Appearance. A 4WD Convertible, the best of both worlds. A Deep locking center console for safe storage when the top is down.

Gas Mileage is weak, little power ascending hills,tipsy feeling when cornering at moderate speeds, loud on the highway. Not much room to store gear.

There is nothing better than having a Wrangler on a sunny day, driving with the top down. I drove my new 1997 Wrangler across country to San Francisco from New Jersey. It had no mechanical problems, although it was pushed back on forth on the road when high winds hit -- especially on my visit to Lake Tahoe on the windy, windy roads: pretty scary, actually.

Other than the questionable handling, it was great during those hot sunny days in Northern California, exploring the outdoors. You need an loud sounds system for when the top is down. Storage is not great when taking trips skiing or to a lake, but you can manage, folding or removing the rear seats.

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Drives like a Jeep,not as confortable as the Rodeo, or Ford Escape.

4x4 great in snow during winter; great with the top off in the summer; visibility from driving position

mechanical reliability; gas consumption; rear entry; ride; cargo space; rear seating; weather stripping leaks

I have to disagree with the previous strong reviews...what a piece of garbage! The mechanical reliability of this product has completely turned me away from the Chrysler lineup.

First, the good aspects of the vehicle. Dollar for dollar, it's not bad value for a 4x4. The TJ came into its own when driven off road (admittedly, not that much, but occasionally) and when placed in 4x4 in the snow. The removable top is great during the summer (however, this really opens up the contents to theft), and the hardtop is very easy to remove and replace (5 minutes work at most). The increased ground clearance and high driving position are nice, giving the driver a commanding view of the road and whatever lays ahead.

Now for the bad. Mechanically this vehicle is an absolute piece of garbage!!! A partial list of mechanical repairs on my 1997 model to date have been:
- 4 exhaust manifold studs cracked and replaced
- 1 cylinder head replaced (due to the continuing cracking of manifold studs)
- 3 catalytic converters replaced
- 2 power steering mechanisms replaced
- 1 radiator cap replaced, which then caused the radiator to blow!
- 1 oil pressure sender unit
- 1 gas tank fuel line return
- 1 gas gauge
- 2 oxygen sensors replaced
- 1 starter
- numerous suspension jobs (on an offroad vehicle driven primarily on paved roads!!!...absoluetely ridiculous!)
The vehicle was returning to the garage pretty much on a monthly basis (less if I got fed up and didn't want to drive it for a while). All I have to say is thank god I purchased the extended warranty (sage advise for those considering buying a Jeep). The mechanic from the garage even suggested I get rid of it once the warranty was up.

Others negative points pertaining to this vehicle include noisy interior at highway speed, leaky weather stripping around the doors (good thing the carpet can be removed to dry it), a lack of towing power with the 4 cylinder, hard entry and exit to the rear seat for people with short legs, lack of cargo space, gas consumption, vinyl seats cracked after a year, and overall ride comfort.

I had a more reliable ride from my 20 year old Honda Accord than from this 4 year old vehicle. Needless to say, I no longer own my Jeep and purchased a Subaru instead.

I WOULD WHOLE HEARTEDLY ADVISE AGAINST BUYING A JEEP TJ OR WRANGLER. If you chose to ignore this, at the very least GET THE EXTENDED WARRANTY...you're going to need it!

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The size is the best quality cause you can go anywhere in it. Has the most mods I have ever seen for any vehicle.

My little 4 does lag a little but nothing that makes me regret purchasing it.

Over the last 3 yrs the only thing I can say is MUD....I love taking my TJ anywhere there is mud, dirt, water, anything. It is the best vehicle that I have owned and would never give it up. Once I did put it up for sale, but changed my mind when I went wheeling. Luckly no one was really interested at the time. I still have a lot of stuff that I want to do with it and can't wait till I can get all of the mods that I want to do to it.

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Off-Road it is the best. I love everything.

Daimler Chrysler

My Wrangler is the best. You can tell there is years of design and development into it's design. I love it's simple flaxability and options.

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Durango, it does not compare. The Jeep is *not* an SUV.

Off road capability, engine power-durability,easy maintenance, inexpensive, too many options to list.

slightly weak axles for big tires and heavy off-road use, wind noise on highway.

I love my Jeep! Jeeps are like giant toys, so many aftermarket goodies to improve or modify jeeps there are no boundaries no limitations. The 4.0 inline 6 has got to be one of the best engines out there. I have 150,000 miles on mine and never had it apart for any repair! Just regular maintance. Mine is a YJ so it doesnt drive like a car, but if I wanted a car like ride... I would have bought a car!If you want a vehicle that can take you anywhere and wont cost an arm and a leg this is it.The ultimate all purpose vehicle.Once you own a jeep and see its capabilities you'll be hooked, it will be an addiction.

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blows the doors off competition

Next to a land rover you just cant buy a better "WHEELER". When you can go from the showroom, to the tire shop slap on a set of 31"x10.5" and then go do serious off roading. I think that says it all, and oh yea the Jeep wave is just some added fun.

Hard finding space in the garage for the hard top.

We started out with a 1997 Wrangler 4 banger had it until may of 2000 and loved all but the hwy power. In May we traded the 97 in for a new one with a 4.0, a/c and cloth seats (sport model) and of course a 5 speed. Both of the Jeeps had Dana 30s up front and 35s in the rear and were used for four wheeling on a regular basis. the tire of choice on both was the 31 inch B.F.G. Mudterrain, a bit loud true but if you want a quiet ride dont buy a Wrangler. My wife is the daily driver of the Jeep and I have to practicly bribe her to take my Explorer (also a good truck) when I want to have a Jeep day.

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Unless you want to spend a lot more there is no comparison.

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I love my TJ! This is the second Wrangler I have owned and would buy another if something happened to this one. All the old stories of how Jeeps drive are no longer true since they came out with the TJ.

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Off road ability and overall fun factor..

Drinks gas, interior finish lacking a bit, a bit tight for family use.

150K + miles on the 97 and no major issues. Great off road out of the box and even better with minor mods. Far from a luxury vehicle but you cant beat top down and doors off...

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Fun! Fun! Fun!

Not one!

Most legal fun that money can buy!

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Capability, fun, versatility, fun, dependability and did I say fun.
Tows behind the motorhome with NO modifications. Great camping accessery!
Gas mileage is the same as my Chevy Astro but a lot more fun.
I like all of the accessories that you can get for it. Stock off the lot it is the best trail rig you can buy. You can also modify it to the extreme.

Little short of extra interior room. But I did find places for a CB and 10 Disk changer that are totally out of the way.
The lack of extra interior space is more that made up for by it versitility.

My kids are grown and it was time to get something to have fun with besides the astro van. I was saving my money for a new road bike BUT desided to get rid of the van and get a Jeep instead. GREAT IDEA! My wife was alot happier too.
I drive it to work every day, take it to the trails and to the dunes often. It is a very capable rig. It will take me everywhere I want to go. I take the top and doors off for most of the summer.
Doors off, soft top on.
Doors on, top off.
Top on, windows off.
Hard top on for winter.
You get the picture. There are a lot of was to configure the Jeep to fit any occasion. My wife and I like to fish and there is nothing better than throwing the poles in and heading for an out of the way lake.
Then of course there is the "Oregon BushHackers" online offroad club. Its always fun to get together with some of its 280 members and doing trails, dunes, ghost town tours, etc.. oregonbushhackers.com
I wouldn"t trade the Jeep for anything. If I ever get another rig it will be a Jeep Wrangler.

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