A self evaluation into jeeping

[wibornz]

@wibornz
Oooooooooook lol

I guess vehicles are a bit more important in your life than mine? I don't really care what gets me there, just the destination and who I'm with.

I do love my jeep, by the way. And I got it at an affordable price and have it paid off. But I try to buy my vehicles with an eye more towards money that can be put toward my family/house/friends rather than the vehicle itself. If the vehicle can be a part of that, which a jeep certainly can (but so can all in a way), then that's extra awesome.

Just know that for years I drove this.

Put 200,000+ miles on it. I have no desire to go back. I drove this so that I could travel with my kids, take them on cruises, air fare and all that other stuff listed. I drove vehicles like a Geo Tracker that I bought for $400 and put 60,000 miles on it. Think of stuff that a High School kid would refuse to drive kind of cars. That was during the time I stacked cash into investments to get me the lifestyle I am living today. A lifestyle that is Prius free.

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[rallydefault]

@wibornz
Yea, I drove a Geo Prism for about 10 years through high school, college, and a little after.

I just think we have different outlooks, that's all. I would go back to that Prism in a heartbeat if it meant something more for my daughter or my wife is all I'm saying.

But again, I was able to get my JLU back in 2018 without any financial sacrifices, and my daughter loves having the top down. We've aired down and taken it on some beaches, and it's fun, but nothing that I would sacrifice other areas of my life to obtain (not saying you do or anyone else here does, of course).

So, yea, just like the OP said, do what is most rewarding for you and those around you. If that means a 50k jeep with thousands more in accessories, go for it. Me, personally, I'm fine with what I have, and I'm mostly in it for the open-air experience because my family and I haven't enjoyed offroading as much as we'd hoped

All that said, it's nearly four years with my JLU and I would do it all over again. I learned that I can never own a non-convertible vehicle again haha. I love it so much. But there are certainly other vehicles in the future that may not be offroaders but may be convertible and make more sense for my driving habits. (Waiting to see what MINI does with hybrid/electric on their convertibles in the next few years.)

 

[wibornz]

@wibornz
Yea, I drove a Geo Prism for about 10 years through high school, college, and a little after.

I just think we have different outlooks, that's all. I would go back to that Prism in a heartbeat if it meant something more for my daughter or my wife is all I'm saying.

But again, I was able to get my JLU back in 2018 without any financial sacrifices, and my daughter loves having the top down. We've aired down and taken it on some beaches, and it's fun, but nothing that I would sacrifice other areas of my life to obtain (not saying you do or anyone else here does, of course).

So, yea, just like the OP said, do what is most rewarding for you and those around you. If that means a 50k jeep with thousands more in accessories, go for it. Me, personally, I'm fine with what I have, and I'm mostly in it for the open-air experience because my family and I haven't enjoyed offroading as much as we'd hoped

All that said, it's nearly four years with my JLU and I would do it all over again. I learned that I can never own a non-convertible vehicle again haha. I love it so much. But there are certainly other vehicles in the future that may not be offroaders but may be convertible and make more sense for my driving habits. (Waiting to see what MINI does with hybrid/electric on their convertibles in the next few years.)

Dude you have a great attitude and in my opinion we look at things the same. A lot of times, people will think that I have a love for Jeep. While I do like Jeeps, a Jeep to me is all about where it will take me. and the experiences that I will gain because of the Jeep. Nothing more.

The Jeep also makes you part of a community that very few other vehicles do. I say all the time that owning a Jeep comes with 500 new friends and it is not a lie. People wave to you, duck your Jeep, people want to talk to you about your Jeep. Other Jeep owners will talk to you about their Jeep adventures. Heck I have even met people all this forum and wheeled with them from different parts of the country. Attended a Jeep club Christmas party last night. At time I have 40 to 50 Jeep people stop over for coffee on a Saturday of Sunday morning. Then there is the big camping trips where Jeep people will say hey, like 20 or 30 of us are going camping and so on. I would often lead trail rides for our Jeep club and had to start limiting it to the first 30 Jeeps that signed up as it was getting to the point that I would get around 50 Jeeps or so if I did not limit it and it was just to much to manage. In our Jeep club, it is normal that people will organize out of state Jeep camping and travel. During our trip in 2022, we will be in Moab for Easter Jeep Safari. There are 20 Jeep club members coming to Moab to wheel with us for a week. We have some Jeep club members meeting us in Colorado. In our area, our Jeep Club is awesome (Lansing Area Jeep Club).

I know that there are other Vehicles that have a community attached to it, but none of them are quite like the Jeep community.

As far a sacrificing for family. Amen, the Jeep would be gone in a second if needed so as to provide for my family. As it should be.

 

[roaniecowpony]

Just know that for years I drove this.

Put 200,000+ miles on it. I have no desire to go back. I drove this so that I could travel with my kids, take them on cruises, air fare and all that other stuff listed. I drove vehicles like a Geo Tracker that I bought for $400 and put 60,000 miles on it. Think of stuff that a High School kid would refuse to drive kind of cars. That was during the time I stacked cash into investments to get me the lifestyle I am living today. A lifestyle that is Prius free.

Geez Ted, you are indeed a strong person, if you survived driving that, that thing. I now understand your enthusiasm for your Jeep.

