Calling Jeepers: Need Help with first Purchase

[Ah Pook]

Well kind of found a jeep i like, looks nice but has over 175,000 miles on it? It is a 1997 wrangler. Should i be concerned about the mileage? How well are the engines built?

This thread went in a lot of different directions.

What's the word on the Wrangler?

Not being a Jeep fanatic but owning a Jeep, 175K on the odometer isn't too bad. What kind of maintenance it has seen is more important. The I6 is a stout motor that will last a long time. Pretty easy to work on too.

[electronman1729]

Still looking around. Found one i like but oil was leaking underneath. I sometimes find ones i like but they turn out to be a manual. I have been debating taking a intro driving course to learn how to drive a stick.

[tmleadr03]

Still looking around. Found one i like but oil was leaking underneath. I sometimes find ones i like but they turn out to be a manual. I have been debating taking a intro driving course to learn how to drive a stick.

Isn't that what jeepers refer to as the jeep thing? I guess you just don't understand...

[BPTactical]

You can't drive a manual?
Submit your Man Card to the nearest vagina for revokation.

[Irving]

I have a cheap car he can learn in, I just don't have the time. When I have the time, I'll hit you up electroman.

[Ah Pook]

Be in Boulder tomorrow afternoon and I'll give you a quick lesson on a 5 speed. It's not hard.

[Hound]

Still looking around. Found one i like but oil was leaking underneath. I sometimes find ones i like but they turn out to be a manual. I have been debating taking a intro driving course to learn how to drive a stick.

Not that you can't do an automatic in 4x4ing but really? If you are wanting to do the whole 4x4 Jeep thing... Ya gotta figure a few things out first. I don't know you and I am not trying to ding ya too hard but 4x4ing is not just hopping in the truck and running up the mountains. Most people who never learn how to drive a manual are not mechanical, that is bad on the trails. They just take the easy route and go about their business, which is fine...... but not for 4x4ing. When you are up there something will break and there are a lot of circumstances where mechanical knowledge is invaluable in how to read a trail. You need to know how to fix it or read it or things gets REAL dangerous REAL quick (not only for you but those around you). If you don't know how to drive a manual, a little oil is a concern and the 4.0 is a question.......... Either this is not for you or a much better answer is make friends with 4x4'ers, go on SEVERAL runs with them, take up Irving or others to teach you not only how to drive a stick but how to turn a wrench and figure out where you want to go with this.

You are welcome to tag a long with me sometime if/when I am not on travel. Mindfold on here is building a Jeep starting with a frame off (he might be willing to show you a few things, it would allow you to see how simple Jeeps are... Which is a big part of the "Jeep Thing"). My next door nieghbor runs an automatic 4Runner with a nice setup. He would be a great person to talk to (he is VERY mechanical). He has been learning a lot about how to safely 4x4 and loves to help people. I bet several others on here would be great to hit the trails with also. Again, not trying to ding ya, it just sounds like you need to build up a foundation before you spend a lot of time, effort and money doing something that could get you or somebody else hurt.

[Zundfolge]

Found one i like but oil was leaking underneath.

You know what it means when you find a Jeep that's NOT leaking oil? It means its out of oil.

[electronman1729]

Be in Boulder tomorrow afternoon and I'll give you a quick lesson on a 5 speed. It's not hard.

THANKS for the offer! unfortunately its hard for me in the week to do things since i have to work

[electronman1729]

No offense taken here. Thanks for the insight! I would really enjoy going on a trip with someone this summer. I would cover gas of course. A far as what I'm looking for, Iam just mainly looking for a weekend cruiser to drive around with the top down. As far as off road trails Im not looking into anything real hard core. I would be real happy with trails like Rollins Pass and such. As far as the mechanical thing goes i completlely agree with you. (my background is in high voltage power distribution) I can pretty much do my own routine maintenance on my vehicles, but nothing hard core. I will PM you this week about the next time you head up.