[onemanzu]

Im looking for a new car and the jeep is on the list...

I know the 4.0's are bad ass engines, but thats about all i know. so tell me about 97-98 models and what not.

Thanks!

[AtlanticBlue99]

I am a fan of the new Wranglers. If I could sell my car, I would buy the Wrangler X I have been building on the Jeep Web Site.

[Gtrsnax]

I own a 97.
The 97 - 2006 are great vehicles. Coil suspension on all four corners makes for a great rides and awesome offroad performance too. The i6 4.0L engines are tough as crap providing something like 90% of the torque while at idle. Right off the lot, you can put 31" tires on it, get a cheap "Budget boost" lift which gives you 2" and hit some really fun trails.
It's not exactly an ideal commuter with gas prices and all, but I'd recommend them if you've got a regular daily driver or your work commute is nice and short.
Depending on the area you live in, hard tops or soft tops are something to seriously think about. I dont live near the ghetto, and dont keep expensive stereo stuff in mine, and like the quick-change option depending on the weather, so I run soft tops. Hard tops are a bit better for anti-theft, but only slightly.
4 inches of lift will get you on 33" tires. Unless you get a Rubicon (2003 and later) I would recommend going with bigger tires than 33s unless you put beefier axles on. I had an Explorer 8.8 converted and slung under mine.

Older models, like the 85-96 YJs with the rectangle headlights are a lot more common and cheaper to find and modify if thats what you plan to do. Since they're leaf springs all around, there are lots of options with axle swaps to heavier duty stuff from pickup trucks to handle tires as big as 35s and greater.

I'd recommend hooking up with a local Jeep club if you can find one. You'll probably get a great deal on someone selling their stuff so they can upgrade to hardcore status.

Also, the new '07s and up......I think Jeep paid a lot of attention to what aftermarket products were offered and already incorporated some of that into their assembly line, so now you can buy an 07, roll it off the lot and stick a 35" tire underneath it and not have to add any lift at all. Pretty cool if you ask me.

[06RedfireGT]

^well said

[RememberMorrison]

Nuff Said.

I owned a 96 ZJ (Grand Cherokee) and a 2003 WJ (Grand Cherokee) both with the 4.0. Great SUVs. Awesome offroad.

[onemanzu]

I don't know... im thinking about getting TJ next summer...

my old boss has one that 2wd ... 4 cylinder 5spd... for 7k ... i was thinking about it but whats the point of a rear wheel drive one...

ill keep an eye out though, would be cool to have

[06RedfireGT]

Look for a 4x4 with the 4.0. If you can snag a Rubicon, do it, because they come with Dana 44s, 4:1 low range, and f/r lockers stock.

[onemanzu]

thats starting to get expensive there dude...

[whitemustang02]

definetaly go with the 4.0 i would say tj or cj. i am not a big fan of the yj's or the new ones.

and for just street driving you don't need a Rubicon but it you plan on taking ot on trails it may be worth it.

[RememberMorrison]

Originally Posted by onemanzu

I don't know... im thinking about getting TJ next summer...

my old boss has one that 2wd ... 4 cylinder 5spd... for 7k ... i was thinking about it but whats the point of a rear wheel drive one...

ill keep an eye out though, would be cool to have

4x4 conversion! My ZJ was 2wd but I converted it to a 5-speed along with 4x4.

It finally started to crap out at about 200,000 miles so I sold it for about 4,000.

[Gtrsnax]

There is no such thing as a 2WD Wrangler. They're all 4WD. Cherokees and Grands, sure, but not Wranglers.

some of the older YJs came with a 4.2L engine which was carb'd and not as much popwer as the newer 4.0L, I'd stay away from those if possible, unless it's just a rediculous deal and you cant pass the rest up. It's not THAT big of a deal.

oh, I meant to say to NOT go bigger than 33 inch tires in my last post, I left out the NOT. Oops!

[onemanzu]

really?? okay i will go find a job and talk to my old boss about her car... if they are 4 wheel drive no matter what then i will go see if i can get it from her for $6800...

do they need any magic maintenance at 100k miles?

[Gtrsnax]

There arent any special super secret thingies that need to be done. I'd change ALL the fluids when you get it. Both differentials, transfer case and tranny. I drove my used one on the same transfer case fluid for 2 years before I checked it. It goes in Kool-Aid Tropical Punch red..............and came out looking like Chocolate Yoohoo LOL That means water got in it, probably from one of my river crossings. Oops!

[06RedfireGT]

Originally Posted by Gtrsnax

There is no such thing as a 2WD Wrangler. They're all 4WD. Cherokees and Grands, sure, but not Wranglers.

some of the older YJs came with a 4.2L engine which was carb'd and not as much popwer as the newer 4.0L, I'd stay away from those if possible, unless it's just a rediculous deal and you cant pass the rest up. It's not THAT big of a deal.

oh, I meant to say to NOT go bigger than 33 inch tires in my last post, I left out the NOT. Oops!

You can get the JK in 2WD, but every Wrangler before that was standard 4x4.

And Spencer, what do you plan on doing with it? Mostly street with occasional offroad or a lot of offroad?

[RememberMorrison]

Originally Posted by Gtrsnax

There is no such thing as a 2WD Wrangler. They're all 4WD. Cherokees and Grands, sure, but not Wranglers.

some of the older YJs came with a 4.2L engine which was carb'd and not as much popwer as the newer 4.0L, I'd stay away from those if possible, unless it's just a rediculous deal and you cant pass the rest up. It's not THAT big of a deal.

oh, I meant to say to NOT go bigger than 33 inch tires in my last post, I left out the NOT. Oops!

+1, btw a ZJ is a Grand Cherokee.