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Advice for a newbie to Jeeps

Discussion in 'Wrangler JL (2018+)' started by msk340i, Jun 30, 2019.

  1. Jun 30, 2019 at 11:54 AM
    #1
    msk340i

    msk340i [OP] New Member

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    I never drove a Jeep in my life. I actually never drove anything other than hatchbacks and sedans. A couple of days ago I rented a car and they gave me a 2019 Sport S. I fell in love with the thing. I love fast(er) cars. I currently own a modified BMW 340i with 450hp, I don't do any off-roading. I don't know what to do. I can't afford to own a Jeep and a BMW. I need advice please!
     
  2. Jun 30, 2019 at 1:58 PM
    #2
    aggrex

    aggrex Well-Known Member

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    Tuffy>AEV>TTO>JW>STech>EVOcage>MagnaFlow>SpiderTrax>RockHard>TF>SpringTail>67design>Bolt>GPCA>Curt>
    Welcome @msk340i ....decisions, decisions...they can't be compared since they are so different. Take the Jeep on a light off-road trail that the Beemer can never venture. Tough decision but you can do it!

    ef2ea898-c606-49aa-baeb-f882a9f55e21-ee341e64-0479-4f82-9435-ea45677ec1a6-v1.png
     
    tomrr and JKBob 25 like this.
  3. Jun 30, 2019 at 1:59 PM
    #3
    aggrex

    aggrex Well-Known Member

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    Tuffy>AEV>TTO>JW>STech>EVOcage>MagnaFlow>SpiderTrax>RockHard>TF>SpringTail>67design>Bolt>GPCA>Curt>
    This could help you make the right decision....

    2019-Jeep-Badge-Of-Honor-Hero-Desktop.jpg.image.1440.jpg
     
    DustStorm4x4 and JKBob 25 like this.
  4. Jun 30, 2019 at 2:02 PM
    #4
    msk340i

    msk340i [OP] New Member

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    Thank you all. Now let's say I decide to go with the Wrangler, my budget is $30-$35K. I'm not expecting a new one, what do I get for that kind of money?
     
  5. Jun 30, 2019 at 2:12 PM
    #5
    aggrex

    aggrex Well-Known Member

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    Tuffy>AEV>TTO>JW>STech>EVOcage>MagnaFlow>SpiderTrax>RockHard>TF>SpringTail>67design>Bolt>GPCA>Curt>
    Unlike expensive Euro cars the Wrangler has a reputation for holding its resale value. You may find that buying new may be in your grasp. Otherwise take your time as there are plenty of stock Wranglers out there that haven't seen anymore dirt than the Beemer. I solved my bimmer wish by picking one up cheap with 12K miles.

    IMG_20180828_174347_edit.jpg
     
  6. Jun 30, 2019 at 2:19 PM
    #6
    msk340i

    msk340i [OP] New Member

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    Wow! My bimmer lost 50% of it's value in 2 years!!! That Wrangler is becoming more real now
     
  7. Jun 30, 2019 at 5:07 PM
    #7
    JKBob 25

    JKBob 25 Well-Known Member

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    Jersey Shore, NJ
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    Welcome @msk340i .
    I picked up my 2016 JK Wrangler Sport for $24k out the door with 4500 miles. The Sports don't have any of the bells and whistles that say the Saharas have. So your $35k will go a long way in purchasing a newer Sport. Best of luck. And post up pics of your new Jeep. Hint hint........:jeepwave:
     
    Billy1234 and aggrex like this.
  8. Jul 1, 2019 at 2:49 PM
    #8
    monkeygrip

    monkeygrip Active Member

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    Welcome! Take your time and chose wisely. You can get a nice Wrangler for $30-$35K. I’m sure you’ll do good.
     
  9. Jul 1, 2019 at 3:07 PM
    #9
    msk340i

    msk340i [OP] New Member

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    Thank you for the response. I looked everywhere trying to understand the packages and options, it's a little complicated and some options have to come with other options that I don't need (just like any other manufacturer) so I'm gonna have to spend a little more time finding the perfect one!
     
    JKBob 25 likes this.
  10. Jul 7, 2019 at 11:02 PM
    #10
    SJfamilyjeep

    SJfamilyjeep Member

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    There is a Jeep for everyone. We have a well used lifted 4 cyl. TJ with half doors and no AC. I love it, but she claims her stomach hurts after riding it. Our other jeep is a loaded JKUR with heated leather seats, navigation, and the ability to find the cheapest gas prices around us or the ski resort conditions when in Tahoe. I would imagine that would be more appealing to a BMW driver. That being said, I prefer my scratched up, drain plug missing, limited slip. You also might want to ask yourself, "How much do I want to spend on a Jeep that I'm willing to grime it up?"
     
    Last edited: Jul 8, 2019
  11. Jul 8, 2019 at 3:49 AM
    #11
    Awrench

    Awrench Well-Known Member

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    Why do you want a jeep?
    comfort features,are not the focus here, it a tool, off road capable SO what do you need - something to negotiate forest trails to the hunting fishing spots, camping those hard to access sites, the beaches and dunes, getting around in the snow? Going point A to B - lots of choices that can be tailored to your wants, without the drawbacks.
     
    JKBob 25 likes this.
  12. Aug 27, 2021 at 2:59 AM
    #12
    JeepJeff

    JeepJeff New Member

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    2019 Wrangler JL Sport BIKINI PEARLCOAT
    Virgin-stock so far.
    Everyone here is correct. I’m in my 60’s and have learned that a Jeep Wrangler is probably the best all-around vehicle you can own. Try it - you’ll like it.
     
