My kid wants a Jeep wrangler as her first car. Anything I need to know? Years to avoid? What to look for? Looking at used rigs.
I think a 4 door for more space makes sense as a daily driver. I have never even driven one of the things, but they look fun. Should I can the whole idea as unsafe and get something else? Also, are they capable of towing a bass boat or a trailer with 2-4 4 wheelers? Thanks for any and all insight.
I have a 1997 Wrangler that I've had since new. Look any Jeep over real well, especially underneath to see if there is any evidence of off road abuse, damage, etc. I would not buy an inexperienced driver any vehicle that has been lifted or has other off road modifications to the sway bars, track bars, control arms, etc. My jeep is a two door model and I've never towed anything with it. If you get a 4 door model it should have a higher tow capacity due to the longer wheel base. They are fun vehicles to drive around town or offroad, but not much fun on the freeway or long trips.
Not my idea of the first vehicle. To much temptation to take it off road and do things like they do in TV Adds:-(
I owned a 2005 Rubicon and thought it was a POS. It was cool to drive and did great off road, but there was some thing going wrong with it ALL the time. Look up Wrangler Death Wobble.
The older straight axle Jeeps were real Jeeps.
I will never own another Chrysler product, or who ever builds them now...............
She needs to tow a Bass Boat? Can it be done? Yes and it will be real fun with a short wheel base!
I've owned two and am on my 3rd. Wrangler. They are cool, and very popular among the people in my area including the young. Unfortunately, they are not what many think they are off road. As long as she gets extensive training in how to drive it off road, she should be OK there. As to a first car, I wouldn't recommend one to either of my daughters. They are much more expensive to maintain, and they are not good highway cars. Lots of cars get much better fuel mileage, etc. Have a family member who did buy one for her daughter's first car. It was sold for something else in less than two years. They are not designed to tow much. Nobody I know tows anything more than a small camp trailer with one. E
My youngest daughter had a 1998 Wrangler Sport. Had a hard top, soft top, bikini top. Had both full doors and half doors. It was lifted with 35" tires. Had a Terraflex suspension. Also had different gears placed in the axles due to the large tires. Put a cam in the engine to increase torque and HP. Added a tuned header and Banks exhaust system.
Her first car was a Toyota Yaris. She learned how to drive a manual transmission etc.
Then came the Jeep. At 17 years old, she had every kid in high school jealous with that thing.
It served her well. She knew how to drive a lifted truck. Did pretty good off road too.
Not my idea of the first vehicle. To much temptation to take it off road and do things like they do in TV Adds:-(
I owned a 2005 Rubicon and thought it was a POS. It was cool to drive and did great off road, but there was some thing going wrong with it ALL the time. Look up Wrangler Death Wobble.
The older straight axle Jeeps were real Jeeps.
I will never own another Chrysler product, or who ever builds them now...............
She needs to tow a Bass Boat? Can it be done? Yes and it will be real fun with a short wheel base!
I would NEVER consider a Jeep Wrangler to be a safe vehicle for a new driver. A few years ago, I watched high school girl roll a Wrangler with three other kids in it when she misjudged a turn and hit a curb. They were all wearing seat-belts and the Wrangler had a roll bar, but one of the kids in back had his left forearm crushed. I don't think that any of them would have been injured if they had had the same accident in either a GC or Liberty.
My daughter has a 1998 Nissan Pathfinder and seems happy with it. Happy enough to name it "Francois".
If your daughter isn't bonded to a Jeep, the Nissan Xterra or Toyota Highlander or 4Runner might be worth considering.
A Wrangler isn't a great first vehicle. The "roll" bar is just for looks. Its actually called a sport bar and isn't designed to protect occupants in a roll over.
The doors and top aren't designed to protect occupants either. Jeep advises the doors and top are for protection from the elements only.
Jeep Wranglers are fun for weekends and sunny days, but suck as daily drivers, especially for new drivers. The big 4-door model, not so much. If it is not lifted, the 4-doors are actually pretty stable and they also aren't speed demons. I'd probably go for a 4Runner, XTerra, or maybe even an FJ Cruiser.
I would NEVER consider a Jeep Wrangler to be a safe vehicle for a new driver. A few years ago, I watched high school girl roll a Wrangler with three other kids in it when she misjudged a turn and hit a curb. They were all wearing seat-belts and the Wrangler had a roll bar, but one of the kids in back had his left forearm crushed. I don't think that any of them would have been injured if they had had the same accident in either a GC or Liberty.
