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Just wondering how all of you keep your sanity as an XJ owner?? I’ve owned mine less than a year and I’ve already thought about throwing it on Craigslist LOL
I’ve also found that it’s a little harder staying to my idea of just a capable DD than I though. It can get out of hand pretty quickly
Just wondering how all of you keep your sanity as an XJ owner?? I’ve owned mine less than a year and I’ve already thought about throwing it on Craigslist LOL
I’ve also found that it’s a little harder staying to my idea of just a capable DD than I though. It can get out of hand pretty quickly
Ever own a pre-fuel injected Beetle? This thing about expecting a car to run perfect all the time without manual input to keep it running will be explained. Some just take personal love and care and when they are running good it is well worth it... Harley Davidsons are the same... And they are a HUGE status symbol...
Just wondering how all of you keep your sanity as an XJ owner?? I’ve owned mine less than a year and I’ve already thought about throwing it on Craigslist LOL
I’ve also found that it’s a little harder staying to my idea of just a capable DD than I though. It can get out of hand pretty quickly
I'm allergic to car payments and have driven older vehicles most of my life so I'm used to having to give them some TLC. Wrenching on them is all part of the experience. VW was mentioned, to get into the right frame of mind you might want to get hold of the classic auto repair book "How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive: A Manual of Step-By-Step Procedures for the Compleat Idiot". Although specific to air-cooled VWs, the lessons therein are applicable to working on just about anything. That will set the proper mood. For specifics, supplement this with a shop manual for the XJ and have at it.
I'm allergic to car payments and have driven older vehicles most of my life so I'm used to having to give them some TLC. Wrenching on them is all part of the experience. VW was mentioned, to get into the right frame of mind you might want to get hold of the classic auto repair book "How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive: A Manual of Step-By-Step Procedures for the Compleat Idiot". Although specific to air-cooled VWs, the lessons therein are applicable to working on just about anything. That will set the proper mood. For specifics, supplement this with a shop manual for the XJ and have at it.
I fully expected it to be this way , in the beginning. I am presently going through mine to make it road worthy as a dependable DD. More concerned about that than off road. I too have a car payment phobia! I can't afford it ! My insurance is cheaper. And I definitely don't see tearing it up four wheeling! Eventually mine will be dependable. My 79 CJ5 was the same way. Worked on it for the first year. Then drove for 9 years with only basic maintenance, plus I used it for off road sensibly. Hang in there. My advice to anyone just getting one. Drive it for several months and fix what's broken first.
Yeah I felt like posting Scarlet on craigslist when I was sitting in Show Low, AZ with a hole in my transfer case, and after just having a very expensive clutch put in it in Mancus, CO on my way to Ouray, CO.
Of course I have invested ..................... Um errrr TO MUCH! into this Jeep for it to have any problems right?
Well no!
The poor baby is 24 years old, and she has been rode hard, and put up dry (no fluids?).
We were considering selling it when I got back to Commiefornia, but alas, someone talked me down from the ledge.
I love this stupid Jeep.
In fact I love my other two stupid FS Jeeps too. They are even more finicky than this poor old lil Jeep.
So I will continue to fix the things that need a fixin, and continue to drive her.
Don't give up!
Maybe just get a good therapist (one that understands the ""JEEP THING"", or start drinking heavily.
Once the Jeep bug has bitten your infected for life, and there is no cure.
OH sure you can sell it, but you will ALWAYS regret it.
Yeah I felt like posting Scarlet on craigslist when I was sitting in Show Low, AZ with a hole in my transfer case, and after just having a very expensive clutch put in it in Mancus, CO on my way to Ouray, CO.
Of course I have invested ..................... Um errrr TO MUCH! into this Jeep for it to have any problems right?
Well no!
The poor baby is 24 years old, and she has been rode hard, and put up dry (no fluids?).
We were considering selling it when I got back to Commiefornia, but alas, someone talked me down from the ledge.
I love this stupid Jeep.
In fact I love my other two stupid FS Jeeps too. They are even more finicky than this poor old lil Jeep.
