I swear I am not a trator....

[wturner]

I am thinking of buying a Jeep. AHHH, don't throw tomatoes just yet!!!

My '97 Disco seems to be getting more and more problematic, so I would like a second "back up" vehicle so I don't have to jerry rig crap on my Disco just to keep it on the road. I will not spend more than $5000, so I am not getting the new Rubicon, just something that I can drive while I take the time to fix the Disco the right way, or just for the heck of it.

I considered other vehicles, even a motorcyle, but I really don't think I would be able to let myself spend $5000 on something that I would not enjoy, and I WILL enjoy a Jeep. Seems the most enjoyable in that price range.

Another thing, is that I live in Texas, and sometimes get DAMN tired of having doors and a roof (Defender would be best, but who has $30,000 while in college).

I am thinking of a Wrangler, and if anybody has advise or good web sources I would love to hear it.

Thanks

BJ

 

[Tom in MD]

You're not a traitor

I've had these thoughts too. My "back-up" vehicle recently died and now, when I have trouble with my 96, I'm in a panic to get it fixed. I know how you feel. You're not a traitor, but it is a sin. You are going straight to hell, right behind me..

 

[utahdog2003]

If you're keeping the truck, then why not something like a Civic? You can find nice used EX coupes with sunroofs and decent radios for less than your 5 grand, they'll run forever, and they have nothing in common at all with your Rover! What better alternative vehicle than one that's a real alternative?

quick, good mileage, cheap to buy/maintain/insure...

 

[AndrewClarke]

Everyone's experience with a vehicle is different, and there are a lot of great Jeeps out there, but I'll tell you about my experience with a $5500 1988 Jeep Cherokee I bought a few years ago. I had it for about 20 months and in that time I spent about $9500 in repairs on it. I bought it because I didn't want to spend the money on my Land Rover, but my '96 Disco has been WAY more reliable than the Jeep ever was.

I say, why not get an old motorcycle for $1000 and spend the other $4000 on fixing your Rover. I mean if you have $5k sitting around (as a student? Wow!), that extra money should make your Disco run well, and you'll still have a fun, economical backup vehicle. If you own two vehicles, you're insuring them both, repairing them both, registering them both, etc. If you're on a tight budget and don't have a long commute where the fuel savings would pay for the 2nd vehicle (which you wouldn't see with a Jeep), you'll probably spend more in the long run if you buy a second car or truck.

- Andrew.

 

[MarkP]

Assuming you want a 4WD, get a Scout. $5K will buy you a nice Scout. There should be some good ones in Tx. Remove the top for summer. When you want to sell the Scout I bet you get your money out of it, unlike the Jeep.

 

[Falconx84]

I would go with a car, something small, 5-speed, like a jetta, golf, civic, camry, etc.

Something that gets better gas mileage... the 5-speed is personal preference

a friend of mine had a little 2 door 5 speed civic. He used to run the piss outa it. 5 of us worked in DC @ RFK stadium, so every game weekend, we'd all 5 pile into this little civic and race towards DC @ 90+ mph. He put some 180,000 miles on it, then traded it on another civic.

He called it his work/throw away car. Run it til it stops running, then throw it away, or trade it just before it stops running

 

[adamsclarke]

If it helps...I just sold my 91 Wrangler with 37s to buy a RRC. I second the small car for a back up..because with 2 4wds...you won't end up driving them both. It took me 5 years to build my jeep and 5 years to get up the guts to sell it...I say stick with the LR and a small car

 

[stevenr]

I'm in the same boat... I'm looking for a commuter vehicle. I have a 70 mile round trip every day & my discovery is killing me on gas alone. Not to mention wear & tear. I am not even considering another 4wd. I'm looking for a mid 90's civic or camry or something that will last a couple of years & I'll throw it away and do it over again.

-Steven

 

[NVRover]

Hey, no one has suggested buying a 2nd Rover! That way you're always driving a Land Rover...unless of course both are broken down.

