Which one of these TJs would you choose?

[cb4017]

Hi Gents. I've been looking for a nice TJ and have come across several nearby. I'm having trouble deciding on which one. All have the 4.0L engine and manual transmission and are similarly equipped. Price is close at around $10K. Mileage is not terrible, ranges from 103k to 136K I'll go through them.

The latest is a 2002 Sahara. Looks decent and drives great. Downside it was an Ohio car for about 6 years and it shows. Body is solid but the frame has rust rash and one small area where the finish is flaking off near the tranny skid plate. Otherwise solid. Honestly, I'm in my early 70s and I figure it will last longer than I will anyway. The rust just bugs me. Has the 5-speed tranny.

Next a 2005 Sport. Nice looking and always in CA or NV. Haven't seen it in person yet as it's an hour away. Someone mentioned problems with the PCM and oil pump drive on the latest TJs and that gives me pause. No other downsides that I can see other than maybe the 6-speed.

Finally a 2006 X. Ditto on the PCM, oil pump drive and 6-speed. Also a CA/NV vehicle.

I'm a pretty handy mechanic but I'm getting old enough that I have less desire to always be screwing with a vehicle.

So help me out gents. If you had $10k to spend, which one would it be?

 

[mrblaine]

Hi Gents. I've been looking for a nice TJ and have come across several nearby. I'm having trouble deciding on which one. All have the 4.0L engine and manual transmission and are similarly equipped. Price is close at around $10K. Mileage is not terrible, ranges from 103k to 136K I'll go through them.

The latest is a 2002 Sahara. Looks decent and drives great. Downside it was an Ohio car for about 6 years and it shows. Body is solid but the frame has rust rash and one small area where the finish is flaking off near the tranny skid plate. Otherwise solid. Honestly, I'm in my early 70s and I figure it will last longer than I will anyway. The rust just bugs me. Has the 5-speed tranny.

Next a 2005 Sport. Nice looking and always in CA or NV. Haven't seen it in person yet as it's an hour away. Someone mentioned problems with the PCM and oil pump drive on the latest TJs and that gives me pause. No other downsides that I can see other than maybe the 6-speed.

Finally a 2006 X. Ditto on the PCM, oil pump drive and 6-speed. Also a CA/NV vehicle.

I'm a pretty handy mechanic but I'm getting old enough that I have less desire to always be screwing with a vehicle.

So help me out gents. If you had $10k to spend, which one would it be?

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05 Sport. The PCM and OPDA issues are readily solved. Rust is not and who really wants an X?

 

[bucky]

Being a Western US guy I would stay away from the Ohio rust. Once it starts it keeps going even in a dry climate. Personally I’m a hard top guy because here in the Ca desert the AC works better. I think the oil pump issue is over blown. I believe the PCM issues are with automatics. I love my 05 6spd. I like the rims on the middle one.

 

[KennethS]

I like the middle one as well. Keep in mind a hardtop is a $1500-$2000 expense (if you can find one) if you wanted one for a soft top model.

 

[Chris]

Stay away from rust.

 

[WestCoastDan]

Just from what I can see, I'd go w/ #3.
I'd go w/ #2 as the second choice, and I would avoid #1 due to rust.

 

[cb4017]

Thanks! I'm currently in negotiations with the owners of #2 and #3. Here is the frame on #2. Looks good.

 

[RocknLJ]

That frame looks a little too good.
Appears painted to me.

 

[RocknLJ]

This is why you want to avoid jeeps from the rust belt.
Pics of my beloved TJ that I drove a few winters. Thought high pressure washing after driving on our salted roads would work. Nope… rust never sleeps.

 

[Zorba]

'06 X. That's what mine is.

 

[cb4017]

That frame looks a little too good.
Appears painted to me.

I'd have to agree. Paint is fine if it's not hiding rust. This Jeep has always been in California and Nevada so rust shouldn't be an issue.
I'll be looking at it tomorrow morning so I'll find out.

 

[cb4017]

This is why you want to avoid jeeps from the rust belt.
Pics of my beloved TJ that I drove a few winters. Thought high pressure washing after driving on our salted roads would work. Nope… rust never sleeps.

View attachment 591474

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Now that would be depressing.

 

[macleanflood]

D none the above. I hate anything newer than 2000 and prefer a 97-98.

Come to Oregon and buy something for $6 or $7k, then wheel Browns Camp, hit the Rubicon, Moab, Sand Hollow, Johnson Valley, Colorado on your way home.

https://www.facebook.com/share/12L1RaaZh9r/

-Mac

 

[JMT]

The ‘05 Sport. Hardtop, rust free, good paint. OPDA is easily addressed as is the PCM, but you may never have a problem.

 

[NDSpeed]

#2 for me.
it seems less tampered with then the #3

just off a quick look at the two photos

 

[NDSpeed]

borescope #2

you can see paint runs from the recent paint job on the frame

 

[BrownBear]

I am originally from Ohio.
Had a 00 TJ…
On a real quite night, you could hear it rust.

I like the middle TJ, the 05 black “sport”.

 

[mrblaine]

D none the above. I hate anything newer than 2000 and prefer a 97-98.

There is some logic there that escapes me somehow. Other than a few very minor differences that affect nothing, 97-02 are practically interchangeable.

Come to Oregon and buy something for $6 or $7k, then wheel Browns Camp, hit the Rubicon, Moab, Sand Hollow, Johnson Valley, Colorado on your way home.

https://www.facebook.com/share/12L1RaaZh9r/

-Mac

That price won't even buy the parts to get a $7K rig over any of the normal trails in JV.

 

[Irun]

Given the CA and NV history for #2 and #3, I'm for #2 also. The '06 X is likely a less optioned Jeep and a Dana 44 wasn't available in the X, unless someone swapped one in. That said, there's no guarantee the '05 has a Dana 44, but you can get the VINs for both and go here to see exactly what the build sheets say. Just be sure to verify anything on the build sheet is there. I've seen Jeeps that came with a Dana 44 that folks latter replaced, due to a problem, with a Dana 35.

Also, double check that the wiring and switches are in place for the hardtop's wiper and spray. It's pretty common to swap them and not have this. To be clear, that's not a deal breaker, just something to check for.

https://fcagroup.my.site.com/RAM/s/equipment-listing

 

[cb4017]

Given the CA and NV history for #2 and #3, I'm for #2 also. The '06 X is likely a less optioned Jeep and a Dana 44 wasn't available in the X, unless someone swapped one in. That said, there's no guarantee the '05 has a Dana 44, but you can get the VINs for both and go here to see exactly what the build sheets say. Just be sure to verify anything on the build sheet is there. I've seen Jeeps that came with a Dana 44 that folks latter replaced, due to a problem, with a Dana 35.

Also, double check that the wiring and switches are in place for the hardtop's wiper and spray. It's pretty common to swap them and not have this. To be clear, that's not a deal breaker, just something to check for.

https://fcagroup.my.site.com/RAM/s/equipment-listing

I have the build sheets for all of them.

#2 has the Dana 44, 3.73 gears and limited slip diff. Owner replaced the steering stabilizer, trying to fix death wobble. Supposed to be a stock Jeep.

#3 has the Dana 35, 3.73 gears and limited slip diff. Stock other than the wheels/tires and an aluminum radiator. Also missing the fan shroud. Owner says he went through the front steering, brakes not long ago. I can get #3 for $2.5k less than #2.