Questions about the Wrangler

[Ducaire]

I'm currently thinking of buying a Jeep Wrangler someday. But I need to find a little info. first. Here's a few questions:

1. What kind of gas mileage do they get in town/on the road?

2. Is the insurance high on them? (I've heard they're easy to flip over if you're not careful, and that might make insurance go up?)

3. Provided you mainly drive on the highway, and you're not a crazy driver who floorboards the gas and then stomps on the brakes in between stop-sings and traffic-lights (in other words, your the kind that'll take it easy on a vehicle), are they pretty good about staying out of the shop?

Right now I own a 1990 4.3L Chevi S10 with almost 204'000 miles on it. Although acceleration and passing power ain't worth a crap, otherwise it still holds up pretty good. I never have to worry about whether it's going to break down on me or not when riding; it always starts when I crank it, etc.

[Ray H]

Originally Posted by Ducaire

I'm currently thinking of buying a Jeep Wrangler someday. But I need to find a little info. first. Here's a few questions:

1. What kind of gas mileage do they get in town/on the road?

2. Is the insurance high on them? (I've heard they're easy to flip over if you're not careful, and that might make insurance go up?)

3. Provided you mainly drive on the highway, and you're not a crazy driver who floorboards the gas and then stomps on the brakes in between stop-sings and traffic-lights (in other words, your the kind that'll take it easy on a vehicle), are they pretty good about staying out of the shop?

Right now I own a 1990 4.3L Chevi S10 with almost 204'000 miles on it. Although acceleration and passing power ain't worth a crap, otherwise it still holds up pretty good. I never have to worry about whether it's going to break down on me or not when riding; it always starts when I crank it, etc.

1) Dont expect more than 17 MPG or so. Some people have reported more, some less. We get about 17 combined.
2) Insurance isnt too bad. Example-When my wife traded her 95 Honda Civic for her 99 TJ Sport, Same ins. company, same coverage, her rates went down slightly. We couldnt believe it either. Maybe it was a freak thing but thats my experience. The Wranglers dont have a reputation for rolling like the old CJs did. No doubt they are more prone to rolling over than a car but I think less prone to rolling than many of the SUVs on the market. If insurance is high for them, its more likely because of theft than safety.
3) In my experience, it doesnt matter if you baby it or flog it, if you maintain it properly, it should last. The main issue that alot of Jeep owners seem to have to deal with is the electronics (sensors in particular). Other than that, nothing really stands out as problematic. If I had to come up with a list of other problem areas I would have to say, radiator-the factory plastic topped radiator will eventually leak, ujoints will need replaced, seal leaks- ie, pinion, valve cover, rear main.

[dfmote]

1. I get 18mpg. It doesnt matter if I have the top on or off or if I have the AC on or off or if Im in town or on the highway.

2. When I got my 06 Wrangler I had traded an 02 Grand Am and my insurance went down. Yea it freaked me out too.

3. The only problem I have had thus far was a manufactures defect with the brake line on the left rear.

Dont expect to hit the gas and go anywhere fast. If you want speed dont get a Jeep.

[fredjacksonsan]

You can cruise on the highway at 80 without a problem.

We have an 04 4 cyl, and have gotten up to 23 mpg on the highway. On our '02 6 cyl, we got has high as 22+ highway, but usually hung in the 19 mpg range.

[dfmote]

With my '06 Wrangler I also have the 4 cyl and I struggle doing 80 on the highway. Up hill I struggle doing 65.