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The 1997 TJ is the only year that had the full width cowl vent. It is unique from all other TJs because of that exterior feature. I have a 1997 TJ as well. But, it has an aluminum Cowl and the vent that is the standard from 1998 to 2006. I bought mine in mid 1996. It was rather a concept Jeep that the dealership had to show off what was coming in 1996. I got it at a very good price because it had sat over a year before I got it. Being that it is sort of a Beta unit, it has that aluminum cowl with the 1998 vent, aluminum canyon rims and had 31 inch tyres on them. It has fuel injection similar to the one found in the 2000 year unit that has the fuel rail and coil rail. It has an aftermarket Best Top black diamond top with upper door sliders, Dana 44 rear axle, a rather strange turn signal stalk that I think is more like out of a Grand Cherokee of the time. Best of all, it is Solar Yellow. Many of these features made it to production TJ models over the years. But, the leather wrapped steering wheel never did, and I have one.
@@oscarbear7498the 32rh three speed that came from 1997 to 2002 is a lot better then the your 4 speed with overdrive. It's arguably the best transmission for the TJ and the best transmission in all of off-roading. It only has three gears , almost no drivetrain power loss, puts the power down well because of the little amount of gears. Super simple , again due to Three gears. Pretty reliable, especially for it's time over 200k miles easy with fluid changes every 30k.......... the Fat ginger in the video doesn't know what he's talking about ...... only downside is high-revs equals more gas burning due to low amount of gears on the highway. But hey it's a jeep.........
That’s awesome dude, my brother and I have my fathers old 97 TJ, that’s also a 4-cylinder 5-speed. It’s got a little it less mileage than yours around 220k mile, but it is absolutely rock solid it runs like a champ. The TJ was the last of the rugged Jeeps.
Sadly the new Jeep vehicles are not made with the same care, pride or craftsmanship :( I have a JL - I love it, but do not know if it will see 19 years. MAJOR (hopefully fixed now :) ) engine issues after just 86k miles. Congrats on your baby. When if finally dies, cut off the front section and turn it into a table or something cool.
I still have my 2003 TJ for 21 years now. Only 103k miles on it. Had to replace the clutch twice though and fix the death wobble. Other than that it’s been fantastic
28 years with my 1997 TJ that I bought mid 1996. She is my everything! She is my daily driver, my hauler, my off road tank, my flood valley forder, my freeway turtle, my economy vehicle, my pickup truck, my boat tow vehicle, my tow behind the RV vehicle. She currently has 720.000 kilometres on the odometer (446.400 miles). She is my love, my life, my dream come true. From the 24th of November to 22 March, she is the, "Shackleton Express," christened after the famous antarctic explorer. From the 23rd of March to the 23rd of November, she is the RMS Stargazer. The prefix, "RMS," means Road, Mud, Snow. I will likely never purchase another vehicle. Modern vehicles are the ugliest, most over engineered, flimsiest, least capable, weak performing, junk ever to hit the road. I work on them daily and never want to bring my work home with me. Thus, the RMS Stargazer motors on until my death.
I have had my heavily modified Jeep Wrangler TJ since 1996. We started our journey together when she only had 11 miles on the odometer. She has been with me when nobody else has been, when all abandoned me, when life inflicted a devastating hit to me. I lost everything. But my dear Stargazer is still with me today. Through the three jobs, two careers, a girlfriend, nine friends, 8 animal companions, five other vehicles, a devastating house fire, there surgeries, Stargazer has been there. I thought I lost Stargazer two year ago after I returned to my house when the insurance rebuilt it. That very night, my dear Stargazer caught fire due to bad wiring. I had to unload two fire extinguishers under the bonnet to get the fire to stop. Anybody else would have scrapped the old Jeep. But Stargazer is so much more than a machine now. Through great effort, dedication, and love, I rebuilt my dear Stargazer. Today she is all I have from better days. I loved my dear Stargazer. I love her forever. I will never betray her.
@@RustySprocket I ceased all social interaction 8 August 2000 at 18:34, including parties. After finding out that I can depend on nobody and I can trust nobody, the RMS Stargazer became my best friend, as she is today. She has 720.000 kilometers on the odometer (446.400 miles.) But, I will never part with her. Humans are garbage that can not be trusted. The RMS Stargazer is a faithful, dedicated, hard working, reliable, familiar, strong, supportive friend. That just described everything a human is not capable of being. Why would I even bother with a party?
@@RustySprocket I am the envy of other off roaders. Not many have such devotion to their off-road chariots. But, as mentioned, the RMS Stargazer is so much more than a machine now. After seeing what humans are like, the RMS Stargazer is my love, my life, my dream come true. We will never betray each other. Upon my death, whoever buries us both in my land gets everything. But, the RMS Stargazer must be buried with my ashes inside. When I become advanced in age, I will run an ad in many medias to let many know all they have to do is bury us together and the one doing it will get everything, including the wheeloader used to dig the hole.
The TJ Wrangler is hands-down a true American automotive masterpiece. I finally got smart and bought a 2003 TJ Sport about a year ago and absolutely love it.
I got my 2006 LJ about 12 years ago. I love it. I knew I wanted the 4.0. I knew I wanted the longer wheelbase. They only made it for 3 years. I also knew I did NOT want a 4 door. I’ve been asked, what about passengers? I don’t want those either. 😂 The only down side will be new rag tops and other custom style tops are harder to come by. But, it’s so much easier to work on than the newer models.
i bought my wife a 2004 wrangler unlimited when they came out in 2004 and you are correct about them only made for two years. when i bought her her jeep it had 3 miles on the clock as of 2023 she now has 268,000 on it and the only main issue she has ever had was the no. 5 piston skirt breaking. when she was told that she needed a new engine i told her to have it towed home and i showed her how to replace pistons, rings, bearings,oil pump etc,etc. shes still using it as a daily driver and has no intention of ever giving it up.
A four-inch lift on soft ride springs in your Ramcharger and it would have rode nice as well. I know I have one and two TJ's, a 98 with the 2.5 and a 01 with the 4.0.
No, they don't, I have a four-inch lift in my Ram Charger, and they ride great, however four links articulate better for off road, but Ram is considering going back to leaf springs in their 3/4 ton as the coil and link system does not provide the load carrying or towing capacity of leaf springs. All depends on the application.@@jonc2914
@@rogerstruthers3799 , ??? Are you saying that you prefer the long wheelbase version from 2006? LJs are cool, but mine was not long wheelbase. Mine was 4 cylinder, so lack of power was definitely an issue
The mirrors are standard factory mirrors for the 97-02 models. The mirrors changed for the 03-06 model year, but are not the same as the JL. @2:25 all Jeeps have independent shocks. The TJ was the first Jeep to have coil springs at all 4 corners.
@@balcorn9211In 2003 they changed the style to a more rounded mirror. Prior to 2003 they were more square as seen on his jeep. Have had my 2000 TJ Sahara for around 18 years now.
i inherited my grandpa's 1999 TJ with the 2.5L 4 banger after he passed away. he was a Vietnam veteran who absolutely was a die hard jeep fan and after driving it for awhile i now know why. he kept his in good shape, the paint job is still near new condition and it only has 136000 miles on it. only things ive done to it since ive had it is put a beefy front bumper on it with built in off road led lights, i put Jurassic park logo's on both doors and i replaced the old soft top with a brand new one that is a tan color instead of black. its a black jeep with a tan soft top. it has full doors instead of half doors too. ive got more plans for after market parts for it in the future as well. definitely the best vehicle ive ever owned.
I love my TJ. 258k miles and still going strong. On the rare occasion that something breaks it’s usually a $30-$40 part. I learn how to replace it via a UA-cam tutorial and I’m back on the road the next day. I will say, it definitely doesn’t feel safe, especially now that modern vehicles are getting so big. I keep finding myself looking at newer wranglers for improved crash safety but I just can’t justify the cost.
The 4.0 engine is reliable, the rest of the jeep is not. I'm always fixing things but it is definitely the cheapest and easiest car I've ever worked on
@@jonc2914 BS. As long as you watch the cooling system (The only reliability weak link) your good. Replace radiator, clutch fan, and thermo every 10 years or 100k miles your golden. Even the 32rh gearbox is pretty reliable, over 200k miles before rebuild and arguably the best gearbox for offloading...... For God sakes Border patrol is still using TJs........
Almost 240,000 miles on my 04 rubicon 5spd. I did have oil pressure switch stop working intermittently a while back, usually when it got hot. Eventually it failed to work but I didn't care. One night coming home from work I smelled burning oil. Checked at gas station and was wet around my valve cover, I knew beforehand my valvecover was leaking a tiny bit. So replaced gasket, was still leaking. Ended up being leak from oil pressure switch. I would replace it to save yourself a headache if yours looks pretty old, I think it was $40-50 total for the part and socket and brake clean to change it, easy job.
