TJ vs JL conversation.

[Flip]

I am thoroughly enjoying my JL with no regrets.

A few things I appreciated about my 2005 TJ. The door handles were flush and made of steel. The ease of lifting a strap off a hook to open the door completely out of the way. Although the front seats were heavy and I wasn't gentle on them the mechanism felt indestructible. I had the 2.4 engine, it had a factory electric fan which I thought was great. It never ran above 210 degrees up a steep hill on the interstate or crawling on a trail in July. Less bells, whistles, horn beeps, and saftey features was definitely appreciated.

IMO the suspension on my 2023 JL is fantastic compared to my 2005 TJ. What I call the crawl button is a great option for off-road (see photo). I absolutely love the entire IP, and dash panel. I think jeep nailed it. There is nothing I would change about it. The body style; hood, fenders, no more T-case hanging down, a few factory skid plates, exhaust tucked up higher, all excellent changes that I appreciate.

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[hoch]

There is nothing I miss about the TJ. Honestly. If I HAD to write one thing, it’d be the key. I’m old school and would rather have an actual key to start instead of a push button. But that’s it.
I don’t want the smaller size, the 4.0, etc etc.
I took an 8 hour road trip last summer. I was totally comfortable. Can’t say the same about the old TJ.

 

[swampflyer]

My TJ’s were rugged and reliable no problems.

 

[WI_Sarge]

I have wonderful dreams of my old 97 and always wish i woulda kept it for a fun car. But when i think really hard about what it was actually like, i had lots of repairs and issues and that 4 cylinder lost speed going into the wind. I got rid of because it was my only car at the time and sick of little repairs i kept having to do. Swore off jeep for like 20 years. Still wish i had it though!

 

[Stl-Rubicon]

My JL is much better as a daily driver and more capable off-road but I do miss the simplicity and my ability to diagnose and fix my LJ.

 

[openingshok]

My Dad passed away and my best friend got his '99 TJ so it's still around. At 235,000 miles he's having to do a LOT of repairs, but there were very few repairs that needed to be done to get to the 235K. That being said, I still prefer my JL to the TJ. The one thing I do miss, and wish I could replicate are the seats! My Dad had a '88 YJ, the '99 TJ, and I had a 2003 Grand Cherokee. All of those seats were the most comfortable, supportive and soft seats I have ever sat in. They were amazing. Then there is the flat JL seats that need seat jackers just to make it so you don't fall forward out of them Not horrible, but not the most comfortable road trip to get to the trails either.

And I do miss the sound of the YJ/TJ starter. Something about it

 

[LukeDagny]

My JL is much better as a daily driver and more capable off-road but I do miss the simplicity and my ability to diagnose and fix my LJ.

I live 11 hours away from the Outer Banks. My wife said I would love to ride in a Jeep at the beach, but I don't want to ride in the Jeep to the beach. The JL has changed that.

My LJ was easier to work on, but I had to work on it a lot compared to my JL. I do dread working on any possible JL electrical gremlins. Can-bus and other electronics made the JL a lot more complicated.

 

[chevymitchell]

I just bought an LJ this past month to compliment the Jeeper in me. Big fan of the 4.0/6-speed combo.

The door straps are super nice on the LJ but for as often as the doors go on and off on the JL, I don’t mind they’re complexity.

 

[Atomic-Mouse]

Since I never drive far I would definitely take my old YJ back. The only issue I had with it was if you stalled it on a slope you would have to roll back to a flat spot and wait a few minutes before it would start again. It was a rusty shit box but that’s what I miss the most about it. I didn’t care what happened to it and it took everything I threw at it. Regretted selling it the second it left the yard. I did learn from that mistake and that’s why I still have my 2010 JK.

 

[GinaC]

I am thoroughly enjoying my JL with no regrets.

