 5 speed, 4.0, hardtop and full steel doors, 35K miles, $14,000.Worst gear ratio availble = offroad suckage
Extra $3000+ over the other two would buy him a used hard top plus some mods!
-03 SE model, 5 speed, 2.4, softtop, half doors, 24K miles, $10,500.Best gear ratio available, decent milage.
--00 Sport, auto, 4.0, hard and softtop, full steel doors, 66K, $10,800.Older so cheaper on insurance and registration than the other two, Sport has good upgrades. Best of the 3 IMHO.
Finally, if anyone has some good advice or suggestions, I would appreciate any help. Dana 44 on the rear would be a nice bonus, but not a deal maker IMHO. For the price of the first one, you could add a lift and a used rear axle AND swap the gears. Chances are the SE doesn't have a D44 on it. So again, I'd go with the third one as the "best buy". Your friend should narrow down what he plans on using it for before looking at them. As stated above, a 4.0 with an auto will be more enjoyable in the long run if your friend plans on using it for 90% daily driving and only 10% off road. And if he does plan on the 90% daily driver, then a D44 isn't really going to get the use offroad and the D35 should be fine. (I totally expect my cohorts to jump up and down on this comment like a pack of primates, but the hundreds of thousands of daily driver TJ's that are still on their stock D35 vs. the handfull that have broken on a stock or mildly lifted set-up are great odds IMHO!) Towing with any Jeep is just stupid unless it is something really small like a single jet ski or atv trailer. But, if it is going to be a dedicated trail rig, then the hard top is a pain in the ass and adds too much weight IMHO. Gas milage isn't different enough between the two engines and transmissions that it is enough to worry about, so pick whatever he enjoys to drive.
HTH!
All very good points, I knew I could count on you guys to help out with this matter. I know a little about jeeps but it's nothing compared to the wealth of knowledge in this forum.
Keep the opinions coming, I got my buddy following online and he is amazed with the help we are getting.
Thanks
luckeeluke
10-31-2006, 07:58 PM
I personally like a manual tranny in a Jeep. It just feels good to me. It can be a pain on the trails or in traffic though.
I went with a 4cyl YJ Jeep because I new they come with 4.10 gearing. I wanted a Dana 44 for the rear, but in a YJ that is impossible unless you swap one in. I wanted to run a 33 inch tire. A 33 inch tire might be past the limit of the Dana 35 rear axle, or at least right at the limit.
In any event, as said before, your friend has to figure out what the purpose of the Jeep is? Daily driver, trail jeep, both? Does he like power in the engine or not? How much highway/communte will the Jeep see at least for the time being?
Gearing, type of rear axle, an idea of tire size/modifications, engine power, past preferences, money alloted for modifications, etc. will all play into the decision
If it was a daily driver and no trails and planning small tires (29/30/31 inch) maybe look at one of the 6 cyl autos. If any of the 6cyl come with 3.73 gearing then that would be a good choice. I THINK most of those might have 3.07s wich with a bigger tire will struggle. If it is only trail Jeep or 2nd vehicle possibly consider the 4cyl for the gearing (planning bigger tires with less $ for modifications to gearing or axles) or one of the 6cyl if it has a dana 44 or wanted more power.
Everyone gets different gas milage. With my 4cyl, mannual tranny, and 33 inch tires I have gotten as high as 19.5mpg and as low as 15.5mpg. Usually I get 17mpg mixed driving. A 4 cyl might be thriftier on gas, hard to say how much though.
I actually think the 4cyl handles the trails very well. I don't have the gearing I should have for the road but the 4.10s do ok with the 33 inch tires. However, it is not my daily driver. If it was and if I had the $$$ I'd have 4.88s in the axles and a Ford 8.8 rear axle.
it goes on and on . . . any of those three would be a fine choice depending on your friends preferences
how's that for a big rambling mess . . .
00TJ4L
10-31-2006, 07:59 PM
While OhioYJ is right that you can get a soft top cheaper than you can get a hard top, some people are plenty content with a soft. I have a soft top and full steel doors, and I couldnt be happier. You cannot beat the versatility there.
Alot of people are very opinionated about a manual or an auto. Either is fine. I have wheeled both, and they are both wheelable. It seems that the "purist jeepers" all say auto. On the other hand alot of the competitive rock crawlers out there run auto's. Both have advantages, and both have disadvantages.
Knuckelhead
10-31-2006, 08:59 PM
Hard top = security also... ;)
luckeeluke
10-31-2006, 09:54 PM
Hard top = security also...graemlins/ditto.gif
00TJ4L
11-01-2006, 02:41 AM
Originally posted by luckeeluke:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Hard top = security also...graemlins/ditto.gif </font>[/QUOTE]graemlins/ditto.gif
Mine has been broken into. (soft top) :mad:
Joe_Procopio
11-01-2006, 08:56 AM
my wife came out to her jeep at work and saw the rear window unzipped partly, nothing mising, but freaked her out....there is no worse feeling than coming up to jeep, and noticing someone opened it up and was Fin with your stuff...if you go softtop, get a tuffy console to lock things up in...but we have the full doors, and they are nice with the soft top
i'd go with the manual over the auto, our 06 TJ has been in the shop 3 times for tranny related issues, and they still can't find what is causing it....manual in1st, 4 low, let out the clutch, can crawl over just about anything...we get 17 to 19 mpg, but no cruise, if you can find one with cruise, get it, no matter what 6 or 4 cylinder...
00TJ4L
11-01-2006, 09:41 AM
Originally posted by Joe_Procopio:
... if you can find one with cruise, get it, no matter what 6 or 4 cylinder... Yes, if for no other reason than it is easier on road trips. Mine has it and with 2" of lift, 31s, 3.73 gears, 4.0L and a manual trans I can almost get 20 MPG on the freeway if I set the cruise around 65.