The memories these old Jeeps gave us is priceless. I remember driving across Death Valley on a 4th of July weekend with 3 buddies and a cooler full of beverages. No top, 125 degrees, and trying to not die in the heat on the way across the desert. So much fun, but those days are long behind me now.
I'm not a Jeep guy at all. Drove them, rode with buddies in them, just wasn't for me. But respect to this vehicle for what it is, and the joy that it's brought to so many people. Great content Brendan, keep it up!
The TJ was peak Wrangler! They're good enough on the road, but nearly unstoppable offroad! I've driven JKs and JLs, but there's just something more special about the TJ. I could write a novel about spectacular places that little Jeep has taken me :)
Also remember that the JK has German engineering that seeped into it. The JL is designed by Italian engineers. Was there not a time in the past when Germany and Italy worked together but achieved rather poor results? The last all American Jeep was the TJ, the last Traditional Jeep.
I had a friend in college who had a new TJ. It was quite noisy on the road. These things were far from a pleasant experience on the road, but certainly an improvement over the previous Jeep Wrangler models.
Everything is relative. I have been daily driving an 04 rubicon 5spd soft top and love the thing. I think it rides pretty well, not as good as stock because my control arm bushings are worn out. But on highway I just turn up radio haha. Used to have a suzuki samurai, if you hit railroad tracks felt like you were gonna break your back!😂
Yeah the new "Jeeps" (actually Fiats) are super heavy and way too complicated to be a reliable off-road vehicle. The new JL 4-doors literally weigh the same as my 2005 Suburban. That's just insane.
@@TehButterflyEffectand they're super unstable. Brake at 5 mph and be at full turn in really any jeep. You can feel so much roll it's scary. The 05 suburban was sturdy despite being pretty tall and heavy... And compared to new jeeps, I'd choose the old suburban every day due to being a blast and seeing how many are still left
Believe it or not, the JL has worthless interior screens, the engine auto stop and start design flaw that is being put into new vehicles so they will not last very long but save a spoonful of fuel per tank, and you will be lucky to find it in a manual transmission. The JK is the stopping point, unless you find one of the very rare, spartan, JLs and rip the auto stop / stop design flaw out of it.
I had an '01 Sport with a manual xsmn and 4.0 liter. A blast to drive but the slight steering wheel offset made long trips an ergonomic chore. Kinda noisy in the cabin at interstate speeds. Traded it in after eleven years and 106k. While it showed no visible rust it was getting ready to dissolve after 11 Midwest winters. New clutch, throttle position sensor and wiper motor were its only failure points.
I've had my 1997 Sahara for 26 years and other than 5sp transmission rebuild and exhaust manifold replaced. No issues @222,000 miles. Good news for me. Due to my kids growing up and the family memories in the lil'TJ. I started a search forthe TJ/LJ last year. I found a few that I didn't settle on and one I made a payment on. The dealer got a little shaded and thedeal fell through which was a blessing for me. I continued my search on CL and long story short. I ran across an LJ Rubicon 05 with less miles in the same $ range. It was an AZ jeep OEM except exhaust. I was listed 15 hours and several buyer had eyes on it and appointments. I left my job and beat the 1st appointment by 15 minutes.. Now I'm the proud owner of an 05 LJR and 97 Sahara. 😊lllllll😊
My 97 TJ just turned 122K and I'm the second owner. 3 Speed Auto is fine and I have the soft top I replaced at around 105K. The biggest issue has been the crank case sensor, the heater sensor thing under the glove compartment, replaced the radiator, and the thermostat. All parts were cheap and easy, thanks to YouTubzes. Cheaper than a golf cart and way better.
I love my 05 TJ. Got rid of that 35, and put in a 44 with lockers front and rear. I put 4:56 gears two inch lift and 33” mud grapplers. Goes everywhere I need to go, and turns on a dime.
The best jeep is the TJ Unlimited 4.0L I6. Best wheel base. I have a fully modified 2005 Unlimited silver metallic with only 10K miles. Bought it brand new in 2005. The 4 speed automatic transmission is actually a very good performer with a 4:1 gear kit.
Paid $4600 Cdn for my ‘97 TJ Sport with 195,000km three Summers ago. Previous owner added levelling kit, 33 inch tires, Banks cold air and exhaust. I have since added new rear bumper with tire carrier, new clutch, windshield, and a few other fixes. My son drove it to school and back the first Winter we owned but since it has just become my Summer cruiser. Doors and hard roof stay off all Summer and I park in the garage when it rains. So much fun, and everywhere I go people wave and comment, “Cool Jeep!” I love it!
I still have my '97 with the 2.5L 3-speed automatic! No longer my daily driver, i still get the most smiles per miles, and lots of compliments. Mine is extensively modified for added performance. 31" tires on stock coils and Bilstein shocks. Super simple, super fun to drive!
I am currently going to look at a 1999 TJ Sahara, looks good online. I did own a 1969 and a 1972 Jeep Commando. They drove fine, with reliable 6 cylinder engines. Great trucks, however rust was an issue. The lower floor panel rusted out on the 1969 Commando. An easy fix with a couple of aluminum food trays cut to fit. They were the first SUVs years before anyone every heard that term.
This was the vehicle I always wanted as a teenager. I eventually got my JK, but I still want to experience a 5-speed TJ with that same old reliable 4.0L that I and my family had in all of our '90s XJs.
@@paleo704 XJs are the first generation of Jeep Cherokee made with the same straight-6 cylinder 4.0L engine (well, at least the ones my family and I had were).
@@DuneJKsold my 2000 XJ Sport to get my 2000 Wrangler Sport 5 Speed. The straight 6 is amazing in BOTH, it’s more fun on a manual especially with the wrangler, but boy do I miss my XJ from time to time, even if it was a 4 door and an auto
My old man daily drove CJ's his whole life and so did I in the 80's, you don't need a truck that soft to daily drive lol. Everyone used to daily drive those old Jeeps.
Got my 2001 TJ 4.0 6cyl in April, 167,000 miles blue w/hardtop 2 or 2 1/2 inch lift with some cool looking tires w/black rims, didn’t know anything about jeeps until some nice coworkers took a look at it and told me what a cool ride I got and that I did good (they were kinda drooling over it lol) yayyy, I was thrilled, I love it, it is now my new obsession💙 The only thing I didn’t like were the seats and red seat belt harness that a previous owner had put in, never in my life did I ever think I would want to wrench on a auto, but so far I bought tools for it and wrench out the red harness belts and replace with regular over shoulder belts 💙, next to put in seats as soon as I find some, I wanna try low back buckets in black. Now to start jeepin😎✌️already learned the wave😊
Just picked up a 2003 Sport 4.0 with 5 speed and under 95,000 miles. $10K So far very happy and enjoy doing the little jobs on a 20 year old car. Did have to dust off my manual skills, had been almost 20 years since driving a manual. I agree, very cool car and a high spot for Jeep Wranglers.
The Tj was a whole new vehicle. The YJ was a continuation of the CJ. I know they say it wasn't but having worked on both, there is SO much shared between the CJ and YJ. The YJ and TJ are hard to find shared parts. Love all of them. Own a YJ but I know TJ is the pinnacle of Jeeps.
YJ is the pinnacle, bro. I own a YJ, a TJ and two Comanches. The YJ is simpler, easier to modify, and far more reliable. The only thing the TJ is better at is being more comfortable.
Hey! That's my TJ! I bought my 2001 TJ in 2005... same grey, 5-spd, 4 liter Sport. Even though it was my daily driver for about 5 years (3 mile commute) It now only has just under 65k miles. I keep it in my garage now, set up to flat tow behind our motorhome. I've kept it pretty much factory stock (original soft top!) except replaced the blown sub woofer.
My 99 is a daily commuter. 30mi each way. 4.0 and 5spd manual with 30in KO2s and it just wants to live at 75mph on the freeway. Ive been through a lot with it in all hellish forms of commute and never officially offroaded it yet. I love it.
correction. late model tjs dont use the same mirrors al jls lmaoooo. the mirrors on that tj in the video were the same ones used for most yjs edit: early tjs had yj mirrors. Late tjs ad their own mirrors that most definitely are not jl mirrors
My brother had the '03 with the 4.0L and 5 spd manual. He loved it. He drove it in Montana and Arizona for years. I have the '19 JL 2 door Sport S. I will admit the '03 was narrower and a tad smaller but it was loads of fun.
