TJ vs JK opinions.

Sounds like you need a new xj

14mpg in an xj with 30s is terrible

I get 14mpg with 5 inchs of lift , no fenders and heavy ass steel wheels with 33mud tires.

Mild xj like yours shoulda been getting closer to 19 avg
 
Cory said:
Sounds like you need a new xj

14mpg in an xj with 30s is terrible

I get 14mpg with 5 inchs of lift , no fenders and heavy ass steel wheels with 33mud tires.

Mild xj like yours shoulda been getting closer to 19 avg
Click to expand...


Cory, I got high teens and even low 20s on straight highway rides, it was the city commuting that ruined my efficiency. I'm talking about sitting in traffic from 80-90 minutes to cover 20 miles. Awful. I hate it.

So, I sold XJ, bought a really nice commuter car that I like a lot, but it can't haul bikes, it is too low to do back roads (picture Wilson Creek) and sure can't go thru Hurricane Creek. None of this is a problem for the TJ but that is the Missus' ride and camping with the kids is tough. That's how I ended up looking at JKs. And now Tacomas too.

If someone had a nice, unmolested XJ, I'd look it over, but I don't see many that are "nice" in the sense that they are too radical for me or they're just beat to hades or all clapped out. My job demands a vehicle that is dependable as nails. I don't get unscheduled PTO without a penalty and old, unreliable cars don't make the grade.
 
I was looking at xj's and third gen 4runners before I got the jk but like you found that many were trashed or built up trail rigs. I'm in sales so I also needed a reliable dd. I did contemplate a double cab Tacoma but first gen double cabs were all autos (which I hate).
 
Degausser said:
Just get a Tacoma.
Click to expand...


Went and drove a TRD Sport. For my purposes, that truck would work as a crew cab, long bed. I would still need to tow trailer occasionally. Nice vehicle and seems like a good value at slightly discounted price (dealer match trucar/truvalue price average).

Went to drive a JK Unlimited...raining cats and dogs, so I declined a test drive, but that is a nice vehicle too. The only models close to Taco TRD price are the "Sport" models. I immediately noticed how much space is in the "trunk". Lots more than my XJ! With a hard top, as a DD, and a tow hitch for dirt bikes, the JK would work too.

Reagrdless, Missus Sweet' has decided the TJ isn't going anywhere. She views the JK and the Taco as more road worthy DD and the TJ is the adults' fun rig.

Of course this is all just talk until I free up some $$$
 
Here's my final thoughts:

I was set to get a Jeep replacement for my XJ. No way it was gonna be one of the new Cherokees.

The JK looked promising. Prices for the Unlimited are high, especially the Rubicon package. Since I have a TJ in the Garage (Missus' actually) that is nicely built, I have decided to move over to the Toyota Tacoma due to its higher towing capacity, double cab available, and amenities on par or better (IMO) than Jeep's current offering at similar price point. No, there isn't a rag top, or removable doors, but nice packages and what seems to be a good value.

Remember, my decision is based on a vehicle used as DD and weekend camping/hunting/fishing and lots of dirt bike riding. If motorbikes were not such an active hobby for us, the JK Unlimited might have had an edge.

I appreciate all you guys weighing in on this!
 
But the new JKs are getting 30 mpg!!!
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1396976054.718590.jpg


Apparently they are powered by actual Italians with holes in the floorboard for Flinstone boost.
 
I'm not a new Cherokee defender, but I rented one for the desert the week I was at KOH and I was extremely impressed. We drove t all over the place and it handled dunes, deep sand, and everything else the desert could throw at it. At the the rental place, we told the guy what we would be doing and he assured us it would more fun than we could handle.

The leather was really nice, the handling was like a car, and again, it was great offroad. Not selling you on it, just giving you some first hand feedback, it was a blast to drive.


Sweetwater said:
Here's my final thoughts:

I was set to get a Jeep replacement for my XJ. No way it was gonna be one of the new Cherokees.

The JK looked promising. Prices for the Unlimited are high, especially the Rubicon package. Since I have a TJ in the Garage (Missus' actually) that is nicely built, I have decided to move over to the Toyota Tacoma due to its higher towing capacity, double cab available, and amenities on par or better (IMO) than Jeep's current offering at similar price point. No, there isn't a rag top, or removable doors, but nice packages and what seems to be a good value.

