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Buying used jeep for 16 year old grandson (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter The Dude
- Start date
Ron Swanson
Footballguy
What is your budget? And do you have a preferred era? CJ, YJ, TJ, JK, JL? 2 door or 4 door?
Well, probably under $2oK (and maybe that is too high). No preferred era - not even sure what the era differences are. probably have to do 4 door unless there is advice otherwise
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[icon]
Insoxicated
At that Price point you're looking old JK or a nicer late model (04-06) TJ. I'd personally look for a later model TJ in Rubicon trim if possible as the early JKs weren't well powered.
The TJs were only 2 Doors, but there is an LJ / Unlimited model that is a bit longer for added leg room in the back, but they're tricky to find.
Be sure to get the 4.0L Six cyl and 4spd Auto or Stick. I believe the 4spd Auto started in 2003 and was improved in 2004.
The TJs were only 2 Doors, but there is an LJ / Unlimited model that is a bit longer for added leg room in the back, but they're tricky to find.
Be sure to get the 4.0L Six cyl and 4spd Auto or Stick. I believe the 4spd Auto started in 2003 and was improved in 2004.
Orange&Blue
Footballguy
:Black dot:
Terminalxylem
Footballguy
While I think a Jeep would be a lot of fun for a 16 y/o, I was under the impression they aren’t particularly reliable, nor safe.
Maybe my impression is wrong, but of all available vehicles, why a Jeep?
Maybe my impression is wrong, but of all available vehicles, why a Jeep?
Yeah, so many reports out there of Jeeps being unreliable. I think you’re looking for a headache if you get a jeep for a teen’s first vehicle.
Terminalxylem
Footballguy
Never known anyone with a standard jeep, but my sister had an older Cherokee that wasn't great.
And any advantage the 4WD provides in inclement weather will probably be offset by overall poor handling and braking. Plus, I'm sure a teenage boy will find ways to get into trouble with a high clearance off-road vehicle.
Ron Swanson
Footballguy
Jeeps aren't that unreliable. In fact, I'd wager that as they age the older ones are probably as reliable as any other older vehicle. Initial quality may be an issue but that doesn't really impact the older vehicles. Especially with a rock solid motor (4.0 inline 6 as [icon] mentioned) along with a manual. Jeeps should be manual. Get a YJ or TJ with that motor and tranny and without all the modern electronics and interlocks and you'll be fine. And the kid can learn to wrench on it.
And sure, you could buy him a safer vehicle. But what fun is that?
And sure, you could buy him a safer vehicle. But what fun is that?
Keerock
Footballguy
I think I'm on my 8th Jeep in my lifetime. Current '15 Cherokee is fantastic. No real problems. Had an $800 transmission repair 2 years ago, but outside of that had no non-routine maintenance or repairs. I had one Grand Cherokee that I bought used several years ago that had some repair issues, but other than that... super happy with Jeeps
STEADYMOBBIN 22
Footballguy
General Malaise
Footballguy
I bought an '83 CJ7 back in 1990 for $3K. Immediately had to put $1500 into it. Was fun in the summer. Horrible in the winter. God help you if a thunderstorm hit and the top was off. It was in the shop a lot. Sold it in 1995 for $5K to a collector. Good riddance. I'll never own another Jeep vehicle. YMMV but I'd look for a used Honda or Toyota. You want reliability and Jeep ain't it, IMO and experience.
popeye
Footballguy
Fortunate enough to say my experience with Jeeps has been similar. Between my wife and I, we're on our 7th - Wranglers and Cherokees with little in the way of unexpected repairs.
bigbottom
Footballguy
Will he be off roading with the Jeep, or will it be a regular driver? Tons of teen/college girls (daughters of people I know) around my area that drive Jeeps. If I were in the market, I’d be trying to buy used off of one of them once they move on to something else as most of them have zero wear and tear on them (the Jeeps, not the girls).
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Terminalxylem
Footballguy
Generally I‘m not very risk averse, but knowing how me and all my friends drove as teens, safety and lack of fun should be the top criteria for a first vehicle.
DA RAIDERS
Footballguy
first car I ever bought was a 79 CJ7. Damn thing could climb trees. Straight 6. I broke just about everything on it, driving it as hard as possible. I learned a lot about what a car can and can not do. Loved that beast. If the kids not a maroon, go for it. Get the straight 6
New Binky the Doormat
Footballguy
our daughter is driving the 2013 Jeep we bought new - it has over 200k miles - had to replace the transmission at about 160k, outside of that, it's been pretty good (knocking on wood)
pollardsvision
Footballguy
I learned to drive a manual on with my buddy's Wrangler that his parents got him when we were 15 (with a "promise" not to drive without a licensed adult until he turned 16).