Absolutely! I drive a 99 Wrangler Sahara and love this car! It's very easy to maintain, I fixed some minor issues myself without any experience with working on cars before. On slow speeds it's a bumpy ride and it sometimes tends not to keep lanes properly, but when you push it over 65 km/h it's smooth. Well, it's not made for long hauls on the highway; although the consumption goes down to an average of 10 liter and you can keep up with most other cars, it becomes quite noisy inside which might be annoying after a while. I don't need to commute to work etc., so for occassional trips, goin to remote beaches or just green grocery shopping in town it's the greatest car you can imagine!
I have a 2000 Sahara and it's been great I've had to make some repairs to it maintenance stuff and the frame repaired twice and I've driven it on long trips about 2 to 3 hours up north in Minnesota and yeah it gets pretty noisy but I just turn the radio up lol anyways I've had mine for 7 years now and I will probably keep it for maybe a few years it depends don't get me wrong I love it but there's times I wish I had a pickup but I really can't afford a payment on a vehicle right now I checked at the bank I got the loan for my jeep and it was at 11% and I think the loan was way lower than that when I bought the jeep.
I had a YJ for the best years of my life. Couldn't have loved it more. Cried a bit when I sold it (couldn't take it with me; moved overseas). Then I bought a TJ. Could never go back. The coil suspension alone. Still have the TJ fourteen years later. It's been in the shop: zero times.
bought my TJ brand new back in 2005 and love it. best car I've ever had. bought a brand new Land Cruiser a few years ago but kept the jeep as well, couldn't part with it. Australia
I have a 00' TJ exactly like that one, except it is now a hardcore crawler. V8, coils, 1 ton's , etc. Still love it since the day I drive it off the lot.
I have had 7 Jeeps now. CJ-2A, CJ-5, YJ and 4 TJs. I used to hate the square headlights on the YJs, but they grew on me. Looking back on all my Jeeps, my favorite one was my YJ with a an enclosed Best Top half top and quick disconnect for the front linkage for better articulation off road. I can't explain why, I just liked it's profile and performance the best. I liked it even better than my 2005 Rubicon TJ. It doesn't make sense, as I am a hardcore Jeep person. But it was my favorite, even with square headlights. The TJs were the first step sloping the hood downward more.
I have wanted a CJ5 forever and I finally have one. But I think the square headlight hate is a bit over the top. The YJ's absolutely have their redeeming features. I would own one in a heartbeat.
Had a '98 TJ .That thing never failed me , ever. Multiple trips from Chicago to Orlando over the years .No problem. The only con was lack of AC and retrofit was more than I wanted to spend. Traded it for '02 with AC. Having a blast !
Southern California, from 2015-2017, so 2 years, I was searching/scanning 250 mile radius EVERYDAY for an unmolested TJ (1999-2002, auto, 4.0). The few I found in this condition, plus most TJs in my area were stick shift; I could not pick up the phone fast enough and they were gone. Despite already being in the $15k range. Finally I gave up and bought a new JK.
I had a red 2000 SE (manual) with the 4 banger as my first Jeep that I bought new. My second one was a black 2001 Sport (manual) with the 4L. Sold it several years ago and have been Jeepless for almost 10 years. So last year, I went down to Florida and bought a red 2000 Sport (manual) with the 4L and drove it home to Wisconsin. Most of the Jeeps that were for sale in WI were junk with rusted frames. We do have a local dealership that specializes in TJs (from the south) in excellent condition, but they wanted $20,000 or more for one of those. The Jeep I found in Florida had zero rust and was in terrific shape. It took me a year to find it, but now I'm back in my happy place.
I have had my 06 TJ since 2008. It has its wear & tear being my only car and almost 20yrs old… but I love it!! I need to find other TJ owners in my area since I’m starting to need repairs here & there and refuse to bring it to a shop getting charged insane amounts for stuff I can do myself with the advice of others.
I'm an original owner of a mid 96 production 1997 jeep wrangler sport. 126k miles. Build several x over and now she's on 40's, 1 tons, front and rear stretch, Atlas, full cage, 4.7 stroker, blah blah blah... Funnest vehicle I've ever owned. It was a daily driver for nearly 15 yrs before I got serious with the build direction.
I have a 2005 Rubicon with the 6-speed stick. I have owned it since 2013. I have been all over the west with it, including British Columbia and Alberta, California, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Utah, Nevada, and Wyoming to name some of the places I have driven it.
Took me 10 years to find my perfect '03 TJ Rubicon. Had to be basic, 5 speed, I6, Half doors, moderate lift, etc. Removed my back seat(who can get back there anyhow) and made a storage box for my winter gear. People stop and ask me if I would ever sell and I just look at them and shake my head. Keep getting told I need to run 35's but then would have to change out all my gears, and with the lockers, was cheaper to run 33's.
I bought my 97 in 2012 with 102,000 miles for $3000. I taught my 3 daughters to drive a manual and it now only has 126,000. It was always just a spare. I was thinking of selling it but it’s not worth enough to bother. For now I’ll keep it.
A friend of mine used to drive his at 80 mph as well. He had a serious gust of wind hit him and with all the air that gets trapped underneath these at those speeds, it blew him onto the ditch. He rolled about a dozen times in any direction possible with that thing. When we got to him he was surprisingly uninjured (so we thought). He wasn’t sure where he was etc, but he is a very serious natural body builder, so that basically helped keep him together. As we gathered parts and the contents of us vehicle, he started to crash. I took care of him, then the ambulance was called. It took him a few months to recover. He had a serious concussion even without visibly showing he hit his head or anything. He also had many sprains and tears in tendons & muscles. He had a 4 point harness in that Jeep. The emergency doctor said a smaller guy would likely have been killed. He also said even my buddy would have had little chance if he only had a 3 point factory seatbelt in there. He has some lasting injuries from that and it occurred back in 1998. The roll bar had been beefed up as well in that Jeep over factory because he wheeled it a lot. Be careful,,,, you may think because the vehicle drives well enough at 80 mph it’s fine, but there’s very little room for error or surprises. My buddy was basically hit by a moderate dust devil. That was enough to unsettle the vehicle and the rest is history. If you have to make emergency maneuvers at 80 mph,,,,,, well,,, nice chatting with ya. Anything over 65 really is not the best idea. We witnessed what happens first hand. I also was a LEO for 30 years. The bodies I dealt with from accidents with the CJs were more than I care to remember. The TJs were much better, but they still were a box on 4 wheels with live axels front & rear. I dealt with some horrific accidents with them as well. The factory roll bar isn’t sufficient at highway speeds. If you roll over,,,. Just be careful, especially if you have passengers. They will be the innocent victims.
My 04 Rubicon only has 97k miles on her! Bought it a few years ago, bone stock. Lift and 33s and a heavy duty winch and bumper and she's good to gooooo!!
I had a ‘99 TJ 4 cylinder manual soft top without AC. Great for around town and scenic routes, but it struggled on the highway above 65 mph and it was not a pleasant experience on hot rainy days when choosing between being dry and hot or damp and cool. On nice days when not extremely humid, the fan did a great job at creating airflow even in heavy traffic (especially if the top is down). Thing was always loud over 35mph (and got louder with speed), with either the soft top moving in the wind or the top down and the sound of a brick flying through the air coming from all sides. Only way to hear music decently on the highway is a sound bar attached to the tool bar near your head/ears, and all conversations had to be loud. Still a great ride to take around town, off-road, or cruising the beach, but a second vehicle makes longer trips exponentially more enjoyable. A hard top, 6 cylinder, and A\C would definitely help, but they are all fighting against a design that just won’t utilize those parts as efficiently as a vehicle designed for long distance highway trips.
I have a 1997 TJ Sport with a 4 liter and 5speed manual transmission with only 56,000 original miles and it has been stored every winter. 2 1/2 inch lift 33" mud tires and a warn 8274 winch. It has the soft top and 1/2 doors a great basic 4 wheel drive. Been very reliable since 1998 when i bought it.
I had a 1972 CJ5 built from the ground up that I daily drove 140 miles round trip to work without sway bars for 15 years...I now daily a 2004 TJ. at 2:25 the guy says it's the first Jeep to have independent shocks at all 4 corners...that should be independent coil springs at all 4 corners..
I own a lifted '99 TJ Sport on 36s with the 4.0 straight six and 5 speed manual, the TJ is the ultimate Jeep. Its small, compact, light and can fit places the bigger JK and JL cant. The TJ is almost the same size as the WWII Willeys jeep being only 600 lbs heavier, 5" wider, and 20" longer, where as the JK and JL are as big and as heavy as a military Humvee being 2000 lbs heavier than a TJ. Its 4.0 engine is also almost indestructable where the JK and JLs Pentatar V6 tends to self destruct if pushed too had. They also break down too often. People would rather pay $12,000 - $18,000 for a good condition, built, reliable TJ, than $60,000 for a less reliable, oversized JK or JL.