 

[Peter-man99]

I have had a cherokee and wrangler. I liked the cherokee well enough it had been totaled twice so it was cheap. I had a lot of little things go on me starter, alternator, shocks, heater etc. but the engine kept on running 176k! The final straw was when the frame broke i had it welded back together and bought a wrangler. Biggest mistake of my life! I think I got a lemon though. I was driving it home from the dealer (should have turned around right then but I'm a dumbass) and it "coughed" and gave out on me a couple of times. I thought it may be the fuel pump since I had that problem with the cherokee. So I had that fixed but it didn't solve the problem. I had the exhaust looked at and it needed a new catalytic converter so I had a new one put on with larger pipes and a new muffler. Nope didn't fix it. Finally I figured out there was a small crack in the exhaust manifold, that was going be an expensive fix. While I was saving up for that the spider gears went out. And finally the clutch started to go. I traded it in for a honda accord.
I now have a 99 discovery and they are expensive to fix (as you know) so I am trying to learn how to do the work on it mself to save money.
I love my disco but that accord was hands down the most reliable car I have ever had, my dads has had 2 hondas since 1985 with a total of 466k miles on them. Get a cheap honda and then work on your car if you really want to keep it.

Peter

 

[Hoot]

if you just wanna zip around in a college town in texas a motorcycle is cool. cheap on gas, get an older one and youll have a "classic" and by getting an older one you will prohibit yorself form trying to do wheelies at 70mph and doing fork stands.

plus the older style bikes like early seventies are esasy to work on if you are so inclined.

i have an old 1973 BMW r60/5 and its like an old tractor, cheap to run, they dont take up much space, you cna park em anywhere, BMW still makes new parts for them so you can get parts fast and easy.

just my 2 cents.

 

[bri]

"I would go with a car, something small, 5-speed, like a jetta, golf, civic, camry, etc".

You listed about every one of the most expensive cars to insure. I do agree with the zip around idea of this. You might want to consider a Toy Pickup. Decent gas mileage and reasonable size.

My second driver for nearly the same reason as you ('95 Disco here), is a '97 F350 Crew PSD. If I stay around 65 MPH, I am getting 18 MPG!!!

Brian

 

[wturner]

I said I considered a motorcycle, but nothing more than that. I have ridden a few motorcylcles and REALLY don't like them at all. Like some people who refuse to fly, I really hate the vulnerable feeling I get on a motorcycle. I don't think it can be overcome, so I won't be getting one of those.

As far as a little car, I would rather spend $5000 on my Rover and get punched in the face than spend $4000 on one of those cars with 100K worth of ass grease all over the seats. My Rover is not in THAT bad of shape, and I am very far from being a commuter so I don't care about gas. Next semester I will live 2 blocks from school, so I will be using one of my 2 Specialized to get there. That or the bus.

Toyota pick-up is a good alternative. I have seen first hand how tuff they are. A friend of mine has one that has been rolled on 2 occations, and still works.

But, but, but, I really want a Jeep so I can take the doors and roof off. Come on, pleeeease!!

 

[MarkP]

I know what you mean by wanting a convertible. Nothing like open sky above your head. That's why I suggested the Scout. The top comes off and you can remove the doors also. There is a plastic trim kit that covers the door jams and makes it look cool. Examples: http://unix.off-road.com/~jweed/binder3.htm But jeeps are fun also. Too bad the Defenders are soooo expensive.

 

[LostInBoston]

GET A MOTORCYCLE

it'll balance out the gas guzzling rover. plus be faster and more fun then ay car your looking at. if you get a dual sport you can also take it offroad. plus lots of poeple will want rides.

 

[GregFrench]

I agree with the Scout, but you may be in for a lot of repairs, as the topless ones are pretty old by now.
How about a Samuri? Less problems than a Jeep, Scout, or Rover, and will go more places than all 3.

 

[bri]

Just go buy the damn jeep then, you will be fine. Get the inline 6, best jeep engine made IMHO. The only issue then is that you will have to spend 2 times the cash to keep both vehicles in shape.

I had a 1993 Sahara. Loved it. Then I bought a Rover.

What the hell was I thinking? ;^)

Brian

 

[nickangus]

buy the jeep they?re nice and if you put mods on them they look really good these are some photo's of my families jeep that we sold we have since had a mid year range rover and now we have a hummer H1 this my help u make up your mind there was more then 5000 in it but I thought that the photo's might help

nick