Good times. I won't share any of those because I wouldn't want you to envision your grandson doing any of the stupid things we did in that thing.
Good times. I won't share any of those because I wouldn't want you to envision your grandson doing any of the stupid things we did in that thing.
pollardsvision
Footballguy
To be fair, OP asked about a Wrangler, not a Volvo station wagon.
Good or bad, the Wrangler (or a lucky SOB with an old CJ) came to fame as a perfect vehicle for making questionable decisions.
Terminalxylem
Footballguy
Had a couple friends with Volvos growing up. Also unreliable.
But you guys are probably right. All modern vehicles are safe and reliable enough - definitely better than some (most) of the stuff produced in the 70’s and 80’s, the first cars FBGs drove.
The heck with the Jeep. If we’re going for fun and unreliable, I’d strongly consider a used Ducati. Might need studded tires for the winter.
ChiefD
Footballguy
The one thing off the top of my head is sharp turns. Kids aren't exactly great at this when they start driving and from what I recall Jeeps are not quite as stable in those circumstances due to the short wheel base.
But I may be way off here as most of my Jeep experience is from when I was way younger.
STEADYMOBBIN 22
Footballguy
Buy him a used Nissan Frontier. You can get one with low miles under your budget.
4 wheel drive, V6, ,heated seats, back up camera, ouch button locking rear, not great but better gas mileage than Jeep, and Nissan has a rich history in off-road. The inside of the engine bay looks like it’s supposed to look.
IMHO, hands down the best bang for buck in the medium sized truck. They have and do everything better than the Tacoma and cost almost half as much.
4 wheel drive, V6, ,heated seats, back up camera, ouch button locking rear, not great but better gas mileage than Jeep, and Nissan has a rich history in off-road. The inside of the engine bay looks like it’s supposed to look.
IMHO, hands down the best bang for buck in the medium sized truck. They have and do everything better than the Tacoma and cost almost half as much.
Hastur
Footballguy
My first car was a 1982 Pontiac Trans Am(V8 with the 4 barrel) when I was 19. Looking back, stupid first car to have. Gas guzzler, had to replace the transmission twice, It was fun to drive, but just impractical first car.
IMHO, the same goes for a jeep for a first car/vehicle. As Rustoleum stated above, the fabled 'death warble' makes it very unsafe on highways. Unless the boy is taking it off road all the time, it isn't worth it. Jeeps are akin to status symbols. Unsafe, impractical, and cost effective as an air conditioner in Alaska.
IMHO, the same goes for a jeep for a first car/vehicle. As Rustoleum stated above, the fabled 'death warble' makes it very unsafe on highways. Unless the boy is taking it off road all the time, it isn't worth it. Jeeps are akin to status symbols. Unsafe, impractical, and cost effective as an air conditioner in Alaska.
![[scooter]](/data/avatars/m/22/22287.jpg?1659477690){kind=avatar}
[scooter]
Footballguy
My brother bought used Jeeps for 2 of his 3 kids, because he wanted them to have something "cool" in high school. And while the Jeeps did indeed look cool, they were also unreliable, noisy, unsteady on the road, and got terrible gas mileage.
Now the 3rd kid is asking for a 4-door sedan.
Now the 3rd kid is asking for a 4-door sedan.
SWC
Bromigo
my thing is that i like vehicles that have generally been around for a while in their current iteration the jeep cherokees i owned they had been making for 15 years so they had the kinks ironed out and it showed they were easy enough fix ran forever and cheap parts were around now if you get into a newer foriegn job or hell even the domestics really you cant even see the engine itself anymore when you open the hood and half of the job time to do anything is just getting evrything else off to get to the part you need to fix so man i am old and grumpy i guess but there you have it take that to the bank brohans
SWC
Bromigo
one story i had a 76 amc matador when i was a lot younger with a straight 6 in an engine bay that could easily have held a v8 anyhow you could damn near stand in the engine bay next to the engine to work on it now that is probably a little over to the top but you could sure as hell reach down and touch the sides of the engine and see the ground try that nowadays it was glorious anyhow take that to the bank bromigos
Da Guru
Fair & Balanced
1983?? I think they have improved a little from 40 years ago.
I had an early 80s Honda that the drivers side mat was always wet when in rained. I finally lifted the mat up and could see the road. It was rusted out with a complete hole. Felt like a Fred Flintstone car. It happened in the 70s and 80s.
[scooter]
Footballguy
Early 80s? I think they have improved a little from 40 years ago.