My daughter has a 1998 Nissan Pathfinder and seems happy with it. Happy enough to name it "Francois".
If your daughter isn't bonded to a Jeep, the Nissan Xterra or Toyota Highlander or 4Runner might be worth considering.
Years ago a co-worker's high school son went for a ride in his buddy's new CJ5. They went hill climbing and the first thing they did was try a hill that was too steep. When they couldn't climb it, the kid pulled a classic 1st timer's stunt - he tried to turn around. The roll bar saved them both.
The thing is, they're kids. They will take any car and push it to see what it will do. A kids with a muscle car will flex it's muscles and a kid with a 4x4 will HAVE to see what it will climb. It's part of being a kid.
I would NEVER consider a Jeep Wrangler to be a safe vehicle for a new driver. A few years ago, I watched high school girl roll a Wrangler with three other kids in it when she misjudged a turn and hit a curb. They were all wearing seat-belts and the Wrangler had a roll bar, but one of the kids in back had his left forearm crushed. I don't think that any of them would have been injured if they had had the same accident in either a GC or Liberty.
My daughter has a 1998 Nissan Pathfinder and seems happy with it. Happy enough to name it "Francois".
If your daughter isn't bonded to a Jeep, the Nissan Xterra or Toyota Highlander or 4Runner might be worth considering.
Years ago a co-worker's high school son went for a ride in his buddy's new CJ5. They went hill climbing and the first thing they did was try a hill that was too steep. When they couldn't climb it, the kid pulled a classic 1st timer's stunt - he tried to turn around. The roll bar saved them both.
The thing is, they're kids. They will take any car and push it to see what it will do. A kids with a muscle car will flex it's muscles and a kid with a 4x4 will HAVE to see what it will climb. It's part of being a kid.
Yes, just like riding a crotch rocket makes people ride too fast and speed down the centerline between cars on a divided highway.
Everybody has horror stories, but the current generation Wranglers are pretty civilized vehicles. As long as you stay away from lifted platforms with oversized tires, they are pretty stable. We bought a fairly new CJ-5 when the daughters started high school. They handled it very well driving it 25 miles to school, the first 19 miles of which was a county-maintained gravel road in the Nebraska sand hills.
The only prank that I heard about was a game that they called "smush the mouse". This involved swerving across the road to nail field mice scurrying across the road. They admitted that one effort took them on a detour into the borrow ditch and we chalked that up to a single-trial learning experience. They pulled a variety of farm implements from place to place on the ranch, and occasionally to a neighboring ranch without incident.
My wife had a '97 Wrangler as her daily driver on the ranch down here for a few years. It handled very well on wash-board county roads and on the highway, and on two-tracks and ranch roads that were only sporadically maintained. She often pulled a small utility trailer with it.
If your daughter is at all responsible, I don't think that you need to worry about her any more than you would if you bought her a Mustang GT or something similar.
I see Wranglers traveling up and down the interstates these days, pulling camping trailers and boats, as well as utility trailers and flatbeds loaded with who knows what. As long as you keep within the recommended parameters of tongue weight and GVWR, you should have no problems.
Thanks for the info and keep it coming. She is incredibly responsible but kids are still kids. I have never even ridden in a wrangler, so the only thing I know about how they handle is what I hear on the net. The 4 door looks more stable to me.
No bass boat yet, but I was hoping it would handle a boat or trailer with four wheelers as I tow a camper with my truck. It would be nice to have a rig that would handle toys, assuming I have any money left to buy them after paying a teenagers insurance bill. She also likes the looks of the Xterra, and they are quite a bit cheaper (and less 'cool').
No. A 2 wheel drive regular cab pickup would be my choice. Preferably with buckets. Everyone I knew beat the piss out of and took chances with their first car. More doors equals more people in the vehicle. TBH I personally should be dead from the stuff I did with my first car. She will be mad and huffy but facts are facts. She would rather drive the truck than walk. I personally would want as few as possible passengers in the vehicle (liability). $hit happens and 16 year olds are inexperienced drivers. I am a truck driver with nearly 2 million miles over the road. Hands down the worst drivers on the road are old men and young women.
The "roll bar" in the Wranglers is not designed to protect the occupants ? That's funny, I've known of several that did just that. They were installed in the old solid front axle CJ's that would roll easily if pushed too hard in turns. They worked back then and do today as well. Don't tell me they aren't fast. Mine's got the latest V-6 and 3.73 gears. And they do feel and act like a very reponsive sports car. They trouble is they don't handle like one if you break the tires loose. But the current ones have come a long way from the old CJ's when it comes to handling at speed. E
The Wranglers made since 1982 are no more prone to roll over than a pickup assuming they have not been lifted. Even if they have been lifted they are no more prone to roll over if the truck is also lifted. They are rated as one of the safest to drive and one the cheapest vehicles to insure in the USA.