A few things I appreciated about my 2005 TJ. The door handles were flush and made of steel. The ease of lifting a strap off a hook to open the door completely out of the way. Although the front seats were heavy and I wasn't gentle on them the mechanism felt indestructible. I had the 2.4 engine, it had a factory electric fan which I thought was great. It never ran above 210 degrees up a steep hill on the interstate or crawling on a trail in July. Less bells, whistles, horn beeps, and saftey features was definitely appreciated.

IMO the suspension on my 2023 JL is fantastic compared to my 2005 TJ. What I call the crawl button is a great option for off-road (see photo). I absolutely love the entire IP, and dash panel. I think jeep nailed it. There is nothing I would change about it. The body style; hood, fenders, no more T-case hanging down, a few factory skid plates, exhaust tucked up higher, all excellent changes that I appreciate.

I came off my own 2006 TJ into the 2024 Willys.

Like you, I love every bit of it, except I've learned that the 4 door is just too big for me. I love the nimbleness of a 2 door. (And of course the 4xe recall fiasco hasn't been fun, but it did give me a darn good excuse to order a new 2026 2 door Willys and spend another crapload of money. Ugh, at least I know an ICE Jeep will last 20 years unless it's a lemon.)

I'm sure once I get my new little green Jeep I won't miss my TJ as much.

 

[JEEP4U]

Sold mine to my nephew for a dollar. I still miss the old girl.....but it's still in the family

Teraflex D44 in front, Ford 8.8 in Rear, 37 tires, bead locks, ARB lockers, 4.56 gears, 4.5" lift, one inch body lift, 5sp manual, 4.7L inline 6 stroker, Mastercraft suspension seats, warn winch, CB radio, Alpine radio, on board air (belt driven compressor), and many other upgrades.

Things I miss?
-The low end torque, of the forged piston 4.7L stroker.
- On Board Air (very fast air ups)
-Key start
-Ease of parking/tight turn radius
-better reverse gear ratio
-No nonsense electrical system
-Not worrying about trashing a $100K rig

 

[Flip]

I came off my own 2006 TJ into the 2024 Willys.

Like you, I love every bit of it, except I've learned that the 4 door is just too big for me. I love the nimbleness of a 2 door. (And of course the 4xe recall fiasco hasn't been fun, but it did give me a darn good excuse to order a new 2026 2 door Willys and spend another crapload of money. Ugh, at least I know an ICE Jeep will last 20 years unless it's a lemon.)

I'm sure once I get my new little green Jeep I won't miss my TJ as much.

I think you're going to be very happy with your new JL. Nice color choice btw. I'm looking forward to see some pictures of it. You're a true jeep girl

 

[Flip]

Sold mine to my nephew for a dollar. I still miss the old girl.....but it's still in the family

Teraflex D44 in front, Ford 8.8 in Rear, 37 tires, bead locks, ARB lockers, 4.56 gears, 4.5" lift, one inch body lift, 5sp manual, 4.7L inline 6 stroker, Mastercraft suspension seats, warn winch, CB radio, Alpine radio, on board air (belt driven compressor), and many other upgrades.

Things I miss?
-The low end torque, of the forged piston 4.7L stroker.
- On Board Air (very fast air ups)
-Key start
-Ease of parking/tight turn radius
-better reverse gear ratio
-No nonsense electrical system
-Not worrying about trashing a $100K rig

That is one lucky nephew. Talk about a winning lottery ticket.

 

[wibornz]

There is no way I would go back to a TJ. I had a nice one.

I barely fit in a TJ. My knees are about 1 inch from the dash. It was horrible to drive 300 miles up north to wheel. There is no way it would pull a camper at 65 mph with the air on across the country. Horrible gas mileage with 33s on it. Rode like a lumber wagon. And it was way louder than than the JL. There is no way I could talk on the phone using Bluetooth in the TJ. It is no where near a capable on the JL off road or on road.

 

[yokramer]

Here ya go guys heres the cheap less complicated jeep yall want

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/fo...-you-all-want-but-is-it-good-off-road.161800/

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