 

[Mwags]

I am running torq locker. The thing is super nice. It should work great on 35s. My friend is running it on 37s. And another member here runs one on 35s. They have nothing but good things to say about it. They both wheel their jeeps relatively hard. Easy driveway install too.

They come with a 4 year warranty too.

Ok...What is a lunchbox?

 

[entropy]

Ok...What is a lunchbox?

It is a lunchbox style locker (Aussie style)

 

[agpthng]

I hear you - my first was a 07 JK X, stock, upgraded the tires, lifted it, change the front bumper, because I dented it on the first time out. The second time around was after 12 years, for a 2019 JLU. Just upgraded the tires and rims, not sure if we will wheel this like we did my 2 door.

 

[VKSheridan]

I bought a well equipped Rubicon, very trail capable. That said, my garage is loaded with almost brand new parts taken off to upgrade. I don’t swap new parts with newer parts to make it bulletproof, gorgeous, versatile or whatever. I upgrade for the sheer enjoyment of taking something good and making it better. Not better for R.O.I. or better for trail badges. I do it it to make the Jeep better for me. It’s not a cheap hobby but it’s fun even when it’s sitting on jack stands…..

 

[blnewt]

I bought a well equipped Rubicon, very trail capable. That said, my garage is loaded with almost brand new parts taken off to upgrade. I don’t swap new parts with newer parts to make it bulletproof, gorgeous, versatile or whatever. I upgrade for the sheer enjoyment of taking something good and making it better. Not better for R.O.I. or better for trail badges. I do it it to make the Jeep better for me. It’s not a cheap hobby but it’s fun even when it’s sitting on jack stands…..

One thing about Jeeps, they're NEVER done!

 

[Na Kalohe]

I bought my Wrangler in 2018. It was a base sport 2 door. I don't need the Rubicon I said, I just wanna get to some good hunting locations and do light off-roading. We had decent salaries back then, and were renting. A base sport seemed to be the perfect Jeep for us. We couldn't get a good loan interest rate, so I put about 80% down payment.

I ended up taking that jeep, 100% stock, to trails that were a little too difficult for the base Jeep, but it was fun. in 2019, exactly when the Jeep was 1 year old it was totaled. Wife and I decided to get another JL, but I had the opportunity to upgrade to a Rubicon or a 4 door. We both had new jobs, great salaries, could afford the Rubicon no problem and had set up an appointment to go over a 2019 4 door Rubicon. I started getting second thoughts about the 4 door, so the dealer showed us a Sport S 2 door, not a Rubicon. They had an awesome deal for this sport, but it didn't have lockers. My wife and I left the dealer to have lunch and talk over it. The savings were considerable over the Rubicon, we could buy this Jeep outright with the insurance money. We thought about all the upgrades we wanted for our house, the investments for the kid we were planning to have, camping trips, etc etc.... So many things we could do with that extra 12k. Did I really need that Rubicon?

I bought the Sport S, and been keeping the upgrades "budget oriented". I have a rubicon suspension on it, metal bumpers, winch, tranny/engine skid plate, front locker, rear LSD, rubicon M/T takeoffs, and a few other things. I have taken that Jeeps on tough trails, I've picked hard lines, I've pushed its limits. And everytime I pushed its limits I upgrade the weak point. Then I push it again.

Last week I ordered bilstein shocks. Another upgrade.... and while I was having a Whiskey by our restored 100 year old fireplace. I realized all these "budget" upgrades were adding up to thousands. Thousands that could be used to add more upgrades to our home, thousands that could be invested into the stock market for us or for our daughter. Thousands that could cover camping trips. I realized this is never gonna end. Jeeps are expensive, not just the vehicle itself, but the hobby. It is really expensive, and you can always increase the challenge as you increase the capabilities of your Jeep. I've done difficult trails with my Jeep, I've had lots of fun, it is extremely capable and I could take it to many Jeep trails other cars will struggle big time. I have no regrets. It can take lines only Jeeps can, it can take me to places no other car can. Pushing these boundaries would take me to even more places, but it costs lots of money. I made a difficult decision, the decision to stop pushing my little Jeep and spend my funds elsewhere. Because if I don't stop now, I never will.

I wanted to share my story because I know that lots of you have spent a lot more on these Jeeps that you initially thought you would. Those of you with Sports, and Rubicons (Saharas dont count - just kidding). I have wheeled my Jeep at every stage, from bone stock, to suspension upgrade, to tire upgrade, to winch and lockers. Your Jeep, at its current state is extremely capable. Rubicon or not. And don't let anyone tell you otherwise. If you are uncomfortable with the idea of spending thousands more on your Jeep then you don't have to. Don't let forums and youtube tell you how capable your Jeep is. Let the trails tell you, let YOUR skills tell you. Then decide for yourself, do you really want to spend thousands more to take that line?.

You've done an accurate analysis of what many have done or will do with their Jeeps. Whether your finances enable you or not, like our government we tend to spend more than we make and that can pose a problem. Spending your hard earned income wisely on luxuries vs necessities is a difficult choice for us sometimes. The hard question is should we live for today or save for tomorrow? It all depends on everyone's personal finances and financial situation.

 

[VKSheridan]

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