Really need some help with buying

[OnlyIpo]

Hello,

First off all excuse me if this is not the proper forum to post this as I am new to jeep-cj.com and also excuse my language. I am a 21 yo woman who is a very busy college student with 2-3 years to expected graduation. I live in a city notorious with its traffic, as it can really get to move-step-by-step levels. But I may face that traffic just a few days of the week. I always loved cj's, especially CJ5 's. Recently I have decided that now is probably the only time I can properly own one. But I am not an experienced driver. I have driven both manual and auto Transmission cars but I have never owned a car. So CJ5 may be my first.

I have a few questions that bug my mind and would be glad if you, experienced cj owners can help.

First of all: I now this things DRINK fuel. I am currently considering a rebuilt 74 CJ5 with pretty much everything new. Disk brakes, hydraulic steering wheel and basic features to ease the work of a new driver and such. It has a Bd 30 nissan diesel engine ,lt 77 Transmission and seller/owner claims that its fuel economy is not as bad.
I don't consider autogas as it still sounds dangerous to me. Can you give round numbers of fuel consumption? I will be driving my cj for about 30 miles every 2-3 days or just a few miles everyday. My longest trip may be around 40-50 miles.

Second: Are they reliable? Now I know I will have to check them every week or so but can they really let me down by just not starting randomly every 2-3 weeks? Will they cost me a lot to keep them working?

Lastly: Are their maneuverability really that bad as some say? Do they really infuse you with "jeep perfume"/ exhaust odor in 10 minutes into driving?

I enjoy working with mechanical parts and would genuinely try to care for my jeep, do you think I can properly afford one with an average college student budget? I am not a big fan of eating anyway

That was a lot of questions but I would be glad if any part of it is answered. Thanks for your time and you all have a nice day.

 

[j6824]

In an attempt to address your concerns:

1)Fuel consumption. The seller would be the one from whom to obtain the most accurate information regarding fuel economy. That particular engine and Transmission combination has been changed and is somewhat obscure and uncommon with regard to readily available information.

2)Reliability. This can be a bit subjective. As with anything of that age, it's not a matter of if, but when failures will occur. Utilizing one as a daily commuter vehicle compounds the matter exponentially. Much depends upon how it has been taken care of and what repairs/replacements have been made, and when.

3)Maneuverability. They can be a bit unpredictable in skilled, experienced hands, let alone a novice. These tendencies are only exacerbated with worn and/or improperly installed steering components. Again, much depends upon exactly what was done, how long ago, what components were used and who did the repairs.

I (nor anyone else on this site) would not normally try to discourage someone from owning one of these nostalgic pieces of mechanical history.

However...in light of all you have posted, I would strongly urge you away from this purchase.

I believe safer, more economical and more dependable choices are available for your particular life stage, situation and mechanical skill level.

 

[jzak]

First of all: Fuel Consumption:
I have a 1981 CJ5 , and I get around 15 Miles Per Gallon (MPG), which is above average because I have an aftermarket Throttle Body Injection system and a 6 cylinder engine. With the carburetor and a V8, you'll be lucky to get 10 MPG.

Second: Are they reliable?
I've had two CJ5 's, and they've never let me stranded on the side of the road. That said, you gotta keep up with the maintenance. If you ignore problems with your CJ, it will break down or worse.


Lastly: Are their maneuverability really that bad as some say?

I've had two close calls, where I had to swerve out of the way to avoid a collision. Both times I avoided the other car. I've got 31-inch tires and a 2.5-inch lift. In my opinion, i think that's the money spot for a CJ. You go any bigger/taller, you run the risk of flipping over.

Concerning your question about the cost of ownership, it's hard to give an answer. in the US, where its fairly easy and inexpensive to get parts, it's pretty inexpensive to keep it going. Also, you can still find junkyards were you can buy used parts still in good shape. Outside the US, I just don't know. I worked in Iraq, and I would see old Jeeps being driven around sometimes, so its obviously not impossible, but for a student I don't know.

 

[GRR]

The Jeep you are considering is highly modified. It’s reliability depends solely on how well those modifications were made. If you do have problems, it will may be more difficult to repair since it has been modified. I would suggest you look for something with the stock driveline.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Lumpy Grits]

:ww:

The Jeeps you are looking at. Are these diesel or gas engine?
What doe fuel cost where you are?
Are there any off-road or Jeep clubs in your area?
Outstanding that you want to do your own 'wrenching'!
LG