The versions made prior to 2007 will suck gas. Expect better fuel mileage in a Suburban or full size truck, even with the 4 cyl. Both the 3.8 and 3.6 engines made since then are capable of 20-24 mpg hwy if driven sensibly.
The 3.8 was used 2007-2011 and isn't terribly fast on the road but is perfectly capable off road and acceptable as long as you stay with stock 32" tires.
The 3.6 was introduced in 2012 and has 85 more HP. It will get down the road in a hurry and is a better choice if bigger 33-35" tires are wanted.
They all SUCK at towing. Most are rated at 2000 lbs, 3500 at most with 3.73 gears and only the 4 door version. If I planned on towing anything I'd look elsewhere.
I've had 4 over the years. They are a fun toy and I'd have no issues letting a teen drive one of the 1982 or newer versions. I know several people who died in accidents in the older CJ's. Lots of people rolled them, many slow roll overs off road where no one was injured. Wouldn't touch another of those and I've driven them plenty
We've had three Jeep's prior to the 4 door Wrangler my wife is driving now. It's a 08 Rubicon and she loves it. No trouble in 136k miles. It only gets sixteen mpg with slightly bigger tires than stock. It has 4:10s in Dana 44s an I wouldn't hesitate to put a responsible young driver in one. My youngest is driving a 4runner.
I took my kids driving to teach what it will do, but also highlighted what weaknesses they were dealing with.
I have driven a jeep sinice 2002. It's my daily driver but it really isn't a great daily driver unless your oblivious to road noise don't care if you can hear the radio and can drive something that handles a bit mean. That said I love mine but I wouldn't buy a girl one for her first ride. No way.
See if she'll go with a Cherokee XJ. 98-99's w/4.0 were good yrs.
Yep, of the Jeeps I have owned I like these best. I currently have a 98 and I have had a great time with it. But even these are a bit squirrely until you get used to driving them and also have the Death Wobble issue when things start to wear in the front or when uniframe channels get weak from rot.
The 4.0 is fairly bullet proof if regularly maintained and is strong enough to pull trailers with no problem. I like the fact that they are long enough inside to sleep in when Camping. They will also go anywhere a Wrangler will go because the wheel base is actually only 8 inches longer.
The best thing about these...The 4.0 is super easy to work on and Chrysler somehow side skirted the Auto emissions laws by rating it a light Truck instead of an Auto in these years so they have very minimal smog junk on them.
What ? "Expect better fuel mileage in a Suburban or a full size truck, even with the 4 cly..." I just got back from a little scouting trip up and over the Sierras in my 2014 Wrangler. The 3.6, w/ 3.73 gears got it's usual 17-18 mpg, mostly because I didn't go off road with it. The 2000 Wrangler I had since 2001 would do about 1 mpg less over the same route. I'd like to see the full size PU or, especially a Suburban do that well on that route. That route started at 1900 ft. where I live and went over three mountain passes, one of which is 8500 ft. E
Not my idea of the first vehicle. To much temptation to take it off road and do things like they do in TV Adds:-(
I owned a 2005 Rubicon and thought it was a POS. It was cool to drive and did great off road, but there was some thing going wrong with it ALL the time. Look up Wrangler Death Wobble.
The older straight axle Jeeps were real Jeeps.
I will never own another Chrysler product, or who ever builds them now...............
She needs to tow a Bass Boat? Can it be done? Yes and it will be real fun with a short wheel base!
Don't do it!
Death Wobble is nothing new had the same issue back on solid axle jeeps from the 60's and 70's it was always the lack of a steering stabilizer or too small of one when you add bigger tires.
I used to do a lot of work on Jeeps after college I raced the East Coast off road circuit had a lot of fun and lots of experience rebuilding nearly everything on my 72 CJ5, running a built V8 that would pull the front wheels off the ground in the mud drags accelerates wearing out drive lines
Not my idea of the first vehicle. To much temptation to take it off road and do things like they do in TV Adds:-(
I owned a 2005 Rubicon and thought it was a POS. It was cool to drive and did great off road, but there was some thing going wrong with it ALL the time. Look up Wrangler Death Wobble.
The older straight axle Jeeps were real Jeeps.
