04-07-2008, 07:04 PM | #161 | ||
Jeeped
Join Date: Sep 2005
Carmudgeonly Ride: Modified Jeep Tj and '07 Miata
Location: Seattle
Posts: 10,214
|
Quote:
Oh, I know you're interested in the 4-door Wranglers . . . but also test out a 2-door for comparison (Wrangler vs. Wrangler). It could be interesting. I suspect they'll be a bit different. Quote:
It's all for FC to figure out but I really like having wide discrepancies in driving experience. . . it amplifies one vs. the other. And you can't get much more different than between a Wrangler and . . . well, just about anything else. But especially if you have a Wrangler and a sporty car (V70R, MINI, ZHP, etc.). It's one reason I was trying to suggest that if FC wants a Wrangler he get a Wrangler and then figure out his other car line-up. Because almost anything else he gets will be so different from said Wrangler. Where as, yes there'd be a difference betwee the ZHP, sports car, MINI, etc. but it wouldn't be as dramatic.
__________________
. "Jeep is the only true American sports car*" - Enzo Ferrari * Or something to that effect. |
||
04-07-2008, 09:59 PM | #162 |
Alphanumeric
Join Date: Aug 2005
Carmudgeonly Ride: 981S, 340i
Posts: 9,584
|
I had a 80mph on the highway in mind when I said smoothness, and the rear wheel drive for turns. Anyway, you know what I mean.
|
04-07-2008, 10:25 PM | #163 | ||
Solving problems
Join Date: Oct 2003
Carmudgeonly Ride: M5 / 718 GTS / Cooper S / GTI / LR4
Location: Metro Boston
Posts: 25,264
|
Guilty as charged (obviously). There are reasons for this. There is a history and a story behind this, but it's pretty personal. Let's just say it was a coping mechanism from a long time ago. It has stuck around.
Quote:
Quote:
If it were MY decision alone, I frankly would never trade the ZHP for an MCS. As my mom said the other day when presented with the idea (and she is as clueless about cars as anyone can be), "your [ZHP] seems like a LOT mroe car than [the MCS]." But I have other cars to compliment a Mini, and I no longer have the long commute I used to have. Plus it would be a new car, and woudl make my wife very happy. |
||
04-07-2008, 10:28 PM | #164 |
Solving problems
Join Date: Oct 2003
Carmudgeonly Ride: M5 / 718 GTS / Cooper S / GTI / LR4
Location: Metro Boston
Posts: 25,264
|
|
04-09-2008, 12:25 AM | #165 | |
Jeeped
Join Date: Sep 2005
Carmudgeonly Ride: Modified Jeep Tj and '07 Miata
Location: Seattle
Posts: 10,214
|
Quote:
You "can" do a 2-door wrangler, they seat 4. But it'd be like a MINI. Only difference is that you don't have to bend down with the Jeep so it'd be sort of easier putting a kiddo in the back. On the other hand, I almost burst out laughing when we babysat for some friend's kids. We used the Jeep and took them out to the movies. It was funny trying to watch the kids climb (litterally climb) into the Jeep. They had problems getting their feet over the rocker panel. So I just picked them up and set them in the back. They really liked being up high, though, once in the Jeep. But undoubtedly the 4-door would be perfect for a family in the Jeep realm. You get more rear legroom, wider rear seat, easier rear-seat access, and more cargo room (with or without the rear seat). With the rear seat folded flat the 4-door's cargo area is down right cavernous compared to my TJ. So . . . um, would you get a stick or auto in your Wrangler? Auto = 4 spd Stick = 6 spd I purposely chose the auto in my Jeep but that was purely because I wanted it for off-roading. While I do like it in traffic and around town I might have sought out a stick if I didn't do as much offroading. Or at least, not the level of stuff I get into. Not to say you can't offroad in a stick . . they do quite well, but when it get's REALLY hairy the auto's do much better. Smoother and more controled.
