Should I trade for a TJ

[NH94YJ]

I need your advice. My wife got me a '94 YJ for Xmas this year. There is nothing wrong with it and I am having a ball with it. It is my 3rd Jeep. She came across a nice 2000 TJ today and we went and looked at it tonight, well we attempted to through the foot of snow we got today. Anyway the dealer is closed 'till tomorrow.
The YJ is a four banger 5-speed hardtop, basically stock with 108,000 on it.
The TJ is a Sport with the I6 & Auto and has dual tops and full doors. Not sure how many miles are on it yet. Will find out tomorrow. Looks mint though. The soft top is still wrapped up inside, never been used.
My questions are:
1. Is it worth it to take on a payment?
2. Will I be disappointed with the auto? (I'm pretty sure the performance of the 4.0/Auto will surpass the 2.5/5-speed)
3.Will I miss shifting?
4.There is a sticker on the window saying a leak around the passenger side door/windshield had been repaired. Anyone had this problem?

Thanks,
Jeff

[Raider]

Well in all fairness I like 'em both. I've got a TJ with the 4.0 and automatic. My son in law has a '94 YJ with the 4.0 and 5 speed.

Try it like this : Do the totally objective opinion thing.

Write down all the things that you like about your YJ and then do the same for what you know of this TJ you've seen. Remember! BE objective!

Now...write down all the things you DISlike about each.
Then compare your notes and see what you come up with.

As for my opinion on the TJ...I like mine except for the crummy gas mileage I get with the auto. If it weren't for my bum knee, I'd be shifting a 5 speed. :(

Other than that, it rides smoother, it will flex like no tomorrow, and you don't have to worry whether the vacuum motor is gonna work when you need it most. ;)

Don't get me wrong, I like 'em both. Just being objective and pointing out a couple things. Personally, if I could've located a YJ before I found the TJ, that had what I was looking for at the time; I probably would've bought it instead.

You get to look inside tomorrow? Good! Take it for a real test drive to see how it handles, how the auto does. I'll tell you one thing...you'll like the way it slows itself down when you let off the gas. Kinda saves wear on the brakes when you do it right! :D Plus the auto is awesome for climbing!

Good luck! HTH's Scott

[lonegpr]

You don't mention whether or not your wife is planning on driving it either. Or if she wanted to, is she would prefer the auto over the stick in the YJ. Might be something to consider.

Personally, I'd go with the TJ. Smoother road manners, nicer amenities, etc. JMHO.

[JT's TJ]

For what it's worth:

I drove an '87 YJ I-6 manual for many years, then I sold it ( :confused: ) and bought a Dodge V-8 auto pickup. Later, I decided that I'm a Jeep Guy, so I bought my '99 TJ I-6 manual.

I absolutely love this TJ, but ya know what? I kinda miss the automatic for just driving around town. Maybe I'm getting old. From all reports, though, the auto is not a horrible liability off-road.

If cost is not an object, I'd go with the TJ, too. The suspension gives you better on-road and off-road manners; you'll have the superior interior amenities, the dual top... you'll think you're driving a Caddy compare to that YJ!!! ;)

[Chris S]

I like the auto off road. It's ability to crawl super slow can give you the ability to correct your line as you creep over obsticals and better controls wheel spin. For someone with years of experience this probably doesn't matter, but it can make a rookie look like a hero and is easier on your rig.

On washboard roads the TJ is WAY nicer, and a 7 hour drive on the highway in the TJ is nothing.

The TJ is cheaper to fit 33s. A total of $300.00 for 2" spacers and a 1" body lift and you are ready to roll.


YJ is cheaper. For what you are going to spend on the TJ you could probably do a spring over on scout axles and have a more capable rig. For a play rig there is nothing wrong with the 4, it's only on the open road that it is a dog. Trick is to have low enough gearing.

[Jerry Bransford]

Yeah I'd go for the TJ too. That 4.0L is sweet, and it works well with the automatic. The dual-top option is icing on the cake.:D

[Paulwpetrea]

Personally, I like the idea of being able to put mods on my Jeep, instead of in a banks (or other lending institutions) hands.

That's the way I look at it, anyway.