Episode 27

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Published on:

24th Nov 2022

The Jeep Wrangler TJ Should Be at the Top of Your 4x4 Bucket List

00:00 - SHOW OPEN

The first Jeep vehicles were made more than 80 years ago, but they're still being sold today, and if you have ever considered buying one, the Jeep Wrangler TJ series from 1997-2006 should be at the top of your bucket list.

03:55 - THE WRANGLER TJ: A BIG LEAP FORWARD IN RIDE QUALITY

  • A return to round headlights (no more rectangular lights)
  • Old-style leaf springs were eliminated
  • Coil springs used at each corner with 4-link control arms
  • Much better ride quality on paved roads
  • More suspension travel and better articulation off-road
  • Additional improvements to interior materials, dash and seats

05:21 - LARGE NUMBER OF TRIM AND FEATURE VARIATIONS

  • 3 Different Engine Options
  • Manual or Automatic Transmission
  • Built in full roll cage
  • Available with Hard Top or Folding Soft Top
  • Full Metal or half metal doors
  • Doors can be removed for a more open feel

06:21 - MOST COMMON WRANGLER TJ TRIM LEVELS

  • Wrangler SE
  • Wrangler X
  • Wrangler Sport
  • Wrangler Sahara
  • Wrangler Unlimited
  • Wrangler Rubicon

10:00 - WHAT SHOULD YOU LOOK FOR IN A WRANGLER TJ?

  • Focus on condition first
  • Do a prepurchase inspection
  • Improved over time, so newer examples are typically a better choice, however any well-maintained Wrangler TJ in good to excellent condition is worth consideration

11:25 - WHICH IS BEST?

  • Go with the 6-cylinder model over the 4-cylinder
  • Get a stock example or one with professionally installed upgrades
  • Get a Wrangler TJ with a hardtop for security (you can always remove the top later)
  • I recommend the manual transmission over the automatic
  • If you have to get an automatic, the 2003 and later models had a 4-speed (rather than 3-speed) transmission, so go that route

13:00 - WHICH WRANGLER TJ MODEL WOULD I BUY?

  • Wrangler Rubicon for serious off-road use
  • Wrangler Unlimited for daily drive and weekend family fun
  • Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon for the ultimate Jeep Wrangler TJ

14:00 - SHOW WRAP UP

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About the Podcast

Better Than New
Find a cool used car, truck or SUV at a price you'll love
The average new car sales price in the US is nearly $50,000, and the average used vehicle sales price is close to $30,000... I think that's insane! Well if you're like me and you don’t want to pay these crazy inflated car prices, I believe you should still be able to drive something fun. That’s the idea behind Better Than New – a podcast to help you find a cool used car, truck or SUV at a price you’ll love.

I’m Gary Crenshaw, host of Better Than New and a long time automotive enthusiast, and I want to inspire car buyers on a budget to think differently about what they can actually afford to drive. My goal is to introduce listeners to the broad array of interesting, fun-to-drive, enthusiast-friendly used cars, trucks and SUVs available at prices just about anyone can afford… vehicles from the 80s, 90s, 2000s and beyond that offer buyers a wide range of interesting choices. Each week we’ll explore a specific vehicle or vehicle category, tell you what to look for and what to avoid, and give you practical tips to help you find your next cool used car, truck or SUV and keep it on the road for years to come.

With a little work, the joy of owning a cool used car at price you’ll love is within reach and this podcast is here to help you find it.

So hop in, buckle up and let's go for a drive!

About your host

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Gary Crenshaw

A lifelong lover of all things mechanical, Gary has spent the majority of his existence driving, dreaming about or wrenching on cars, motorcycles and even the occasional airplane.

It started with mini-bikes and go-karts as a kid, progressed to 2-stroke dirt bikes, followed by his first car… a 1969 Volkswagen Beetle. Then came the Yamaha era with several RD400s, RZ350s and a Canadian RD350LC (should have kept that!). A pilot’s license was next with some memorable hours flying a 1946 Aeronca Champ low and slow around the Pacific Northwest. While in college, his brother-in-law who sold high-end cars hired him to deliver BMW, Mercedes and Porsche vehicles to customers.

Those early experiences led to a lifetime of owning an eclectic mix of interesting used cars, including a ‘65 Mustang GT, a ’72 Datsun 510, a Porsche 914, a Celica Alltrac Turbo, a Mini Cooper S, a couple of Miata’s, two Audi S4 Avants, a Galant VR4, a Fiat 850 Spider, a 1983 Subaru 4x4 GL wagon and a first gen RX-7, along with dozens of daily driver cars and SUVs from Acura, Honda, Toyota and Mazda. And his favorite? Depends on when you ask, but that distinction likely goes to the Mazda RX-4 station wagon he learned to drive in. That fun-to-drive car combined Gary's passion for wagons, rotary engines and manual transmissions all in one.

So what about you? Which used car, truck or SUV would you love to own? Let’s find it together!