Neighbor has a 2000 Wrangler, 4 banger and a 5 speed. Stock except for bigger tires.

He was kind enough to let me take it for a test drive. Very first observation was that it's not really built for 6 foot 200 pound rednecks like me. Even with the seat all the way back, my elbows are bent at a less-than-comfortable angle, and I'm WAY closer to the steering wheel than I prefer.

Second, it's not all that easy to get in and out of, partly due to overall space, partly due to the seat bottom being even with, if not below, the door sill.

Third, and this is probably due at least in part to the big wheels and tires and/or the 127,000 miles it has on it, but you have to actively think about keeping it between the lines.

The four-holer is a gutless wonder but that's to be expected.

So, while they're not entirely off the table, I'm looking for alternative 4 wheeled, road legal sunny day fun toys.

Yep. I loathe Wranglers. They're uncomfortable, loud, rattly, unrefined, and just not fun to drive (or even ride in).

I understand that they serve a niche purpose when it comes to off-roading, but I just don't get why some folks choose a Wrangler as a daily driver.

I don't understand the Jeep obsession people have. If you want an off-road vehicle, buy an off-road vehicle...but the majority never leave the pavement and feel like you're re entering the atmosphere the whole time. As a road vehicle they are garbage, but maybe someone will give you a duck you can put on the dash so there's that.

What about an older model Tacoma (like 1st gen) or 4Runner with four wheel drive?

I’m kind of in the same boat; I got to drive my MIL’s Jeep and was not at all impressed. Plus, my Taco kept up with 10 Jeeps on an off roading trip just fine.

Or an XJ Cherokee, inline 6 & 5spd manual

NC Miata. I’m 71, 5’11, 210 lbs. I fit.
My 2006 manual shift is my third one. Ultra reliable, great MPG.
NC Series (2005-2015) has the largest cabin.
Edit: Sorry Miata has 4 wheels, but not 4WD.
Billy

4Runner! Couple months ago I drove my dad’s ‘97 5 speed, that he’s had since ‘01, for the first time. I drove it a few times while parents were out of country just so it didn’t sit the whole time. He has LT rated All-Terrains on it, everything else stock and I found the ride nice. The only thing that I wasn’t a big fan of was the driver’s door felt pretty close to my left side.

quote:

Originally posted by PHPaul:

So, while they're not entirely off the table, I'm looking for alternative 4 wheeled, road legal sunny day fun toys.

Used I take it? What about a 2005+ Mustang? Obviously they are not as easy to get in and out of as an SUV but a little easier than something like a Miata. They are available hardtop or convertible, manual or automatic, and 4, 6 or 8 cylinder. And in every condition, some are the owner's 3rd car garage queens and perfect with low miles. I've not driven one but I imagine fun to drive and they are sharp looking.

quote:

Originally posted by PHPaul:
Stock except for bigger tires.

The four-holer is a gutless wonder ^^^

At'll do it.


I have an older Jeep, it's a daily driver. It's not "a Jeep thing", it's an "I can work on it without being a contortionist or computer scientist thing."

quote:

I just don't get why some folks choose a Wrangler as a daily driver.

People buy porsches dont race em, ppl buy lambos dont run the nuremburg ring, people buy trucks dont haul with them.

Buy the vehicle you like, makes you feel the way you want to feel, and does for you what you want it to.

Dont worry about what other people think.

Jeeps were meant for off road, period.

But they are cool, so if that’s what you select, you just have to live with the on road shortcomings.

That being said, I love my Taco as a daily driver, but admittedly don’t off road all that much in it.

quote:

Originally posted by josp:
Jeeps were meant for off road, period.

But they are cool, so if that’s what you select, you just have to live with the on road shortcomings.

That being said, I love my Taco as a daily driver, but admittedly don’t off road all that much in it.

My work truck is an ‘03 extracab Taco with a V6 and a five speed. It will go pretty much anywhere on the ranch on or off road. Not the greatest gas mileage, but it “just works”.

