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Jeep CJ Recommendation
My better half has expressed an interest in daily driving a Jeep CJ and I was wondering if the braintrust could give any insights into which models to avoid and which ones to look at. She can drive a stick and the vehicle will be used for running around town with little to no freeway use. We are in California so it would need to go through emissions testing. My only experience with Jeeps was my '75 Wagoneer which I really miss. Thanks.
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'72 Norton Commando, '47 Sunbeam S7 '14 Tacoma |
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10-30-2019, 10:45 AM
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Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 30,430
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I bought a new '78 CJ5 Renegade back when I wuz 17....immediatedly voided the warranty with headers and sidepipes
 . I'd give anything to have it back now...but they were pretty dangerous for rollovers even at turtle speeds. The CJ7s were a foot longer and came out later..much safer imo, but I'm still here...Good luck! Last edited by KFC911; 10-30-2019 at 01:50 PM.. |
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10-30-2019, 10:52 AM
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New kid in town
Join Date: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,288
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While you ask about the CJ, I wouldn't have anyone I loved 'daily' driving anything older than a 'TJ' or 1997.
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I wish I still had 9111113443... |
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10-30-2019, 11:14 AM
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Friend of Warren
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Lincoln, NE
Posts: 16,484
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Quote:
On the CJ, you’ll have to dump a serious amount of money into it to make it a real daily driver. And even then it’s going to be noisy as hell anytime you go over 40 miles an hour. Picture driving a dump truck. Seriously. The TJ was jeeps first serious effort about making a daily driver wrangler. If you get anything older than a TJ, I would bet your wife will quit driving it in a month.
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Kurt V No more Porsches, but a revolving number of motorcycles. |
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10-30-2019, 11:26 AM
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Banned
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 18,646
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I think they're cool, but everyday.... I'm not that young anymore It's popular to do a fi 4.0 head swap to get fuel injection. |
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10-30-2019, 12:27 PM
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Did you get the memo?
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Wichita, KS
Posts: 32,328
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Agreed on getting a TJ or newer. The old ones are rough, crude, loud, slow, and expensive to get a nice one. Newer ones give you the Jeep experience with way less compromise.
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‘07 Mazda RX8-8 Past: 911T, 911SC, Carrera, 951s, 955, 996s, 987s, 986s, 997s, BMW 5x, C36, C63, XJR, S8, Maserati Coupe, GT500, etc |
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10-30-2019, 12:28 PM
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Non Compos Mentis
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Off the grid- Almost
Posts: 10,593
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The 1997 TJ is the first to use coil springs vs the old leafs.
The TJ's coil suspension works much better both on pavement, and off. Of course, any Jeep is just the starter kit. Keep modifying until your heart's content. Then modify some more. ...and a bit more. |
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10-30-2019, 12:35 PM
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Lots of snow Porsche away
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You don't want a CJ as an actual daily. Dump truck is being generous. She better be very enamoured with the cool factor, because she will likely hate the rest.
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76 911S 86 GMC K1500 78 XS750 cafe racer to be 79 XS750 because one is just not enough |
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10-30-2019, 12:37 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 30,430
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My CJ5 was a horrible college "car"... So I sold it to my dad after just one semester...couldn't have it on campus as a freshman anyways and a Schwinn was mo' better 
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10-30-2019, 12:38 PM
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Non Compos Mentis
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Off the grid- Almost
Posts: 10,593
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I did daily drive a leaf-sprung Jeep for a while.
Bought it at an insurance auction after being tipped up on its side, pieced it together enough to go thrash in the woods. I was happy with my who-cares-mobile, until my wife decided Jeeps are cool, but not that one. Sold it and bought a TJ. Wife happy. Better driver, just gotta bring it back out of the woods with the paint still intact. |
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10-30-2019, 12:43 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Dahlonega , Georgia
Posts: 14,586
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Back in the day I owned a 73 CJ5 , a 77 CJ7 and a 80 CJ5 . All three were tough off road beasts but on road they sucked ! A short wheelbase on leaf springs on all four corners is a chiropractor's dream ! Of the three the CJ7 was the best due to longer wheelbase and the weight of the V8 and auto tranny and Quadratrac transfer case .
I have never been in a newer TJ/YJ but I hope they are better all around vehicles . The four door versions look interesting but I know nothing about them . Creature comforts and a decent on road performance is a must . |
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10-30-2019, 12:45 PM
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New kid in town
Join Date: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,288
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I drove a CJ5 with a snow plow one time.
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I wish I still had 9111113443... |
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10-30-2019, 12:49 PM
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Registered
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Sounds like a TJ it is. She would not know the difference between a CJ and a TJ.
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'72 Norton Commando, '47 Sunbeam S7 '14 Tacoma |
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10-30-2019, 12:59 PM
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Registered
Join Date: May 2018
Posts: 4,033
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I had new YJ as a first car. I drove it for 6 years and put 125,000 miles on it. City, suburbs, interstate. I went everywhere with it.
32 years later, I borrowed my brothers 4 door JK with a soft top, 6 speed manual and the same 32” BFG AT i used to run on mine. The JK has an even longer wheelbase and wider track with coil springs that my YJ didn’t have. I had it for 10 days and put a few 100 miles on it. I realized, quickly that I could never daily a wrangler again. Interestingly, the biggest upside was that while it was loud on the interstate, knowing that 65 was it’s practical limit, I found myself in the right lane not worried about getting to my destination 1 minute 45 seconds earlier. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk |
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10-30-2019, 01:48 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 30,430
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Quote:
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10-30-2019, 01:49 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Dahlonega , Georgia
Posts: 14,586
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10-30-2019, 02:05 PM
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Grappler
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I would go a JK or newer as a daily. Here's my 2015 JK Rubicon. Its got heated leather seats, nav, and most everything else a modern vehicle comes with. However its still a Jeep so the driving experience is a little different. This one makes a great daily but the downside is that even with 285 hp/6 speed manual its pretty slow compared to most cars and drinks gas like there's no tomorrow. I still love it though and wouldn't part with it. Plus it can go anywhere.
 
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Grappler Know Gi / No Gi 1976 RSR Backdate (Turbo 3.2) |
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10-30-2019, 04:14 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Dahlonega , Georgia
Posts: 14,586
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A JK with a modern 4 or 5 cylinder turbo diesel would be sweet . Good fuel mileage and lots of torque for off road .
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10-30-2019, 04:24 PM
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Grappler
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Quote:
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Grappler Know Gi / No Gi 1976 RSR Backdate (Turbo 3.2) |
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10-30-2019, 04:40 PM
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New kid in town
Join Date: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,288
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Beware of the death wobble no matter what direction you go. I rented a JKU this last weekend and experienced it for the first time.
Never once happened in my stock TJ.
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I wish I still had 9111113443... |
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10-30-2019, 04:58 PM
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Fun Fun Fun
RSR Backdate