Remember, my decision is based on a vehicle used as DD and weekend camping/hunting/fishing and lots of dirt bike riding. If motorbikes were not such an active hobby for us, the JK Unlimited might have had an edge.

I appreciate all you guys weighing in on this!
Click to expand...
 
EdJonesJeeper said:
But the new JKs are getting 30 mpg!!!
View attachment 151969

Apparently they are powered by actual Italians with holes in the floorboard for Flinstone boost.
Click to expand...
That might actually be true for a small diesel with a manual trans behind it. Obviously not in the US though :kaioken:
 
Post #59...gotta go back and eat my words from that one.

While trying to sell my commuter car I shopped really hard for a Tacoma. Local dealer failed to honor several advertised prices and only had one or two long bed crew cabs at any one time over the last couple weeks. He always had alternatives, but even then they were unwilling to honor advertised prices or my company's "affiliate pricing".

Low and behold the Jeep dealer called me. Went and looked at a new, just off the truck, 2014 JK Unlimited. It had everything my family needs: tow package, 3.73 rear end, all the yuppie electric conveniences, Infinity stereo, BlueTooth, larger tyres on nice wheels, Hard top.

I'm gonna wear out these tyres and go a little bigger. 33" or 35" seems logical for a DD that won't see trails, only fire roads and fishing/hunting/motocross expeditions. I'm gonna haul the bike trailer with it since there's no bed, and were even able to keep our well-used 2000 TJ :)

For those who might be curious: Jeep dealer had to goof around for a day, but they accepted my offer that was lower than USAA recommended purchase price and lower than TrueCar.com reports on pricing. It was substantially lower than sticker, but I'm certain they still made plenty. They were a heck of a lot nicer to me and my family than the Toyota sales team.

First pic:

asweetwaterfarms.smugmug.com_Pets_Gunner_i_np96Pc5_0_M_P1040151_M.jpg
 
Sweet. I had the same issue but I was shopping new. They wanted lots of $$$ for used toyotas so I went with a jk. Don't regret it for a second.
 
Back in 2012 I had a choice between buying my dad's 05 LJ rubicon for 19k or my 2010 rubicon for 23k. His had a 3 inch body lift and 35s. Mine came with mopar rock crawler bumpers, 100k warranty, a warn 9500Ti winch and 20k less miles. Glad I bought the JK because it won't beat you to death, and is extremely capable off road.
 
Even if your just going to run very basic stuff to go hunting and such, I would still put some rocker protection on it.. a set of rubicon take offs can be found on the cheap.
 
Jason, I agree about the rocker protection! Ordered some SmittyBilt classic rails with steps (knockoff of Mopar "enhanced Rubicon rail") and they're backordered. Gonna give it a few weeks and see what becomes available. Might bite the bullet and get Mopar "Enhanced".

Here's my observations so far:

The JK is bigger than my 2000 XJ in every way- more interior space, more stowage available, more head room. More ground clearance on OEM tyres (32"? whatever the bigger metric OEM option is actually). It is more fuel efficient around town (no trips yet, so we'll see highway mileage later). No complaints about the new Pentastar engine, seems to deliver enough power. The options I was able to get are great for me and my family- radio sounds as good as missus' Acura, max tow will do just fine for little utility trailer, I prefer the hardtop to soft, and the electric convenience features blow my 2013 Subaru's out of the water (I was surprised!). This is a sophisticated Jeep in every way.

So, how does it stack up against the 2000 TJ? This isn't even a fair comparison. The little TJ on 3.5" lift and 33" ATs looks like it has been used exactly as it has been: trails, camp trips, dog hauler, barn buggy, and all the scrapes and scratches that come with age and proper use. The TJ hasn't had a top in several years. We use the remains of top #2 as a "safari top" when it rains. The TJ is like a hammer that always sits on your work bench, ready to go to work, never letting you down. The JK will take a while to age like the TJ and earn our full acceptance.

In fact, we parked the JK on July 3rd and didn't move it again until Monday morning. We spent the whole long weekend in the TJ...we still really enjoy that Jeep!

My opinion now is that both the TJ and JK are fantastic Jeeps and both are very capable. The JKU opened up a whole new market segment with 4 doors (soccer moms!) and it is odd to the hardcore Jeep crew, but it isn't a bad thing. Just think of all the nice used JKs that come available when the appeal wears off for the crowd that doesn't use it as anything other than a grocery-getter.
 
Last edited:
Back
Top