    Jeep4Life and LYFZGOOD like this.
  13. Sep 10, 2021 at 9:57 AM
    #13
    Justanotherjeeper

    Justanotherjeeper Well-Known Member

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    paid cash for it.
    @msk340i - one thing not mentioned is that a Jeep doesn’t need to go fast, it’s great to drive slow, so you’ll get fewer speeding tickets! It’s nice just to lumber along on a nice summers day with the top down. Who wants to get there fast and end that nice experience? Enjoy.
     
    Jeep4Life, aggrex and LYFZGOOD like this.
  14. Sep 20, 2021 at 6:17 AM
    #14
    Jeep4Life

    Jeep4Life Well-Known Member

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    $35K will get you a nice Jeep. Shop around and get the one that really catches your eye! And you don't need to get an upgraded one. Part of the fun is building your own after buying stock. I'm about halfway through building mine, and have done a ton to it after buying it stock. It's a great feeling to be able to say you built it yourself.
     
    aggrex likes this.
  15. Sep 21, 2021 at 5:54 AM
    #15
    Radar78CJ5

    Radar78CJ5 New Member

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    Russell
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    1978 CJ5, shell for now. Start of build
    Making roadworthy driver. Plans to replace T18 with more civil 4 speed. V8, probably Chevy for cost reasons.
    I got an old shell of a CJ a month or so ago, about the same time my wife started honing in on a 4-door jeep for herself. So being a newly wed, what the wife wants I see that the wife gets. Lol. We now also have a 2018 JL. A lease trade in so very clean and 30k miles. She moved to it from a chipped vw new beetle turbo. Completely different feel and ride and she loves it. We also live in the country, so I'll feel better having her take it to work in the snow and weather. It's fun. We moved from the biker wave (sold my Suzuki this spring) into the Jeep wave. She said I can get back in the wave club once my CJ is built. Freedom tops are almost always off. And it feels like it's nice and torquey. I've never owned a BMW (I'm more of a rattle clank hooptie driver], but I've worked on several. Sure they're nice, but they are just a car. This is a jeep.
     
    Justanotherjeeper likes this.
  16. Sep 23, 2021 at 6:57 AM
    #16
    gowenby2002

    gowenby2002 Member

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    Jacksonville, FL
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    2002 white TJ 4.0 auto
    stock late model wheels/street tires with adapters, 7 in. stock type fender flares, 4 core rad/elec.fan, all LED lights, spray-in bed liner in cab, front home-made tow brackets for flat-tow
    Welcome, you might even find an older cheap jeep in real good condition (approx. 5,000 to 10,000, maybe 2000ish TJ for the enjoyment) and keep the bmw. Then maybe you have what you like. Might find one in good mechanical cond. but a little rough otherwise, lots of fun, cheaply, for just tooling around fun. Lots of cheap projects out there.
     
    aggrex and Justanotherjeeper like this.
  17. May 8, 2022 at 8:44 AM
    #17
    AGeezerAndHisJeep

    AGeezerAndHisJeep Member

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    tow base plate, side rails
    Prices on used Wranglers are crazy now.

    When we decided to buy a Wrangler we went to the local dealer to check out a used 2019 2 door Sport S which they had on the lot. My wife did not care for how it rode so we decided to look at new ones and, as it turned out, the difference in price between the new 2 door Sport S and the used one was almost trivial. When I asked about that I was told that the prices for used Wranglers was just crazy and you could get a new one for almost the same amount as for a 3 year old used one.

    Even more surprising, we were actually able to bargain and got a decent discount on the new Sport S which also had some of the options that we wanted and were missing on the used model.

    Check out new prices. If you are not looking for a Sahara or a Rubicon you might well find that they are in your budget.
     
  18. May 8, 2022 at 8:55 AM
    #18
    aggrex

    aggrex Well-Known Member

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    Tuffy>AEV>TTO>JW>STech>EVOcage>MagnaFlow>SpiderTrax>RockHard>TF>SpringTail>67design>Bolt>GPCA>Curt>
    Congrats on being a new Wrangler owner! Post a few pics of your new addition and maybe your build thread no matter how small or intense so others can learn, appreciate and share.
     
  19. May 8, 2022 at 9:13 AM
    #19
    AGeezerAndHisJeep

    AGeezerAndHisJeep Member

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    tow base plate, side rails
    Thank you.

    This is our first Wrangler but we have had previous Jeeps - 2 Libertys and a Renegade, all Trail Rated and all used off road. I am not sure that everyone considers a Renegade or a Liberty to be truly a Jeep but in any case I guess we now truly have a Jeep and every time I see it I think it is a beautiful thing to behold.

    We bought it off the dealer lot and I don't have a build thread. Don't know if I could get one either and, if so, how.


    Wrangler Sport S.jpg
     
    aggrex[QUOTED] likes this.
  20. May 8, 2022 at 9:54 AM
    #20
    aggrex

    aggrex Well-Known Member

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    Tuffy>AEV>TTO>JW>STech>EVOcage>MagnaFlow>SpiderTrax>RockHard>TF>SpringTail>67design>Bolt>GPCA>Curt>
    Basically the "your build thread" is your story of how you built the jeep to make it truly yours no matter how big or small. Either way have fun with the JL as it looks very nice.
     
    LYFZGOOD and JKBob 25 like this.
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