It's been a while since I've driven a Jeep, About 5 years now. Back then I had a 1994 YJ, 4.0L 5 speed and was in ok shape when i purchased it back in 2002. I paid to much because I was young and had been stick of just driving junk. I wanted my dream car. So I bought the first one I saw, it was at he top of my price range and paid even more for the 2.5 years that I owned it. I did no research before the purchase and this fact has been the thing that I do for everything now.

I would have done a lot more looking in to stuff before jumping in to something from a fly by night dealership, that was owned but a kid and had been already one accentant.

So my wife and I have been looking into replacing are very tired honda accord and was looking into getting a pickup for myself. But to my surprise, my wife the other day tells me how much she missed when I had my jeep and asked me why I didn't want another one now.

So that's where I am today, I've desided to do some research this time...A lot of resaerch. I would like to get the best deal I can, while hopefully having a even better experance with my jeep. Something more then Just Emepty Every Pocket.

I would like to get a TJ this time and was wondering if this is anything I should look out for. Etc. years to look out for. Troublesome models / options. Stuff like that. I would like to have the inline 4.0L again so this cancels out anything newer then 2006. Thanks in advance for anyone that can help.

 

The Rubicon is actually the way to go if u decide to do offroading with it, now or later on as its built with most of the stuff we with the sport tj model have to put on. For example dana 44's std, 4.10 gears std,air locker front and back, stronger axle std, alot of the parts on the ruby is stronger than the sport model. If you want to raise it thats not included (extra). In line 6 has a proven reputation. Make sure you have 2 tops, hard and the soft top. When u find something, crawl underneath and look for cracks, if its been used offroad alot it could have a cracked or bent frame.Test drive it on dirt in 2 wheel drive on the fly put it in 4 high not to fast..it should slide in and out of range very smoothly.. Try 4 low but at a stop. Do remember as you probably alrdy do that jeep have the air-0-dynamics of a brick on the highways so fuel mileage is going to suck and even more with bigger tires.. getting 17 mpg I think is GREAT... lol

 

Thank you for the feedback, I think I’ve already got the Rubicon set in stone now. I'm not even looking at any jeep that aren't. Seems to be a better rig for what I’m going for. I've noticed that they changed the Manual Tran for 2005 2006. Does anyone have and feedback on either of these? Are they good, do you see and different for mileage or anything at all. Only reason I ask is that I have found a couple 2006's that I’m planning on check out this weekend. I only want a manual so that's cutting down on my choices as it is.

 

X2 on what Mr White said. Test drive it and try out everything.
You should read up on manual vs auto here before making your decision:
http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f9/auto-vs-manual-885935/#post8165653
Read the whole thread and see what Mr. Blaine and Jerry Bransford have to say.