Jeep=steaming pile.

[MagicRat]

At what time does one scrap/sell a car because it's too much trouble?

The transfer case on my Jeep Cherokee just broke, for the third time.

I bought this thing new back in 1984. Since then I have had about 20 other project cars and daily drivers, all used. I still have some of them.

You see, with any other car, one can replace or rebuild a component with the reasonable expectation that it will last a reasonable length of time. For example, it is reasonable to expect at least 150k+ miles out of an engine or transmission.

Not with my Jeep. Since new, it has averaged about 5,000 km between breakdowns. And I am not talking little stuff, like a tune up or brakes; this is major expense, from $1000 to $2800 or so, each time on items that should not be breaking so soon.
Sometimes the bills are smaller since I can do all but the most advanced repairs myself. The transmission/torque converter and transfer case have all been fixed twice before. The engine has been rebuilt once, because it just wore out.
There have been numerous other electrical and mechanical problems, too.
The kicker is that after 21 years it only has 70,000 miles. In that time I have (like an idiot) paid significantly more than the original purchase price on repairs.

The breakdowns are often the same poorly designed or built components going bad over and over again. Usually I am so pissed off, I park it for a year or two and drive other vehicles before I can face fixing the damned thing.
So why have I not torched it already? I can easily buy a new car instead.

-Perhaps I am sentimentally attached to it, since its my first car?
-Maybe I think of all the thousands I have put into it over the years and think that maybe its finally fixed properly.
-Maybe I like a challange and want to see what else can go wrong next.

Well, it's time to park it again. Maybe in 2007 I can face fixing it once again.

In the meantime, I'll drive my reliable Chevy, Mustang or Lincoln.


Or I might sell ALL the old stuff and buy one decent new car.
(Now that's a good idea)
If I do torch it, I will be sure to post the video.

[balls_to_the_wall]

Just think of it this way...If it keeps going the way it is, pretty soon the whole jeep is gonna be new again!!!!!!!!!

Later

-Ryan

[BP2K2Max]

take all the money you've spent on the car in a given period and divide it by that many months. if the amount of money you have equals a monthly car payment, it's time to get rid of the pile.

[twospirits]

Originally Posted by BP2K2Max

take all the money you've spent on the car in a given period and divide it by that many months. if the amount of money you have equals a monthly car payment, it's time to get rid of the pile.

Interesting way of looking at it.
I figure if a vehicle is costing you up to the point of half its original purchase then its time to maybe start looking for another vehicle. The only problem is if its your first car and you have sentimental feelings for it. That might make letting go of it a bit harder. I had that feeling with my Mazda Protege before it got totaled. First car ever and yet I loved it regardless of the constant fix ups and breakdowns. I'm begining to get that same feeling with my current vehicle except its running great and hasn't let me down yet.

Don't torch it (even though that would be a cool video), I probably would sell it as parts and with the money either put it into the other vehicles you have or get a new one if I were you.

Question: Would you buy/go with another Jeep?

TS out

[freakray]

Fix it, sell it 'as is' and get something else....perhaps not another Jeep?

[MagicRat]

Originally Posted by twospirits

Question: Would you buy/go with another Jeep?

TS out

I actually have had two other Jeeps, a '77 Wagoneer and an 81 CJ 8 (which I still have).
Both displayed the same higher than average breakage and maintenance factors and rust problems, all due to IMHO insufficient R&D and engineering.
I have known many people with newer Jeeps who have similar problems, but usually not quite to this extent.
However, since I have owned 7 Chevy trucks,(pick up trucks, full size vans and 2 S-10's) all of which went about a bazillion trouble-free miles, I will never get another Jeep.

Of course, the practical solution is to (scrap it or) think of this thing like a project vehicle, something like an old English or Italian car; in that it will suck up money and never can be used as a daily driver for any length of time.
However, if I do that why not get a fun project, like an old Alfa or Jaguar?

[Oz]

Fix it that one last time, take out a BIG insurance policy on it, use your imagination....

[WickedNYCowboy]

Originally Posted by BP2K2Max

take all the money you've spent on the car in a given period and divide it by that many months. if the amount of money you have equals a monthly car payment, it's time to get rid of the pile.

I think that is the best idea.

[SniperX13]

depending on where you live, you could always put an ad in a 4x4 mag, and I bet someone would love to buy it, and make a mudder or rock crawler out of it.

[fredjacksonsan]

You must have gotten a bad one. I've known people with mid-late 80's Cherokees that put over 200K miles on them without anything major. When you're pouring that much into it, however, it's time to go (with any vehicle).

You said the same parts keep breaking over and over, have you checked for aftermarket replacements?

[Cyprus106]

My jeep had some problems. Most of them made by me, like the clutch melting. But my friend's cherokee, late 80s i think? His transfer case just went out and I was driving in it when it COMPLETELY overheated and started SPEWING steam EVERYWHERE. And his wheel fell off driving down the road less than a half hour later. He was driving and to my understanding he didn't have the lugs tight enough on the back pass. wheel and it fell off doing 30 down the street at midnight. He shouldn't have been driving it after the whole coolant thing, but he was trying to get it home. Jeeps aren't low maintainance cars, but they're AWESOME. I loved my Jeep. I've got a friend though with 2 cherokees and a CJ7 and has barely had any problems with them at all. The CJ still runs great after all these years. And My boss won't buy anything BUT Jeeps. He has something like 3 grand cherkoees various years, One of his daughters drives a Wrangler, He bought a willy for his 14 year old son so they could restore it together (Looks AWESOME). Lol his brother even had a grand cherokee last time I checked. They can be really good cars... I just haven't managed to get one of those. Apparently neither have you.