My 2000 TJ Sport is almost exactly like that one. Same color, engine, and transmission. My seats are different and I’ve never had the carpet in it. But this kind of video is exactly the motivation I needed to get out and work on it! Thanks!
Daimler Chrysler TJ is the best. That era of the Jeep name badge was one of the better overall line ups in the auto industry. Liberty and Cherokee were also solid.
I had a TJ Se 4 banger, miss it some times. The 2.5L power plant, basically a 4L cut in half, tugging a brick was certainly pokey on the highway. Off highway, in stock form, they were quite worthy. The 4 banger SE models had a 4.10 rear axle ratio, vs 3.07 in the 4L Wrangler X and Sport models (without tow package), actually a better crawl ratio. My 4 banger TJ had 30" tires, no lift, a Detroit True-Trac LSD (the only mod I did) and was a nimble enough little mountain goat for getting me to remote hiking trailheads and campsites. Good times, until I started having trouble with CA smog tests.
Love your content, especially Jeep related content. But we agree to disagree. While the TJ/LJ is the best Wrangler, my CJ does just fine as a daily driver. Been a daily for me since 2010. Even when I was driving 2 hours each way to DC for work. The TJ is a bit cushier for sure. But leaf springs are fine on roads.
I second that emotion. For the really sweet spot, get the unlimited from 2006. Still two doors, a little bit more room, and all of the classic greatness of the TJ.
I wouldn't shy away from the 2.5L Jeeps. They're solid little engines and still make 130ish hp. To me a bare bones 2.5L YJ or TJ calls back to those days of the CJ2s and 3s. Simple, reliable, lightweight and can go anywhere.
I'm on my 2nd 2000 TJ SPORT. This one has the 4.0L and 5spd, with only 189k on it now. I could see the Flatirons in Boulder in the background, figured you were making the video in the Longmont-ish area. I moved north to Cheyenne now and the TJ eats up the Wyoming snow.
I have a 2002 TJ with a 5 speed. 156k miles and runs great! My only issue is the lack of power in the 4 cyl. I’m planning to swap it out for the inline 6
I miss my 2000 TJ. Drove that thing until the frame rotted. Great wheel base for crawling. Easy to modify. My only complaint was top speed was 75 mph. I had the 4 cyl 5 speed manual.
I got a RHD with 135,000 miles on it very small rust for 5k. Love this dam thing I started with a Grand cherokee limited and they both ride like a boat. Never going back to any other Brand. I was a Honda guy b4.
My 92 YJ with the 2.5 liter drove great. Even on the Interstates. I also bought some heavy duty leafsprings for it, and didn't ever need to buy shocks for it again. I drove it for 8 years. I currently drive a 99 TJ, same exact platform....2.5 liter AX5 transmission. It's in the shop getting a 4 inch lift and all new steering and suspension. It's had death wobble for the last 6 or 7 years. There are positives and negatives to owning a YJ and a TJ. I went thru two AX5 transmissions in the YJ in 8 years. Haven't had to do anything to AX5 in my TJ.
My 99 4.0 has been the funnest vehicle I've owned. Got it for 8k. 10 years ago. Just broke 90k. Last time I looked up prices I think I've almost doubled value. Crazy
Ah Crap, where do I start. Driven CJ's both 5's and 7's, YJ's, TJ's and one JK. Loved the CJ's for their simplicity. Bare bones, easy to fix roadside, trailside, lakeside, wherever. YJ's were decent too, still reasonably simple to run fix, and own. Straight 6 was ALWAYS the engine to have. Torque monster istting at highway speeds, often didn't require a down shift on slight hills. TJ's, starting getting to have a bit too much tech already in place. I loved running nekid, to top no doors, and once a month, sometimes more, I got caught in the rain. Needless to say, rain in a TJ with too many options, started causing problems. And electrical issues are sometimes harder to find. I only needed basic heat, venting, air curculation being in a not 110 degree all summer area. So, CJ heating did me fine. Although I did do the Blazer blower motor conversion on all my CJ7's. Frickin' worth it! The ride in the CJ's was choppy, not question there, but was always smoothened out after doing a proper lift and larger tires/gearing. The T5 transmission I thought was a much better transmission than the AX 15. I could float gears up AND down with ease in the CJ's. TJ suspension was tuned more to the rstreet driver, which is why, (in my opinion,) the aftermnarket HAD to step up and supply the more aggresive replacement parts. Sorry, my 2 to 6 cents worth.
A few years ago, neighbors were selling their son's 2000ish TJ. It was a 5 speed jeep. It was his high school vehicle and was off to college. They said the great thing about the 5 speed, they nevee had to worry about his friend wanting to drive it. Lol.
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It must be nice to have $8-10k laying around to buy a used Jeep.
The 1997 TJ is the only year that had the full width cowl vent. It is unique from all other TJs because of that exterior feature. I have a 1997 TJ as well. But, it has an aluminum Cowl and the vent that is the standard from 1998 to 2006. I bought mine in mid 1996. It was rather a concept Jeep that the dealership had to show off what was coming in 1996. I got it at a very good price because it had sat over a year before I got it. Being that it is sort of a Beta unit, it has that aluminum cowl with the 1998 vent, aluminum canyon rims and had 31 inch tyres on them. It has fuel injection similar to the one found in the 2000 year unit that has the fuel rail and coil rail. It has an aftermarket Best Top black diamond top with upper door sliders, Dana 44 rear axle, a rather strange turn signal stalk that I think is more like out of a Grand Cherokee of the time. Best of all, it is Solar Yellow. Many of these features made it to production TJ models over the years. But, the leather wrapped steering wheel never did, and I have one.
My 97 TJ (4cyl 5speed) just turned 246,000 miles, runs and drives great. Has been my daily driver since 2003.
And transmission issues?
@@oscarbear7498 It is a 5-speed manual. What Transmission issues? I am even still on the original clutch.
@@Woodcademy I have a automatic tj 06 rubi.
Going from 2 gear to 3 it clunks :(
Happened 1 month after I bought the dam thing lol
@@oscarbear7498the 32rh three speed that came from 1997 to 2002 is a lot better then the your 4 speed with overdrive. It's arguably the best transmission for the TJ and the best transmission in all of off-roading. It only has three gears , almost no drivetrain power loss, puts the power down well because of the little amount of gears. Super simple , again due to Three gears. Pretty reliable, especially for it's time over 200k miles easy with fluid changes every 30k.......... the Fat ginger in the video doesn't know what he's talking about ...... only downside is high-revs equals more gas burning due to low amount of gears on the highway. But hey it's a jeep.........
That’s awesome dude, my brother and I have my fathers old 97 TJ, that’s also a 4-cylinder 5-speed. It’s got a little it less mileage than yours around 220k mile, but it is absolutely rock solid it runs like a champ. The TJ was the last of the rugged Jeeps.
19 years and counting with my TJ. This was the peak of Jeep in terms of simplicity mixing with modern reliability. It has been an epic vehicle!
Sadly the new Jeep vehicles are not made with the same care, pride or craftsmanship :( I have a JL - I love it, but do not know if it will see 19 years. MAJOR (hopefully fixed now :) ) engine issues after just 86k miles. Congrats on your baby. When if finally dies, cut off the front section and turn it into a table or something cool.
TJ is best combo of quality of ride improvements before too many electronics started getting in the way, IMO. It is the sweet spot.
I still have my 2003 TJ for 21 years now. Only 103k miles on it. Had to replace the clutch twice though and fix the death wobble. Other than that it’s been fantastic
Agreed I have a 2000 tj
28 years with my 1997 TJ that I bought mid 1996. She is my everything! She is my daily driver, my hauler, my off road tank, my flood valley forder, my freeway turtle, my economy vehicle, my pickup truck, my boat tow vehicle, my tow behind the RV vehicle. She currently has 720.000 kilometres on the odometer (446.400 miles). She is my love, my life, my dream come true. From the 24th of November to 22 March, she is the, "Shackleton Express," christened after the famous antarctic explorer. From the 23rd of March to the 23rd of November, she is the RMS Stargazer. The prefix, "RMS," means Road, Mud, Snow. I will likely never purchase another vehicle. Modern vehicles are the ugliest, most over engineered, flimsiest, least capable, weak performing, junk ever to hit the road. I work on them daily and never want to bring my work home with me. Thus, the RMS Stargazer motors on until my death.
