Daughter wants a jeep under $10k. Bad idea??

[magnanimous_j]

In fairness to Jeep, I wouldn't buy a 15 year old anything for 10k. There is nothing to stop a vehicle that old from grenading the day after you buy it and 10k is a lot of money to eat. If it were me, I'd either spend more and get some peace of mind that it will probably last for a while, or go super cheap and just replace it when it goes.

[bearpaw]

I don't think the year is as important as the mileage. 

[JimmyHoffa]

Year is important due to finding parts.  They went through a few models that were only around a couple years that seem to require very specific parts.  I think 2002-2004 for example, whereas on some things like a chevy 350 you can get parts spanning almost 20 years for a configuration.

[jrebel]

A TJ with that mileage is low....especially if it is the manual transmission with inline 6. 

With that being said.....a jeep for a first car scares the living bagggeeeebers out of me.  I have seen jeeps (wrangler specific) in accidents and they are do not hold up well.  A first time driver should be in an automobile that has good crash ratings.....just my 2 cents.  I own a 2000 Jeep Wrangler with 130,000 miles and it starts and runs very well.  I would not and will not give it to my children for a daily commuter if they spend much time on highways.  In town or in the hills they work great. 

[huntnfmly]

H20 that's funny as hell 😂 I have daughters as well

[h20hunter]

Mine is turning 9 and I'm already dead set against a Jeep!

[tlbradford]

I agree with Mag_j.  When I had to replace my 99 Grand Cherokee, I scoured Craigslist and was needing another SUV.  I just missed on a couple of Grand Cherokee Overlands with 60,000 to 70,000 miles in perfect condition for under 10K.  I think they were 06 and 07.

[jackelope]

Until we know what model the kid wants, we have no way of knowing what the actual heck we're even talking about.

Early 90's inline 6 Jeeps had major giant PITA fuel system issues. Can't recall if it was a 4.0 or a 4.2? with these issues.

Wrangler/Cherokee/GRand Cherokee:
4.0L rear main seals leak. A lot.
4.0L exhaust manifolds crack. A lot.

93-04 Grand Cherokee differential bearings fail. A lot.
99-04 grand Cherokee with the dual zone climate control had heater box issues a lot. It causes no heat or no a/c or no air flow on one side or the other.
4.7 h.o.(engine code 1 I think on the VIN) cylinder heads crack. If I remember correctly it sets a #1 cylinder misfire.
99-04 grand Cherokee's warp front brake rotors like they're going out of style.

The 2007 and newer Wrangler had major, mostly unrepairable water leaks with the hard tops. The soft tops sealed better.

I left Jeep for the most part in the late 2000's so not too familiar on whatever issues the newer style Grand Cherokees have.

I'm sure I'm forgetting some stuff.

I'd look real hard for a 2001 Cherokee with as low a miles as possible. That could be a pretty good vehicle.

 

[tlbradford]

99-04 grand Cherokee with the dual zone climate control had heater box issues a lot. It causes no heat or no a/c or no air flow on one side or the other.
99-04 grand Cherokee's warp front brake rotors like they're going out of style.

I'd look real hard for a 2001 Cherokee with as low a miles as possible. That could be a pretty good vehicle.

The dual zone crap drove me crazy, but there are some work-arounds until the heater core finally fails.  The blower fan has a part that burns out and needs to get resoldered.  Easy fix.  The blower doors were too heavy and would not function.  You could cut them out and replace with a lighter one.  Huge pain in the butt, but cost $20 in materials rather than a $2,000 repair.  Those fixes lasted me 5 years until the heater core leaked when the vehicle was 16 years old and around 160,000 miles.  The warped rotor issue with the brakes was taken care of by warranty.  I didn't have problems after that, but would defer to Josh's knowledge.  I had started to have a variety of small issues on mine.  Power window motors, heated seats getting too hot, electrical problems.  I also was told the 4.7 is known for warped rings.

[Bofire]

Buy her a stock Toyota or Honda, there are lots of models, she will be glad when she is still driving and the jeeps are dead.
Carl

[Scvette]

A TJ with that mileage is low....especially if it is the manual transmission with inline 6. 

With that being said.....a jeep for a first car scares the living bagggeeeebers out of me.  I have seen jeeps (wrangler specific) in accidents and they are do not hold up well.  A first time driver should be in an automobile that has good crash ratings.....just my 2 cents.  I own a 2000 Jeep Wrangler with 130,000 miles and it starts and runs very well.  I would not and will not give it to my children for a daily commuter if they spend much time on highways.  In town or in the hills they work great.

Here's my daughters 04 TJ that a older guy in a 3/4t dodge pulled the wrong way on a one way,she was doing about 30-35,it held up well,other than being totaled.

[Scvette]

Another pic

[fishngamereaper]

Heck if your spending 10k Ill sell the wifes 04 Toyo 4Runner Limited. 

[papisjeep]

i would not put a inexperienced driver in a short wheelbase jeep, that being said ive seen lots of jeeps at 250k so they can last a while but a jeep is a jeep and that means get used to turning a wrench occasionally 

[Duckslayer89]

4Runner or Tacoma all the way