Try an old CJ-7. They have a lot better layout than the excessively padded interior of a Wrangler. I’m 6’3” and 265 and fit in a CJ-7 much more comfortably than a Wrangler, especially with the doors removed. If the seat bottoms are lower than the door sill, I’m thinking the seats have been changed. And big tires don’t play well with a four banger.

I can’t get comfortable in my sister’s 2021 Tacoma crew cab.

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:
Yep. I loathe Wranglers. They're uncomfortable, loud, rattly, unrefined, and just not fun to drive (or even ride in).

I understand that they serve a niche purpose when it comes to off-roading, but I just don't get why some folks choose a Wrangler as a daily driver.

All of the negatives are accurate, if they offered it as such at a reasonable price I think they would sell even more.

Instead they offer it with the "jeep" name tax. Much like Harley Davidson.

Summer of 2002 Took a road trip from Cincinnati to Vail, Colorado in a 98 4 cylinder Wrangler with 2 other fellas.
I am 6’2” and was the shortest of the bunch.
Both front seats pushed all the way back and the dude in the back seat had a bag or two on the rear wheel as some padding and their legs sticking out the soft top on the opposite side.

My wife drove a Jeep Wrangler Safari Unlimited when we lived up in NW Wyoming at the foot of Togwotee Pass. She worked at Jackson Hole Airport, and had to be at work at 0530, before the snowplows were able to clear the highway between our place and the airport. She loved that Jeep. I’ve got a photo somewhere of the trip computer showing “24.5” mpg, and that wasn’t unusual at all for that commute. She drove in lots of nasty weather and sometimes encountered bison or moose on the road because of the snow embankments along the highway. She still speaks fondly of that Jeep.

I never liked it. I recall a trip west, across Nebraska on I-80. There was a nasty crosswind out of the north and that 4-door Wrangler has all the aerodynamics of a brick. I was beat at the end of that drive.

I love my Jeep. It is just an around town grocery getter, no long trips.

As my brother said when he sold it to me:
"An hour in a Jeep is a loooong time."

Jeeps are definitely quirky and not for everyone. I have a 2010 Wrangler, not a daily driver. Short wheelbase so it is kind of squirrelly to keep between the lines. Steering wheel is closer than I would prefer and not fully adjustable. As said aerodynamic as a brick, and at the mercy of crosswinds. I have the 6 cylinder but still low on power. I do not pass on two lane roads. Still, I find it a lot of fun and I like mine. Not sure i can tell you exactly why but I do.

I used to have a '92 YJ that was perfectly fine as a daily driver. It wasn't at first, with really squirrely steering and suspension. Had trouble just driving it straight, until I realized the previous owner had pumped the tires up to the max printed rating (a common mistake). I aired down to the actual spec pressure, and it was fine.


Roof QFT cropped med by kpkina, on Flickr

The YJ had the older leafspring suspension, supposedly a harsher ride, but it felt fine to me. A 2000 TJ would have the newer coilspring suspension, which in theory would make it a more comfortable street ride, so I'm not sure what was going on with your neighbor's.

(ETA: the usual reason for a rough-riding TJ is a poor-quality lift kit and/or over-inflated tires, just as I experienced.)

This message has been edited. Last edited by: kkina,

quote:

Originally posted by arfmel:
I’m 6’3” and 265 and fit in a CJ-7 much more comfortably than a Wrangler, especially with the doors removed.

I haven't sat in a CJ7 for a long time but I last year I sold my 2014 2 door Rubicon to my son who's 6'-5", 230# and he loves how it fits him. I'm only 5'11" so obviously I fit in it fine, other than at 70 it being just a little awkward getting in and out of. Mostly I sold it because of the rough, bouncy, swaying side to side, choppy, ride on anything but smooth roads. For rough, rutted roads and trails a SXS works and rides a lot better.