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#6227 of 23393 A big hello from the newest TJ owner! by aztjboy

Jul 12, 2002 (11:24 pm)

Hi! My name's Eric and I feel like I know you all so much already. I should, as I've been lurking on this board for the past year and a half, feeding my Jeep fever. I've wanted one since I can remember, at least since high school, and tonight, I am now a proud owner of a 2002 Wrangler X!!!
 
Wooo-hoooo! It feels incredible to say that!
 
The specs:
 
Wrangler X
Solar Yellow (followed Dragonfly's and Yellowman's route! ooooooh yeah!)
Hard top
Full face steel wheels
A/C
Manual transmission
 
And that's it. I wanted to get one with more options, but as you'll soon read, I really didn't have a choice.
 
I got it for $500 below invoice, or $19,510 (damn region advertising fees!), and opted for the 3.9% 60 month financing instead of the $500 rebate.
 
My story
 
Well, I'm 29 and live in Phoenix, and like I said, I've been wanting a Jeep for at least 12 years, and I know what tsjay and dwrangler mean when they say that they just gotta get one! Sometimes I thought I had the Jeep Fever in check, until a co-worker or a friend would get one, and I broke out in another severe case and would rush to Edmunds to get my "fix"!
 
In 1999, I traded in my S-10 pickup and thought about getting a Jeep, but thought that they would be out of my price range, so I settled on a Mustang with about 6,000 miles on it. But still, the Jeep beckoned.
 
Then, a couple of weeks back, the horrible news hit me. Jeep was discontinuing the Solar Yellow for 2003. ACK! What was I going to do?! I HAD to have yellow!!
 
Fortunately, I had been following this board for quite some time and (like someone else once said) built my Jeep on Edmunds about a million times, so I knew what I wanted. So, on Monday, I printed out all the Jeep dealerships in the greater Phoenix area and spent the whole week visiting them one by one. I knew that I wanted either a stripped-down Sport or a loaded X, yellow, and a hard top.
 
Now, tsjay, I know what you're going to say, but summers in Phoenix can reach nearly 120 and I just wasn't certain a soft top would cut it. That and I thought that hard tops looked better!
 
Anyway, this week, I visited all eight dealerships in metro Phoenix and while I found several yellow Sports with hard tops, I only found one yellow X with a hard top in the entire city. After driving a Sport, which all seemed to have the dana 44 rear ends with the 3.73 ratio, I decided that I just didn't like how high the engine revved at freeway speeds, so I thought that I better grab that X with the 3.07 ratio, while the grabbing was good!
 
Unfortunately, it was pretty stripped. The salesman was actually surprised the dealership ordered it with a hard top and nothing else. We got down to brass tasks and I fibbed a little (taking my lesson from you all) and mentioned that a buddy of mine bought a Jeep here (Bill Luke Jeep, for those who are interested) and got his at $500 below invoice. He said "can do," and we went inside to start the paperwork. Immediately, though, we ran into a problem, which I figured would rear its ugly head eventually--they didn't want to give me much for my Mustang.
 
It was a 98 with 64,000 miles. Blue book was at $7,100, but Edmunds gave me a trade-in amount of $7,700. They offered $6,200. Round and round and round we went, and slowly the price inched to $6,500, then $6,800, till finally we agreed on $7,000. As my payoff was $6,055, I figured I was in good shape. A quick (hah!) visit to the finance guy, where I included body side steps (to be added later) into the mix and a check for $1,500, and my final payment settled on $355 a month.
 
Man, oh man, the ride home was something else! I couldn't help but smiling all the way home! And, of course, the first thing I did when I got back was to give him a big ole hug right across the hood.
 
A couple questions, tsjay, I know that you got a 2" lift. I'm thinking about getting one to and can't decide on the 2 or 3 inch lift. Does anyone have any opinions on what I should get? I'm also looking to get bigger tires and custom rims, some KC lights, and a bikini top. Any suggestions?
 
So, that's about it. Like I said earlier, you may not know me, but I feel like I know all of you, especially tsjay, dwrangler, twylie (your site is awesome! I'm definitely going to make some of those mods), goducks, bamatazz and others. And, tsjay, I don't know if you anyone's mentioned this to you, but I really appreciate you putting your buying experience online. It really helped me when I went through mine.
 
Sorry to be so long-winded. That Jeep excitement is intoxicating, baby!
 
Hugging my Jeep and loving it! Whoo-hoo!!!
 
Eric
aztjboy

#6228 of 23393 aztjboy by tidester

Jul 12, 2002 (11:31 pm)

Welcome aboard, Eric! We're glad you finally decided to come out of the shadows and thank you for telling us about you and your new pride and joy.
 
We look forward to hearing lots more from you. This should encourage all those other lurkers to jump it!
 
tidester
Host
SUVs; Aftermarket & Accessories

#6229 of 23393 aztjboy by tsjay

Jul 13, 2002 (4:46 am)

CONGRATULATIONS!


 
I am so happy for you! WAY TO GO!
 