I have had my heavily modified Jeep Wrangler TJ since 1996. We started our journey together when she only had 11 miles on the odometer. She has been with me when nobody else has been, when all abandoned me, when life inflicted a devastating hit to me. I lost everything. But my dear Stargazer is still with me today. Through the three jobs, two careers, a girlfriend, nine friends, 8 animal companions, five other vehicles, a devastating house fire, there surgeries, Stargazer has been there. I thought I lost Stargazer two year ago after I returned to my house when the insurance rebuilt it. That very night, my dear Stargazer caught fire due to bad wiring. I had to unload two fire extinguishers under the bonnet to get the fire to stop. Anybody else would have scrapped the old Jeep. But Stargazer is so much more than a machine now. Through great effort, dedication, and love, I rebuilt my dear Stargazer. Today she is all I have from better days. I loved my dear Stargazer. I love her forever. I will never betray her.
😳
Bet you're fun at parties...
@@RustySprocket I ceased all social interaction 8 August 2000 at 18:34, including parties. After finding out that I can depend on nobody and I can trust nobody, the RMS Stargazer became my best friend, as she is today. She has 720.000 kilometers on the odometer (446.400 miles.) But, I will never part with her. Humans are garbage that can not be trusted. The RMS Stargazer is a faithful, dedicated, hard working, reliable, familiar, strong, supportive friend. That just described everything a human is not capable of being. Why would I even bother with a party?
@@RustySprocket I am the envy of other off roaders. Not many have such devotion to their off-road chariots. But, as mentioned, the RMS Stargazer is so much more than a machine now. After seeing what humans are like, the RMS Stargazer is my love, my life, my dream come true. We will never betray each other. Upon my death, whoever buries us both in my land gets everything. But, the RMS Stargazer must be buried with my ashes inside. When I become advanced in age, I will run an ad in many medias to let many know all they have to do is bury us together and the one doing it will get everything, including the wheeloader used to dig the hole.
The TJ Wrangler is hands-down a true American automotive masterpiece. I finally got smart and bought a 2003 TJ Sport about a year ago and absolutely love it.
I got my 2006 LJ about 12 years ago. I love it. I knew I wanted the 4.0. I knew I wanted the longer wheelbase. They only made it for 3 years. I also knew I did NOT want a 4 door. I’ve been asked, what about passengers? I don’t want those either. 😂
The only down side will be new rag tops and other custom style tops are harder to come by. But, it’s so much easier to work on than the newer models.
2006 LJ was the last year of the 4.0L Inline Straight 6.
@@mabeljoe4305 I know. That’s why I bought one. 😁
The unicorn of Jeep, LJ stretched wheelbase option, had came out for only 2yrs, from 04 to 06
i bought my wife a 2004 wrangler unlimited when they came out in 2004 and you are correct about them only made for two years. when i bought her her jeep it had 3 miles on the clock as of 2023 she now has 268,000 on it and the only main issue she has ever had was the no. 5 piston skirt breaking. when she was told that she needed a new engine i told her to have it towed home and i showed her how to replace pistons, rings, bearings,oil pump etc,etc. shes still using it as a daily driver and has no intention of ever giving it up.
My dream jeep😍
Loved my 2006 TJ. Was shocked when I bought it how much better it rode than my leaf sprung Ramcharger. Agree - 4.0 L TJ is a great option!
A four-inch lift on soft ride springs in your Ramcharger and it would have rode nice as well. I know I have one and two TJ's, a 98 with the 2.5 and a 01 with the 4.0.
How does that shock you? Leaf spring sucks lol
No, they don't, I have a four-inch lift in my Ram Charger, and they ride great, however four links articulate better for off road, but Ram is considering going back to leaf springs in their 3/4 ton as the coil and link system does not provide the load carrying or towing capacity of leaf springs. All depends on the application.@@jonc2914
2006 TJ ???. Thinking "LJ"
@@rogerstruthers3799 , ??? Are you saying that you prefer the long wheelbase version from 2006? LJs are cool, but mine was not long wheelbase. Mine was 4 cylinder, so lack of power was definitely an issue
The mirrors are standard factory mirrors for the 97-02 models. The mirrors changed for the 03-06 model year, but are not the same as the JL. @2:25 all Jeeps have independent shocks. The TJ was the first Jeep to have coil springs at all 4 corners.
First Wrangler. If you count the Grand Cherokee, it had coils before the TJ did.
Yea idk why he said they were the same mirrors
Those are original mirrors.
@@johnjamrowski7505 In the video he says that the current JL has the _same_ mirrors as the TJ. They clearly are not the same.
@@balcorn9211In 2003 they changed the style to a more rounded mirror. Prior to 2003 they were more square as seen on his jeep. Have had my 2000 TJ Sahara for around 18 years now.
i inherited my grandpa's 1999 TJ with the 2.5L 4 banger after he passed away. he was a Vietnam veteran who absolutely was a die hard jeep fan and after driving it for awhile i now know why. he kept his in good shape, the paint job is still near new condition and it only has 136000 miles on it. only things ive done to it since ive had it is put a beefy front bumper on it with built in off road led lights, i put Jurassic park logo's on both doors and i replaced the old soft top with a brand new one that is a tan color instead of black. its a black jeep with a tan soft top. it has full doors instead of half doors too. ive got more plans for after market parts for it in the future as well. definitely the best vehicle ive ever owned.
How is the 4cyl on gas and on the Hwy? I’m getting one Saturday with 33” stampers on it
@@dentondunn4346 not bad mine only has 27 inch tires i think? So it doesn't suck back that much gas.
I love my TJ. 258k miles and still going strong. On the rare occasion that something breaks it’s usually a $30-$40 part. I learn how to replace it via a UA-cam tutorial and I’m back on the road the next day.
I will say, it definitely doesn’t feel safe, especially now that modern vehicles are getting so big. I keep finding myself looking at newer wranglers for improved crash safety but I just can’t justify the cost.
The 4.0 engine is reliable, the rest of the jeep is not. I'm always fixing things but it is definitely the cheapest and easiest car I've ever worked on
@@jonc2914 BS. As long as you watch the cooling system (The only reliability weak link) your good. Replace radiator, clutch fan, and thermo every 10 years or 100k miles your golden. Even the 32rh gearbox is pretty reliable, over 200k miles before rebuild and arguably the best gearbox for offloading...... For God sakes Border patrol is still using TJs........
Almost 240,000 miles on my 04 rubicon 5spd. I did have oil pressure switch stop working intermittently a while back, usually when it got hot. Eventually it failed to work but I didn't care. One night coming home from work I smelled burning oil. Checked at gas station and was wet around my valve cover, I knew beforehand my valvecover was leaking a tiny bit. So replaced gasket, was still leaking. Ended up being leak from oil pressure switch. I would replace it to save yourself a headache if yours looks pretty old, I think it was $40-50 total for the part and socket and brake clean to change it, easy job.
720.000 kilometers (446.400 miles) on my TJ. I have been the only owner. She is my love, my life, my dream come true.
The memories these old Jeeps gave us is priceless. I remember driving across Death Valley on a 4th of July weekend with 3 buddies and a cooler full of beverages. No top, 125 degrees, and trying to not die in the heat on the way across the desert. So much fun, but those days are long behind me now.
I had a ‘98 TJ: 2.5L 4cyl, 5 speed, soft top, AM/FM radio, no AC. What a great little basic 4x4 it was!
Wooow. I have same one😁 TJ 👍
I'm not a Jeep guy at all. Drove them, rode with buddies in them, just wasn't for me. But respect to this vehicle for what it is, and the joy that it's brought to so many people. Great content Brendan, keep it up!
Mines is 20 years old as of this year. I've only had to make minor repairs. I would never get rid of my TJ.
The TJ was peak Wrangler! They're good enough on the road, but nearly unstoppable offroad! I've driven JKs and JLs, but there's just something more special about the TJ. I could write a novel about spectacular places that little Jeep has taken me :)
Then why are newer jeeps on 40 inch tires with lockers outperforming tj's? I'm a tj fan but in videos it always looks the weakest
@jonc2914 I don't understand your comparison. Are you comparing newer Jeeps on 40s/ lockers to a TJ also on 40s/ lockers?
Also remember that the JK has German engineering that seeped into it. The JL is designed by Italian engineers. Was there not a time in the past when Germany and Italy worked together but achieved rather poor results? The last all American Jeep was the TJ, the last Traditional Jeep.
I had a friend in college who had a new TJ. It was quite noisy on the road. These things were far from a pleasant experience on the road, but certainly an improvement over the previous Jeep Wrangler models.