I will never own another Chrysler product, or who ever builds them now...............
She needs to tow a Bass Boat? Can it be done? Yes and it will be real fun with a short wheel base!
Don't do it!
Death Wobble is nothing new had the same issue back on solid axle jeeps from the 60's and 70's it was always the lack of a steering stabilizer or too small of one when you add bigger tires.
I used to do a lot of work on Jeeps after college I raced the East Coast off road circuit had a lot of fun and lots of experience rebuilding nearly everything on my 72 CJ5, running a built V8 that would pull the front wheels off the ground in the mud drags accelerates wearing out drive lines
Death wobble is actually not a result of an undersized steering stabilizer but the piss-poor steering geometry that is the result of the inverted-Y setup on almost all Jeeps. A steering setup with proper geometry doesn't require any stabilizer at all. The root cause of most death wobble issues is worn/loose track-bar bushings/bolts, rotted out control arm bushings, worn out steering boxes and occasionally tie rod ends or ball joints that are toast.
Not my idea of the first vehicle. To much temptation to take it off road and do things like they do in TV Adds:-(
I owned a 2005 Rubicon and thought it was a POS. It was cool to drive and did great off road, but there was some thing going wrong with it ALL the time. Look up Wrangler Death Wobble.
The older straight axle Jeeps were real Jeeps.
I will never own another Chrysler product, or who ever builds them now...............
She needs to tow a Bass Boat? Can it be done? Yes and it will be real fun with a short wheel base!
Don't do it!
Death Wobble is nothing new had the same issue back on solid axle jeeps from the 60's and 70's it was always the lack of a steering stabilizer or too small of one when you add bigger tires.
I used to do a lot of work on Jeeps after college I raced the East Coast off road circuit had a lot of fun and lots of experience rebuilding nearly everything on my 72 CJ5, running a built V8 that would pull the front wheels off the ground in the mud drags accelerates wearing out drive lines
Death wobble is actually not a result of an undersized steering stabilizer but the piss-poor steering geometry that is the result of the inverted-Y setup on almost all Jeeps. A steering setup with proper geometry doesn't require any stabilizer at all. The root cause of most death wobble issues is worn/loose track-bar bushings/bolts, rotted out control arm bushings, worn out steering boxes and occasionally tie rod ends or ball joints that are toast.
I had a CJ-5 that had the "death wobble".
It was due to none of the above reasons you folks are stating.
Tires needed to be balanced as well as out of round....
Not my idea of the first vehicle. To much temptation to take it off road and do things like they do in TV Adds:-(
I owned a 2005 Rubicon and thought it was a POS. It was cool to drive and did great off road, but there was some thing going wrong with it ALL the time. Look up Wrangler Death Wobble.
The older straight axle Jeeps were real Jeeps.
I will never own another Chrysler product, or who ever builds them now...............
She needs to tow a Bass Boat? Can it be done? Yes and it will be real fun with a short wheel base!
Don't do it!
Death Wobble is nothing new had the same issue back on solid axle jeeps from the 60's and 70's it was always the lack of a steering stabilizer or too small of one when you add bigger tires.
I used to do a lot of work on Jeeps after college I raced the East Coast off road circuit had a lot of fun and lots of experience rebuilding nearly everything on my 72 CJ5, running a built V8 that would pull the front wheels off the ground in the mud drags accelerates wearing out drive lines
Death wobble is actually not a result of an undersized steering stabilizer but the piss-poor steering geometry that is the result of the inverted-Y setup on almost all Jeeps. A steering setup with proper geometry doesn't require any stabilizer at all. The root cause of most death wobble issues is worn/loose track-bar bushings/bolts, rotted out control arm bushings, worn out steering boxes and occasionally tie rod ends or ball joints that are toast.
I had a CJ-5 that had the "death wobble".
It was due to none of the above reasons you folks are stating.
Tires needed to be balanced as well as out of round....
I really like mine and use it as a daily driver. I think as long as you don't lift it and put big tires on it she'll be just fine, especially with the 4 door model.
One thing I would warn you about though. These things, for what they are get horrible gas mileage. Even when mine was bone stock it was a good week when I could squeeze 18mpg out of it. These days I usually get about 16.5mpg in the summer and about 15.5mpg with winter blend gasoline. Something to consider if it's going to be you filling it up.
On my 4th jeep, I like em, the 4 door is the best for towing or Highway, I sold mine off and went with a older 2 door, better in the woods and in tight spots! wouldnt be my choise for a 1st time driver tho!