Welcome to the family, Eric. Please be a regular poster, now that you are officially a Jeep owner. (You didn't need to let not owning a Jeep stop you from posting before, though, you know).
 
If some of our posts were useful to you, then that is really great. That's what we all hope for here in this group: that we can help each other and that we can help prospective Jeep owners. I know that when I was struggling with Wrangler Fever, this place provided me with info that was tremendously useful. It gave me a place to "talk Jeep," and it helped me survive until I could actually get my Jeep.
 
Hey, as far as your hard top, I guess I ought to update my web page, cause I have no problem not having a soft top, now that I have that little S10 to drive when there is rain or a chance of rain. I have a garage to keep Thelma Jane in, and I have another vehicle to drive when it rains, so I can just take the hard top and doors off, and I can leave Thelma like that all summer. I have never owned a soft top, but I'm sure NO top is even better than a soft top folded down.
 
Eric, once again, welcome, and congrats! Enjoy that Jeep, and be a regular poster here. Come to Gill's often and chat with us. It seems like Gill's is pretty dead lots of nights until about 9 PM CDST, which I guess is 7 PM your time (you on Pacific time?).
 
Tom
 
Have you hugged your Jeep today? ( Bet ya have )

#6230 of 23393 Eric, I forgot to answer your question about a lift by tsjay

Jul 13, 2002 (5:08 am)

Man, that's not an easy question. It all depends on what you want when all is said and done. You need to take your time and decide what you think you will want for a final configuration, and then you can start heading in that direction.
 
Are you gonna go offroad much, and if so what kind of terrain will you be in? Is the lift mostly for looks? What size tires do you want to run?
 
I love offroading, but I'm not one of those hard core guys that tries to make you feel like a second class citizen if you don't "wheel" your Jeep. I have said it before, and I'll say it again...Thelma Jane was THE most fun vehicle that I ever owned, even BEFORE I ever took her off the pavement the first time! (But offroading adds a whole new world of enjoyment, if you want to try it sometime.)
 
So, my man, get yourself a mental image of what you want that baby to look like when you get everything you want on it, and then you can get the lift that would be appropriate for your long range goals.
 
You went with the Dana 35 and 3.07 gears, so you probably won't want to go more than 33" tires on that puppy. (Hey, nothing wrong with that.) If you think that 33's will be all you ever get up to, then from all I've heard and read here and other places, the Old Man Emu 2.5" lift might be just the ticket for you. Some will say you need more than the 2.5" lift to run 33s, and I guess that's true if you are gonna do much offroading with the sway bars disconnected, but for highway driving and offroading with the sway bars still connected, I think that OME lift would be fine.
 
Tonkadave has the OME and got the HD springs, which gave him actually 3" of lift. You would want the HD springs, since you have a hard top (weight). Tonks is really happy with his lift. He says the ride is just as good or better than stock.
 
Anyway, just keep posting and coming to Gills and ask all the questions you want. Feel free to email me too. I don't claim to be an expert, but I can at least put you onto some sources of information.
 
Tom
 
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
 
P.S. If I were SURE that I would be happy long term with 33 inch tires, I would already have an Old Man Emu lift on Thelma. I only got that 2" Procomp lift because I got it so cheap from a wheelin' buddy. I got it INSTALLED and everyting for $200, so I couldn't pass it up. I was going to wait until I could get some kind of 4" lift, but when I had that chance to get the 2" that cheap, I went for it.
 
Eric, there's lots of things that need to be changed when you get above two inches or so of lift. It's more than just springs and shocks when you get above a couple inches. You also have to have some modifications in the drive train, because you change your drive shaft angles. You would need a trac bar relocator, and you would probably need to lower your transfer case to prevent vibrations. Even on the OME 2.5" lift, these two items would be necessary, but I don't think they are biggies. Beyond this range, though, even more things come into play. I am only going by the stuff I have read, but I have read A LOT.

#6231 of 23393 tsjay and lifts by aztjboy

Jul 13, 2002 (8:58 am)

Hey, thanks for the info! I really haven't been offroad much aside from hitting forest roads when camping, but I'll definitely hit some ***easy*** trails with it. I'm thinking about a 2" lift with 31" tires, mostly because I want to keep the costs down, but I'm also a little concerned about raising the center of gravity too high. The Jeep also will be my daily commuter and I drive about 30 miles a day, mostly on city freeways, so I don't want to deteriorate that ride experience too much.

Also, what about security? I thought it was pretty darn ironic that a mere four hours before I was to go and purchase my Jeep, I read that the Wrangler is now the second most stolen vehicle, right after the Acura Integra.

http://cars.com/rd/teaser/2002stolen.html

I don't know if I want to just get a club or actually get an alarm. I never bothered with one in the past, but now that I'm driving a yellow vehicle that really stands out, I'm not so certain.