True thing, that guy becomes noisy and horrific loud on the highway. But the growling 4.0 liter is a symphony while slowly cruising through town 😀
Everything is relative. I have been daily driving an 04 rubicon 5spd soft top and love the thing. I think it rides pretty well, not as good as stock because my control arm bushings are worn out. But on highway I just turn up radio haha. Used to have a suzuki samurai, if you hit railroad tracks felt like you were gonna break your back!😂
Had 2 XJ cherokees with the 4.0....im a v8 guy but I would take that 4.0 inline 6 anyway. Such a great motor. Wish I still had our black XJ.
The 4.0L is just magnificent. I have an MJ and the 4.0L is one of things that makes it such an amazing truck.
Get the 2005 or 2006 TJ Unlimited with the stretched wheel base. That's the one to get.
I like that the TJ is a little smaller that the next two Wranglers.
A few inches shorter, at least five inches narrower, and something like 700 pounds lighter. Pretty crazy.
Yeah the new "Jeeps" (actually Fiats) are super heavy and way too complicated to be a reliable off-road vehicle. The new JL 4-doors literally weigh the same as my 2005 Suburban. That's just insane.
@@TehButterflyEffectand they're super unstable. Brake at 5 mph and be at full turn in really any jeep. You can feel so much roll it's scary. The 05 suburban was sturdy despite being pretty tall and heavy... And compared to new jeeps, I'd choose the old suburban every day due to being a blast and seeing how many are still left
Believe it or not, the JL has worthless interior screens, the engine auto stop and start design flaw that is being put into new vehicles so they will not last very long but save a spoonful of fuel per tank, and you will be lucky to find it in a manual transmission. The JK is the stopping point, unless you find one of the very rare, spartan, JLs and rip the auto stop / stop design flaw out of it.
Just bought an 06 Rubicon Unlimited for $9500. It's been over a decade since my last Jeep. Feels so good to be back in the family again!
I had an '01 Sport with a manual xsmn and 4.0 liter. A blast to drive but the slight steering wheel offset made long trips an ergonomic chore. Kinda noisy in the cabin at interstate speeds. Traded it in after eleven years and 106k. While it showed no visible rust it was getting ready to dissolve after 11 Midwest winters. New clutch, throttle position sensor and wiper motor were its only failure points.
I've had my 1997 Sahara for 26 years and other than 5sp transmission rebuild and exhaust manifold replaced. No issues @222,000 miles.
Good news for me. Due to my kids growing up and the family memories in the lil'TJ. I started a search forthe TJ/LJ last year. I found a few that I didn't settle on and one I made a payment on. The dealer got a little shaded and thedeal fell through which was a blessing for me. I continued my search on CL and long story short. I ran across an LJ Rubicon 05 with less miles in the same $ range. It was an AZ jeep OEM except exhaust. I was listed 15 hours and several buyer had eyes on it and appointments. I left my job and beat the 1st appointment by 15 minutes.. Now I'm the proud owner of an 05 LJR and 97 Sahara.
😊lllllll😊
My 97 TJ just turned 122K and I'm the second owner. 3 Speed Auto is fine and I have the soft top I replaced at around 105K. The biggest issue has been the crank case sensor, the heater sensor thing under the glove compartment, replaced the radiator, and the thermostat. All parts were cheap and easy, thanks to YouTubzes. Cheaper than a golf cart and way better.
05 rubicon with 6 speed manual. I love my jeep I’ve stopped driving it everyday due to fuel costs but take it to the woods a coupes times a month.
Had a 97 that I bought in 2000 for $10k. 310,000 miles on it when it was totaled. (I hate semi’s). That 4.0 was still going n going!
I love my 05 TJ. Got rid of that 35, and put in a 44 with lockers front and rear. I put 4:56 gears two inch lift and 33” mud grapplers. Goes everywhere I need to go, and turns on a dime.
been looking for 4 yrs last week purchased a 2005 X sport. Automatic, air, 4.0 with 28 k original miles for $10.7k 😊
The best jeep is the TJ Unlimited 4.0L I6. Best wheel base. I have a fully modified 2005 Unlimited silver metallic with only 10K miles. Bought it brand new in 2005.
The 4 speed automatic transmission is actually a very good performer with a 4:1 gear kit.
Paid $4600 Cdn for my ‘97 TJ Sport with 195,000km three Summers ago. Previous owner added levelling kit, 33 inch tires, Banks cold air and exhaust. I have since added new rear bumper with tire carrier, new clutch, windshield, and a few other fixes. My son drove it to school and back the first Winter we owned but since it has just become my Summer cruiser. Doors and hard roof stay off all Summer and I park in the garage when it rains. So much fun, and everywhere I go people wave and comment, “Cool Jeep!” I love it!
I still have my '97 with the 2.5L 3-speed automatic!
No longer my daily driver, i still get the most smiles per miles, and lots of compliments.
Mine is extensively modified for added performance.
31" tires on stock coils and Bilstein shocks.
Super simple, super fun to drive!
I am currently going to look at a 1999 TJ Sahara, looks good online.
I did own a 1969 and a 1972 Jeep Commando. They drove fine, with reliable 6 cylinder engines.
Great trucks, however rust was an issue. The lower floor panel rusted out on the 1969 Commando.
An easy fix with a couple of aluminum food trays cut to fit. They were the first SUVs years before anyone every heard that term.
I have a 2006 LJ wrangler with 147, 535 miles on the odometer and the engine purrs like a kitten and so easy to work on.
"independent shocks"? 2:28 I guess you mean beam axles with coil springs, right?
There were a few things in this video that made me go “hmmmm”, and that was the trigger to look at things a little more closely.
This was the vehicle I always wanted as a teenager. I eventually got my JK, but I still want to experience a 5-speed TJ with that same old reliable 4.0L that I and my family had in all of our '90s XJs.
What’s an XJ?
@@paleo704 XJs are the first generation of Jeep Cherokee made with the same straight-6 cylinder 4.0L engine (well, at least the ones my family and I had were).
@@DuneJKsold my 2000 XJ Sport to get my 2000 Wrangler Sport 5 Speed. The straight 6 is amazing in BOTH, it’s more fun on a manual especially with the wrangler, but boy do I miss my XJ from time to time, even if it was a 4 door and an auto
My old man daily drove CJ's his whole life and so did I in the 80's, you don't need a truck that soft to daily drive lol. Everyone used to daily drive those old Jeeps.
Got my 2001 TJ 4.0 6cyl in April, 167,000 miles blue w/hardtop 2 or 2 1/2 inch lift with some cool looking tires w/black rims, didn’t know anything about jeeps until some nice coworkers took a look at it and told me what a cool ride I got and that I did good (they were kinda drooling over it lol) yayyy, I was thrilled, I love it, it is now my new obsession💙 The only thing I didn’t like were the seats and red seat belt harness that a previous owner had put in, never in my life did I ever think I would want to wrench on a auto, but so far I bought tools for it and wrench out the red harness belts and replace with regular over shoulder belts 💙, next to put in seats as soon as I find some, I wanna try low back buckets in black. Now to start jeepin😎✌️already learned the wave😊
Just picked up a 2003 Sport 4.0 with 5 speed and under 95,000 miles. $10K So far very happy and enjoy doing the little jobs on a 20 year old car. Did have to dust off my manual skills, had been almost 20 years since driving a manual. I agree, very cool car and a high spot for Jeep Wranglers.
The Tj was a whole new vehicle. The YJ was a continuation of the CJ. I know they say it wasn't but having worked on both, there is SO much shared between the CJ and YJ. The YJ and TJ are hard to find shared parts. Love all of them. Own a YJ but I know TJ is the pinnacle of Jeeps.
YJ is the pinnacle, bro. I own a YJ, a TJ and two Comanches. The YJ is simpler, easier to modify, and far more reliable.
The only thing the TJ is better at is being more comfortable.
Hey! That's my TJ! I bought my 2001 TJ in 2005... same grey, 5-spd, 4 liter Sport. Even though it was my daily driver for about 5 years (3 mile commute) It now only has just under 65k miles. I keep it in my garage now, set up to flat tow behind our motorhome. I've kept it pretty much factory stock (original soft top!) except replaced the blown sub woofer.
My 99 is a daily commuter. 30mi each way. 4.0 and 5spd manual with 30in KO2s and it just wants to live at 75mph on the freeway. Ive been through a lot with it in all hellish forms of commute and never officially offroaded it yet. I love it.
Correction, those mirrors are the stock design on the 97-00 or 01 models. After that they went to the newer design that matches the JL mirror.
correction. late model tjs dont use the same mirrors al jls lmaoooo. the mirrors on that tj in the video were the same ones used for most yjs
edit: early tjs had yj mirrors. Late tjs ad their own mirrors that most definitely are not jl mirrors
I’ve had my ‘98 TJ SE since new, and I have zero plans to sell her.
