Is a Jeep Wrangler a good idea?

[dpbird90]

Now I've got the internet at my new house, its that time again. Before I moved, I had an almost fortnightly post where I'd ask the PH opinion on a certain car I suddenly have a desire to own, more often than not for no logical reason whatsoever. Regular readers will remember that an old Land Rover Series 3 or Defender is firmly on my list of cars I want to own in the next few years, and although it still is, I've found myself looking at Jeep Wranglers. My budget is limited, although I could afford the lower end of the prices of the ones on PH classifieds (£3.5-4.5k).

My question is, are Wranglers comparable to the Defender/Series 3, or is it another case of me looking at the shiny shiny?

[Mr Dave]

Queer as folk.

[Stu R]

Wranglers are pretty good off roaders, if a little vitara-esque image wise in standard form. They're certainly a competitor for the Defender off road. Push comes to shove I'd take the landy, but comparing the defender to the wranger you're paying a lot more for the landy for not much more truck.

Off road they're both bloody good in the right hands, neither are especially high rent inside.

Ultimately, I'd just set a budget and buy the best of whichever example you can find. I love a good landy, they're amazing, but Jeeps appeal purely for the big tyred, open air, V8 soundtrack

Edited by Stu R on Thursday 5th August 03:00

[dpbird90]

Mr Dave said:

Queer as folk.

I'm too young to remember it, is this a good/bad thing?

[dpbird90]

Stu R said:

Wranglers are pretty good off roaders, if a little vitara-esque image wise in standard form. They're certainly a competitor for the Defender off road. Push comes to shove I'd take the landy, but comparing the defender to the wranger you're paying a lot more for the landy for not much more truck.

Off road they're both bloody good in the right hands, neither are especially high rent inside.

Ultimately, I'd just set a budget and buy the best of whichever example you can find. I love a good landy, they're amazing, but Jeeps appeal purely for the big tyred, open air, V8 soundtrack

Edited by Stu R on Thursday 5th August 03:00

Thanks, just what I was after. The closest I've ever been to offroading was taking a muddy track up towards my parents' house, in a 1.2 Fiat Panda (non 4x4 version), but I'm willing to learn seeing as I now live not too far away from the Highlands and presumably some great terrain to play with! Bearing this in mind, which would be the better "beginner's" off roader? And would one be easier to maintain myself than the other, as this is something I would prefer to do?

[fluffnik]

All the vehicles you have mentioned are fine agricultural implements, none are cars.

[Mr Dave]

dpbird90 said:

Mr Dave said:

Queer as folk.

I'm too young to remember it, is this a good/bad thing?

I never watched it as I was too young really as well, but Im pretty sure that is all you will get from people.

I wouldnt listen to any of that though and if I liked driving them I would get one.

I would paint a cheaper one in Jurassic Park colours and just have fun. As said they are as good as a defender off road, mechanical parts are easy enough to get, pretty sturdy and not exactly luxurious but not as bad as a series land rover either.

According to some people I was talking to about it the other day, aas queer as folk is meant to be pretty good (its the kid out of Sons of Anarchy in it).

[dave-therave]

Mr Dave said:

According to some people I was talking to about it the other day, aas queer as folk is meant to be pretty good (its the kid out of Sons of Anarchy in it).

I had no idea he was from Newcastle, you learn something new every day!

[RDMcG]

Is it for primarily offroad?..I have a lot of experience offroading these things in Arozona. Brilliant for offroad, but choppy on road...short wheelbase. Not the best commuter car.

[BlueEyedBoy]

I thought his Wrangler in Queer as folk looked excellent.Are you a guy or a girl? A girl in one of these would look very sexy, a guy would look gay, but if that doesn't bother you ( it wouldn't me) then go for it. That car and the 911 turbo out of Bad Boys are 2 cars I would love on the drive.

The guy who drove it is in that Identity series on ITV.

[Bill]

Stu R said:

Wranglers are pretty good off roaders, if a little vitara-esque image wise in standard form. They're certainly a competitor for the Defender off road. Push comes to shove I'd take the landy, but comparing the defender to the wranger you're paying a lot more for the landy for not much more truck.

Off road they're both bloody good in the right hands, neither are especially high rent inside.

Ultimately, I'd just set a budget and buy the best of whichever example you can find. I love a good landy, they're amazing, but Jeeps appeal purely for the big tyred, open air, V8 soundtrack

Edited by Stu R on Thursday 5th August 03:00

This. And big tyres and a lift helps with the image.

[Amateurish]

I drove a Wrangler to and from Morzine in the French Alps. Was much fun. And there were plenty of other Wranglers when I got there.

[OnTheOverrun]

Wranglers are good - good off-road in stock form, the only downside is they come out of the factory a little low to appease US rollover regs so to fit the kind of tyres you can throw on a Defender you will need to lift it. Apart from that everthing's good. For your budget only consider the 4.0 petrol six - the 2.5 petrol and the early diesels are not pleasant whereas the 4.0 will roll on forever at 18mpg with plenty of oil changes. Don't expect a V8 as god was a boy last time this type of jeep came out of the factory with a V8. Their greatest adavantage of LR's is that they depreciate quite quickly so £5k will get you a lot more Jeep than LR. Parts supply through the manufacturer can be patchy but there's a huge aftermarket for mods. Personally I'd take an auto with the 4.0.