Testing Out Plan B

After deciding that a 2007 Jeep Wrangler would not be a good decision, based on its current quality control issues and other factors, I decided to move forward on my fall-back plan today by test driving one of the previous-generation Wranglers, the TJ. I drove a 2004 TJ Sahara this morning in Van Wert, OH.

The TJ is different from the JK, but not overwhelmingly so. The interior is narrower and more cramped, it doesn't feel as refined, and it doesn't have all of the modern goodies that are now on the JK like power windows, power locks, and side airbags, but in their absence the TJ has a much more utilitarian Jeep-like feel. You feel like you're driving something that could be running around on a battlefield somewhere. In the TJ one can really feel the link to the old military Jeeps, where the JK drives much more like any old SUV.

On the plus side, rear visibility is much better than the JK, the pedal feel is much better, the engine is very loud and obnoxious (I thought the JK engine was way too quiet), and in my opinion, the TJ is a better-looking vehicle. And it's more mechanical and less electronic than the JK...and given the JK's massive electronic bugs, that's a good thing. Most all of the bugs are worked out of the 2004-06 TJs...they're very solid vehicles. And it also comes with the world famous, bulletproof 4.0L I6 engine, which can be good for 200,000+ miles if well maintained.

However, the TJ is definitely not as comfortable to drive overall, compared to the JK. The interior storage space is far less...it's just small on the inside. You had better be good friends with the person sitting in the passenger seat, because they're right next to you! The TJ would not work for me as my only vehicle, period.

The good news is a.) it's not intended to be my only vehicle, and b.) I want one...bad. I still have some dealing to do, but it looks like by the end of summer (at the very latest), the Liberty will be replaced by two low-mileage vehicles for which someone else has taken the big depreciation hit, and together cost about the same as a 2007 Wrangler. That's at least the goal...we'll see how it goes.