Da Guru
Fair & Balanced
Yes, that is what I was saying.
massraider
Footballguy
Yeah, but they keep getting UGLIER
OIIIIIIIIIO <---------Is that so hard?? And bring back the cool rollbar, you dorks.
Herb
Footballguy
Had a 95 Wrangler, 5spd, 4.0L straight 6 cyl. Most reliable vehicle I ever owned. I kept up on maintenance, but also pounded the hell out of it. You name the location, I tried to get there, and very rarely failed. It did not have AC or cruise, so long road trips in the summer could get a little squirelly, but even without a hard top, I was never cold in the winter. The heater could roast a lamb.
I would not get one of these for a 16 year old as their first car unless they already had prior experience driving them, though. Too much temptation for stupidity. Like when I was 16 and had a buddy who drove his dad's old '77 Chevy flare-side 350 4-bbl truck with full-time 4WD. That thing was an absolute beast. We talked him into doing some very unintelligent things. No one was ever hurt, but he spent a helluva lot of time grounded.
I would not get one of these for a 16 year old as their first car unless they already had prior experience driving them, though. Too much temptation for stupidity. Like when I was 16 and had a buddy who drove his dad's old '77 Chevy flare-side 350 4-bbl truck with full-time 4WD. That thing was an absolute beast. We talked him into doing some very unintelligent things. No one was ever hurt, but he spent a helluva lot of time grounded.
MTskibum
Footballguy
@The Dude
This is my opinion as well.
In safety ratings jeeps tend to be below average in most crash tests when compared to similar sized vehicles. I remember how i drove as a 16 year old and my kids are getting a safe vehicle with little power, like a subaru forester for example.
Jeeps also tend to be more unreliable than average and if you couple that with their higher than average resale value they tend to make expensive used vehicles. They however are great to buy new for a few years, because they have warranty and because of their high resale value they do not depreciate much. They are one of the cheapest vehicles to buy new and then flip after a year.
https://www.motorbiscuit.com/suvs-more-dangerous-than-you-think/
resale value link
Sputnikv8
Footballguy
I bought my 09 wrangler new and still have it. I have used it for occasional offroad, my short drive to train station for commuting and now towed behind the rv.
I hate it when wife or kid drive it because the steering is … just bad. It’s such a different feel than a modern car and made sure the kids got the honda’s for their first car.
For me its fun to drive and summer is great. But for a first time driver - would never recommend.
Disclaimer: mine is modified from stock. I have added higher end steering components to help with slightly larger tires and 2 inch lift. Nothing extreme, but wanter to be clear I’m not stock.
Edit to add: Highway handling is awful. It’s exhausting to drive long stretches due to the extra effort/care required.
I hate it when wife or kid drive it because the steering is … just bad. It’s such a different feel than a modern car and made sure the kids got the honda’s for their first car.
For me its fun to drive and summer is great. But for a first time driver - would never recommend.
Disclaimer: mine is modified from stock. I have added higher end steering components to help with slightly larger tires and 2 inch lift. Nothing extreme, but wanter to be clear I’m not stock.
Edit to add: Highway handling is awful. It’s exhausting to drive long stretches due to the extra effort/care required.
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Rand al Thor
Footballguy
Previous owner of 3 Jeeps (2 cherokees, 1 grand cherokee). My experience is that the engine will get you 300k easy if you change the oil every now and then. That's the good news. The bad news is that then rest of the vehicle will fall apart around the engine. Not just the obvious things like the 2k on a new transmission or things like that, but **** like the bolts that hold the liftgate supports will just rip out of the sheet metal and leave a gaping hole without a way to keep the liftgate up. Or the seat adjustment lever snaps off leaving a front passenger seat that slides backwards or forwards depending on if you're accelerating or stopping. I particularly like the air conditioner drain hose location in the Grand Cherokee where it barely comes out of the firewall and it will drain into your passenger floorboard. And there will be a time, guaranteed, when you need to adjust the rearview mirror and the whole thing comes off in your hand. Two of the cars had power windows, and I had to replace 4 window motors. One window I could not fix so we just stuck a 2x4 in the door and it kept the window permanently up. My first cherokee had roll up windows and the plastic handle snapped in two while trying to raise the window in the rain. So yeah, you can get 300 thousand miles on a jeep, but it's going to be an adventure. The good news is that you and your son can get lots of time together learning how to work on cars, which I think is something we don't do enough with our kids these days.
massraider
Footballguy
Jeeps on a highway, at some point you are like: This is crazy, why am I doing this?
dickey moe
Fingerpicker
I wished I hadda grampa would buy me a jeep.
