I just started putting together my wish list for my JK build after I give my current TJ to my son next year.
The Cost of a Jeep Wrangler I am considering picking up a wrangler. not sure whether to go new or used (If I go used, id get a 2007-2009) I would like to get the 4 door, i need a 6 cylinder and I am too busy with work and need my car every day so I need a reliable car. My question is... for Cost effectiveness Am I better off getting a brand new wrangler or a used one? I would prefer to go used since its gonna be much cheaper out of pocket, but If I go used, am I likely to have to spend alot of time and money in the shop? Also, what is the average cost of maintenance/ repairs, including the cost of the car, per year for your car? In other words, if you spent $10k on the car and you expect it to last 10 Years, and it costs $1000 a year for repairs/maintenance, cost per year would be $2,000
The thing about wrangler especially the old models with the I6 engine is that they are bomb proof. The engine/tranny combo has been around forever and rarely has issues. Most people with I6 Jeeps have over 200k on them and consider them to be 'broken in' only after 150k miles. Another nice thing is that they are very easy to work on so most issues can be fixed DIY. The downside is that the gas mileage is pretty bad (mine gets around 10 mpg)
when i got mine, there was only a 1k diff between used and new because the new JKS were just out, and used were hard to come by. now there is quite a price difference. check out the project JK website, and look at their jk recycle section, you can find good deals on there. I also had the opportunity for the lifetime powertrain/engine warranty, which i thought was worth the extra money at the time. My jeep has been super reliable (65K on a 2008), and no goofy problems except the diff, which i didn't even know there was an issue with until they told me, and they fixed under warranty. Also the engine is still very simple compared to many cars on the market, so if you are comfortable working on it, everything is easy to do. The big out of pockets for maintenance is the differential fluid at 30k miles and tranny/tranfer, just because dealers will try to rape you on those costs. its easy to do yourself though, and very cheap. Overall, i'd say cheap ownership, unless you are like me and buy a bunch of aftermarket sh*t for it, which you undoubtedly will. Four doors are awesome, so much more room, not just with the seats, but the back storage is huge too. Also mileage sucks. I got 19 initially stock, now getting 16/17. My suggestion is to look at project jk forum and read read read. sooo much info on there.
if your "check engine" light comes on CHECK YOUR GAS CAP!!! it might need to be tightened or replaced. dealer got me for $118 for a stinkin' gas cap, they'll never see me again.
haha. yeah that is common. another reason why I do most of my own work myself. stealerships rip people off because they can! If you get a CEL take it to Autozone and have them pull the code (you can pull a code on a 00 to 06 wrangler yourself) and look it up online. at least you will know what the problem is if you do have to take it in.