Eric

#6232 of 23393 Happy Jeeping by tjray

Jul 13, 2002 (11:32 am)

Congrats on that spanking new Wrangler, Eric,and don't forget the "Jeep Wave" when you meet another Jeeper on the road. My '01 Sport has a 5 speed and 3.08 gears and I went with Pro Comp A/T 31x10.5x15's on Weld Sidewinder wheels. These tires are great on the highway and they are a little less than 31 inches tall, so they never rub, even with no lift. This is the tallest tire I want to run with highway gears, and they raised the Jeep enough that I have to jump up a little to get in but you don't need a ladder. Someday (after the warranty expires) I might go with taller tires, lift, gears and lockers, but for now, I couldn't be happier. Go4Lo- Tjray

#6233 of 23393 aztjboy by tsjay

Jul 13, 2002 (3:34 pm)

Man, it really sounds to me like the Old Man Emu would be just want you want, based on your description of how you intend to use the Jeep.
 
It's a decent amount of lift, especially if you get the three inches that Tonkadave got with the HD springs, and you don't really give up anything for driveablility on the highway. Many people say the ride is BETTER after installing an OME.
 
I promise you that I would be getting one if I knew down deep in my heart that I would never go over 33" on tires. I might go with a 1" body lift also, to give the tires a little more room for when the Jeep flexes on the trail.
 
Tom
 
Have you hugged your Jeep today?

#6234 of 23393 Oh yeah, aztjboy by tsjay

Jul 13, 2002 (3:54 pm)

I was gonna tell you that my Thelma Jane didn't seem to lose any of her stability with just a little two inch lift, and the ride only got a little harsher with the Procomp springs and the Deotsch shocks. I only noticed the difference in ride quality right at first, but I have gotten used to it now and don't even notice it.
 
Like I said, though, people claim your ride is actually better after installing the OME lift.
 
I am talking myself into getting one, I think.
 
Not really, I guess, cause I am already at 2" of lift, and I wouldn't want to spend the bucks for just another 0.5 to 1.0" of lift.
 
I still hope to have a 4" lift some day.
 
Tom
 
Have you hugged your Jeep today?

#6235 of 23393 Took boss and his boys to Turkey Bay today by tsjay

Jul 13, 2002 (5:12 pm)

Well, brothers and sisters, I have found yet another use for the versatile Jeep Wrangler: sucking up to your boss!
 
I took my boss and his ten year old and six year old sons to Turkey Bay today, and we did some wheelin'. The sad part was that I had to put the back seat back in Thelma for the boys to ride on, and there was no room for Ross Allen.
 
That's the first time I ever wheeled without my best bud along.
 
We had a great time, and the boys really had fun. My boss and the his family have just relocated to Ky, since we are closing our office in Chattanooga. The bossman is trying to help the boys in their adjustment to their new home by making sure they get to do some fun things, and today went a long way toward that end.
 
After the wheelin', we went about three miles up the Trace (the main road through Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area) and stopped at the Elk and Bison Range. They have brought in Buffalo and Elk, both of which were once native to Ky, and they have a drive-thru park where you can observe them. We saw three elk from a pretty long distance, but no buffalo. We did, however, see plenty of buffalo dung (does that count?).
 
I didn't know that we once had natural herds of buffalo and elk here in Ky, and I am especially surprised about the elk. I thought our weather was too hot for them in the summer.
 
We were there in the middle of the afternoon, which was not a good time to see the critters. They were somewhere back in the trees probably trying to stay cool, or lying in a nice mud hole somewhere out of sight.
 
It was a real good day for all of us. We even drove through a couple brief rains, but just enough to get a tiny bit wet, which actually added to the excitement of the day.
 
Tom
 
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
 
Have you sucked up to your boss today?

#6236 of 23393 Newbie questions by mcrrt

Jul 13, 2002 (7:45 pm)

Hello all! This is my first time posting in this discussion, although I have also been a "lurker" for the past few weeks. Lately I've been considering bringing a Wrangler home to roost, but I want a few questions answered by those who already own and "live" with them.
 
1-I currently have 2 cars; a '95 Firebird with T-tops (paid for, and my summer fun car) and a '00 Olds Alero (my daily driver, only owe about 8K, and has been very reliable). The Wrangler would replace the Alero, but I'm having trouble justifying replacing a good practical car (that I don't owe much on) with a Jeep that I'll owe much more on, that is much more "primitive" than my car, and will cost more to gas and insure. Any suggestions?
 
2-IF I do get a Wrangler, it would see duty in delightful Michigan winters. I have heard people say that Wranglers love to swap ends in snow and ice. Even with 4WD engaged, are they that bad? Should I consider the Trac-Lok and ABS a "must have"?
 
3-Related to #2: Has anybody lived with a soft top in winter? How bad is it? I doubt I can afford the dual top option (and since I'm considering an X model, dual tops aren't even offered.) initially. Should I take it with a soft top and then add an aftermarket hard top later, or take it with a hard top and later add an aftermarket soft top?
 
Whew! Didn't mean to ramble so. I hope you folks can offer some input, and be forewarned-I'll probably have lots of questions yet to come!
Thanks!

Messages Page 624 of 2340

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