My brother had the '03 with the 4.0L and 5 spd manual. He loved it. He drove it in Montana and Arizona for years. I have the '19 JL 2 door Sport S. I will admit the '03 was narrower and a tad smaller but it was loads of fun.
01 Sahara owner with the inline 6 and absolutely love it. Most fun vehicle I've ever had.
Absolutely! I drive a 99 Wrangler Sahara and love this car! It's very easy to maintain, I fixed some minor issues myself without any experience with working on cars before. On slow speeds it's a bumpy ride and it sometimes tends not to keep lanes properly, but when you push it over 65 km/h it's smooth. Well, it's not made for long hauls on the highway; although the consumption goes down to an average of 10 liter and you can keep up with most other cars, it becomes quite noisy inside which might be annoying after a while. I don't need to commute to work etc., so for occassional trips, goin to remote beaches or just green grocery shopping in town it's the greatest car you can imagine!
I have a 2000 Sahara and it's been great I've had to make some repairs to it maintenance stuff and the frame repaired twice and I've driven it on long trips about 2 to 3 hours up north in Minnesota and yeah it gets pretty noisy but I just turn the radio up lol anyways I've had mine for 7 years now and I will probably keep it for maybe a few years it depends don't get me wrong I love it but there's times I wish I had a pickup but I really can't afford a payment on a vehicle right now I checked at the bank I got the loan for my jeep and it was at 11% and I think the loan was way lower than that when I bought the jeep.
I had a YJ for the best years of my life. Couldn't have loved it more. Cried a bit when I sold it (couldn't take it with me; moved overseas). Then I bought a TJ. Could never go back. The coil suspension alone. Still have the TJ fourteen years later. It's been in the shop: zero times.
bought my TJ brand new back in 2005 and love it. best car I've ever had. bought a brand new Land Cruiser a few years ago but kept the jeep as well, couldn't part with it. Australia
I have a 00' TJ exactly like that one, except it is now a hardcore crawler. V8, coils, 1 ton's , etc. Still love it since the day I drive it off the lot.
I have had 7 Jeeps now. CJ-2A, CJ-5, YJ and 4 TJs. I used to hate the square headlights on the YJs, but they grew on me. Looking back on all my Jeeps, my favorite one was my YJ with a an enclosed Best Top half top and quick disconnect for the front linkage for better articulation off road. I can't explain why, I just liked it's profile and performance the best. I liked it even better than my 2005 Rubicon TJ. It doesn't make sense, as I am a hardcore Jeep person. But it was my favorite, even with square headlights. The TJs were the first step sloping the hood downward more.
I have wanted a CJ5 forever and I finally have one. But I think the square headlight hate is a bit over the top. The YJ's absolutely have their redeeming features. I would own one in a heartbeat.
@@beestoe993 🙂
Had a '98 TJ .That thing never failed me , ever. Multiple trips from Chicago to Orlando over the years .No problem. The only con was lack of AC and retrofit was more than I wanted to spend. Traded it for '02 with AC. Having a blast !
Southern California, from 2015-2017, so 2 years, I was searching/scanning 250 mile radius EVERYDAY for an unmolested TJ (1999-2002, auto, 4.0). The few I found in this condition, plus most TJs in my area were stick shift; I could not pick up the phone fast enough and they were gone. Despite already being in the $15k range. Finally I gave up and bought a new JK.
I had a red 2000 SE (manual) with the 4 banger as my first Jeep that I bought new. My second one was a black 2001 Sport (manual) with the 4L. Sold it several years ago and have been Jeepless for almost 10 years. So last year, I went down to Florida and bought a red 2000 Sport (manual) with the 4L and drove it home to Wisconsin. Most of the Jeeps that were for sale in WI were junk with rusted frames. We do have a local dealership that specializes in TJs (from the south) in excellent condition, but they wanted $20,000 or more for one of those. The Jeep I found in Florida had zero rust and was in terrific shape. It took me a year to find it, but now I'm back in my happy place.
Had a 2000 4.0l Sport with the 5 speed. Miss that TJ so much, should have never sold it.
Me and you both
How much did you sell it for?
I have had my 06 TJ since 2008. It has its wear & tear being my only car and almost 20yrs old… but I love it!!
I need to find other TJ owners in my area since I’m starting to need repairs here & there and refuse to bring it to a shop getting charged insane amounts for stuff I can do myself with the advice of others.
I loved my TJ(s) - It to me was the real successor to the CJ-7.
I'm an original owner of a mid 96 production 1997 jeep wrangler sport. 126k miles. Build several x over and now she's on 40's, 1 tons, front and rear stretch, Atlas, full cage, 4.7 stroker, blah blah blah... Funnest vehicle I've ever owned. It was a daily driver for nearly 15 yrs before I got serious with the build direction.
I have a 2005 Rubicon with the 6-speed stick. I have owned it since 2013. I have been all over the west with it, including British Columbia and Alberta, California, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Utah, Nevada, and Wyoming to name some of the places I have driven it.
On my 4th TJ 6 cylinder. I've had my current one, a 2004 Sahara, for 6 years. Other than a rusty frame, it's been bulletproof. Such a cool vehicle!
I keep wondering to myself do you mostly find Jeeps in Australia than in the USA? Cause they always look awesome!
Took me 10 years to find my perfect '03 TJ Rubicon. Had to be basic, 5 speed, I6, Half doors, moderate lift, etc. Removed my back seat(who can get back there anyhow) and made a storage box for my winter gear. People stop and ask me if I would ever sell and I just look at them and shake my head. Keep getting told I need to run 35's but then would have to change out all my gears, and with the lockers, was cheaper to run 33's.
I bought my 97 in 2012 with 102,000 miles for $3000. I taught my 3 daughters to drive a manual and it now only has 126,000. It was always just a spare. I was thinking of selling it but it’s not worth enough to bother. For now I’ll keep it.
My first car is a 2000 TJ with the inline 6 and 5 speed.
My 98 TJ sport has over 129k and I’m the original owner. ❤ it and have never fallen out of ❤. 4.0 and original clutch.
They’re not fast but it gets there. I’ve got an “02” with a 4” lift and 35” BFG mud tires and I still do 80 mph on highway
I got a 2000 with a 3 inch lift. After 23 years, it's time to finally fix that NV transmission.
A friend of mine used to drive his at 80 mph as well. He had a serious gust of wind hit him and with all the air that gets trapped underneath these at those speeds, it blew him onto the ditch. He rolled about a dozen times in any direction possible with that thing. When we got to him he was surprisingly uninjured (so we thought). He wasn’t sure where he was etc, but he is a very serious natural body builder, so that basically helped keep him together. As we gathered parts and the contents of us vehicle, he started to crash. I took care of him, then the ambulance was called. It took him a few months to recover. He had a serious concussion even without visibly showing he hit his head or anything. He also had many sprains and tears in tendons & muscles. He had a 4 point harness in that Jeep. The emergency doctor said a smaller guy would likely have been killed. He also said even my buddy would have had little chance if he only had a 3 point factory seatbelt in there. He has some lasting injuries from that and it occurred back in 1998. The roll bar had been beefed up as well in that Jeep over factory because he wheeled it a lot.
Be careful,,,, you may think because the vehicle drives well enough at 80 mph it’s fine, but there’s very little room for error or surprises. My buddy was basically hit by a moderate dust devil. That was enough to unsettle the vehicle and the rest is history. If you have to make emergency maneuvers at 80 mph,,,,,, well,,, nice chatting with ya. Anything over 65 really is not the best idea. We witnessed what happens first hand. I also was a LEO for 30 years. The bodies I dealt with from accidents with the CJs were more than I care to remember. The TJs were much better, but they still were a box on 4 wheels with live axels front & rear. I dealt with some horrific accidents with them as well. The factory roll bar isn’t sufficient at highway speeds. If you roll over,,,. Just be careful, especially if you have passengers. They will be the innocent victims.
Got a 91, 95 and 05. All 6 cyl 4/0. All great vehicles…. Love em all!!!
I had a '97 4cly , beat the hell out of it. Never had any major issues.
My 04 Rubicon only has 97k miles on her! Bought it a few years ago, bone stock. Lift and 33s and a heavy duty winch and bumper and she's good to gooooo!!
I had a ‘99 TJ 4 cylinder manual soft top without AC. Great for around town and scenic routes, but it struggled on the highway above 65 mph and it was not a pleasant experience on hot rainy days when choosing between being dry and hot or damp and cool. On nice days when not extremely humid, the fan did a great job at creating airflow even in heavy traffic (especially if the top is down).