So I will continue to fix the things that need a fixin, and continue to drive her.
Don't give up!
Maybe just get a good therapist (one that understands the ""JEEP THING"", or start drinking heavily.
Once the Jeep bug has bitten your infected for life, and there is no cure.
OH sure you can sell it, but you will ALWAYS regret it.
Very well said and absolute fact. So many have come on here and stated "Sorry I sold the first one, had to get another one!"
My advice to anyone just getting one. Drive it for several months and fix what's broken first.
Solid advice. That’s where I’m at with mine, still fixing issues as they show before doing anything else.
Originally Posted by DustyWagoneer
Yeah I felt like posting Scarlet on craigslist when I was sitting in Show Low, AZ with a hole in my transfer case, and after just having a very expensive clutch put in it in Mancus, CO on my way to Ouray, CO.
Of course I have invested ..................... Um errrr TO MUCH! into this Jeep for it to have any problems right?
Well no!
The poor baby is 24 years old, and she has been rode hard, and put up dry (no fluids?).
We were considering selling it when I got back to Commiefornia, but alas, someone talked me down from the ledge.
I love this stupid Jeep.
In fact I love my other two stupid FS Jeeps too. They are even more finicky than this poor old lil Jeep.
So I will continue to fix the things that need a fixin, and continue to drive her.
Don't give up!
Maybe just get a good therapist (one that understands the ""JEEP THING"", or start drinking heavily.
Once the Jeep bug has bitten your infected for life, and there is no cure.
OH sure you can sell it, but you will ALWAYS regret it.
I regret selling my 79 CJ5. Were it not for the rusted frame, I'd still have it. I just didn't have a good place for a frame-off resto ! As for my 96 Grand Cherokee, I was glad to see it go, along with my ex !!! I don't know what people expect ? They're taking XJs that are nearing a quarter century old, confusing them as submarines, mountain goats and climbing cliffs, trees, crawling over boulders the size of tires or larger !!! Oh, they'll be those that keep tearing them up ! But, I'd say that eventually the emphasis will turn towards restoration. I'm somewhere in the middle, right now.
Engine: 4.3L with headers and full 3" exhaust system
OK, why do I still have this old 86 XJ? I could have something else. I could have payments too and not be satisfied. I want a vehicle that does everything. And it is getting to where you cannot have something like that with a newer vehicle. It is possible nowadays to make an IFS rig very capable, but I prefer a straight axle rig. There is nothing currently made that would fit the bill except a JK or JL Rubicon, and if I was making payments on one of those I wouldn't wheel it much. So I continue to make improvements as I go. It is due now for its third engine, but so be it. That is one piece of new technology I am willing to go for just for the milage you can get with the newer motors and transmissions. And the rest, I will fabricate
OK, why do I still have this old 86 XJ? I could have something else. I could have payments too and not be satisfied. I want a vehicle that does everything. And it is getting to where you cannot have something like that with a newer vehicle. It is possible nowadays to make an IFS rig very capable, but I prefer a straight axle rig. There is nothing currently made that would fit the bill except a JK or JL Rubicon, and if I was making payments on one of those I wouldn't wheel it much. So I continue to make improvements as I go. It is due now for its third engine, but so be it. That is one piece of new technology I am willing to go for just for the milage you can get with the newer motors and transmissions. And the rest, I will fabricate
Good points ! I currently am debt free. I could go buy anything I would want, yet I choose my 99XJ. What's the first thing that comes into your mind, when you see these guys rolling and tearing up these new Jeeps, that they're making payments on,,,, :0) Yet I don't foresee rolling mine this time around. You know how it goes, you been wheelin' for awhile, beginning to get bored. Then you say, Hang on a minute, I'm gonna try something ! It's about like saying, here, hold my beer a minute ! Then your riders request to get out, pretending to check your line. They climb the hill and say, ok, go for it !!! Next thing you know, you're thinking, oh hell, I went too far again !!! Use to be, I wasn't having fun till my feet were shakin on the pedals !!! I loved the challenge ! I'm way past that now, plus it's an unnecessary expense that I would rather forego.
Staying the course