Looked a little more and the newer wranglers seem pretty nice, but they are $$. Early Broncos are way cool but this is a DD for a teenaged girl, so it has to be reliable. I still have around a year to figure it out. She also indicated she liked the Xterra, and they look cheaper to buy and run, and everyone I talk to that has one loves it. Not as cool as a jeep with the top off, but it may also be safer.
She doesn't need to tow a bass boat. I'm just trying to get an idea of capability as I tow a camper with a 2500 diesel and was thinking of adding a trailer for 4 wheelers or maybe a boat. I don't have another tow rig so I was hoping it could chip in if I end up with a smaller boat or trailer.
Bought my daughter a 2000 Wrangler for her fist car used solely as a daily driver. No issues at all whatsoever. She doesn't use it offroad and drives responsibly. Again, no worries.
Lots of horror stories out there about lots of different vehicles. Just like most things, be responsible, and not much to worry about.
Death wobble is actually not a result of an undersized steering stabilizer but the piss-poor steering geometry that is the result of the inverted-Y setup on almost all Jeeps. A steering setup with proper geometry doesn't require any stabilizer at all. The root cause of most death wobble issues is worn/loose track-bar bushings/bolts, rotted out control arm bushings, worn out steering boxes and occasionally tie rod ends or ball joints that are toast.
Exactly. With the inverted Y geometry, any sort of slop or "play" feeds a positive feedback cycle.
My first TJ ran on 35 inch swampers. For 8 years I had no front stabilizer at all. I took it up to 98 mph once. Never had any hint of death wobble, wasn't even sure what people were talking about.
My second was almost brand new when death wobble set in. There was slop in there somewhere though I never did exactly nail down the problem, eventually I just [bleep]-canned the factory track bar, drag link, and tie rod (and ends of course) and replaced them with after market parts from Currie. I torqued the shyte out of everyting, 10-15 foot pounds beyond recommended so wherever the slop was, it was crushed into obedience. End o problem.
We have a 2015 Wrangler JKU and love it. No issues whatsoever and I have done a pile of work to it...lift, tires etc. It handles better now with the lift and upgrade tie rod and flipped drag link than it did new.
I also just bought a new power wagon and so far it's awesome...I've always driven chev/gm products and this is a much nicer truck.
Have owned a 2014 JKU for just over two years and 33,000 miles. It has been a solid vehicle and the most fun (vehicle) I've ever had. The four door with the 3.73 or 4.10 will tow a bass boat with no problem. 2012+ 3.6 has lots more power, but there were some kinks with the 2012 -- maybe the 2013, Google it. Older ones with the 3.8 can be solid, but are much more anemic. As much as I love mine, they really don't compare well to regular cars. Highway driving in high winds can be... interesting. Quadruple that if towing. For all around use and highway travel, a mid sized SUV would be more comfortable and much cheaper for a kids' first car.
IMHO, a new style 4 dr in stock form might be OK for a kid.
Nothing lifted or of similar type having shorter wheelbase.
It aint how good a driver they are. Ice or somebody bump them at speed........can't do diddly.
Had two CJ5's back in the day. Thrashed 'em, what a BLAST! Probably a great idea to have dropped production of those.
Have driven a variety of newer Jeeps. Probably best power, weight, wheelbase the XJ. Had two, 5" of lift, no swaybars. Civil compared to a CJ IMHO. I beat the hell out of them, on and off road. Pretty fun.
Older, fatter, worn out.....I run ZJ's now. Just DD and fetch deer from the woods. Last one 3.5" lift, pretty tame. Dunno if the 98 is going taller and buggy next yr.
IIRC Chrysler took over Jeep in '87. With CJ's rotting out in the midwest, quite a few folks got YJ's and put on CJ doghouses. Now most of the YJs are rotting out.
My 94 ZJ rotted out, 235K miles. Got a clean 98 (not 5.9L though). Just a 5.2
Affluent burg has Jeep dealership. Went there to test drive the Rubicon's when they first came out.
Guy said the #1 problem they get..........people play in some mud and pressure wash the engine (hippies and yuppies don't like dirty Jeeps)........puts gremlins in electronics/sensors.
Well since this thread started we traded in our '08 Rubicon for a new one.
This new one drives way better. More power, trans has been upgraded to a five speed that works well with the little v6. It has a 3" lift and is running 35" tires from the dealer, and drives fine even on rough sections of freeway at speed. I'd have no problem letting a responsible kid drive it. It's the irresponsible adult males that seem to find limits!
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