__________________
. "Jeep is the only true American sports car*" - Enzo Ferrari * Or something to that effect. |
|
04-09-2008, 08:07 AM | #166 | |
Solving problems
Join Date: Oct 2003
Carmudgeonly Ride: M5 / 718 GTS / Cooper S / GTI / LR4
Location: Metro Boston
Posts: 25,264
|
Quote:
............. Anyhow, in true ME fashion, I find myself waffling back to my original PLAN (see? it was a good plan all along ). The PLAN in its latest revision was for the BMW to be replaced by a sportscar (newish Boxster/Elise) and an old (sub-$5K) Cherokee. I keep thinking that the Cherokee would do (for my purposes) all that the Wrangler Unlimited would but would save me $25k+. I would give up it being a new car, being cooler and having a convertible top, but for a car I wouldn't use very much, I think I rather save the $25K for now. If it turns out it was all wishfull thinking and don't/can't use it as much as I thought I would, then no harm done. I can keep the beater without feeling guilty, or sell it having lost what, $2K? If it turns out we use it a ton, I could then buy a used Unlimited down the road for a lot less than a new one costs now. I still will test-drive them, but I doubt it would lead to anything except looking forward to one a few years down the road. It may be best to wait until our youngest is a toddler anyhow to get more "family use" out of a family convertible. So what sobered me up? Well, reading a few feedback posts to reviews where some guys argued my own point - how is it better than a Cherokee? I think it is, but not $25K better - at least not when I'm not 100% sure about the extent of its use. The other was that when I went to pick up my wife from the train last night, there was a guy picking up his wife in a base 987 in silver. It was as vanilla as it could get (though it did have 987S rims), yet it still looked, sounded (and I know it drives) awesome. Further pushing the sportscar idea is the new development that my mom will now be babysitting our kid at our house. That means 1-2 times a week, I have no babies in the car at all, just me and my wife. Add the 20 times a year my wife takes him to work + vacations + the possibility (if we get pregnant again) that she could be home for 4-6 months + weekends and all of a sudden the sportscar could really get some reasonable amount of use. Swapping the ZHP for a MINI is very much still in the cards, but getting one would not deter me from getting the sportscar. Last edited by FC; 04-09-2008 at 08:51 AM. |
|
04-09-2008, 02:51 PM | #167 |
Jeeped
Join Date: Sep 2005
Carmudgeonly Ride: Modified Jeep Tj and '07 Miata
Location: Seattle
Posts: 10,214
|
The logic of a Cherokee vs. Wrangler makes a lot of sense in your situation. But you do give up the convertableness as you point out. How much is that worth to you? Plus the Wranglers have more cargo volume, too. I think even with the rear seats up, too. The Cherokees seem smaller in comparison. . . it could be because they're shorter in body height (more stationwagon proportion) than the Unlimited Wranglers.
Edmunds lists used 2007 Unlimited X's at $19.5k now. In a year or so when you're ready to pull the trigger on a Cherokee/Wrangler they'll probably be down a bit more. Enough? I don't know. Of course, IF you do go the Wrangler route I'd argue for the Unlimited X line. The Saharas/Rubicon's really wouldn't get you much but some cosmetic stuff that you'd take advantage of. And if you're not going to be driving the vehicle that much, does it make sense to get all the goo-gahs or to keep it simple? And is it worth the $5k premium (used) to get the offroad goodies on the Rubicon edition. If you get into offroading you can still do a lot without the Rubi . . . heck, most of the guys I run with don't have lockers. I don't even have lockers (but good LSDs). Anyways, the Cherokees are a more logical choice in a $$/Use consideration. 2004 TJ Wrangler Unlimiteds are now down to $15.6k. My era of Jeep again, so it's a 2-door but with a stretched body. Not as much room as the new 4-door Wranglers but it's cheaper yet still has more room than than my original short wheel base Jeep.
__________________
. "Jeep is the only true American sports car*" - Enzo Ferrari * Or something to that effect. |
04-09-2008, 03:11 PM | #168 | |
Solving problems
Join Date: Oct 2003
Carmudgeonly Ride: M5 / 718 GTS / Cooper S / GTI / LR4
Location: Metro Boston
Posts: 25,264
|
Quote:
|
|
Bookmarks |
|
|