Thing was always loud over 35mph (and got louder with speed), with either the soft top moving in the wind or the top down and the sound of a brick flying through the air coming from all sides. Only way to hear music decently on the highway is a sound bar attached to the tool bar near your head/ears, and all conversations had to be loud.
Still a great ride to take around town, off-road, or cruising the beach, but a second vehicle makes longer trips exponentially more enjoyable. A hard top, 6 cylinder, and A\C would definitely help, but they are all fighting against a design that just won’t utilize those parts as efficiently as a vehicle designed for long distance highway trips.
Ya... when I go from 5th to 6th gear on my 05, it actually slows down. Not enough power
I have a 1997 TJ Sport with a 4 liter and 5speed manual transmission with only 56,000 original miles and it has been stored every winter. 2 1/2 inch lift 33" mud tires and a warn 8274 winch. It has the soft top and 1/2 doors a great basic 4 wheel drive. Been very reliable since 1998 when i bought it.
Its a jeep, stop babying it
I had a 1972 CJ5 built from the ground up that I daily drove 140 miles round trip to work without sway bars for 15 years...I now daily a 2004 TJ. at 2:25 the guy says it's the first Jeep to have independent shocks at all 4 corners...that should be independent coil springs at all 4 corners..
I own a lifted '99 TJ Sport on 36s with the 4.0 straight six and 5 speed manual, the TJ is the ultimate Jeep. Its small, compact, light and can fit places the bigger JK and JL cant. The TJ is almost the same size as the WWII Willeys jeep being only 600 lbs heavier, 5" wider, and 20" longer, where as the JK and JL are as big and as heavy as a military Humvee being 2000 lbs heavier than a TJ. Its 4.0 engine is also almost indestructable where the JK and JLs Pentatar V6 tends to self destruct if pushed too had. They also break down too often. People would rather pay $12,000 -
$18,000 for a good condition, built, reliable TJ, than $60,000 for a less reliable, oversized JK or JL.
My 2000 TJ Sport is almost exactly like that one. Same color, engine, and transmission. My seats are different and I’ve never had the carpet in it. But this kind of video is exactly the motivation I needed to get out and work on it! Thanks!
My 05 TJ is same color, love this thing. One thing I'm going to do is put in a Detroit Truetrac LSD in the rear.
Daimler Chrysler TJ is the best. That era of the Jeep name badge was one of the better overall line ups in the auto industry. Liberty and Cherokee were also solid.
Those are the stock mirrors. Same ones my 2001 had. They changed them in like 2003.
I over paid for my 2006 wrangler. Had some electrical issues. But I have no regrets….. always wanted a jeep and the in-line six is the real keep motor
I had a TJ Se 4 banger, miss it some times. The 2.5L power plant, basically a 4L cut in half, tugging a brick was certainly pokey on the highway. Off highway, in stock form, they were quite worthy. The 4 banger SE models had a 4.10 rear axle ratio, vs 3.07 in the 4L Wrangler X and Sport models (without tow package), actually a better crawl ratio. My 4 banger TJ had 30" tires, no lift, a Detroit True-Trac LSD (the only mod I did) and was a nimble enough little mountain goat for getting me to remote hiking trailheads and campsites. Good times, until I started having trouble with CA smog tests.
Love your content, especially Jeep related content. But we agree to disagree. While the TJ/LJ is the best Wrangler, my CJ does just fine as a daily driver. Been a daily for me since 2010. Even when I was driving 2 hours each way to DC for work. The TJ is a bit cushier for sure. But leaf springs are fine on roads.
Still have my 2004 tj that my dad got brand new. Love it
I second that emotion. For the really sweet spot, get the unlimited from 2006. Still two doors, a little bit more room, and all of the classic greatness of the TJ.
I wouldn't shy away from the 2.5L Jeeps. They're solid little engines and still make 130ish hp. To me a bare bones 2.5L YJ or TJ calls back to those days of the CJ2s and 3s. Simple, reliable, lightweight and can go anywhere.
Yeah the AMC150 is ok. Not great, but ok. A lot better than the four cylinder GM or Japanese engines. We've got one in an MJ.
I had a 99. I had a CJ now that was a buck board, but the TJwas just right. The strait 6 is the Bullitt proff.
I had a 1997 TJ with the I6, a great engine, but sadly I had a 1980 Toyota FJ40 with a V8 conversion at the same time. Guess which was my favorite.
The TJ, obviously.
I'm on my 2nd 2000 TJ SPORT. This one has the 4.0L and 5spd, with only 189k on it now. I could see the Flatirons in Boulder in the background, figured you were making the video in the Longmont-ish area. I moved north to Cheyenne now and the TJ eats up the Wyoming snow.
Been driving my ‘06 TJ X for 12 years and see no reason to get a new vehicle. 163k and still running great. Love my jeep
I have a 2002 TJ with a 5 speed. 156k miles and runs great! My only issue is the lack of power in the 4 cyl. I’m planning to swap it out for the inline 6
I owned aTJ Sahara (Golden Eagle) for a couple of years while doing cigar work in Kuwait. It was amazing.
I have a 2003 TJ Rubicon and love it .we have made quite a few mods to it now
For the Wife's TJ we got a basket for the hitch and a back pack that fits over the spare tire to help out with storage for trips to the lake and such
Bought my first Jeep recently: 2000 TJ 4 Liter inline 6, 5 spd manual, only 134k kms!
I miss my 2000 TJ. Drove that thing until the frame rotted. Great wheel base for crawling. Easy to modify. My only complaint was top speed was 75 mph. I had the 4 cyl 5 speed manual.
I got a RHD with 135,000 miles on it very small rust for 5k. Love this dam thing I started with a Grand cherokee limited and they both ride like a boat. Never going back to any other Brand. I was a Honda guy b4.
Holy moly!! What a great find! $7k is a steal! Please do some more videos on this beautiful piece
My 92 YJ with the 2.5 liter drove great. Even on the Interstates. I also bought some heavy duty leafsprings for it, and didn't ever need to buy shocks for it again. I drove it for 8 years. I currently drive a 99 TJ, same exact platform....2.5 liter AX5 transmission. It's in the shop getting a 4 inch lift and all new steering and suspension. It's had death wobble for the last 6 or 7 years. There are positives and negatives to owning a YJ and a TJ.
I went thru two AX5 transmissions in the YJ in 8 years. Haven't had to do anything to AX5 in my TJ.
I’ve had the 4cyl yj the 6cyl yj the 6cyl tj and currently drive a jk all with manual transmissions and the 6cyl yj is still my favourite
great find, over in California hard to find any year Jeep for $7K. Thanks guys and gals for your content.
My 99 4.0 has been the funnest vehicle I've owned. Got it for 8k. 10 years ago. Just broke 90k. Last time I looked up prices I think I've almost doubled value. Crazy
Ah Crap, where do I start. Driven CJ's both 5's and 7's, YJ's, TJ's and one JK. Loved the CJ's for their simplicity. Bare bones, easy to fix roadside, trailside, lakeside, wherever. YJ's were decent too, still reasonably simple to run fix, and own. Straight 6 was ALWAYS the engine to have. Torque monster istting at highway speeds, often didn't require a down shift on slight hills. TJ's, starting getting to have a bit too much tech already in place. I loved running nekid, to top no doors, and once a month, sometimes more, I got caught in the rain. Needless to say, rain in a TJ with too many options, started causing problems. And electrical issues are sometimes harder to find. I only needed basic heat, venting, air curculation being in a not 110 degree all summer area. So, CJ heating did me fine. Although I did do the Blazer blower motor conversion on all my CJ7's. Frickin' worth it! The ride in the CJ's was choppy, not question there, but was always smoothened out after doing a proper lift and larger tires/gearing. The T5 transmission I thought was a much better transmission than the AX 15. I could float gears up AND down with ease in the CJ's. TJ suspension was tuned more to the rstreet driver, which is why, (in my opinion,) the aftermnarket HAD to step up and supply the more aggresive replacement parts. Sorry, my 2 to 6 cents worth.
A few years ago, neighbors were selling their son's 2000ish TJ. It was a 5 speed jeep. It was his high school vehicle and was off to college. They said the great thing about the 5 speed, they nevee had to worry about his friend wanting to drive it. Lol.
My 97 TJ: just a little over 100k, 2 inch lift, 5 speed, runs and drives great.
I have a 02 wrangler 5 spd manuel with the straight 6cly. I luv my jeep. Super happy with it.
The LJ is the best. Just my opinion. because of the longer wheel base which is better for rock crawling.