eyeboule

Hello all, I'm about to buy my first Jeep...a childhood dream thing. I wont be doing any real outback driving and if I do, I wont be mountain climbing or mud wrestling with it lol. I'm going for the base sport model or maybe the one giving cruise control. Sorry for long intro. I was wondering how the manual transmission does on city hilly roads - I live in Quebec City and I hate roll-back when halted on the hills and I usually do the hand brake thing. Also, I'm considering air-conditionning but I am wondering why I should with a ragtop. My girlfriend lives in Indiana and she says it does get hot. I've seen the Freedom roof option and am wondering how it will be in the cold of Quebec winters. Sorry for the length, but a lot of questions and I figure I will get a true head's up here. Thank you for reading this.

Mr White

iTrader: (1)

Welcome. Since your not going to use it for offroading your doing good by getting the less expensive model. Its a 6 cy I presume? The 4's are pretty gutless. Cruise control is nice on a long trip, also A/C is nice too in the hot humid weather. For myself I have neither and really for the short summers we have don't see any need for the a/c. When buying it make sure the 2 tops are included in your price. You need the hard top here and the soft is nice in the summer.

eyeboule

Hello Mr White,
Thank you for your advice. The motor is the V-6 3.8 liter version. I think because of monetary issues I will get the manual transmission (I'll pay her a refreswher course for manual transmissions), the A/C and cruise control. If I can get the two tops thrown in so much the better, if not maybe next year. Thank-you again.

Maverik

Live in Ontario and never had a problem with the freedom or soft top leaking. Mine seems to seal up nice. Pay attention to the axle ratio's when u buy. Means alot for gas mileage, power, performance, and upgrade ability. To me the most important thing when buying a jeep. I like the 3.73, sorta in the middle. Can upgrade to a little bigger tire if u ever wanted to (jeeps just look cool with an aggressive tire and some nice AT's or mild MT don't change ride or could make it better then stock). Was getting 9L/100km with my auto 255/70/17 stockers when u drove 90km like there was an egg under gas petal, 11-12L/100km normal around town/hwy driving. Standard likely a little better. The higher ratio is 3.24 i think. Big jump, better hwy mileage, likely lower around town, turns really gutless if u go up couple tire sizes. 4.11 i think lower ratio, worse hwy mileage, faster accel, can upgrade to 35" tires if u like, nice for crawling. Other option i liked was the mygig, it is really expensive, but my favorited in cabin option by far. If u have mp3's on your computer this is incredible. Load 1000's of mp3's into it with usb thumb drive or disc,arange them in folders and playlists, and stereo and speakers are LOUD!!!! No more disc's laying around (space is limited) Nav is also really nice and easy.
Oh ya, and number 1 thing is it's a JEEP!!! It's like joining a faternity or something lol. Buy it wheel it and you see. Its a jeep thing!!

eyeboule

Hello Maverik,
Thanks for all the info. I was checking out the axle ratio information (ie lol learning what it meant) and, I will get the 3:73 - only 75$ but it as you say middle of the road Apparently the stock 3:21 ..the get up and go will never go anywhere with decent acceleration. My Lady friend in Indiana suggested I get a white jeep, since it will not be as hot in the summer down there when I visit. Seems to me though that the metal wont be a problem as per heat inside. Personally I prefer the green, though white may show dirt less. They are just details, but part of the fun of making the purchase. :-)

tracklock

Before I say welcome to the family.
What are U planing to do with it?, If you are looking for fuel economy just buy a car, why this brute answer, reality! That said, U will do about ±450km on a tanks or average 13 to 16, 100km/lt,That is city and highway combine on mine. (See my profile) 2008 Rubicon with 35 and 4inch suspension.
U said Ur looking for the base model, I've look at www.jeep.ca and came out at 22 745$.
That's a sport base, man, 3.73, dual top, A/C but not sure about the cruse.
Here in Quebec U need 2 set of tire, so now just buy nice wheels and tires(1.500$)
I would not recommand the MYGig, why? if cost 200.00US to upgrade the maps and U need to upgrade the list of song so U know what's playing.(mp3), Most of us have a mp3 player just buy a cable and a handeld GPS or a smart phone.(save money MyGig = 1000.00$)
Dual top is fun to have but do U have a place to store the hard top? and here in Quebec it's better to have the hard top.
Man VS Auto, if you put bigger tires U will need to reprogramme the computer on the Auto, because it will shift on/off of the OD at 100km, cause of the slope on the highways(Quebec to Beauce), but a reprogrammer is around 150US so make the call. Auto is more fun in the city and traffic. And off/road = religion of the believers
As for the A/C and soft top, It works great.
So Up to U now,
BTW Mr White there is no more 4cyls in JK. A YES in europe it's a Diesel.

eyeboule

Hello Tracklock,
Thanks for your input
Well...I always wanted one and decided to treat myself before I get even longer in the tooth lol. I will probably eventually do some dirt trail, backwoods type of thing and some camping. I do realize the gas mileage isn't there, but if I can spend just a few bux and get a good trade off for acceleration and mileage, I will take it. As for the roof, I have 4 places I can store it, but unless I get it for free I will start with the surrender roof and see how it goes. I think I will look at the 17 inch tires and the associated rims. The manual tranny won't bother me, been using them for decades. I was worried about hill roll back but it wont be an issue from what I have gathered.

tracklock

Yo Eyeboule!
But U know that the hard top open up in the front and it's like having the top off!
Are U looking for a 2 or 4 doors?
As for camping goes: Towing[1]:1000 lbs - std, 2000 lbs - max, Payload[1]:1118 lbs - max
Hard top have better resale value and winter is hard on the plastic windows and also harder for thieve to get at your stuff while camping.
If U ever find a hard top for FREE U are bless.
Also do not forget side step, my brother at the first parking outing came back with a nice souvenir in the driver's door, now he's got side step.
Also 3.73 is good for 33 tires.

eyeboule

Yo Tracklock,
The freedom top would be ideal, but it is a question of finances - maybe they bring the price down for it a bit, though I am not holding my breath on that one lol. It will be a two door model and as per camping, I will be going camping by tent so I dont think that towing will be an issue. It is true that winter is a main concern and the plastic soft top - not sure how long the window will stay clear of scratches. The side set is definately in the plans, if only because my Lady friend is kind of short. Thanks again for your contributions :-)

Jeepminded

What ever you buy, welcome! You will never want to drive anything else.

Two tops and A/C a must.

The 3pc freedom top(hardtop) is wonderfull,the front two pieces pop out very easy for those days in early spring or fall that are warm.

Jeep Wrangers are well known to hold their value very well (some years were rated the best) Having both tops and A/C will help you should you need to sell, or, get a newer bigger model :)

A/C works just fine with soft top, and there are days in Southern Ontario the humidity is just too much, stuck in traffic, not moving.

At 100 Km/hr, moderate head wind, 4 people in a 4dr, 3:73 LSD I get 9.5L/100Km. Trick is to keep 100Km per hr